17 hours ago
These bars show off the best of Bangkok's nightlife scene
Forget the backpacker bars of Khao San Road — Bangkok is a playground for nightlife aficionados, with sky-high bars offering panoramic views of the illuminated cityscape and speakeasy-style hideaways crafting some of Asia's most innovative cocktails.
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And sometimes you don't even need to leave your hotel. BKK Social Club at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River impresses without trying too hard: gilded arches and rose gold columns channel 1970s Buenos Aires, while the recently refreshed menu includes Argentinian and Mexican-inspired cocktails. A cigar terrace adds to the grown-up charm (cocktails from £11;
In the St Regis hotel, near Lumphini Park, Zuma Bangkok brings a modern take on the Japanese izakaya experience. DJs create a vibrant atmosphere nightly, with live percussionists adding energy on weekends. The sleek open kitchen setting complements a menu of modern Japanese dishes. A highlight is the miso black cod, which is rich, tender and pairs beautifully with the koi peach highball (mains from £10, cocktails from £8;
For cocktails in a majestic setting visit Bar Sathorn, set in the House on Sathorn, an elegant 19th-century neoclassical mansion. This architectural wonder features monthly-changing local mixes, including 12 signature cocktails infused with Thai ingredients. Standouts include the Rice Flower (vodka-based with Thai basil and soju) and the Ambassador's Favourite, its take on Old Fashioned blending whisky, cognac, tropical fruits and Thai flower essence (cocktails from £9;
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On the sixth floor of the W Bangkok, the Wet Deck offers a view of Bangkok's skyline that has made it a popular spot in Sathorn, a district known for its mix of creativity and nightlife. While the rooftop pool and bar are open to hotel guests throughout the day, it's the Sunset Splash parties that draw a wider crowd. These regular events have transformed the space into one of the city's most stylish gathering spots, where house beats flow from dusk till dark, bridging Asian and global electronic music scenes (entry £11;
For something more refined, Penthouse Bar + Grill at Park Hyatt Bangkok delivers Manhattan-style sophistication across three top floors. The multi-venue space includes a gorgeous rooftop bar, but it's the signature grill restaurant that steals the show. The exclusive whisky room stocks rare single malts, while the motorcycle-themed cocktail bar draws a stylish crowd after 10pm (cocktails from £8, mains from £29;
• 21 of the best hotels in Bangkok
For an even more elevated experience, the bar at Ojo restaurant commands the 76th floor of the King Power Mahanakhon building in Silom and at 300m is one of Thailand's highest rooftop bars. The crystal cave-inspired design and Mexican-themed drinks go along with panoramic city views, and there's an elevator heading to the building's Skywalk observation deck (cocktails from £8, mains from £35;
While the rooftop venues give you a bird's-eye view of Bangkok, the city's soul reveals itself at street level. Down in Chinatown's frenzied lanes, the Red Rose restaurant and jazz bar provides a refuge within the Shanghai Mansion, once a department store and now a boutique hotel. The venue serves great cocktails, with live jazz setting the mood on Friday and Saturday evenings (cocktails from £9;
Min Sett Hein was a guest of Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, which has B&B doubles from £441 ( W Bangkok, which has B&B doubles from £148 ( and Park Hyatt Bangkok, which has B&B doubles from £281 (
