China Princess Hotel Rooftop Bar – For less than 100 baht, the cost of a drink including a draft beer at 75 baht only, get a surprising panoramic view of Chinatown and beyond, all the way to the Chao Phraya river at Sky View 360˙Restaurant Rooftop Bar and Restaurant. It is located on the revolving top floor of the China Princess Hotel and it takes about two hours to complete a full round; you barely notice any movement.
The restaurant serves also Thai, European, Japanese and Chinese with old fashioned waiters and waitresses with live piano background music. This viewpoint is not very well known and is a great place to take an air conditioned break any time between 17:00 and 01:00 after a tiring exploration of busy Chinatown.
Opening Hours: 17:00 – 01:00
Location: Charoen Krung Road next to Old Siam Plaza
Combining three remarkable dining and entertainment establishments within the ‘factory chic’ confines of polished concrete and 360 degree views, Heaven Bangkok brings an air of urban sophistication to the city. Situated on the 17th to 20th floors on top of Zen Department Store – part of the colossal Central World Shopping Mall – in the Siam district of Bangkok, guests can expect creative cocktails, conceptual dining, and classic city views. Specifically, the complex consists of Zense Gourmet Deck and Lounge, Shintori Japanese Art Cuisine and Horizons Gastronomy and Mixology, all grouped under the umbrella name of Heaven Bangkok.
We love the location of Heaven Bangkok because it is the only rooftop bar and restaurant in the middle of the shopping district of Bangkok and formerly the idea of a sun downer cocktail after shopping meant a cross town dash to the riverside, whereas now it is simply an elevator ride away. Heaven Bangkok is open from 17:30 to 01:00 every day of the week and can be accessed through elevators in Zen Department Store.
Zense offers a unique dining experience with six separate kitchens offering a culinary journey around the world – with the stunning cityscape as a backdrop. It is a surprisingly large space split into a wine bar, open plan restaurant and a spacious deck with modern seating and a cocktail bar featuring some surprising twists on classic drinks: caipirinhas and mojitos can be had with the classic lime or several other tropical fruits including longan or lychee.
The menu is a compendium of all the different kitchens and diners are free to mix and match to their heart’s content. The food here is not fine dining, more like good food done well and all of the restaurants serving at Zense were handpicked from around Bangkok: Thai cuisine by White Cafe Italian cuisine by Gianni Ristorante French cuisine by the acclaimed Le Beaulieu Japanese cuisine Kikusui Contemporary Indian by Red Modern European by To Die For This is all topped off with the ZENSE patisserie, preparing over 30 cakes and other baked treats to finish your meal off in suitable style. Those who want to try something Thai should definitely consider the duck larb, which is minced duck breast fried with mint, basil, garlic and onion, served with sticky rice. It is a fiery dish with strong flavours that shows the best of Thai cuisine.
For something European, the sea bass with blanched vegetables and served on a bed of spinach with a thick creamy sauce is a work of art, filleted and served with the spine jutting off the plate. The taste is as succulent and fresh as any seafood restaurant. It must be said that Zense is constantly bustling with a fairly even mix of tourists and locals, all drawn by the fantastic choice, sophisticated views and very reasonable prices. In fact, with main dishes starting from 300 baht I think you would be hard pushed to find a gourmet rooftop dining experience for a similar price anywhere in central Bangkok.
Opening Hours: Opening Hours: 17:30 – 01:00 (last food orders at 23:00)
BTS: Chit Lom
Address: 17/F, Zen, CentralWorld, 999/9 Ratchadamri Rd., Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0)2 1009898
Horizons @ Heaven Horizons at Heaven is an alfresco cocktail bar with some creative tapas dishes to enjoy while lazing back on the sleek daybeds and soaking up the 360 degree view. There is a DJ playing chill electronic music to start the night and moving onto house and techno as the night moves on. The superb tapas menu at Horizons is a fusion of Thai, Japanese and Western.
It’s a strategy that could lack any semblance of continuity in the wrong hands, but at Horizons the dishes are all mini adventures in themselves, created with sizeable flair, and suit the environment perfectly. Our favourites include the Thai-inspired lamb with basil and chilli placed on a crispy tortilla chip, bite-sized wagyu steak on a potato roti base and pork belly with cabbage and horseradish for that sharp overtone. Gourmet ingredients produced with a casual style. The cocktail list is impressive and split into classics, molecular offerings and some of the most creative shots we’ve ever seen.
Our advice is to choose your base spirit and then take the plunge with one of their Signature offerings. Horizons is the place to come for some pumping tunes and good time vibes – either for a sundowner cocktail or after dinner with the lights of Bangkok shining on deep into the night. Horizons has an excellent buy-one-get-one-free deal from 17:30 to 19:30 on selected cocktails, wine and beers.
Opening Hours: Opening Hours: 17:30 – 01:00 (last food orders at 23:00)
Address: 19/F, Zen, CentralWorld, 999/9 Ratchadamri Rd, Bangkok