Bangkok Bars: 7 Great Picks for Nightlife Fans
Where to Go for Drinks in Bangkok?
Selecting the best bars in Bangkok is no easy task as this is, after all, a city that’s world-renowned for its bustling nightlife scene. There are thousands of drinking spots drawing in millions of thirsty visitors to the Thai capital year-round.
Our list of the best Bangkok bars is based on four factors: the quality of drinks, the ambience, the location, and their unique selling points. Our tops picks are spread across all the popular areas of the city, including Khao San (popular with backpackers), the Old City, the hotel and shopping haven of Sukhumvit, Thong Lor and Ekkamai, plus a few wild card entries.
1. Havana Social
A secret speakeasy with 1940s Cuban flair and rum cocktails
Good for: Nightlife, Unusual
Havana Social Bangkok is a cool bar on Sukhumvit Soi 11, which takes a prohibition theme to new heights of authenticity. Think dim lights, classic rum cocktails, exposed beams, and crumbling plaster; the 1940s pre-revolution Cuba theme is painstakingly well executed. Bar staff are smartly dressed and coiffured, as are the socialite crowd who are cool enough to find their way to this “secret” bar.
The reason why it’s such a secret is there is no signage or front door. Instead, you’ll find a mock-retro phone booth. Step inside, dial the secret code and a false door in the back of the phone booth swings open. It’s one of the most unusual entrances to a bar you might’ve ever seen. Read more
Location: 41, 3 Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Open: Daily from 6 pm to 2 am
Phone: +66 (0)2 821 6111
Havana Social
2. The Bamboo Bar at Mandarin Oriental
An elegant jazz bar with colonial charm and world-class cocktails
Good for: Couples, Luxury, Nightlife
The Bamboo Bar Bangkok is a renowned live jazz music venue situated on the ground floor of the elegantly preserved Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Hotel. The bar’s interior exudes a sophisticated ambiance, with dark wood, marble, leather, and rattan elements, complemented by low lighting and a mirrored ceiling. This creates an inviting atmosphere for enjoying award-winning cocktails.
Known for its colonial, late-19th-century charm, the Bamboo Bar artfully balances a moody and stylish vibe, making it a favorite spot for both locals and visitors seeking a refined nightlife experience. Read more
Location: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, 48 Oriental Ave, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Open: Sunday–Thursday from 5 pm to 1 am, Friday–Saturday from 5 pm to 2 am
Phone: +66 (0)2 659 9000
The Bamboo Bar at Mandarin Oriental
3. Tuba Bar
An eclectic hipster bar with vintage décor and rare beers
Good for: Food, Nightlife, Unusual
Tuba Bar is a part thrift store, part unashamed hipster hangout in the affluent Ekkamai neighborhood. It easily makes it to any list of best bars in Bangkok with its wacky decor, mammoth cocktail list, and bohemian vibes. The whole place features a kaleidoscope of colors, furniture, and artwork, with an ample supply of erotic paintings hanging on the walls, mismatching vintage chairs, retro lighting, and quirky props dotted around.
Fans of European beers and ales will be particularly pleased thanks to some rare beers (at least for Bangkok) on tap such as Boddingtons, Guinness, and Paulaner, as well as an excellent selection of Belgian bottled beers. They also have a pool table, TV screens, and serve decent Thai grub. Read more
Location: 34 Ekkamai 21 Alley, Khlong Tan, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Open: Daily from 9.30 am to 2 am
Phone: +66 (0)2 711 5500
Tuba Bar
4. Smalls Bar
A moody multi-level townhouse bar with jazz and Parisian vibes
Good for: Couples, Nightlife
Smalls Bar fell into Bangkok’s niche category of expat neighborhood bars when it opened back in 2014. But as things change quickly in Bangkok, through word of mouth, media attention, and the fact that the same street has welcomed a handful of other new drinking dens, Smalls became one of the most talked-about bars in town.
Set over three floors of a refurbished 1960s townhouse, Smalls is defined by its dark and broody atmosphere, created by some well-chosen Parisian-inspired décor, low lighting, and a sophisticated soundtrack of soft jazz.
Location: 186, 3-4 Suan Phlu 1 Alley, Thung Maha Mek, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Open: Wednesday–Monday from 6 pm to 2 am (closed on Tuesdays)
Phone: +66 (0)89 666 5429
Smalls Bar
5. Vesper Cocktail Bar
A sophisticated spot for masterfully crafted cocktails
Good for: Food, Nightlife
Vesper Cocktail Bar, named after James Bond’s famous martini, is a fancy cocktail bar and Italian restaurant serving some of the finest drinks in Bangkok. The level of detail and preparation that goes into making each drink is truly a cut above anywhere else, which does come across in the cost. The vibe is one of quiet sophistication, but also lots of fun.
Located just a few steps from the Sala Daeng BTS Station in Silom, Vesper is easy to find, and find it you should because they are serious about making the best cocktails in Bangkok.
Location: 10/15 Sala Daeng 2 Alley, Si Lom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Open: Daily from 5.30 pm to 1 am
Vesper Cocktail Bar
6. Paii at The House on Sathorn
A historic mansion bar with custom cocktails and refined elegance
Good for: Couples, Nightlife
Paii at The House on Sathorn is replete with lavish touches like leather sofas, hanging artwork, and a beautifully elaborate ceiling. Behind the bar, the skilled team have a short and concise cocktail menu with signature drinks, a section for the classics, and several pages of wines and whiskeys.
Though signature cocktails are short in number, each one jumps off the page. A top tipple is The Garden: a gin-based drink with floral overtones worthy of the name, made with chrysanthemum-and thyme-infused gin, chamomile tea, lemon zest, and fresh rosemary shaken with a frothy head. But this is the type of bar where you can ask for something special and have your very own drink created in front of you.
Location: W Bangkok and The House on Sathorn, 106 North Sathorn Road, Silom, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Open: Daily from noon to 11 pm
Phone: +66 (0)2 344 4025
Paii at The House on Sathorn
7. Brown Sugar
Bangkok’s premier jazz haven
Good for: Couples, Nightlife
Brown Sugar is a long-running, sleek and stylish venue that has become famous for being one of the best places in Bangkok for live music. After 26 years of service, they moved from Sarasin Road to a bigger home at Phrasumen Road.
Brown Sugar sits up to 200 people every night. With the emphasis more on the live jazz music more than anything else, the food and drinks list isn’t as extensive as some of our other picks, but you can still get a mean Martini or local beer that’s decently priced.
Location: 18 Soi Nana, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Open: Sunday and Tuesday–Thursday from 5 pm to 1 am, Friday–Saturday from 5 pm to 2 am (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +66 (0)63 794 9895
Brown Sugar
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