Steve Café

68 Soi Sri Ayuthaya 21 (Wat Devarajkoonchon), Sri Ayuthaya Rd., 081-868-0744, 02-281-0915. www.stevecafeandcuisine.com. Open daily 11:30am-11:30pm.
Located in the small community behind Wat Devarajkoonchon next to Thewet Pier, this 60-year old house was damaged by the floods last year but has now been revamped with bright colors and homey wooden furniture. There’s a nice open-air terrace to take in the breeze and the kitchen is manned by one of the owner’s moms who has been working in Bangkok kitchens for the past 20 years. A true Southerner, she likes nothing better than to whip up powerful, pungent classics like gaeng luang sai bua gung (Southern sour soup with lotus stems and prawns) and gaeng tai pla (Southern style fish curry).  Beer: B70, Cocktails: B70

Babble + Rum

1-2/F, Riva Surya, 23 Phra Arthit Rd., 02-633-5000. Open daily 6:30am-1am. www.rivasurya.com
Babble & Rum is not only the name of the main restaurant located on the first floor of Riva Surya, the new boutique hotel sat beside Phra Arthit Pier, it’s also the moniker for the bar next door which combines an outdoor terrace and a laidback upstairs area, perfect for a breezy riverside night out. The riverside terrace shares the same black and white theme as the main restaurant, while the second floor offers a square-shaped open bar painted with Thai poetry and daybeds from which to soak up the river view. Mixologist Surachit “Art” Jarumanee serves up signature cocktails like the candy flavored Jelly Riva (vodka, melon syrup, lime juice on top of jelly) and the Jamaican Fizz (vodka, mango fizz, mango, syrup and lime juice). Happy hours are 5pm-7pm with buy one get one free on cocktails.  Beer: B99, Cocktails: B250, Wine: B160

Chon

The Siam Hotel, 3/2 Khao Rd., 02-206-6999. Open daily noon-10:30pm, reservation only.
Overlooking the Chao Phraya River and Krung Thonburi Bridge, Chon is the signature Thai restaurant of Bangkok’s newest riverside hotel, The Siam. To match the classic views, Executive Chef Blair Mathieson, former head chef at The Chedi in Chiang Mai, promises authentic Thai recipes that utilize the finest ingredients. Set in a beautiful Thai teak house that was brought down from Ayutthaya and painted all in black, Chon also boasts an impressive array of antiques and collectables belonging to the owner.  Beer: B250, Cocktails: B320, Wine: B425

Viva & Aviv

River City Complex, 23 Yota Rd., 02-639-6305. Open daily 11am-midnight. www.vivaaviv.com. Sri Phraya Pier.
Fitting for its riverside location, this new venue has a rustic-yet-relaxed nautically-inspired theme with a dash of industrial chic and pirate-inspired interiors. Soak up the river view and breeze while watching the tourist boats plying up and down the river and enjoy the range of inventive cocktails created by the masterminds behind the established Hyde & Seek. Try the signature Pina Colasi (Appleton rum, pineapple, coconut foam and more) and decent pub grub like the Four Cheesons pizza.  Beer: B100, Cocktails: B250, Wine: B230

Buri Tara

762/2 Rama 3 Rd., 02-682-9457-9. Open daily 5pm-midnight.
This bar is decorated in a classy black and red theme, with a mix of Balinese and Thai styles. The most popular cocktails are the Buri Tara Sunset and Falling in Love (B180 each). And, of course, there’s the charming view surrounded by trees and the nearby river while bands play soft jazz and acoustic music. Beer: B180, Cocktails: B180, Wine: B1,090/Bottle

The Deck

Arun Residence, 36-38 Soi Pratu Nokyung, Maharat Rd., 02-221-9158. Restaurant opens Mon-Thu 7am-10pm, Fri-Sun 7am-11pm. Bar opens Mon-Thu 5pm-midnight, Fri-Sun 5:30pm-1am.
Few restaurants can boast a spectacle as inspiring as the brightly lit Wat Arun directly across the river. There is a modest list of wines, so you’re probably better off bringing your own (no corkage). As for the food, try poh pia gung (B180) and kai satay (B180). To watch the sun set behind the wat while enjoying the open air, call in advance for the best spots. Beer: B130, Cocktails: B175, Wine: B200

