Seafood Specialties & Divine Patisseries: The Cargo Club, Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An is a World Heritage-listed list town 45 minutes’ drive from Danang and is a great option for a long weekend’s getaway. Being on a river and not far from the sea, the restaurants in Hoi An specialise in seafood, particularly crab and shrimp. One of the best places to enjoy the local fare is the Cargo Club, which you will find at 107-109 Nguyen Thai Hoc.

The Cargo Club’s white walls, dark wood, and rattan and cane furniture give it a relaxing colonial feel. Sit outside with a cold drink and watch the passing parade or escape the heat in the large, airy downstairs area and eye off the divine patisseries. While it’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, my advice is to book a table for dinner and make sure it is a table on the upstairs terrace.

The upstairs terrace is subtly lit with fairy lights and is wonderful for a romantic dinner. The menu includes international cuisine as well as Vietnamese but my second piece of advice is to go Vietnamese and go for the seafood. Dishes like grilled prawns in tamarind sauce, grilled squid in lemongrass and green melon salad with shrimp are sure to have you wanting more.

You might also want to sample the local dishes like white rose (dumplings with shrimp) and Cao lau (rice noodles with sliced pork, herbs and vegetables). There’s a wine list available but beer in Vietnam is cheap and tasty. Try the Saigon Special beer – it’s good stuff.

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