bars · Bangkok
The best nights in Bangkok start at these addresses — award-winning cocktail rooms, beloved locals' haunts and views worth ordering a second round for. All rated 4.5 stars or higher.
Charoen Krung · $$
The Four Seasons' Buenos Aires-inspired room has charged to the top tier of Asia's 50 Best Bars with negroni variations and polished table service. The riverfront terrace seals it.
Insider tip: Reserve online about a week ahead, start on the terrace, and ask for the negroni menu.
Bang Rak (State Tower) · $$
The golden-domed perch 63 floors above the river became world-famous in The Hangover Part II, and the glowing circular bar still delivers Bangkok's most dramatic panorama. Drinks are pricey; the view is the point.
Insider tip: Arrive at opening for sunset, expect a dress check (no shorts or sandals), and budget for one signature Hangovertini.
Sathorn · $$
An open-air deck on the Banyan Tree's 61st-floor roof with 360-degree views and no walls — just rails, sky, and the city grid blazing below. One of the original rooftops that built Bangkok's reputation.
Insider tip: Check the weather first — it closes when it rains — and come at 6pm for blue hour before the dinner crowd.
Soi Nana, Chinatown · $
A restored shophouse pouring ya dong — Thai herbal spirit infusions — alongside live traditional Thai music in the evenings. It almost single-handedly revived Soi Nana's drinking scene.
Insider tip: Order the ya dong tasting set with the pork skewers, and book ahead Friday and Saturday when the live ensemble packs the room.
Soi Nana, Chinatown · $
Bangkok's first dedicated gin bar hides behind a heavy antique wooden door in a raw-brick Chinatown shophouse. Its infused gin and tonics — chrysanthemum, assam, Thai milk tea — built a cult following.
Insider tip: Squeeze in before 8pm; if it's full, sister bar Asia Today is around the corner.
Thonglor · $$
Three stacked rooftop levels crowned by a 49th-floor 360-degree deck above Thonglor's nightlife district. Less touristy than the riverside icons, with DJs and a local after-work crowd.
Insider tip: Head straight to the top deck at the 5pm opening for the golden-hour rail seats.
November–February
Thai Baht (THB)
Thai
How this list is made: we only feature places rated 4.5 stars or higher with 1,000+ reviews from real travelers. Ratings and review counts are approximate and move over time — always check current numbers before booking. Photos are sourced from Wikimedia Commons under free licenses (credits in each gallery).
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Good to know
Three to four days: one for the old-town temples, one for markets and Chinatown, one for modern Bangkok's malls and rooftops, plus a day trip to Ayutthaya or Maeklong. It also works as a 2–3 day gateway before Thailand's islands or the north.