Samsara

1612 Songwat Rd., 086-978-9331, 02-639-6853. Open Tue-Thu, Sun 4pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 4pm-1am.
Samsara is one of our favorite spots by the river. Set in one of those charming wooden houses you pass as you ride the express boat along the Chao Phraya, the restaurant is tucked down a little alley behind Wat Pathumkongka (where you can hardly park your car). The place feels halfway between a gallery and a friend’s house, brimming as it is with personality: expect to find colorful vintage furnishings, all sorts of cat-related curios and paintings hanging on the wall. Most of the tables are set out on the terrace and reservations are a must for the ones with the best views. The tasty Thai cuisine is augmented by Japanese touches since some of the owners hail from Japan. Beer: B140, Cocktails: B200, Wine: B900/Bottle

Parata Diamond

396 Ekamai Soi 24, 085-167-6489. Open Mon-Sat 6:30pm-1am. www.paratadiamond.com
With a contemporary Moroccan decor and a menu of New American cuisine featuring dishes like harrissa lamb strudels and five-spice glazed beef short rib, Parata Diamond is certainly trying to be different. The real highlight, though has to be the large open-air garden area where you can relax on a daybed enjoying a shisha or watching some short films. Come for the regular happy hour and bring some friends as many of their cocktails, like the recommended Parata Prae are to share. Happy hours: all you can drink cocktails daily from 9-11pm.

Asia Bar + Kitchen

G/F, Holiday Inn Express, Rama 1 Rd., Pathumwan, 02-216-2288. Open daily 11am-1am. BTS National Stadium.
Serving up a melting pot of Asian cuisines—from Southeast Asia and East Asia to the Indian sub-continent—the highlight of this venue has to be the outdoor space, furnished with the same elegant attention to detail as its natural-meets-industrial interior. Large umbrellas and a bit of greenery provide a cozy garden escape right in the heart of Bangkok. Both the food and drinks are pan-Asian, letting you sample some pad Thai or Hong Kong wonton soup while sipping a bottle of Tsingtao from China or Kingdom from Cambodia. 

Water Library

Grass, Thonglor Soi 12, 02-714-9292/-3. Open Mon-Sat 6:30pm-1am.
The second branch of this eatery, opened in the heart of nightlife central Thonglor earlier this year, has quickly made a mark on the dining scene with its restaurant serving a maximum of ten diners per night an exclusive and expensive multicourse set menu. Now it’s also offering a more relaxed but very tasteful adjoining wine bar, which features a charming outdoor terrace, a menu of creative cocktails courtesy of Italian mixologist Mirko Gardelliano and a cellar containing over 370 labels. Live music on the weekend further refines the laidback mood.

99 Rest Backyard Café

99 Rama 9 Soi 41, Seri 9 Rd., 02-300-4339. Open Tue-Sun 11am-11pm.
Located well off the beaten track, in a small street near Rama 9, this lovely house and garden is managed by the team behind the artsy Tamarind Village in Chiang Mai and Rayavadee Resort in Krabi. The décor is somehow classy-yet-chill, so you don’t feel any pressure to fully dress up, but it still works for dates and special occasions. A beautifully landscaped garden hugs a high-ceiling pavilion, complete with wood furniture, floor-to-ceiling framed windows, strip cushions and royal blue touches. Chef Cyrille Keyser creates international cuisine with highlights including the oven roasted lamb rack served with potato gratin and ratatouille (B1,290). Don’t forget to try the new addition to the dessert menu, chocolate-green tea lava, too.

Issaya Siamese Club

4 Soi Sri Aksorn, Chuaphloeng Rd., 02-672-9040-1. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm; 6pm-1am.
Set in a stately old house with an interior that’s been done up to be bright and bold, Chef Ian Kittichai’s Issaya Siamese Club serves up a vibrant and exciting take on traditional Thai cooking, notably through artful presentation and the use of high-quality ingredients. The arrival of winter means you can now enjoy a Kaffir Lime (Bacardi rum, kaffir lime, mint and lemongrass) cocktail or a refreshing cup of fruit tea out on the multi-colored beanbags in the leafy front garden before dining on Thai dishes like the yum hua plee, an elegant pillar of crisp heart of palm and bamboo flower salad, or the delicious chili glazed baby back ribs (kradook moo aob). 

