See also: 50 new reasons to love Bangkok


Err

1. The local craft spirits scene is heating up

There’s a whole host of new names on the local white-spirit scene trying their hand at Thailand-distilled new drinks. You’ve probably heard about the decade-old Chiang Mai-based Ma Jai Dum vodka brand by now, but there’s plenty more out there. Chalong Bay, Lamoon and Lamai are all white rums distilled from Lampun to Phuket. Head to Err (394/35 Maharaj Rd.), the Bo.Lan team’s new restaurant, to try some of these drinks mixed into local-leaning cocktails paired with easygoing Thai cuisine. Waan Noi mixes Maa Jai Dam banana spirit with shade-grown coffee and coffee liqueur (B250), while the LTBT (Lamai Takrai Bai Toey) features Lamai sugar cane spirit, lemongrass and pandan essence and lime (B220). 
 
Tep Bar

2. New bars are embracing their Thai roots

Tapping into Thai culture, the recently opened Tep Bar (69-71, Soi Nana, Charoenkrung Rd., 098-467-2944) has joined Studio Lam to specialize in home-infused ya dong (herb-infused Thai moonshine), whether straight (like Phra Apai Manee, Ratchasri Kamram or Khaiki, B200) or in cocktails (B280). The same bar also features a traditional orchestral band playing luk krung music daily. Unlike the molam sounds that have been popular in Bangkok bars for a while now, luk krung features instruments usually found at khon performances, like ra nad (xylophone), sor au (alto fiddle) and ja kae (similar to a lap guitar). 
 
Whiteline

3. Homebrews are the new craft beer

The list of locally brewed beers just keeps getting longer. From last year’s Udomsuk Brewing, Chit Beer, Sandport Brewing and Golden Coins, we’ve now got Pheebok Beer, Jo+ Beer Home Brew, Purr Beer, Triple Pearl and many more. And it’s not even that difficult to hunt down these brews anymore, thanks to events like Brewtopia at the new Silom art bar Whiteline (Silom Soi 8, 087-061-1117). Check out the bar’s event schedule at fb.com/whitelinebangkok.
 
Hair of The Dog

4. New beer bars are all over town 

And talking about beer, there’s never been so many craft beer-specializing bars, with at least one in nearly every neighborhood. Craft has branched out from its now-permanent Sukhumvit Soi 23 pop-up to Silom (G/F, Holiday Inn Silom, 981 Silom Rd.), while the giant Brew Beers & Ciders (30 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-255-5532.) has opened its third branch on Sukhumvit Soi 11. Beer delivery service Wishbeer has also opened a proper space near Ekkamai BTS (The Loft Ekkamai, Sukhumvit Rd., between soi 63 and 65, 02-392-1403). New player Hair of The Dog (2/F, Mahatun Plaza, 888/26 Phloen Chit Rd., 02-650-7589), meanwhile, offers an option for those in Phloen Chit, with 13 selected beers on tap that come from familiar importers like Smiling Mad Dog, Hopsession and Beervana. Make sure you catch their After Work Detox for buy-two-get-one-free from Mon-Thu 5-8pm. Ladies also get 50 percent off all night on Wednesdays. 
 
The Third Pig

5. Chiang Mai’s Mixology has made its way to Bangkok

Opened in late July, The Third Pig (Soi Phahon Yothin 20, 098-965-4356. www.fb.com/The3rdPig) is a rustic bar and restaurant run by half of the team behind the well-renowned Mixology cocktail bar in Chiang Mai. The bar offers a similar food and drink concept but with a much wider menu, covering everything from spaghetti carbonara to Chinese-style pork knuckle and mussels in kang-som (spicy tamarind paste). To drink, there’s a huge list of signature cocktails like Brick House Cobbler (vodka, blackcurrant liqueur, chocolate liqueur, port wine, mixed berries, cranberry bitters and chocolate stick, B260) and Eden's Apple (Monkey Shoulder blended whiskey, peach schnapps, apple juice, cinnamon syrup, lime, egg white and aromatic bitters, B260).        
 
Trader Vic’s

6. Sunday Brunch with  free-flow Mai Tai

The Polynesian-themed restaurant Trader Vic’s (Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa, 257/1-3 Charoen Nakhon Rd., 02-476-0022) has enlivened its Sunday brunch with free-flow Mai Tai cocktails (see page 22). The Mai Tai here is created by new resident mixologist Ron Ramirez, who bottle ages his drinks with ingredients like peppermint, wild berries and earl grey tea before serving.
 
Why 97

 7. Thailand’s best bartenders have been crowned

Although our local bartenders didn’t make it to the regional round of Diageo World Class bartending competition this year, there were still four winners from the Thailand round: Ton Pongpak from Why 97 (Asiatique The Riverfront, 2194 Charoenkrung Soi 72-74, 081-797-4455), Ball Sarawut from Bamboo Bar (1/F, Mandarin Oriental, 48 Charoen Krung Soi 40, 02-659-9000), Thumb Natakorn from the now-defunct Perfume Fragrance Bar and Milk Pailin from Vesper (10/15 Convent Rd., Silom, 02-235-2777). 
 
Vesper

8. The new botanical cocktails menu at Vesper

Not only has one of its bartenders been named among the best in town, but Vesper also has one of the most original drinks menus right now, focusing on botanically infused cocktails. Try a Doubting Thomas (B480)—a tea cocktail that blends lapsang souchong (a smoky black tea from Foujian province) with Ardberg (an even smokier Scotch whiskey), Aperol, sherry and bay leaf. A Thyme to Kill (B420) is also a great take on the classic negroni, mixing thyme-infused Cointreau with barrel-aged Tanqueray gin and La Quintinye extra dry vermouth. The Campari is served completely separately as jelly.
 
