House of Barbaard is a barbershop-bar hybrid
In the past couple of years, there has been a plethora of barbershops popping up all across Saigon boasting trendy services with modern facilities.
However, House of Barbaard has taken the barbering concept to a whole new level by combining a barbershop, a full-service bar, and a tailor shop all under one roof. Not only does House of Barbaard offer a cool space to tame your mane, it also includes a posh bar set in the 1920’s hedonistic Jazz Age where you can down a whisky and smoke a cigar like Jay Gatsby would.
The Smart Local readers can claim 25% off their first barber service at the House of Barbaard in Hanoi and Saigon – simply by liking and following our Facebook page and House of Barbaard’s Facebook page as well.
Layout and ambience
Image adapted from: Ministry of Men
Located inside a beautiful and quiet lane on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street in District 1, House of Barbaard is a gem hidden in plain sight.
Image adapted from: House of Barbaard
If you’re here for the grooming treatments, walk up the stairs to the 3rd floor where the House of Barbaard barbershop is cleverly hidden.
We dare say this is the main draw – House of Barbaard’s cosy, elegant barbershop with only 6 chairs, where at most 6 customers are served at any time. Here, you’ll find an attentive and unhurried barbering style, prioritizing consultation that is often ignored in modern-day grooming.
On the way up, the first thing you see when you walk into the place is a bar called Ministry of Men, which can accommodate up to 50 people at any given time. Other services you can find here include tailoring, which takes place in House of Barbaard’s tailor shop on the 2nd floor. This is where you’ll find a gamut of menswear items inspired by early 20th-century UK fashion.
House of Barbaard’s barbershop on the third floor
Image adapted from: House of Barbaard
You can expect a solid range of barber services in this man-only space that start at VND280,000 (~USD12.13), including haircuts, hair washes, head shaves, hot towel shaves, and beard trims.
Image adapted from: House of Barbaard
Barbers at House of Barbaard can deliver a diversity of haircuts, from classic pompadours to statement Afro hairstyles. All of the barbers here have to join a 6-month barber training course and attend monthly training on the latest haircuts or beard trimming styles.
What makes House of Barbaard unique is that it offers beard maintenance services which you can rarely find elsewhere in town. Many barbers know how to trim hair, but not many are professionally trained to properly trim, style, and take care of customers’ beards. House of Barbaard also sells a dizzying selection of beard maintenance products to keep your beard look shiny and crisp, from beard moisturizers to beard scrubs to beard brushes.
According to House of Barbaard, it uses only top-of-the-line imported products, from hair clippers to hair care products. Among the haircare and shaving brands you can find here include De Vergulde Hand and Reuzel from the Netherlands, Edwin Jagger from the UK, and The Gents Bay, a locally grown company famed for its quality line of pomades.
Image adapted from: House of Barbaard
Ministry of Men bar on the ground floor
Image adapted from: Ministry of Men
Inspired by the glitz and glamour of the 1920’s Jazz Age, House of Barbaard’s ground floor is decked out in a suave Art Deco style with a playful twist.
Image adapted from: Ministry of Men
The interiors are adorned in deep green and red, complemented with art prints in golden frames featuring animals in suits, as well as prominent historical figures such as Marilyn Monroe and fictional characters such as Jay Gatsby.
Image adapted from: Ministry of Men
Kitted out with drapes and classic wooden casement windows, the bar is dimly illuminated by sophisticated pendant lamps, fitting for a period mystery drama.
Image adapted from: Ministry of Men
Leather couches, dark brown tables, generously sized wingback chairs, and vintage ceiling fans add a retro vibe to the bar.
Image adapted from: Ministry of Men
If there’s anything modern about this watering hole, it would be the bar counter, where drinks and tapas are prepared and served by men in sleek waistcoats who are fluent in both English and Vietnamese.
