BREW BAR
Brew Beers and Ciders has the largest stock of beers, ciders and ales in Bangkok and is the place for anyone who tires of the predictable Chang, Singha and Tiger which make up Thailand’s usual selection. At Brew, there is an unbelievable range of draft and bottled beers from micro breweries around the world, and you are pretty much guaranteed to find even the most bespoke of tipples.
As with other imported non-essentials, imported beers are subjected to heavy tax so don’t expect a bargain here – expect to pay around 250 baht a beer, up to 300 baht for stronger or more unusual Belgian abbey beers. Brew is on the ground floor of Seen Space, an outdoor community mall on Thong Lor Soi 13, which is one of the most fashionable districts in the city and a favourite of rich, young Thais and many foreigners yearning for a taste of the world’s best beers.
The interior of Brew is modern and clean, with full glass frontage, brass piping and an industrial, masculine décor. Tables are made of beer kegs and the TVs show sports, but it’s not the best place for watching a match as the atmosphere is more focused on chatting in the courtyard than squeezing into the fairly limited inside space. The central area – which Brew shares with Clouds cocktail bar next door – is far more fun with fairy lights hung from trees and hundreds of people chatting around closely arranged tables. Shisha pipes are available to enhance the relaxing vibe and customers are free to choose drinks from either bar.
The draft beers on offer are dominated by Belgian and German options such as Leffe and Erdinger, although there are noticeable appearances from Stowford Cider, Guiness and Kilkenny all from 220 to 260 baht a pint. The bottled list goes even further, with many unheard of or hard-to-find options from all over the world, including a range of Rogue American cask ales, Petrus Blond with orange and apricot overtones culminating in a clove spice kick, and Kasteel Triple: a dark, dense and rich beer with a nutty flavour and 11% alcohol content. If you’re celebrating with friends, an impressive and fun selection is the five litre Krombacher party drum costing 2,500 baht – but please share it!
Opening Hours: 16:00 – 02:00 daily
Address: Seen Space Mall, Thong Lor Soi 13, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0)2 185 2366
MAGGIE CHOO’S BAR
This dark and broody basement venue, the work of popular designer Ashley Sutton, has become one of the most talked-about cocktails bars in Bangkok since its opening in 2013 at the Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom. Maggie Choo’s has a distinct 1930’s Shanghai vibe, which is created by numerous playful props such as hanging paper umbrellas, terracotta-style warrior statues and sexy models in traditional Chinese get-up nonchalantly rocking back and forth on swings suspended from the ceiling.
The entrance is very cool: walk down the steep steps into a small noodle shop, with the much larger bar hidden by thick drapes – it feels like a dirty little secret every time you enter. Private booths are set inside what used to be the East India Company’s old bank vaults (complete with exposed brick work and giant metal doors) and there’s also a grand piano that’s used for live music events. Cocktails, whilst a bit pricey (about 350 baht), are amongst the best we’ve ever tried in Bangkok. Expect them to be served almost ceremonially with plenty of dry ice, garnish and even candy floss!
Opening Hours: 18:00 – 02:00
Location: Silom
Address: Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom Hotel, 320 Silom Road
Tel: +66 (0)2 635 6055
VIVA AND AVIV
Escape the hustle and bustle of Sukhumvit (where the most of the expats bars in Bangkok are found) and head to Viva & Aviv right on the Chao Phraya River. Emphasis here is more on classy cocktails and laid back lounge beats, which is always going to draw in a younger, more diverse crowd. Views are great from the outside terrace (particularly as the sunsets at about 18:00 over the water), whilst food is described as ‘modern Australian café’ (which to you and me means western comfort food disguised as photogenic tapas bites).
Viva & Aviv is located at River City Shopping Mall, and there is a free shuttle boat that will drop you off on the doorstep when coming from Saphan Taksin BTS next to Sathorn Central Pier.
