Before you order your meal, let alone take a single bite of food, you’ll probably peruse our drink menu. An original cocktail, glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage is likely to be your first introduction to NÚC Concept Kitchen & Bar and therefore, whatever you select must exemplify our ideals: creative but reverent to tradition; respectful of Earth and its many wondrous fruits, spices and vegetables; inclusive of many tastes, preferences and moods. To accomplish this we had our full F&B team, experts from leading bars in Saigon and beyond, and our close friends whose opinions we admire all have a hand in shaping the menu.

Our cocktails allowed us the greatest room to play when imagining NÚC’s identity in liquid form. We thought back to our favorite childhood flavors and also the latest drinks that made us excited at the newest bars in town. We walked through our fully stocked kitchen for inspiration as well as wandered in the forest and down busy Saigon streets. We when it was time to come up with names, we let ourselves get a bit silly, reflecting on our favorite myths and legends while coaxing out puns and jokes in every language we speak. 

We are humble but proud of the cocktails we created. Take, for example, the "Bắt Con Cọp," a nostalgic nod to halcyon Saigon afternoons with its blend of vodka, Bianco Vermouth, and apple clarified with a hint of anise that we promise tastes like the sarsaparilla sodas we sipped in childhood. Or savor the "Buổi Trưa ăn Bưởi Chua," a playful concoction of gin, apricot liqueur, yuzu sake, miso, and lime that pays homage to the Vietnamese tradition of enjoying sour pomelo in the afternoon. You can make your choice based on their names, the listed ingredients or choose at random and we promise you won’t regret it as a sense of adventure is part of the fun.

If cocktails let us indulge our many personalities, wine is where we could show off our experience with vintages from around the world and a passion for pairing with foods. After many conversations and bottles uncorked, along with the consultation of our sommelier, we narrowed it down to a gathering of wines that we hope fits every mood and every dish. And please ask us for suggestions - we love to help people on their paths of wine discovery, and it helps us justify all the glasses we’ve toasted when putting the list together.

One of the most important principles we have at NÚC is making sure that everyone feels not only welcome, but catered to. This means we have an extensive non-alcoholic selection for those seeking a refreshing alternative to water that is just as surprising and fun as our alcoholic cocktails. We know some places treat their non-alcoholic drinks as an afterthought, but the juices, mocktails, coffees and kombuchas were a priority for us, particularly because they allowed us to indulge our particular appreciation for fresh fruit and lactation. Without alcohol, pure flavors shine, upping the degrees of difficulty and giving us a great way to showcase our skills. 

While concocting the drinks at NÚC Concept Kitchen & Bar, we were focused on the need for our drinks menu to be more than just a way to satisfy your thirst during a meal or an excuse to meet with friends during happy hour — they need to reflect our passion for Vietnam’s cultural traditions and future, the bounties of Mother nature, and our own personality and quirks so that the first sip assures you that you are in for something special. Whether you're enjoying a cocktail, exploring our wine list, or indulging in a refreshing mocktail, each drink is an embodiment of NÚC, and this makes us very proud to share with you.