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Secret Garden Restaurant: Taste Foods & Tours

Perched atop a charming heritage building in District 1, Secret Garden Restaurant offers a delightful escape from the bustling streets of Saigon. Surrounded by lush greenery, colorful lanterns, and traditional Vietnamese décor, this rooftop dining venue is famous for its authentic home-style Vietnamese cuisine and relaxing atmosphere. Guests can savor local specialties such as fresh spring rolls, grilled fish, lotus root salad, and caramelized pork while enjoying panoramic city views. The restaurant beautifully captures the spirit of Southern Vietnam, making it a favorite stop for both locals and international visitors. Many travelers include this hidden culinary gem in their Ho Chi Minh City Tours, combining cultural sightseeing with unforgettable dining experiences in one of the city’s most charming rooftop settings.

Tour in Details

Discovering the Secret Garden Experience

Location & Access

  • Address: 158 Pasteur, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

1.Directions from Major Landmarks

  • Walk south on Dong Khanh from Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral for two minutes and go right on Pasteur. “158 Bis" is located to your left; look for the elevator and go to the fourth level.
  • Walk west on Dong Khanh from the Central Post Office and then go onto Pasteur. It will be a three-minute walk to the top-level entrance of Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh.

2.Public Transport and Walking Routes

  • Bus: Route 01, Route 03, and Route 19 stop on Pasteur Street. Up the hill, five minutes to the top.
  • Metro (future): Alight at the future Ben Thanh Station, go northeast on Le Thanh Ton, and turn onto Pasteur.
  • On Foot: From Ben Thanh Market, go east on Phan Chu Trinh, then turn right onto Pasteur for a 12-minute walk with fantastic views.

Opening Hours, Price Range, and Reservation Tips

  • Opening Hours: 08:00–22:00 every day with a short break of 14:30–16:00 for staff relaxation.
  • Price Range: 150.000–170.000 ₫ per person, which applies to standard dishes; high-end items in the Secret Garden restaurant ho chi minh menu, say Thai-style sea bass go as high as 315.000 ₫.

Ambiance & Décor at Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh

Rooftop Garden Style

  • The seating is of teak chairs, sun-faded to a warm patina on rustic wood tables.
  • Flourishing vines, bougainvillea, lemongrass, basil, and climbing bamboo pergolas
  • Hand-painted rice paddy and village scene murals, evoking Southern Vietnam’s countryside
Rooftop Garden Style at secret garden restaurant ho chi minh

Rooftop Garden Style (Source: secretgarden158pasteur)

Capacity & Seating

  • Total capacity: 100 individuals in three areas
    • Lantern Patio (2–4-seat tables): intimate seating beneath silk lanterns
    • Family Arbor (4–8 seats): half-shaded pergola with rattan fans
    • Traveler’s Longhouse (10–14 seats): communal tables with movable bamboo screens
  • Staff can reconfigure settings for couples, families, or group tours
Lantern Patio

Lantern Patio (Source: secretgarden158pasteur)

Atmosphere Throughout the Day

  • Sunrise Brunch (08:00–10:30): soft morning light, cool breeze, ideal for fresh coffee and light salads
  • Afternoon Lull (15:00–17:00): serene refuge, shaded under pergolas, ideal for iced lemongrass tea and lotus-root salad
  • Sunset Dinner (17:30–22:00): golden-hour vistas, lantern-lit, signature offerings of Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh menu, accompanied by vast city views
Sunrise Brunch

Sunrise Brunch (Source: secretgarden158pasteur)

Full Menu of Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh

Here is the full Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh menu, featuring genuine Southern Vietnamese cuisine, desserts, and drinks. All prices are subject to a 10% VAT.

