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Bangkok’s Best Rooftop Bars
Written by Nate Robinson
From sky-high terraces serving caviar and Scotch to high-concept cocktail bars that reach for the stars, these are Bangkok’s best rooftop bars.
Look skywards from almost anywhere in Thailand’s capital and you’ll see them – Bangkok’s legendary rooftop bars, promising countless good times amid the clouds. With progressive mixology and many of the world’s greatest bartenders, the city’s become one of the best places to drink in Asia, and nowhere is it clearer than at extreme elevation. It’s the perfect way to beat the city’s infamous heat: step into a lightning-quick elevator and be whisked away to a neon-lit kingdom of cool people, cool cocktails and cool breezes, surrounded in every direction by unbelievable views over the sprawling cityscape.
Join us as we reveal Bangkok’s best rooftop bars.
The Speakeasy Rooftop Bar
Spanning the 24th and 25th floors of Hotel Muse Bangkok, this sleek bar promises panoramic views, impeccable mixology and a photogenic perch to while away balmy afternoons and evening. While there is no secret knock or hidden door to gain entry, The Speakeasy Rooftop Bar embraces Prohibition-era America through its cocktail list – including a collection dedicated to Mary Pickford, an icon of Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s. And to add to its allure, the small bites offering is just as tempting, with international and local Thai flavours aplenty.
Penthouse Bar + Grill
At the very top of Park Hyatt Bangkok – an architectural marvel in the heart of the city’s historic Wireless Road – is Penthouse Bar + Grill, a collection of six high-concept venues linked by a dazzling creative vision. Begin at the breezy Rooftop Bar for one of the city’s most dramatic views – but don’t let its serene gardens and laidback jazz fool you. The cocktail menu’s here to impress, with showstopping elixirs like Catalonia Calling (gin, sherry, rosemary, sloe, lime and olive oil) offering dynamite bursts of flavour with every sip. Afterwards, the evening’s yours: take dinner at The Grill (the caviar service, served with all the traditional fixings, shouldn’t be missed), sip the night away at the vintage automobile-themed Cocktail Bar or head to the Johnny Walker Depth of Blue Room for seductively good Scotch cocktails, presented with a uniquely Thai twist.
Alfresco 64
Alfresco 64, the highest open-air fine whisky bar in the world, is designed to resemble a ship’s prow jutting into the Bangkok night, like a vessel adrift below a sea of stars. There’s a staggering amount of whiskies on offer, including high-profile picks from Japan and a coveted, single malt 25-year-old Macallan, aged in sherry oak, triumphant on the tongue in notes of cinnamon and dried fruit. If you’re after something lighter, the cocktail menu doesn’t disappoint – try ‘Stay in Love,’ a seductive blend of Scotch, apricot brandy, raspberry and fresh pineapple.
Sky Bar
Forever immortalised in film with the release of The Hangover Part II, Sky Bar at lebua at State Tower is easily one of the most recognisable venues in Bangkok. Sharing a space with Alfresco 64 to create one of the most impressive rooftop spaces in the world, Sky Bar’s mixology also rises to the hype, with a menu themed on fresh herbs – try the Cilantro, a bright and delicious mix of chilli-infused tequila, kaffir lime, coriander and lime, or dare to order the bar’s signature drink, the scotch-and-honey-based Hangovertini.
Moon Bar Bangkok
Cross the elegant, orchid-filled lobby of Banyan Tree Bangkok – the city’s only five-star, all-suite hotel – and zip up 61 floors to Moon Bar Bangkok, an achingly cool oasis perched high above the clouds. Begin with a cheeky aperitif: the ‘Amore Negroni’ – showcasing hibiscus-infused gin, jasmine vermouth and chamomile liqueur, garnished with fresh flowers – is the perfect antidote to the city’s heat. The venue’s also connected to Vertigo, one of Bangkok’s best grill houses, offering fresh-catch seafood and first-class Japanese beef.
Belga Rooftop Bar & Brasserie
Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit’s 32nd floor hides a tantalising secret: Bangkok’s best Belgian restaurant and rooftop beer hall. Belga Rooftop Bar & Brasserie doesn’t just deliver spectacular views over one of the city’s action-packed broadways – there’s also an authentic copper tap (pouring 10 draughts) and more than 50 imported beers, all sourced from Europe’s Low Countries. The brasserie menu’s also a labour of love, showcasing laidback Belgian favourites like beer-infused cheese fondue, moules-frites and the must-try gaufres de Bruxelles (waffles topped with chocolate and strawberries).
Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar
Soaring above Bangkok’s art-filled ‘bohemian district’ of Thonglor at Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar offers unrestricted 360-degree views across the city from three increasingly impressive levels. Sunset’s the best (and busiest) time to go as the sky ignites into red, orange and purple. The cocktails, named after famous Thailand locations and showcasing local ingredients, are a must-sip – try the Baan Dam, blending rum, Campari, local coffee and elderflower for a flavour profile that lingers on the tongue like the sunset in your memory.
HI-SO
Party under the stars at HI-SO, SO/ Bangkok’s neon signature venue, built from the ground up to cater to the city’s ultra-hip. Gaze down at Lumpini Park while you sip your way through the bar’s extensive cocktail selection. Skip the casual chit-chat and order from a star-studded menu showcasing drinks themed after the Western Zodiac. Try the Aquarius (butter and sage-infused vodka, jasmine, honey oleo saccharum and herbal bitters) for a smoke-touched elixir that’s as fun, creative and smart as the star sign.
CRU Champagne Bar
With unmatched views over the Chao Phraya River (‘river of kings’), the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and the sparkling city, CRU Champagne Bar reaches new heights of sophistication. Serving exclusively G.H.Mumm – one of the world’s most coveted drops – and a selection of bespoke cocktails, it’s a Bangkok hideaway that’s perfectly suited for nights spent celebrating. There’s also a menu of light bites, masterfully designed to complement the bubbles – highly recommended are the oysters, inspired by the flavours of Hua Hin, Bangkok, Paris and Osaka to offer something more special than the regular Kilpatrick.
Discover Bangkok
Feature image: Moon Bar Bangkok, Banyan Tree Bangkok.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out Street Thai to Sky High: 7 Unmissable Bangkok Dining Experiences.