Salt

Ari Soi 4, 02-619-6886. Open Mon-Sat 5pm-midnight. Reservations Recommended. BTS Ari.
A dining room made of glass walls and concrete, a wooden house whose yard is packed with logs and plenty of outdoor seating make Salt a solid competitor for the crown of most elegant outdoor drinking and dining spot in the trendy Ari neighbourhood. The food is a mix of French and Japanese classics along with some pasta and particularly decent pizzas, the crowd is sexy and beautiful and there’s also a decent selection of wines and cocktails, like the Salt Swinging (B280) cocktail which comes with sparkling wine, cranberry and mandarin juice.

Signor Sassi

37/F, Anantara Bangkok Sathorn, Narathiwas Rd., Bangkok, 02-210-9011. BTS Chong Nonsi.
Founded in 1984 in swanky Knightsbridge, London, and now also found in Kuwait and Lebanon, this is the restaurant’s third global branch. The food is resolutely Italian, covering the classics from pasta to antipasti, while the decor contains showy touches like the Venetian carnival masks and elegant tableware. Impeccable wait staff and an impressive wine list, plus the spacious 37th floor terrace dining area should make this an extremely popular rooftop spot this winter.

Al Majlis

68/2 Soi Julin, Sukhumvit Soi 21 (Asoke), 02-664-0212/3. MRT Petchburi. Open daily 4:30pm-midnight
We were a little sad to learn that one of our fave urban hideaways, the Moroccan-style house with garden on Ekkamai Soi 12, would be no more, but the owners have found a new home in Asoke. Thankfully, the new venue retains the same charm, starting from the front garden down to the tiki lamps, cushions and carpets. Indoor offers more of a proper dining setting than before, but the best news is that outdoors there are daybeds, beanbags and garden benches from which to enjoy the breeze along with your favorite flavor of sheesha (B350).

Seua Non Kin

231/2 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-662-1779. Open Mon-Sat 5pm-midnight.
This two-story house remains a firm favorite and is often fully booked. The décor sees an eclectic mix of comfy vintage sofas, low-rise tables and decorative bric-a-brac. Start with a Virgin Tiger (with light rum, B160) before moving onto the more potent Tiger Down (B180). As for food, opt for the fiery Thai dishes like yam horapha nuea krob (beef salad with sweet basil leaves, B160).

Rooftop Venues

The Speakeasy

24-25/F, Hotel Muse Bangkok, 55/555 Langsuan Rd., 02-630-4000. Open daily 6pm-1am.
Perched atop the Hotel Muse Bangkok, The Speakeasy takes you back to the jazz age of the roaring 1920s. The two-story space sports a prohibition-era inspired décor, featuring lots of dark woods and Art Deco touches. A balcony on the 24th floor lets you take in 180-degree views of Bangkok’s business district, while an al fresco rooftop offers a more leisurely ambiance in a terrace atmosphere. The must-try drinks are long-forgotten classic cocktails that really pack a punch, like the Sazerac 1838, which combines Jack Daniels, absinthe and bitters.  Beer: B170, Cocktails: B320, Wine: B330

Above 11

33/F, Fraser Suites Sukhumvit, 38/8 Sukhumvit Soi 11. 02-207-9300. Open daily 6pm-2am.
One of the new rooftop bars and restaurants to emerge on the Sukhumvit Soi 11 party strip this year, Above Eleven serves Peruvian-Japanese fusion fare, known as Nikkei cuisine, along with a refreshing list of cocktails made from Peruvian Pisco. Make sure you book ahead to get a table right by the edge and take in the sweeping views of Sukhumvit. Happy hours: 50% off on cocktails daily from 6-8pm. Beer: B130, Cocktails: B195, Wine: B199

Park Society

29/F, Sofitel So Bangkok, 2 North Sathorn Rd., 02-624-0000. Open daily 5pm-1am (Bar).
For a real breath of fresh air and a park view to boot then you should head up to Park Society on the 29th floor of the super trendy Sofitel So. Inside is for fine dining with an impressive menu of international cuisine, while out on the rooftop with its soaring columns, it’s all about killer cocktails, lounge tunes and the striking view. For a more intimate night out there’s also a small mezzanine one level up called Hi-So Cabana. B500 entrance fee with one complimentary drink. Beer: B250, Cocktails: B350, Wine: B350