Salad

  • Gỏi cá lóc xoài bằm (Mango salad with grilled snakehead fish) – 125.000 ₫
  • Gỏi bò rau húng lùi – bánh đa (Grilled beef salad with mint leaves & rice cracker) – 160.000 ₫
  • Gỏi mực dưa leo húng lùi (Squid salad with cucumber & mint leaves) – 150.000 ₫
  • Gỏi ngó sen tôm thịt (Lotus root salad with pork & prawn) – 125.000 ₫
Gỏi ngó sen tôm thịt at Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh

Gỏi ngó sen tôm thịt (Source: secretgarden158pasteur)

Vegetables

  • Thiên lý xào tỏi (Stir-fried tonkin flowers & garlic) – 105.000 ₫
  • Thiên lý xào bò (Stir-fried tonkin flowers & beef) – 155.000 ₫
  • Rau muống xào tỏi (Stir-fried morning glory & garlic) – 85.000 ₫
  • Cà tím nướng mỡ hành (Grilled eggplant with scallion oil) – 85.000 ₫
  • Rau củ hầm quê (Steamed mixed vegetables with caramelised fish sauce) – 95.000 ₫
Rau muống xào tỏi at Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh

Rau muống xào tỏi (Source: secretgarden158pasteur)

Beef

  • Bò nhúng giấm (Beef dipped in vinegar) – 290.000 ₫
  • Bò nướng xiên (Grilled beef skewers) – 180.000 ₫
  • Bò lúc lắc (Stir-fried beef & French fries) – 150.000 ₫
  • Bò nướng lá chuối (Grilled beef wrapped in banana leaf) – 195.000 ₫
Bò lúc lắc at Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh

Bò lúc lắc (Source: secretgarden158pasteur)

Seafood & Specialties

  • Cá chẽm sốt Thái (Sea bass Thai-style) – 255.000 ₫
  • Cá lóc fillet nướng Tây Bắc (Grilled snakehead fillet Northwest style) – 315.000 ₫
  • Cá lóc fillet hấp bí đỏ cuốn bánh tráng (Steamed snakehead fillet with pumpkin & rice paper) – 315.000 ₫
  • Cá tầm hấp tiêu xanh (White sturgeon steamed with green pepper) – 225.000 ₫
  • Cá tầm nướng muối ớt (Grilled white sturgeon with salt & chili) – 225.000 ₫
  • Cá trứng chiên giấm mắm me (Deep-fried capelin with tamarind sauce) – 95.000 ₫
Cá trứng chiên giấm mắm me at Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh

Cá trứng chiên giấm mắm me (Source: secretgarden158pasteur)

Rice & Noodles

  • Cơm trắng (Steamed jasmine rice) – 15.000 ₫
  • Cơm chiên xá xíu hạt sen (Fried rice with char siu & lotus seed) – 135.000 ₫
  • Cơm chiên lá cẩm thịt cua (Fried rice with magenta leaf & crab meat) – 150.000 ₫
  • Cơm chiên tỏi (Fried rice with garlic) – 115.000 ₫
  • Cơm chiên hải sản (Seafood fried rice) – 125.000 ₫
  • Mì udon nấu rau củ (Udon with mixed vegetables) – 125.000 ₫
  • Mì udon xào hải sản (Stir-fried udon with seafood) – 200.000 ₫
  • Mì udon xào chà bông cải thìa (Stir-fried udon with char siu & bok choy) – 125.000 ₫
Cơm chiên xá xíu hạt sen

Cơm chiên xá xíu hạt sen (Source: secretgarden158pasteur)

Desserts (Sweet Soups)

  • Chè bánh lọt (Pandan jelly sweetsoup) – 35.000 ₫
  • Chè đậu xanh nước cốt dừa (Green bean & coconut milk sweetsoup) – 35.000 ₫
  • Chè đậu đen nước cốt dừa (Black bean & coconut milk sweetsoup) – 35.000 ₫
  • Chè bắp nước cốt dừa (Corn & coconut milk sweetsoup) – 35.000 ₫
  • Chè sâm bổ lượng (Seaweed & nuts sweetsoup) – 35.000 ₫
  • Chè thập cẩm táo đỏ (Mixed fruits & red date sweetsoup) – 35.000 ₫
Chè bánh lọt

Chè bánh lọt (Source: secretgarden158pasteur)

Drinks

  • Saigon beer – 50.000 ₫
  • 333 beer – 50.000 ₫
  • Heineken – 55.000 ₫
  • Sapporo beer – 55.000 ₫
  • Cà phê đen (Black coffee) – 45.000 ₫
  • Cà phê sữa đá (Milk coffee) – 45.000 ₫
  • Pepsi / 7UP – 35.000 ₫
  • Nước suối (Bottled water) – 30.000 ₫
  • Perrier mineral water – 55.000 ₫
Cà phê sữa đá

