Tam-Tam is the place to be in Hoi An. The brainchild of three French expats, it is historic and laid-back, serving good, familiar food. The decor is authentic local-style, with hanging bamboo lamps, a high wooden ceiling, and fantastic wooden figurines.
The dinner menu, served in a separate restaurant room with checkered tablecloths, is simple -- featuring generous portions of homemade pastas, steaks, and salads -- but the food is delicious. The dessert menu includes flambéed crepes, sorbet, and hot chocolate.
There are two bar rooms: The bigger one to the left of the entry has a pool table, a book-swap shelf, comfortable lounge chairs, and sofas, and is the place to hang out in Hoi An. The extensive drink menu features all kinds of bang-for-the-buck rum specials, and there's even a small counter on the balcony where you can sip a cocktail and watch life go by on the street below. Even if just for a coffee, don't miss this place.
“As an expatriate living in Vietnam, I am always looking for new, relaxed and high quality eating and drinking experiences. I had such an experience recently during a weekend away at Hoi An. I love Hoi An, but I must say that I find many of the eating and drinking spots up there a little bit boring and same-same as each other. So I was most pleasantly surprised by the Tam Tam Café, which had been recommended to me by a friend. The ambiance, décor and general atmosphere of the Tam Tam are the first thing you notice. It is simply a very comfortable and pleasant place to be, as soon as you walk through the door. The delightfully friendly and polite staff then guided my friends and I to what we thought were the best seats in the house – on the balcony overlooking the streetscape below. It’s difficult to imagine a nicer spot for dining and chatting. Inside, of course, there’s everything from a comfortable bar, to pool tables, to air conditioned inside seating, but we liked the balcony the best. Being fans of cocktails, we ordered a few, including margaritas, mojitos and daiquiris, all of which were superb. The menu was excellent and very diverse, spanning both Vietnamese and Western dishes, all at very competitive prices. All four of us who attended were delighted with our food, with the Vietnamese appetisers and the fish with turmeric wrapped in banana leaves being the stand-out highlights. The service was unfailingly prompt, efficient and friendly, even though both the bar and the restaurant were full of people. By the time we left, we were all a little tipsy, extremely well fed and altogether highly satisfied. On top of all of that, the lovely owner of the establishment, Ms Phi, very kindly helped us out with accommodation tips, phone numbers and general advice! I would have no hesitation in giving the Tam Tam Café the highest of recommendations to anybody, expatriate or local, who happens to be in the Hoi An area"
Justin Gisz, Senior Associate, Frasers International Lawyers.