Signor Sassi

37/F, Anantara Bangkok Sathorn, Narathiwas Rd., Bangkok, 02-210-9011. BTS Chong Nonsi.
Founded in 1984 in swanky Knightsbridge, London, and now also found in Kuwait and Lebanon, this is the restaurant’s third global branch. The food is resolutely Italian, covering the classics from pasta to antipasti, while the decor contains showy touches like the Venetian carnival masks and elegant tableware. Impeccable wait staff and an impressive wine list, plus the spacious 37th floor terrace dining area should make this an extremely popular rooftop spot this winter. Beer: B110, Cocktails: B350, Wine: B260

Scarlett

37/F, Pullman Bangkok Hotel G, 188 Silom Rd., 02-238-1991. Open daily 6pm-1am.
This year saw the former Sofitel Hotel on Silom Road transformed into the Pullman Bangkok Hotel G. Part of that transformation included the renovation of the 37th-floor wine bar into a brand new venue, Scarlett, a sister to the popular bar by the same name in Beijing. The biggest change to the space was the addition of a breezy outdoor terrace, which packs serious wow power thanks to its city skyline view. An extensive and pretty affordable wine list, the industrial-bistro decor, DJs at the weekend and a menu of classic dishes and tapas options have made it a very popular spot. Beer: B160, Cocktails: B220, Wine: B150

Restaurants with DRinks-Friendly Gardens

Parata Diamond

396 Ekamai Soi 24, 085-167-6489. Open Mon-Sat 6:30pm-1am.
With a contemporary Moroccan decor and a menu of New American cuisine featuring dishes like harrissa lamb strudels and five-spice glazed beef short rib, Parata Diamond is certainly trying to be different. The real highlight, though has to be the large open-air garden area where you can relax on a daybed enjoying a shisha or watching some short films. Come for the regular happy hour and bring some friends as many of their cocktails, like the recommended Parata Prae are to share. Happy hours: all you can drink cocktails daily from 9-11pm at  Beer: B150, Cocktails: B250, Wine: B99

Asia Bar + Kitchen

G/F, Holiday Inn Express, Rama 1 Rd., Pathumwan, 02-216-2288. Open daily 11am-1am. BTS National Stadium.
Serving up a melting pot of Asian cuisines—from Southeast Asia and East Asia to the Indian sub-continent—the highlight of this venue has to be the outdoor space, furnished with the same elegant attention to detail as its natural-meets-industrial interior. Large umbrellas and a bit of greenery provide a cozy garden escape right in the heart of Bangkok. Both the food and drinks are pan-Asian, letting you sample some pad Thai or Hong Kong wonton soup while sipping a bottle of Tsingtao from China or Kingdom from Cambodia.  Beer: B110, Cocktails: B120

Water Library

Grass, Thonglor Soi 12, 02-714-9292/-3. Open Mon-Sat 6:30pm-1am.
The second branch of this eatery, opened in the heart of nightlife central Thonglor earlier this year, has quickly made a mark on the dining scene with its restaurant serving a maximum of ten diners per night an exclusive and expensive multicourse set menu. Now it’s also offering a more relaxed but very tasteful adjoining wine bar, which features a charming outdoor terrace, a menu of creative cocktails courtesy of Italian mixologist Mirko Gardelliano and a cellar containing over 370 labels. Live music on the weekend further refines the laidback mood. Beer: B150, Cocktails: B260, Wine: B340

99 Rest Backyard Café

99 Rama 9 Soi 41, Seri 9 Rd., 02-300-4339. Open Tue-Sun 11am-11pm.
Located well off the beaten track, in a small street near Rama 9, this lovely house and garden is managed by the team behind the artsy Tamarind Village in Chiang Mai and Rayavadee Resort in Krabi. The décor is somehow classy-yet-chill, so you don’t feel any pressure to fully dress up, but it still works for dates and special occasions. A beautifully landscaped garden hugs a high-ceiling pavilion, complete with wood furniture, floor-to-ceiling framed windows, strip cushions and royal blue touches. Chef Cyrille Keyser creates international cuisine with highlights including the oven roasted lamb rack served with potato gratin and ratatouille (B1,290). Don’t forget to try the new addition to the dessert menu, chocolate-green tea lava, too. Beer: B150, Cocktails: B260, Wine: B210