Breakfast Martini
Image adapted from: Ministry of Men
Ministry of Men has a wide variety of classic drinks served with innovative twists. For a refreshing and tangy drink, check out the famous Breakfast Martini (VND190,000,~USD8.23), a cocktail made of gin, marmalade, and orange liqueur.
The 20th century
Image adapted from: Ministry of Men
For a sip of a pre-WW2 recipe, order the 20th Century (VND190,000,~USD8.23), a classic gin cocktail invented in 1937 and named after The 20th Century Limited, the world’s most extravagant passenger train back in the day. Made of gin, Lillet lemon juice, and creme de cacao, the 20th Century is a richly flavored drink.
Gather your friends a la the gentlemen in the Titanic movie’s First Class Smoke Room to discuss world affairs while smoking cigars together. Cigar aficionados can order a premium senorita cigar (VND150,000,~USD6.50) from the bar, kick back, and draw in the smoke like a pro.
If you’re feeling generous, we suggest you check out the bar’s curated list of signature drinks named after the world’s most prominent scientists and politicians.
Marrie Curie
Image adapted from: Ministry of Men
Featuring pea butterfly-infused Bombay Sapphire, Shinny Sake, pomegranate juice, Shiso cordial, and lime juice, the light and sour Marie Curie (VND230,000,~USD9.97) will give you a sensory overload. What’s more, this drink is served in an Erlenmeyer flask with test tubes as a tribute to Marie Curie’s illustrious scientific career.
Image adapted from: Ministry of Men
Ministry of Men features no shortage of performances and social activities to keep guests and members entertained.
Image adapted from: Ministry of Men
From live music shows to weekly chess-playing activities, the bar has a rotation of themed nights to keep you coming back for more.
House of Barbaard’s tailor shop on the second floor
Image adapted from: House of Barbaard
If you’re a fan of the Peaky Blinders drama series and still on the hunt for the vintage items worn by Thomas Shelby, look no further than House of Barbaard’s bespoke tailor shop one floor up.
Image adapted from: House of Barbaard
Showcasing a myriad of menswear and accessories such as 8-panel caps, suspenders, leather boots, and custom shirts, House of Barbaard has enough fashionable items to give you a stylish and personalized look.
Memberships at House of Barbaard
Should you see yourself returning to this relaxing environment for a regular trim, memberships are available.
Image adapted from: House of Barbaard
Any customer can apply for the Blue, Silver, Gold, and Black, House of Barbaard’s membership options that give you access to all House of Barbaard venues including the Hanoi location, discounts on drinks at the bar, complimentary shoe-shining services, and private events and soirees reserved for elite members.
Image adapted from: Ministry of Men
Visitors and members can look forward to mingling with accomplished men who appreciate the finer things in life here whenever you need a break from the daily grind.
Why you should visit House of Barbaard
House of Barbaard offers a comprehensive gentleman’s experience complete with a cocktail bar, a tailor shop, and a barbershop. While their drinks, food, and barber services are on the high end of the spectrum, the cosmopolitan ambiance and unique pampering and drinking experience make it a good place to wind down, refresh your look, and make new friends.
House of Barbaard Saigon
Address:12-4B Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Đa Kao, Quận 1, Saigon
Opening hours: 9AM-10PM, Daily
Telephone: 028 7772 7737
House of Barbaard Hanoi
Address:36 Hàng Cháo, Cát Linh, Đống Đa, Hà Nội
Opening hours: 9AM-10PM, Daily
Telephone: 024 7772 7737
Also check out:
- 10 bespoke tailors in Ho Chi Minh City to get suited up for your next big event
- 15 bars and pubs in Saigon for original cocktails and tasty wine
- Guide to Saigon’s Japan Town: from omakase dining to onsen baths
- Check out Southeast Asia’s largest MUJI store in District 1’s Parkson Le Thanh Ton
- Dai Nam Wonderland is Vietnam’s largest cultural theme park with free entry throughout 2021
Cover image adapted from: Ministry of Men, House of Barbaard, House of Barbaard, and House of Barbaard
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