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The place: Locally-brewed craft beers, crumbling walls, Game of Thrones-referencing name—this new Chinatown bar ticks plenty of boxes. Here, architect-turned-brewer Pieak Pipattanaphon, who founded Golden Coins brewery, and Avi Yashaya, the guy behind the Brewtopia beer meetups, serve a small selection of Thai-made craft beers on tap. 

At the bar: Especially if home brewing banter is your thing, the friendly tapmasters will make you feel right at home. 

 

The place: This speakeasy-style bar comes courtesy of the local cocktail specialists behind many of the best drink menus in town (including the now-defunct Sugar Ray). It succeeds where many others fail to conjure the feeling of a secret drinking society. 

At the bar: The long, narrow space replicates a classic railway carriage dining car with a ‘20s New York vibe, with just 10 leather-upholstered seats lining the well-polished bar. The result? An intimate drinking atmosphere, where the barman can really match your mood.    

 

The place: One of a slew of new openings breathing fresh life into Chinatown, this straightforward but stylish bar does just what you’d hope for. Live soul and funk bands fill the tiny front room nearly every night, often continuing the party after the shutters come down, and the bar serves stiff drinks. It’s the twists that make it most memorable, though, like the bar stools hewed from industrial clutter sourced from around Talad Noi or the Summer Beer (mint chocolate kombucha and half a pint of draft beer, B160). 

At the bar: Actually, forget the bar or finding a seat anywhere. When the band’s in full groove, you’re left with absolutely nowhere to move. 

 

The place: Run by David Jacobson, the founder of Q Bar and a bit of a nightlife legend, Smalls is a laidback, late-night bar split over three rickety levels of an old corner townhouse. Here, the owner’s prized collection of contemporary art pairs magically with the hands-off approach to restoration. Book in advance if you want to nab a seat with a view on the rooftop terrace.

At the bar: We recommend you stay downstairs to knock back shots of absinthe (the house specialty, B350-700) and mingle with a hard-drinking after-work crowd of expats and locals. Also be sure to visit on one of the monthly Vietnamese pho nights.

 

The place: Climb to the second floor of this shop-house right next to the antique store Lantern and you’ll find a very minimalist space with lots of wood accents and hanging light bulbs. The bar serves a long list of sake, shochu, umeshu, Japanese whiskey and single malts.

At the bar: We say, sidle up to the talkative barman and order something on the rocks with one of the ice balls. The bar serves some intriguing free snacks all night, too.

 

The place: This Japanese izakaya stocks a wide selection of Japanese whiskey, and even more varieties of umeshu. These include homemade versions that the mixologist uses to craft personalized cocktails served with an ice ball that’s sculpted right before your eyes. 

At the bar: Despite the very long bar, the barman is pretty friendly and provides great entertainment—we recommend you prop up the bar.

 

The place: Wong’s is the kind of place you swear the morning after you’ll never go back to (the smoky hair, the pounding headache, the person lying next to you). You can forget dancing, too.

At the bar: What bar? The place is so tiny everyone’s basically groping one another while trying to reach the serve-yourself fridge. Even if all of your friends refuse one more bottle of Singha, there’s high chance you’ll meet someone you know (for better or worse).