BANGKOK BAR

Grease

This swanky all-in-one nightspot houses a bar, club, lounge and restaurant across four different levels.

The buzz: Newspaper heir Dan Hetrakul chose to eschew the hustle and bustle of the usual party districts to open Grease, a swanky all-in-one nightspot, on the quieter Sukhumvit Soi 49. Occupying a four-story shophouse, this newly-opened venue houses a bar, club, lounge and restaurant, aiming to cater to all sorts of late-night pursuits.

The décor: Each of Grease’s floors is decked out in a different theme. The first floor, named Any Winehouse, is a high-ceilinged restaurant and wine bar finished in a geometric style complete with LED lights. The second floor sees some pretty impressive washrooms hidden in a faux garden, while the third floor is home to the clubbing space. Dubbed LSD (Light and Sound Demolition), the very-low-ceilinged room enchants with its interactive-LED surfaces, laser lights and plethora of mirrors. Meanwhile, up on the fourth floor you’ll find Cry Baby, a sort of chilled-out living room, named after the owner’s penchant for giving musical newcomers a chance to play live. Here you can take a break from all the noise by kicking back on the leather couches and enjoying the rotating art pieces on the walls. Soon to come is the open-air rooftop bar called Top-Loader for drinks under the stars.

The music: Dan told us the look of the place doesn’t define what music is played here; Grease plays everything from electro to drum n’ bass to Thai pop. Expect mellow, chill-out tunes on the first floor, while LSD gives you the chance to dance to dubstep, funk, electro and hip hop spun by DJs. LSD is also starting to host more big-name DJs, too, so keep an eye on BK+ for listings. When there’s no live band performing, Cry Baby features easy-listening tunes.

The crowd: Celebrity friends of the owner and generally fashionable people, from the neighborhood’s hiso kids to expats from Soi 11 who’ve been tipped off by local trendsetters. Everyone is welcome, though, says Dan.

The price: There’s no Red or Black label here, sorry. Whiskey starts with Gold Reserve (B2,600/bottle, B260/glass); try the signature cocktail, Gold Member (JW Gold Reserve, peach schnapps, lemon tea syrup, lemon juice, ginger ale, and absinthe, B340). Another refreshing option is the B&B (pamparo rum, butter scotch liqueur, malibu, pineapple juice, lemon, vanilla syrup, biscuit and butter, B340), while they also recommend the frozen margarita (strawberry or peach, B280). Basic cocktails are B260. Even though Dan’s family owns Chateau Meyre (start from B1,700), a vineyard in France, Grease also stocks more affordable selections from Siam Winery. The food menu contains the likes of baked mussels (topped with spicy tomato sauce and cheddar cheese, B220), and salmon steak (pan-roast fillet of salmon on a bed of spinach with wasabi white wine cream sauce, B490).

Why you’ll come back: If you’re looking for a place which offers variety, Grease might just be the place for you. Keep an eye out for drink promotions and music events; for this month, it’s Models Night every Tues with resident DJs. Tanyarat Kanjanarat, Top Koaysomboon

Venue Details
Address: Grease, Piman 49, 46/12-13 Sukhumvit Soi 49, Bangkok,
Phone: 099-125-9991
Area: Thonglor, Phrom Phong
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 5pm-1am
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