Symbols:  = Garden   = Riverside   = Live music   = Rooftop   = Terrace


ABar Rooftop 

This rooftop bar at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen's Park divides a beautiful space overlooking Benjasiri Park into two floors and two bars, one with a focus on dark spirits, one specializing in gin, and both well worth your time.

37-38/F, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, 199 Sukhumvit Soi 22, 02-059-5555. Open daily 7pm-1am

 

Aire Bar  


All signature cocktails are B280, which in the world of rooftop bars is a steal. We can thank booze experts Bootleggers for the cocktails here, whose creations are two twists beyond typical hotel libations. 

28/F, Hyatt Place, 22/5 Sukhumvit Soi 24, 02-055-1234. Open Mon-Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri-Sat 5pm-1am; Sun 3-11pm

 

Aesop’s

Greek restaurant Aesop’s conjures an ouzo-fueled party atmosphere. This next-gen rebirth of a family-run restaurant from Sydney serves hearty Greek classics like eight-hour lamb shoulder, chicken souvlaki and moussaka (think beef lasagna with eggplant in place of pasta sheets) in a hall made for big, boisterous gatherings. “The inside is Athens, while the outside is Mykonos,” says Greek-Australian co-owner John Gamvros, referring to the courtyard that will officially open on Nov 25 with the first Big Fat Greek Sunday Brunch Party. 

120 Sala Daeng Soi 1/1, 062-567-7751. Open Tue-Sat 5pm-midnight (Sun 5pm-midnight, starting Nov 25) 

 

Alexander’s German Eatery 

This German eatery brings boisterous beer garden vibes to Ekkamai. The two-story corner townhouse is as homely and approachable as they come. At the front, an outdoor dining area comes strewn with fairy lights and wooden tables that look straight out of an Oktoberfest celebration. Food-wise, sausage and pork knuckle are the name of the game.  Needless to say, there’s plenty of beer to go around.

37/3 Ekkamai Soi 12, 02-116-5750. Open Mon 3pm-midnight; Wed 3pm-midnight; Thu 3pm-midnight; Fri-Sun 11:30am-midnight

 

Barbon 

Offering a more laid-back riverside hangout to the five-star hotels, the recently reopened Barbon sits atop Son Wat’s playful Hostel Urby, offering cocktails with a view. Pink and blue neon signage coaxes patrons to get drunk—“on peut aussi rester se souler.” Cocktails like the whiskey-based Kaku Berries Sour and Gin and yuzu (that’s a Japanese citrus fruit) Cloud Atlas are given a creamy thickness by the addition of egg yolk. Crash out on one of the large cushions on the deck for a chilled-out drinking sesh.

Hostel Urby, 1222 Songwat Rd., 02-043-6358. Open Wed-Sun 8pm-midnight

 

Cactus  

Sanya Souvanna Phouma (who gave Bangkok Bed Supperclub, Maggie Choo’s and Sing Sing) is behind this, Yen Akat’s answer to a mid-century Palm Springs lounge bar. Think dusty fire-pits, warm-wood seating modules, views framed by palm trees and a list of on-theme cocktails that are tasty and easy to down.

15 Yen Akat Rd., 02-249-1451. Open Tue-Sun 5pm-1am

 

The Camp Vintage Flea Market   

The Camp Vintage Flea Market, located right next to Chatuchak, is sure to appease those who can’t hold out till the next Made by Legacy. Here lovers of all things retro can spend their hard-earned on secondhand clothes (and new stuff that looks, well, old), furniture, home decor and vinyl records—you name it. All that vintage-treasure hunting will work up an appetite, so the good news is there are plenty of street-food names (Taikong Seafood) and hipster faves (Ari’s Summer Street and Paper Butter Burger) joining in the fun.

482 Kamphaeng Phet Soi 1. Open Tue-Thu 11am-10pm; Fri-Sun 11am-11:45pm

 

Carbar 

Let the smell of freshly baked dough guide you to 72 Courtyard’s latest Italian offering. Inside, moody industrial light fixtures hang above rustic wooden tables, framed on one side by a long and well-stocked wine bar. Wood-fired pizzas topped with Italian sausage and salami picante parade from the open kitchen, alongside comfort-food dishes like hanger steak and meat sauce penne. Enjoy a glass of fruity Italian Carpineto Dogajolo Cabernet Sauvignon in the al fresco seating area, accompanied by a platter of cold-cuts and cheeses.

72 Courtyard, Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-392-6922 . Open daily 5pm-2am

 

The Commons' second floor 

The open-air second floor of hip Thonglor hangout The Commons is home to everything from Bangkok’s favorite burger joint Daniel Thaiger to roast chicken specialist Birds Rotisserie. For booze, choose from the 12 taps of beer (and wine!) at Beer Cap, as well as the new bottle shop Bar Naam. Communal seating gives the place a fun, boisterous vibe.

2/F, The Commons, 17 (Thonglor). Open daily noon-12:30am

 

 

 

Escape 

Swanky EmQuartier dedicates some fifth-floor, mall-top space to a venue that’s part tapas bar, part tiki bar and wholly committed to its “downtown beach club” theme.

