The buzz: With years of experience working as a bartender under his belt, Throntan “Pae” Siriwittayacharoen has now opened his own speakeasy in Phrom Phong—and it’s absolute bait for serious drinkers.

The decor: Finding the bar can be an amusing experience. Once you’re inside the Metropole Residence building, keep an eye out for a nondescript fire escape near Cafe Amazon on the ground floor. Push the door open and you’ll be greeted with an almost pitch-dark space. We say almost, because seconds before you blindly trip over your feet, you’ll see the bar itself, dimly lit by flickering candles. The spacious room boasts a sultry and mysterious vibe, punctuated with a minimal, Japanese-style interior boasting lots of dark wood (see the bar top, stools and traditional-style lamps). You get a hint of Art Deco, too, courtesy of marble tables.  

The drinks: Expect non-traditional, stripped-down versions of the classics that put the focus on the spirits. Start off with something light like the Yuzu Yogurt (B380), a mix of gin, homemade yogurt, shio yuzu, salt, lemon and egg white served in a beautifully crafted Kimura glass. For those who prefer fizzy cocktails, opt for the Tequila Dirty Fizz (B360), a twist on the traditional gin fizz that consists of tequila, brine, syrup, lime and cha kram (seepweed leaves) topped with soda. Take it up a notch with a riff on the New York Sour called the New York Lemon Cream (B360), a mix of Langley’s gin, spices, clarified milk and homemade limoncello with red wine floating on top. Heavyweight drinkers should order the Benton’s Old Fashioned (bacon fat-washed bourbon and maple syrup with a dash of Angostura bitters, B400), a famous cocktail recipe Pae got from Jim Meehan’s classic “The PDT Cocktail Book.”

The music: Since the speakeasy got its name from the song “Room 335” by legendary jazz guitarist Larry Carlton—one of Pae’s favorites—expect to groove to some ‘70s and ‘80s fusion jazz, soft rock and disco funk. Think 10cc, Prince and Peaches & Herb.

The crowd: Anyone serious about their drinks, from young couples to big groups of friends. 

Why you’d come back: The cocktails here are far from predictable—the menu changes regularly according to Pae’s creativity—so if you’re feeling adventurous but still want a reliably good time, you know where to go. Dhipkawee Sriyananda Selley