BANGKOK BAR

Sway

This pre- and post-clubbing spot puts the emphasis on Western bar favorites, namely chicken wings in 22 flavors. 

Sway, a bar in Tan “Ichitan” Passakornnatee’s Arena 10 complex, has a lot going for it. It’s got that handsome, if done-to-death, Brooklyn warehouse look with the requisite dangling lightbulbs, steel tables and bare cements floors. The place has also seen some good DJs although Sway’s Soundcloud hasn’t been updated in six months and, on our last visit, the DJ served up a crappy pop playlist.

On the drinks side of things, there is a “beer wall” that delivers six rotating craft beers on tap; you can even get a pre-paid card and just go help yourself. The beers come from Beervana, so you can expect tasty brews both on tap and bottled, like Anderson Valley Poleeko Ale (B250) and a variety of Deschutes (B240) as well as a half-dozen Italian beers (750ml, B650) and Beerlao (B150). Cocktails are B250.

As for the food menu, its star items are the 20 flavors of chicken wings (6 pieces, B150, 10 pieces, B230), some of which are pretty fun, like the dark chocolate and sea salt option. With another 20-something items on the menu, namely salads, pastas and burgers, you can definitely also have a full-on dinner, here. Of course, much of this is unabashedly comforting pub grub, such as the poutine (French fries with cheese and gravy, B190), a fatty mess, as it should be. Despite this kind of food not necessarily going for subtlety, it could still do with a few improvements.

On our last visit, the ribs (a special) were mushy, making us wondering if they’d been boiled, and doused in a watery sauce. We also expected more from the classic sweet and sour wings given Sway’s wing obsession—they just aren’t all that sour. And while the signature burger (B265) is solid, the twin beef patties have this slightly dry texture and excessive herbal notes.

We were more impressed with specials like the potato skins, perhaps the best in town, and a light, spicy cabbage salad bursting with flavor that puts coleslaw to shame. Despite the craft beers and DJs, food is clearly no afterthought here, and if they upped their game a little, Sway could compete with the likes of Firehouse or Roadhouse. As it stands, you do need to be fairly thirsty to really justify having dinner here.

Venue Details
Address: Sway, Arena 10, Thonglor Soi 10, Bangkok,
Phone: 02-711-6052
Website: www.swaybkk.com
Area: Ekkamai
Opening hours: daily 4:30pm-midnight
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