Renowned travel magazine Travel + Leisure has announced the Tastemakers Awards 2025 (Tạm dịch: “Outstanding Flavor Creators of 2025”), honoring the best restaurants and bars in Southeast Asia. The list is curated by a panel of leading culinary experts, and is considered a 'gold standard' for travelers who enjoy discovering premium, unique flavors in the region's most vibrant cities.
On Vietnam's list, only three hotels have restaurants and bars that made the cut, namely Capella Hanoi with its Backstage restaurant, Hibana by Koki restaurant, and The Hudson Rooms bar; InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort with its La Maison 1888 restaurant; and JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort with its Pink Pearl by Oliver E. restaurant.
Capella Hanoi – global culinary nuances in the heart of the capital
Renowned as the only hotel in Vietnam with up to 3 restaurants certified by the Michelin Guide, Capella Hanoi continues to prove its class by simultaneously being the only hotel in Vietnam with 3 culinary destinations honored by Tastemakers 2025.
Backstage – one of 3 representatives of Capella Hanoi honored by Travel + Leisure
First is Backstage restaurant, thanks to its ability to honor local ingredients with sophisticated preparation and service. “Visitors can enjoy meticulously prepared Northern Vietnamese dishes in a luxurious space imbued with theatrical art. While enjoying the cuisine, you can immerse yourself in the surrounding ambiance with splendid costumes and vibrant murals inspired by opera culture” , Travel + Leisure wrote about Backstage, describing meals here as akin to the gatherings and interactions of opera artists behind the scenes.
Besides Vietnamese cuisine elevated to new heights at Backstage, Capella Hanoi is also famous for its 1-Michelin-star restaurant Hibana by Koki. This is a familiar 'destination' for the capital's gourmands, treating diners to the essence of Japanese teppanyaki culinary art. Hibana by Koki is led by the genius chef Hiroshi Yamaguchi and consulting chef Yoshida Junichi - the first chef to achieve a Michelin star for Teppanyaki art in the world. “This one-Michelin-star teppanyaki restaurant offers a unique, intimate experience where chefs meticulously prepare high-quality ingredients right before your eyes” , Travel + Leisure wrote.
The Hudson Rooms with a luxurious space and the most premium view in the capital
Not just the 'dining', visitors to Capella Hanoi can also indulge in 'drinks'. Tastemakers honors The Hudson Rooms - a bar famous for its signature cocktails, inspired by iconic American railway lines of the 1920s, while the space is inspired by New York's bustling Grand Central Station, combined with a view embracing a corner of Hanoi's Old Quarter.
InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort – creating the standard for fine dining in the Central region
“As the only restaurant in the Central region to own a Michelin star, La Maison 1888 introduces French cuisine under the hands of Chef Christian Le Squer, where classic techniques are harmoniously combined with a modern creative spirit” , Travel + Leisure introduces La Maison 1888 restaurant belonging to the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort. This is the second consecutive year La Maison 1888 has been honored by Tastemakers.
Created by the 'resort king' Bill Bensley, La Maison 1888 recreates an impressive old French mansion with its characteristic black and white tones along with a sea view. Diners can choose to dine in the luxurious Indochine space, on the elegant outdoor terrace, or in a cozy private dining room upstairs. Notably, the limited 14-seat Chef's Table offers an exclusive interactive experience, with a view of the open kitchen – where culinary art is performed vividly, directly before the diners' eyes.
Luxurious fine dining space inside La Maison 1888 restaurant of InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort
This is also the first restaurant in Vietnam to be led by a three-time Michelin-starred chef – culinary legend Christian Le Squer. At La Maison 1888, he showcases a unique “haute couture” culinary style – where each dish is a work of art, meticulously prepared from fresh seasonal ingredients, bringing an emotional experience to discerning diners.
JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort and the premium culinary “pearl”
Nestled within the luxurious grounds of JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort , Pink Pearl by Olivier E. is considered the “pearl” of the premium culinary scene in Phu Quoc. Polished by the talented hands of Olivier Elzer, a renowned French chef with an admirable collection of Michelin stars, Pink Pearl restaurant has excellently made it onto this year's Tastemakers list.
Singapore's renowned newspaper The Straits Times once praised the French fine dining art at Pink Pearl: “I still dream about that meal – the green lobster with tandoori sauce and a rich panna cotta base, along with pan-seared Hokkaido scallops in a sweet and sour uni sauce”.
Unique architecture is one of the things that makes Pink Pearl by Oliver E. famous – the culinary essence of Ngoc Island
Besides cuisine, the standout factor of Pink Pearl is its architecture, helping visitors have a complete experience journey. “Designed by architect Bill Bensley, Pink Pearl is a stunning space, designed in a maximalist style combined with excellent French haute cuisine”, Travel + Leisure described Pink Pearl.
Travel + Leisure's Tastemakers Awards not only honor outstanding restaurants and bars, but also recognize the efforts of leading hotel brands in Vietnam in elevating resort experiences associated with culinary essence. The honored names are not only a source of pride for resorts, but also represent a Vietnam that is rising strongly on the regional and international culinary map – where cuisine becomes an identity and a driving force for tourists to choose Vietnam as a destination.
