Summer Experiment

Summer Experiment is a craft cocktail bar on Lý Tự Trọng in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The establishment occupies the second floor of a commercial walk-up building near Bến Thành Market. Australian mixologist Jay Moir and the hospitality team behind Layla opened the bar in late 2019. Guests access the venue through an internal staircase leading up from street level.

The interior centers on an extensive wooden bar counter with custom high stools. Bartenders mix drinks in full view of seated patrons along the main counter. An outdoor terrace with potted plants and herbs overlooks the street below. The botanical garden supplies fresh herbs directly to the drink preparation stations.

The drink program emphasizes a sustainable, garden-to-glass approach using regional produce and house infusions. Signature drinks include the 365 Days of Summer and the dragon fruit-forward Dragon’s Delight. Bartenders prepare adventurous recipes incorporating unusual elements like dried carrot and liquid nitrogen. The beverage list also offers international wines, premium spirits, and craft beers on tap.

A compact food menu provides savory sharing plates that complement the drink selection. Offerings include fresh raw oysters with wasabi sauce and spirit-infused oyster shooters. Cooks also prepare cassava cheese balls with salted egg mayonnaise and melted cheese toast. Tatler Asia listed Summer Experiment among its top regional bar selections. The establishment operates seven evenings a week in central Saigon.