Opening Hours: 11:00 – 23:00
Address: Unit 118, 23 Trok Rongnamkhaeng, Yota Road, Talad Noi, Sampantawong
Tel: +66 (0)2 639 6305
TAPAS ROOM BAR
Bringing you a Balearic vibe straight from the shores of Ibiza, Tapas on Silom Soi 4 is a three level establishment encompassing a restaurant, bar and club that has a Spanish villa feel and plays the best funky, Latino house music in Bangkok. With low-ceilings and a decor heavy on terracotta, this incredibly fashionable and fun club could easily grace any of the Mediterranean’s hippest dance music cities, and everyone in this smallish club is up on their feet letting loose to electronic beats. Entrance to the club is 300 baht with one free drink.
Even though it is at the entrance to the most famous gay street in the city, the crowd is evenly split between straight and gay scenesters dancing to excellent tunes and an amazing percussionist on weekends who simply has to be seen to be believed. It is noticeable how many straight women enjoy shaking it on the dance floor, with a smile on their face and a cocktail in their hand. Tapas on Soi 4 has a range of signature frozen cocktail recipes, but our definite pick is the sour lemon kamikaze which is served by the glass or in a jug with shot glasses for larger groups.
The downstairs restaurant opens early in the afternoon but the club doesn’t get going until much later, so if you have your dancing shoes on and you’re in the mood to party try to turn up around 22:00 and watch the crowd swell as Tapas Room Club draws people from all over the city. If the crowd becomes too intense, head downstairs and to the outdoor lounge area and take a seat on the rattan chairs for some of the most interesting people watching you’re likely to do all year.
Alternatively, head up to the top floor and lounge back on the rooftop to catch your breath before returning to one the most happening dance floors in Bangkok. Tapas Room Club is easy to find a few metres down Silom Soi 4, close to the rest of the nightlife action in Patpong. If you are coming by public transport, Soi 4 is very close to Sala Daeng BTS Station and only a short walk from Silom MRT Station.
HI-SO ROOFTOP BAR (SO SOFITEL)
Rooftop bars seem to be the latest craze in Bangkok, so much so that I wonder just how many cities in the world have more rooftop bars than here? And open-air bars are popular for a reason! The weather during half the year is safe, you never have to worry about rain, and during the ‘rainy season’ you can still enjoy many happy hours under the open skies.
Actually, the cloudy skies of the wet season are a lot nicer than during high season, when all you get on your photo is a plain blue sky. Boring… So here we have HI-SO Rooftop Bar at So Sofitel Bangkok, another nice promising rooftop bar. Great, but it is getting increasingly difficult to impress Bangkok citizens! Let’s face it, except maybe for the 360 bar at the Hilton Millennium by the Chao Phraya River, all other rooftops bars in Bangkok just offer… a bird’s eye view on a sea of roofs. And since SO Sofitel Bangkok is located in Sathorn, a large avenue flanked by tall glass buildings on each side, expectations were rather low.
The elevator of this beautiful and very sophisticated hotel took us to a dimmed lobby on the 29th floor and a friendly staff member dressed in an unconventional oriental outfit led us to the terrace. Once there, we had a surprise. and a good one – not at all what we were expecting! Just below the hotel is the green immensity of Lumpini Park and beyond the striking glass-and-metal skyline of Siam and Silom; tall towers with their ever-changing colours and lights. It took us a while to apprehend how magnificent the city can be at sunset… I haven’t been to New York’s Central Park, but it’s a bit how I imagine the view would be there from a nearby building.
HI-SO Rooftop Bar is a bar, but you can order a small selection of tapas, starting at 1,100 baht. Sundowner at the Park promotion from Mon – Thu, 5:30pm – 7pm offers Buy 1 Get 1 free for selected cocktails, but the first glass of wine starts at 290 baht, which is a lot cheaper than Vertigo at Banyan Tree or the Sky Bar at Lebua. Music is good, not intrusive, and it is just so fascinating to watch the city lights appearing as the natural light dims. The view from the HI-SO Rooftop Bar located above the HI-SO Rooftop Bar is even nicer so don’t hesitate to climb the stairs that state “Hi-So Only” since everyone is now welcome up there.
Opening Hours: 17:00 – 00:30
MRT: Lumpini
Address: So Sofitel Bangkok (on Sathorn Road), 2 North Sathorn Road, Bangrak, Bangkok, 10500
Tel: +66 (0)2 624 0000