Roof by MUSE

Their Korean café-style renovation was completed last year, but they’ve kept the secret garden feel and regular live acoustic music. The drinks are the focus here, so try some sangria (B250-270) together with fancified comfort food like the foie gras burger (B320). Sure, the music is pop covers, it’s tranquil spot for some pre-partying before hitting the clubs below. Happy hours: buy-one-get-one-free on food and drink every Tue and Thu after 9pm. 20% off on a bottle of wine and buy-two pints of Hogaarden to get one half pint free every Sun.
159/8 Thonglor Soi 10, 089-988-5995. Open Tue-Sun 6pm-2am. Reservations Recommended

NEW >> The Speakeasy

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.
24-25/F, Hotel Muse Bangkok, 55/555 Langsuan Rd., 02-630-4000. Open daily 6pm-1am.

Nest

Beachside chilling meets LA pre-party at this rooftop bar. Crash on the Thai-style beds or cozy up in a swing-seat for two—ideal for a romantic cuddle. Get their recommended spicy mango (B330), cranberry mega cocktail (B330) or go for the Champagne cocktails (B350-750).
Rooftop/F, Le Fenix Hotel, 33/33 Sukhumvit Soi 11. 02-2550638-9. Open daily 4pm-2am. Parking available, Reservations Recommended

Skytrain Jazz Pub

It’s a long, steep climb to the top—and you may not get a seat on weekend nights—but Skytrain Jazz’s rooftop location and grungy shophouse cred gives it a wonderfully gritty urban feel. Sip on Singha as the BTS rattles past, basking in the pale light of Century Movie Plaza’s giant marquee. This is not a rooftop bar to escape the big bad city; it’s where you come to remember why you love it.
5/F, 6 Rangnam Rd., BTS Victory Monument. 02-640-0303. Open daily 5pm-1am.

Nang Kwak

While many places try to recreate a garden atmosphere with a couple of potted plants, Nang Kwak truly succeeds in both going green and providing a sweeping panorama of Thong Lor. The rooftop really is charming but to be honest skip their food and try their wine buffet (B999)—red and white from South Africa, Chile and Australia with a selection of main courses, available daily 6pm midnight.
3/F The Third Place, Thonglor Soi 10, 02-714-7938. Open daily noon-2pm and 6pm-1am. Parking available, Reservations Recommended

Phranakorn Bar

Apart from opening the gallery space downstairs for art exhibitions by young talented artists, this four-story venue located on Ratchadamnoen Road reserves most of its charm for the rooftop bar that lets you enjoy the fresh air along with a view of Phukhaothong temple. Popular for its tasty Thai food at very reasonable prices, the place combines candlelit ambiance, easy listening music and a very arty crowd.
58/2 Soi Damnoenklang Tai. 02-622-0282. Open daily 6pm-1am. Parking available

Ambar at 4 Points Sheraton

Perched on the top floor of the newish Four Points Hotel, amBar attracts locals despite its hotel location, in part thanks to its DJ events (see BK+, page 26). Chill out on daybeds on the terrace or poolside—too bad you’re not allowed to jump in. Cocktails B250-350, beer B100-250, whiskey B240-350 (glass). Happy hour is 5:30-7:30pm and the deal is buy one get one free for selected drinks. If you’re in Nana and need a space to chill out, this is one of the very few spots, that offers you non-sleazy poolside seats with affordable prices.
8/F, Four Points by Sheraton Hotel. 02-309-3113. Open daily 4pm-2am.

Barley Bistro & Bar Silom

This modern rooftop bar has a dark dualcolor scheme, bean bags and some stencil art. Their views are blocked by high-rises on all sides but you can still enjoy the breeze. Their popular cocktail, Fly Me to the Moon (B300) is a blend of vodka and fresh pineapple juice in a carafe. There is also wine by glass (B220), beer (B130), whisky (B1,300) and mixers (B30). If you get peckish, try their Thai fusion food like the fettuccine tom yum (B200). Silom is a seriously crap neighborhood to just catch a drink but at least here the booze is cheap—and there are no creepy sexpats.
3/F, Food Channel, 3 Silom Rd. 08-7033-3919. Open daily 5pm-1am. Parking available

Bloc Beer & Bistro

Exposed brick walls sporting photos and shelves lined with beer bottles from around the world make up this after-work spot. The third floor balcony seating offers nice views of Narathiwas. Please note that there are no local beers here—not even Heineken. But there are a respectable number of brews on tap: Hoegaarden, Stella, Leffe, Guinness and Hofbrau (B220 per pint, B130 for half) and an impressive variety of imported beers.
3/F City Viva, Narathiwas Rd., 089-181-1888. Open Mon-Thu 4pm-2am, Fri 4pm-4am, Sat 2pm-4am, Sun 2pm-2am. Parking available

Water Y

Water Y looks pretty similar to the former Ruen Rub Rong with the renovation mostly focused on color tones—white tables, dark wooden chairs, a pool in the middle. Whiskey ranges from B450-1,400 (by the bottle), beer B100-140 (by the bottle) and mixers are B30. The bar also offers lots of Thai dishes like tom klong pla salid (spicy soup with deep-fried gourami fish B140). In short, nice views of Ladprao along with not-so nice popsanova covers.
12/F, Pisawit Tower, 614/126, Phahon Yothin Soi 24. 081-376-4466. Open daily 5:30pm-midnight.

Red Sky

Red Sky’s view puts it in the league of high flyers like Vertigo and Sirocco. A classy martini and wine bar,it has two zones. Outdoors, everything is made from mahogany: floors, walls, the long counter top and the stools. Given the strong martinis (B350), lightweights should maybe opt for their sweet white chocolate martini. Wines range from B900 to over B30,000 and the collection includes 240 labels housed in a two-story wine cellar.
55/F, Centara Grand, CentralWorld, 99 Rama 1 Rd. 02-100-1234. Open Daily 5pm-1am.

The Garret

The vibe here is casual sophistication, thanks to the lounge-y, prohibition-chic furniture and stylish setting out on the rooftop terrace. Signature cocktail granilla vojito (B290) adds a scrumptious vanilla twist to a classic and the richy (vodka with lychee juice, B290) is a must try. Still feeling indulgent? Try the “Original GR” beef burger (B320).
Rooftop/F Mini Showroom, Ekkamai Soi 7, 02-711-6999. Open daily 11.30am-2.30pm and 6pm-midnight. Parking available, Reservations Recommended

Above 11

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. 
33/F, Fraser Suites Sukhumvit, 38/8 Sukhumvit Soi 11. 02-207-9300. Open daily 6pm-2am.

Park Society

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.
29/F, Sofitel So Bangkok, 2 North Sathorn Rd., 02-624-0000. Open daily 5pm-1am (Bar).

Scarlett

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.
37/F, Pullman Bangkok Hotel G, 188 Silom Rd., 02-238-1991. Open daily 6pm-1am.

Balco

Something of a hidden gem, this open-air space has got a white-arched roof, a u-shaped bar and impressive downstream views of the river. You’re paying a lot less for the same views as the neighboring five-star hotels (and it’s on a rooftop) without having to worry about a dress code. Try the Baby Green with vodka, midori, banana liqueur, lime juice and a touch of soda water or stick to the beer and light snacks.
5/F, River City Shopping Complex, Charoen Krung Rd., 084-928-6161. Open Tue-Sun 7pm-2am. Parking available