These five exquisite dining experiences are worth travelling for, writes Rhonda Bannister.
Nestled in the lush embrace of Vietnam’s Son Tra Peninsula, the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is a haven of creative opulence, where the region’s natural splendour converges with world-class hospitality.
Designed by legendary architect, interior designer, artist and landscape designer Bill Bensley, the resort cascades down an emerald expanse of ‘Monkey Mountain’ to an immaculate private beach accessed by a funicular that connects the resort’s four levels, Heaven, Sky, Earth and Sea.
The resort is a masterpiece of elegance and escapism. After spending three fabulous days here, it’s easy to see why so many celebrities and well-heeled business folk choose to stay — and why the InterContinental Danang regularly rates among Vietnam’s best hotels and resorts. Not only are the rooms, suites and villas designed with the utmost comfort in mind, but they’re furnished with a classic blend of Asian opulence and Vietnamese ornamentation, creating a rich cultural experience.
Yet, within its collection of restaurants and bars, the resort’s soul is revealed through an extraordinary gastronomic journey that speaks to both the refined palate and the adventurous spirit. The dining experiences, while luxurious, cater to a range of budgets, making them accessible to a wide audience.
The Art of Precision: The Teppanyaki Experience
Tingara, the resort’s latest jewel, is an intimate teppanyaki adventure showcasing Japan’s culinary craftsmanship, artistry and theatre. Set high under a rainforest canopy, Tingara takes its name from the Okinawan word for “river of stars” (the Milky Way).
At the helm is Chef Junichi Yoshida, a teppanyaki luminary whose Tokyo establishment, Ishigaki Yoshida, earned a milestone Michelin star for its take on Kitauchi beef. Prepare to be swept away to teppanyaki heaven as the team, including teppanyaki expert Tetsuhiko Isozaki and sushi master Tsuneyoshi Taira, transforms the finest ingredients into an edible performance.
Tingara’s Teppanyaki Experience unfolds over seven delectable courses. The crispy grilled steak, using prized Japanese Yaeyama-Kyori beef, is undoubtedly the star of the show with each sizzle and dancing flame a promise of the flavours to come. The accompanying dishes form a masterful medley of tastes and textures, concluding with a sweet treat of strawberry sorbet, ricotta mousse, strawberry sauce and lemon foam. This is a true experience, guided by a chef who relishes the show as diners clap in appreciation. In every sense, Tingara is a testament to craftsmanship, where precision meets passion on a plate.
Related: Read our comprehensive review on staying the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort
Haute Cuisine in a Colonial Dream: La Maison 1888
La Maison 1888 is more than a restaurant — it’s a passage through time, an homage to French refinement set within a colonial Indochine mansion that whispers tales of aristocratic indulgence. Here, under the guidance of Chef Christian Le Squer, holder of three Michelin stars and named Gault&Millau’s global Chef of the Year 2023, each dish is an ode to good taste.
The menu is an orchestration of French technique and Vietnamese ingredients, a seamless interplay between land and sea. Dishes including Dublin Bay langoustine with warm mayonnaise and buckwheat pancake, silky mousseline scallops with cauliflower cream and caviar, and chicken and black truffle paired with a velvety smooth pinot noir each present a masterstroke of timeless sophistication.
Every detail, from the curated wine list to the monogrammed china, speaks of devotion to excellence, making La Maison 1888 a destination in itself. Our tip? Nab a seat on the terrace for pre-dinner drinks overlooking the sea before dining by candlelight in the main restaurant. So romantic.
Dining with a View: The Signature Experience at Citron
At the highest point of the resort, with the most breathtaking bay views, Citron is an architectural marvel where guests can dine in outdoor booths shaped like inverted nón-lás: Vietnam’s iconic conical hats. Vietnamese royal motifs inspire the restaurant’s design, but the menu truly reigns supreme. Breakfast is a revelation (honestly, one of Asia’s best breakfast spreads), featuring a range of local and international classics. Lunch and dinner offer delectable dishes from around the country as well as global favourites, with the regular Sunday Champagne Brunch a must-try if you have the chance.
Every dish is a love letter to Vietnam’s culinary heritage, served in a setting that feels almost celestial. The phở, simmered for hours with marrow-rich bones, is a showpiece of balance with its light and profoundly complex broth. The bánh xèo, a crispy Vietnamese pancake, arrives crisp and golden, filled with succulent shrimp and fragrant herbs. And the delicate rice paper rolls, hand-assembled at the table, offer a refreshing counterpoint to the richer flavours.
Citron is sensational — just remember to book your booth in advance for the quintessential experience and best views.
The Essence of Barefoot Luxury: Dining by the Sea
If toes-in-the-sand dining is your idea of date-night heaven, The Barefoot delivers a refreshingly unpretentious yet wholly refined experience. Here, the essence of the ocean is distilled into dishes that highlight the natural bounty of Vietnam’s waters, and expertly grilled meats such as Wagyu sirloin and Solomillo Iberico pork sizzle on the charcoal grill.
The Barefoot’s culinary team creates simple and sublime dishes. Picture a plate of fresh-caught grilled tiger prawns, their charred shells crackling under the weight of a lemongrass-infused butter. Or a salt-baked sea bass, theatrically unwrapped at the table to reveal flesh so tender it yields at the mere whisper of a fork.
If you’re staying over a weekend, don’t miss Saturday’s Barbecue and Bonfire Buffet, a weekly event with live cooking stations and dancing under the stars that invites diners to kick back on the salt-kissed shores of Danang.
L_O_N_G Bar: A Liquid Symphony of Craftsmanship
No journey through the InterContinental Danang’s epicurean wonders would be complete without an evening at the L_O_N_G Bar, a haven of liquid alchemy where mixology is treated as an art form. The longest bar in Vietnam is an elegant stretch of polished wood, its length a symbol of endless possibility, where each cocktail tells a story. Relax in one of the vast daybeds or climb into a suspended rattan chair at the bar. They’re both amazingly comfortable; you’ll want to hang out here for hours.
Our tip? Try the Sunset Reverie, marrying house-infused lemongrass gin with lychee and a whisper of chilli to create a cocktail that lingers like the last golden rays of the day. Or maybe the Dragon’s Elixir, a daring blend of local rice vodka, passionfruit, and black pepper, is more your style. To sip a cocktail here, with the sea stretching endlessly beyond, is to understand the true meaning of indulgence.
A Feast for the Senses
Dining at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is more than a series of meals — it’s a delectable journey crafted by some of the world’s finest culinary minds. From the sizzling theatrics of Tingara’s teppanyaki to the grandeur of La Maison 1888, from the relaxed elegance of The Barefoot to the regal embrace of Citron, and finally, to the refined libations of the Long Bar, each experience is a memory in the making.
Related reading: 17 of the best beach resorts in Vietnam
