Best Cocktail Bars in Bangkok

South East Asia has become a travel must-do and is on many of our bucket lists today, with Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok attracting vast numbers of travellers’ year-on-year. ‘Krung Thep’ has become a thriving travel hub filled with culture, adventure and excitement, mixing its sacred history of temples with fascinating cosmopolitan skyscrapers.

Offering a vibrant nightlife scene for travellers, Bangkok is renowned for its full-moon beach parties. However, rooftop bars and niche inner-city drinking spots have set a popular new trend amongst city-goers with signature cocktails, stunning locations and charismatic interiors.

Here are just a few of the Thai capitals most incredible and in-demand cocktail bars perfect for making your night in the city one to remember…

Park Society Rooftop - Sofitel So

With Thailand’s weather often glimmering throughout the year, open-air bars have become popular destinations for tourists to experience the beauty of the city. Located in Sathorn on the tip of Lumpini Park, this rooftop bar offers stunning Central Park-like views over the cities greenery and skyline.

Perched on the 29^th floor of the Sofitel So hotel, the bar is open 17.00-00.30 hours and is considered a cheaper alternative to the Sky Bar at Lebua and Vertigo at Banyan Tree – and if you want to go even higher than 29 stories, the Sofitel now offers guests the opportunity to visit the Hi-So terrace above Park Society via the ‘Hi-So Only’ staircase.

Tuba Bar

Tuba Bar is located in the prosperous neighbourhood of Ekkamai, and combines zany décor with an expansive cocktail menu. The bar is part-thrift shop, but also one the great places in Bangkok to relax in a good-vibe atmosphere.

As well as their vast cocktail list including the famous ‘Tsunami’ which mixes; gin, vodka rum, Triplesec, whisky and blue Curacao, the bar is renowned for serving European draft beers such as Guinness, Boddingtons and Hoegaarden to cater for travellers. Drink deals can be found between 17.00-20.00 every day with two-for-one offers available. Prices start at 230 baht, relatively cheap for this area of the city.

Above Eleven

Another of Bangkok’s soaring rooftop bars with breath-taking views of the city skyline, Above Eleven is the perfect spot to party whilst saving cash for the rest of your travelling journey. The rooftop bar, spread across three floors in the 32-storey building, offers panoramic views of Siam and Bangkok’s famous shopping mall avenue.

Whether you are visiting on a weekday or weekend, the bar is certain to cater for you with a variety of music genres from jazz on a Thursday to house music at weekends to attract party-goers. If you fancy a taste of America, why not try Above Eleven’s Big Smokey Apple or Park View? A dazzling combination of Feijoa, elderflower, apple, lime and mint for around 300 baht.

Iron Fairie

With interiors designed to reflect a traditional ironsmith’s workshop, perhaps given away by the bars’ name, the Iron Fairies bar combines a mysterious interior that houses secret doors and alcoves with a signature cocktail menu filled with creative concoctions. Located in the Thonglor area of Sukhumvit Rd, the bar is open from 18.00-02.00 but we would advise to get their early due to its 55-person capacity.

If you are lucky enough, you may find the Iron Fairies’ ‘secret door’ to their lone table on the third floor. Take a seat and enjoy http://www.facebook.com/ironfairiesbkk/ their signature cocktails (280 baht) or traditional Thai beers (120 baht) whilst listening to live jazz bands from 21.00.

Skytrain Jazz Bar

A rooftop bar or student terrace? The Skytrain bar features a smorgasbord interior style to add to its magnetism, attracting visitors from local students to travellers looking to explore further than the commercial scene of Bangkok.

Nestled in the Victory Monuments area just a short train journey away from the city’s downtown district, the rooftop bar is considered the cheapest in the city. With beers and spirits starting at 100 baht and signature cocktails costing only a further 120 baht, the secluded spot is a perfect choice if you are travelling on the cheap – and it’s 01.00 curfew leaves time for exploring the city into the night.

Maggie Choo’s Bar

Ashley Sutton, the designer behind the ‘Iron Fairies’ bar, has juxtaposed the idea of a rooftop bar with yet another fascinatingly mysterious interior - this time at basement level. Located underneath the Novotel Fenix Silom hotel near the famous Sky Bar Lebua, the space combines historic Thai statues with rustic décor making it hard to believe you are still in the city.

Although the classic cocktail menu is fairly expensive in comparison to other Bangkok bars, the experience of Maggie Choo’s has been labelled unforgettable. If you are willing to spend a few more baht, be sure to check this hidden nightlife location out!