Issaya Siamese Club

4 Soi Sri Aksorn, Chuaphloeng Rd., 02-672-9040-1. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm; 6pm-1am.
Set in a stately old house with an interior that’s been done up to be bright and bold, Chef Ian Kittichai’s Issaya Siamese Club serves up a vibrant and exciting take on traditional Thai cooking, notably through artful presentation and the use of high-quality ingredients. The arrival of winter means you can now enjoy a Kaffir Lime (Bacardi rum, kaffir lime, mint and lemongrass) cocktail or a refreshing cup of fruit tea out on the multi-colored beanbags in the leafy front garden before dining on Thai dishes like the yum hua plee, an elegant pillar of crisp heart of palm and bamboo flower salad, or the delicious chili glazed baby back ribs (kradook moo aob).  Beer: B150, Cocktails: B330, Wine: B199

Riverside places

Steve Café

68 Soi Sri Ayuthaya 21 (Wat Devarajkoonchon), Sri Ayuthaya Rd., 081-868-0744, 02-281-0915. www.stevecafeandcuisine.com. Open daily 11:30am-11:30pm.
Located in the small community behind Wat Devarajkoonchon next to Thewet Pier, this 60-year old house was damaged by the floods last year but has now been revamped with bright colors and homey wooden furniture. There’s a nice open-air terrace to take in the breeze and the kitchen is manned by one of the owner’s moms who has been working in Bangkok kitchens for the past 20 years. A true Southerner, she likes nothing better than to whip up powerful, pungent classics like gaeng luang sai bua gung (Southern sour soup with lotus stems and prawns) and gaeng tai pla (Southern style fish curry).  Beer: B70, Cocktails: B70

Babble + Rum

1-2/F, Riva Surya, 23 Phra Arthit Rd., 02-633-5000. Open daily 6:30am-1am. www.rivasurya.com
Babble & Rum is not only the name of the main restaurant located on the first floor of Riva Surya, the new boutique hotel sat beside Phra Arthit Pier, it’s also the moniker for the bar next door which combines an outdoor terrace and a laidback upstairs area, perfect for a breezy riverside night out. The riverside terrace shares the same black and white theme as the main restaurant, while the second floor offers a square-shaped open bar painted with Thai poetry and daybeds from which to soak up the river view. Mixologist Surachit “Art” Jarumanee serves up signature cocktails like the candy flavored Jelly Riva (vodka, melon syrup, lime juice on top of jelly) and the Jamaican Fizz (vodka, mango fizz, mango, syrup and lime juice). Happy hours are 5pm-7pm with buy one get one free on cocktails.  Beer: B99, Cocktails: B250, Wine: B160

Chon

The Siam Hotel, 3/2 Khao Rd., 02-206-6999. Open daily noon-10:30pm, reservation only.
Overlooking the Chao Phraya River and Krung Thonburi Bridge, Chon is the signature Thai restaurant of Bangkok’s newest riverside hotel, The Siam. To match the classic views, Executive Chef Blair Mathieson, former head chef at The Chedi in Chiang Mai, promises authentic Thai recipes that utilize the finest ingredients. Set in a beautiful Thai teak house that was brought down from Ayutthaya and painted all in black, Chon also boasts an impressive array of antiques and collectables belonging to the owner.  Beer: B250, Cocktails: B320, Wine: B425

Viva & Aviv

River City Complex, 23 Yota Rd., 02-639-6305. Open daily 11am-midnight. www.vivaaviv.com. Sri Phraya Pier.
Fitting for its riverside location, this new venue has a rustic-yet-relaxed nautically-inspired theme with a dash of industrial chic and pirate-inspired interiors. Soak up the river view and breeze while watching the tourist boats plying up and down the river and enjoy the range of inventive cocktails created by the masterminds behind the established Hyde & Seek. Try the signature Pina Colasi (Appleton rum, pineapple, coconut foam and more) and decent pub grub like the Four Cheesons pizza.  Beer: B100, Cocktails: B250, Wine: B230