Bamboo Bar

9. Bamboo Bar now serves the most expensive cocktail in town

Another bar manned by one of the Diageo World Class winners has teamed up with French vodka label Grey Goose to create a luxury drink inspired by French nobility during the reign of King Louise XV. The result is called Grey Goose L’Aristocrate, which mixes Grey Goose vodka with Noilly Prat French vermouth and Dashfire bitters, served in a Moser limited-edition Lady Hamilton glass. At B1,200 per glass, it’s also served alongside a mille feuille.  
 
Viva 21

10. Restaurants and bars are now one and the same

Nearly all the most interesting recent openings have blurred the line between what’s considered a restaurant and a bar. Err (394/35 Maharaj Rd.) makes contemporary Thai tapas served alongside cocktails that are equally local and creative; Viva 21 (387 Sukhumvit Soi 55, 02-712-8184), the latest project from Viva & Aviv’s team, partnered with Eat Me’s Tim Butler for a menu of fusion small plates; and Marcel (Sathorn Soi 10, 02- 635-3533) serves modern and classic French food in a moody bar setting. 
 

11. You can now get a seat at Junker & Bar

This tiny burger and cocktail specialist has finally expanded to occupy the next-door shop-house to double its size with a slightly different theme. The second room mixes the American burger joint vibe with some classic Thai-Chinese influences. Overall, the mood tends towards a restaurant, while the original room is all about drinks and music. The menu goes with the theme by offering dim sum as well as burgers, along with daily steak specials. The new menu won’t be available till September. 454 Suan Phlu Soi 1, 085-100-3608. 
 
Marcel

12. Sathorn Soi 10-12 welcomes a new wave of bars

This u-bend of stylish bars and restaurants near Chong Nonsi is finally living up to its reputation thanks to the arrival of three new French-leaning bars. Marcel (Sathorn Soi 10, 02- 635-3533) serves French cuisine into a casual atmosphere; Revolucion Cocktails (50 Sathorn Soi 10, 02-235-4823) is the Bangkok outpost of a Shanghai-born tapas and cocktail bar; and the latest arrival, which just opened in July, is Le Cafe des Stagiaires (142/21 Sathorn Soi 12. 081-207-3077), another bar hailing from Shanghai but with a younger, college vibe. 
 
Chang Surf Bar

13. Beach clubs have made their way to the city

Flow House Bangkok (A Square, Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-108-5210) has now partnered with Chang beer to turn its second floor into the California-beach-themed Chang Surf Bar. Meanwhile, the beach club vibe has even spread to Khaosan with the opening of the new Superflow City Beach Club (Khaosan Rd., 086-088-0129). This spacious area has a thatched roof bar in the middle, around which is a sandy dance floor and seating area as well as a concrete zone for those who’d rather keep it clean. 
 
U Baan

14. There are even more new art bars

The latest on Si Phraya Road is called U Baan, which serves craft beers like Triple Pearl, X Beer and Purr Beer alongside exhibitions like the recently opened Dream On, while round the corner on Silom, Whiteline (Silom Soi 8, 087-061-1117) is an alternative, six-story space tucked among massage parlors. And if you’re more interested in the art than the drink, then there are several less party-focused new spaces as well, among them Schemata Gallery (1/F, Liberty Tower, Thonglor, 088-088-8066) and 56th Studio (9-11 Green Connect, Sukhumvit Soi 31), which tailors its drinks according to the theme of each exhibition. 
 
Jones the Grocer

15. Coffee shops where you can get a drink

The latest wave of coffee shops aren’t just serving single-origin slow drip; many of them have a good line of beers, too. Australian chain Jones the Grocer (G/F, The Emquartier, Sukhumvit Rd., 02-261-0382) has partnered with Copenhagen craft brewery Gypsy Inc., while the Dean & Deluca at Mahanakhon Cube (96 Narathiwas Rd., 092-804-5720) now does Japan’s Hitachino beer on tap. You’ll also find it by the bottle at the Emquartier branch. 
 

Barley Bistro & Bar

16. Hitachino’s importer now also brings in spirits 

Hitachino is imported by the family-run company Drink Wise Co., Ltd., who previously opened Barley Bistro & Bar in Silom before starting to import booze. Now, after focusing on Hitachino for a couple of years, they’re also bringing in Hanami gin from Japan, Bong vodka and Chocolate wine from Holland. Available at Gourmet Market at The Emporium, The Emquartier and Siam Paragon. 
 
WTF

17. New spirits are coming to town        

Bootleggers Trading is the latest importer in town, who are not only helping to distribute local spirit Lamoon Thai Rum, but also bringing in new whiskies from the US like 287 Single Malt Whiskey, Westchester Wheat Whiskey and Still House Bourbon Whiskey. You can try all these bottles at the likes of Quince, WTF, Tep Bar, Smokin’ Pug and Junker & Bar. 
 

Hanakaruta Sathorn

18. Japanese craft beer is as hot as its whiskey 

We wrote about how Japanese modern izakaya and single malt whiskies have invaded Bangkok nightlife over the past year. Now there’s even more Japanese beers on offer, courtesy of Beervana, which is bringing in the wallet-friendly Yo-Ho and Baird Beer brands. Yo-ho’s line consists of Yona Yona ale, Tokyo Black, Indo No Aooni and the cutesy cat-labeled Yo-ho Suiyoubi No Neko. Baird’s series includes Teikoku IPA, Suruga Bay Imperial IPA, Rising Sun pale ale, Angry Boy brown ale and the Numazu lager. Try Hanakaruta Sathorn (Sathorn Soi 10, 085-061-7318).