5/F, The EmQuartier, 693 695 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-258-6515. Open daily 5pm-midnight

 

Fat Cow On The Roof 

The Fat Cow name has a solid reputation over on Lad Phrao for craft brews. Now they’ve moved to this second location on the roof of a hotel. Once the elevator opens, you are faced with an open-air space with no tall buildings to block the view (a blessing of not being in central Bangkok). Pull up a Tolix chair on the fern-strewn terrace at about 5:30pm to catch the sunset. For serious bang-for-your-baht, ask about the bar’s own homebrew, which they sell at just B120/glass. 

8/F, Metro Pratunam Boutique Hotel, 1091/236 New Petchaburi Soi 35, 095-003-4911. Open daily 4pm-midnight

 

Frank Mansion 

Ari has finally got a proper cocktail bar that’s not also a beer bar-slash-cafe. Frank Mansion comes from the same team as common Ari names like Sousaku, Porcupine Cafe, Landhaus, Sasori Izakaya and O’Glee and whips out cleverly crafted cocktails, dishes courtesy of Chalermpon “Van” Rohitratana of Phra Athit’s Rarb and live music. The cool kids can be found out on the balcony. We haven’t seen a bar in the neighborhood this popping since Salt’s heyday.

3-4/F, Ari One, Ari Soi 1, 02-048-3225. Open Mon-Sat 6pm-1am

 

French St.

After 60 years dominating Bangkok’s suki scene, chain restaurant Coca is going French. The ubiquitous buffet brand has now opened French St. restaurant at O.P. Garden, where it offers Provencal comfort food courtesy of the Southern France-hailing chef Frederic Guerin. The fairy light-strewn garden is made for cool(er) winter evenings. 

Charoenkrung Soi 36, 02-238-6400. Open daily 4:30-11pm

 

Kanom Chan Thai Dessert Bar 

When is a dessert cafe more than a dessert cafe? Celebrating hard-to-find Thai treats, Kanom Chan’s specialties include the delicious krong krang, caramelized crisps in coconut cream; and tong muan sod, rolled waffle made from tapioca, coconut milk and black sesame. A little too sweet for your tastes? They also serve mains like yum nam kao tod, a spicy salad with curried rice croquettes, fermented pork, ginger and peanuts; and pad Thai with river prawn. The balcony with Old Town views only adds to the charm. 

5/F, Na Banglampoo Hotel, Phra Sumen Rd., 085-484-4044. Open Tue-Sun 11am-midnight

 

Credit: www.facebook.com/PeroniNastroAzzurroThailand
 

Landhaus Bakery 

Ari's new Landhaus bakery claims ties with Austrian pastry powerhouse Gragger & Cie. Here, a concrete and steel baking oven (pre-heated for one month before opening) turns out wonderful rye, brown bread crowned with mesmerizing concentric circles, and delicious braided poppy bread. Want an Austrian classic? Get the cheese bread stick, which is tangy and crisp with slightly burnt cheese. What's more, they've just started putting their gorgeous garden to use with Sunday brunch sessions with Peroni. 

18 Phahon Yothin Soi 5, 081-902-9183. Open Tue-Sun 7am-7pm

 

Penthouse Bar + Grill Rooftop 

The much-anticipated, garden rooftop of the Park Hyatt is an elegant space that’s necessarily exclusive, only able to accommodate 80 guests. The rooftop also has its own signature menu of four sophisticated cocktails, but you’re free to order from the grill and bar below, too. The same goes with the wine list—127 labels of it—meaning there’s no reason not to pass the sunset at this open-air spot.

34-36/F, Park Hyatt, 88 Wireless Rd., 02-012-1234. Open daily noon-2pm, 6-10:30pm 

 

Sorn Fine Southern Cuisine

Baan Ice founder Supaksorn Jongsiri's five-course sharing menus are causing a hi-so sensation thanks to bold flavors, traditional techniques—fermentation, coconut milk squeezed on-site daily—served up in a decadent, exclusive dining room or a lush, green garden. 

56 Sukhumvit Soi 26, 099-081-1119. Open Tue-Sun noon-2pm, 6-11pm

 

Spirit Jim Thompson

Surrounded by lush green gardens, and with interiors inspired by the man himself, Spirit Jim Thompson combines authentic recipes with slick, modern presentation. Opt for the miang kham nam tan grob—a traditional snack that bursts with cashew nuts, ginger, coconut and tamarind glaze, all wrapped up in betel leaves—or the nutty panang curry with pork ribs and ground peanuts. For dessert, try the med kanoon sam yang, which comes with coconut cakes, jackfruit seeds and salty coconut cream.

Somkhit 16 Lumphini, 02-017-7268. Open daily noon-3pm, 6-11pm

 

Wallflowers Upstairs 

You’ll feel like you’re entering the secret garden as you ascend the creaky wooden staircase that leads to Chinatown's rustic rooftop bar. Through a maze of hanging plants, flower tube chandeliers, exposed brick walls, fairy lights and wooden ladders, you’ll be met with international dishes and Garden of Eden-themed cocktails.

Rooftop/F, Oneday Wallflowers, 37-39-41 Soi Nana, 096-727-6789. Open daily 6pm-midnight

 

Yao Rooftop Bar 

Sip on botanical cocktails at this Shanghainese-inspired spot whilst taking in the Bangkok skyline from one of the best 360-degree vantages in Silom and Sathorn.

32/F, Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse, 262 Surawong Rd., 02-088-5666. Open daily 5pm-2am