Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi - Mgallery

The bar team really made our stay memorable. Our package came with afternoon cocktails and canapes, and that gave us a chance to chat with Nhat and the team. They were so friendly and had great tips about Hanoi and Vietnam. We also liked the lobby and atrium restaurant. We had a suite at Hotel L'Opera, possibly the nicest room we've stayed in, and definitely the biggest. The hotel is right by the opera house, a short walk from the lake and about ten minutes on foot from the Old Quarter.

The location is the strongest point. There are lots of good places for food and coffee within easy walking distance, and the guest staff were very kind, polite, and quick to respond. But the facilities didn't feel luxurious, and one evening I found a dead spider on the nightstand after the room had been cleaned. The decor and fixtures are dated and, to my eye, tacky. The bathroom vanity photo gives a sense of it: bright shiny pool tiles, heavy marble, and very bright showgirl-style lights all together. Even the toilet paper holder was so flimsy that the roll fell off whenever I pulled paper. The sink basin splashed water everywhere, and the shower swung between scalding and lukewarm or cold. If this were presented as a three-star hotel, those things might be less of an issue. Calling it five-star feels misleading. If you're looking for a clean, modern, stylish, high-end stay, this isn't it.

The food was a pleasant surprise, better than some Michelin places I tried on this trip, and the staff were warm and attentive. I also loved the opera-inspired look and the French music around the hotel, especially in the restaurant and bar. It gave the place a European feel that I really enjoyed. I chose Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi – MGallery mostly for where it is. The Opera House, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Old Quarter are all a short walk away, so getting around the city was easy without transport. I had a really enjoyable stay, and the hotel made the trip feel more special.

The breakfast spread was amazing, and I loved eating in the dining room with the big screen. It was just too cold in there for me. The staff were so friendly and professional, and the beds and pillows were fantastic. The rooms have all been renovated and look very nice. The bathrooms were roomy, though the orange colour scheme left me wondering why they chose orange. We thought the location was great, with markets, the lake, and shopping only a short walk away. There was lots of upmarket five-star shopping [brand name] around us. I'd stay here again.