The buzz: There’s no shortage of mixology takeovers, international guest shifts, and theme night cocktails in Bangkok. But there are very few spaces with affordable craft cocktail shophouse bars—fewer still in the Thonglor area. Opening about a month ago, the new space off Sukhumvit Soi 36 (Saen Sabai Soi 8) wants to be the new hangout spot for the ‘other’ side of Thonglor.

 

The vibe: Retro design, hip-hop style graffiti declaring “south Thonglor,” and some very horny rabbits in the bathroom—it’s an artsy shophouse style bar. The tunes are old and new school hip-hop. For now, just the ground floor is open. 

 

 

The drinks: Owner Roe Laophermsook tells BK that this spot is trying to democratize drinks for everyone. On the menu you’ll find seven signature cocktails, starting out with the likes of the Thaipirina (B160) with Sato rice spirit and limes and the Sato Mojito (B160) with sticky rice liqueur. For a stronger drink there’s the CNX Express (B220), a tequila lychee highball. Another pleasant drink for those of you who like an Old Fashioned is the Poor Man’s Sazerac, using pastis, an anise-flavored spirit. On their “crowd pleasers,” you get a sampling of Thai flavored cocktails like a Tom Kha Colada and the Mango Sticky Rice Martini. Wines start at B220 and highballs at B190. But, this is a hangout spot, not a mixology laboratory; along with a collection of your classic cocktails, they have a few craft beers on offer for decent prices, and shots of Sato rice spirits at B60. 

 

 

The food: The fare follows the same theme as the drinks: uncomplicated. It’s bar grub, specifically fried chicken, including corn flake rosemary, gochu pao, white pepper, and their Hello Hat Yai served with nam jim jaew and covered in deep fried shallots.

 

Why we’d go back: No, they’re not going to win any awards for complex mixology, but they are trying to do that. They’re trying to create a cool, new space on the south side of Thonglor for hangouts and late nights. They’re off to a good start.