Cà phê sữa đá (Source: secretgarden158pasteur)

Fruit juice (65.000 ₫ each type):

  • Xoài xanh ép (Green mango juice)
  • Ổi ép (Guava juice)
  • Thơm ép (Pineapple juice)
  • Cà rốt ép (Carrot juice)
  • Chanh dây ép (Passionfruit juice)
  • Dưa hấu ép (Watermelon juice)
Dưa hấu ép

Dưa hấu ép (Source: secretgarden158pasteur)

Tea & Other:

  • Trà tươi gừng (Fresh green tea & ginger) – 15.000 ₫
  • Sả chanh (Lemongrass lime) – 35.000 ₫
  • Rượu mận đậu nành (Mixed soy milk & pennywort) – 35.000 ₫
  • Pennywort juice – 35.000 ₫
  • Sữa đậu nành (Soy milk) – 35.000 ₫
Trà tươi gừng

Trà tươi gừng (Source: secretgarden158pasteur)

Taste Profiles & Culinary Highlights

Flavor Foundations of Southern Cuisine

Southern Vietnamese cooking is celebrated for its spirited harmony of sweetness, savoriness, and tanginess. At Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh, you’ll taste this balance in every dish:

  • Sweet notes emerge in the caramelized glaze of fried spare ribs with sauce Secret Garden, its sugar-kissed sauce dancing alongside tender pork ribs.
  • Umami depth is found in grilled lemongrass spring rolls, lemongrass pork rolls grilled over charcoal, creating a rich umami aroma that wafts into the air.
  • Acidity lifts plates like snakehead fish salad with minced mango, in which green mango, fish, and chili are shredded together in a zesty, palate-awakening embrace.

Presentation and Portion Sizing

Each plate brought to the Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh is presented with flair, each dish arranged to highlight its ingredients’ colors and textures. Salad bowls are filled with splashes of colorful greens and gem-colored shreds of fruit. Beef, seafood, and rice dishes are designed to feature contrasts – crunchy edges up against oozy sauces, garnishes like minigardens. All is intended for sharing: most salads and appetizers serve two or three diners, and copious mains fill four-top tables. This outdoor-style welcomes conversation and discovery, and visitors are invited to sample a few specialties on the Secret Garden restaurant’s Ho Chi Minh menu.

Practical Tips for Travelers to Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh

Optimal Timing

  • Morning weekdays (08:00–10:30) and late afternoons (15:00–16:30) offer the most serene rooftop experience.
  • Weeknights from 18:00 to 20:00 get crowded – book ahead if you prefer sunset views on the Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh menu.

Dress & Climate

  • Wear breathable, smart-casual clothing: linen tops, cotton dresses, or fitted shorts.
  • Bring a light wrap from December through February when the outdoor terrace gets a chill breeze.

Access & Parking

  • No on-site car park; ride-hailing services can drop off at 158 Bis Pasteur’s entrance.
  • Motorbikes along Pasteur Street (a five-minute walk uphill).
  • The fourth-floor elevator is wheelchair accessible, and staff are on hand to help.

Conclusion

Short and sweet, Secret Garden Restaurant Ho Chi Minh is an idyllic rooftop oasis above District 1, fusing authentic Southern Vietnamese cooking, including caramel-glazed pork ribs and Thai-style sea bass with a tangy twist, with greenerie décor and panoramic views of the city. Upgrade your mealtime experience with an Impress Travel tour: shop at local markets by day, then toast the sunset in this green oasis. Book now to reserve and discover why this rooftop treasure is one of the best food Ho Chi Minh District 1.

Ranana

You feel like organized tour, but you are in a privet tour. Impress Travel make the different.

We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.

Ebrahim

Tour of Vietnam

Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!

Solly Pochee

The tour was fantastic

I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee

Bernard Lim

Great value for money with 4 stars hotel

Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.

Derek.Schooling

We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel

This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress.
Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.

My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide).
Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .

We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress

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