Rooftop bars in Bangkok with city views
There’s a certain glamour to sipping a cocktail when there’s wind in your hair and city lights twinkling by. With skyscrapers all around, where else would you be but a rooftop bar with sweeping city skyline views?
From the world’s highest open-air bar to a fully-marbled bar, here are 10 rooftop bars you’ll need to stop by next time you’re holidaying in Bangkok.
1. Sky Bar at Lebua State Tower
Image credit: @skybarbangkok
You might’ve caught a glimpse of this rooftop bar in Hangover II’s opening scenes, and Sky Bar comes with plenty for us to get excited over: fully transparent walls for panoramic views, an LED illuminated bar that changes colours, and also poptails – a novel creation that mixes a popsicle with a cocktail.
There’s a huge dome where you can admire the views.
Image credit: @love.12.12
The drink menu is on the pricier side, but hey, you get what you pay for. Cocktails go for as high as ฿690 with drinks like Pink on the Roof, vodka mixed with lime, peach, and egg white, and Summer Sunset, their take on a Mai Tai.
Image credit: @nikoltrane
If you’re an avid Hangover fan, you can also try the Hangovertini (฿570) which pays homage to the filming done in the area. Note that there aren’t any bar stools available, and you’ll probably have to be mingling with the crowd instead – and boy, it sure gets crowded up here.
Address: 1055 Si Lom, Khwaeng Silom, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500
Directions: Take the BTS to Surasak Station or the MRT to Silom Station
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 6PM-1AM
Telephone: +66 2 624 9555
2. The Marble Bar at 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok
Image credit: @haveagreyone
From marble tabletops to marble walls, The Marble Bar is a stylish space that’s pretty much marble everything. Well, except marble chairs – they understand the pangs of an uncomfortable seat and opted for rattan stools and fabric couches instead.
While you’re enjoying a cocktail or 2, that’ll be served to you on a stylish marble table top, you’ll also be admiring the city views right sprawled in front of you. A huge plus: the bar is open from dawn to almost midnight so you can experience both the sunrise and sunset.
Image credit: @warindalee
And yes, that absolutely means that you can sip on a cocktail from morning onwards too. If you’re raising an eyebrow to that, remember that you’re on holiday time and it’s always 5PM somewhere
Their Straightforward Cocktails like Moscow Mule and Negroni are all priced at ฿280, but we suggest trying their unique drinks like Marble’s Tini, a blend of vermouth, rosemary, sweet basil and a choice between gin or vodka.
If peckish, they also have sharing plates like Assorted Cold Cuts (฿460) and Artisan Antipasto Platter (฿550) – 3 types of charcuterie cured meats along with cow and goat’s cheese.
A looking hole for those to peer down 27 floors.
Image credit: @maruay_jern
Address: 59/1 Soi Sukhumvit 39, 137 Pillars Suites & Residences, Rooftop, Bangkok 10110
Directions: Take the BTS to Phrom Phong Station and walk down Soi Sukhumvit 39 for 950m (12-min walk)
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 6AM-11PM
Telephone: +66 2 029 7000
3. Ellipse Bar at Escape Bangkok, EmQuartier
Image credit: @cha_chaaim
Ellipse Bar at Escape Bangkok is one for the millennials: it comes decked out in neon lights, tropical beach motifs, and bohemian decor. While it sounds like a mess, the beach club ambience comes together to form an effortlessly chic setting for a fun Friday night out.
We expected nothing less – after all, it’s perched on the highest floor of EmQuartier, a glitzy shopping mall with its own waterfalls and spiralling vines.
Image credit: @missinklist
Drinks here start from ฿300 for a classic cocktail like Margarita or Cosmopolitan. They also have a full-fledged craft beer menu, serving up pilsners like Australian Bridge Road (฿400) to IPAs like Scottish Brewdog (฿400).
Image credit: @sophaldridge
They also offer light tapas bites like Salt & Pepper Squid (฿250) but if that’s not enough for your rumbling tummy – hearty mains like Wagyu Beef Krapaw (฿390) and the Escape Burger (฿490) should do the trick.
Address: 693 Sukhumvit Road,The EmQuartier, Rooftop of Building B, Bangkok 10110
Directions: Take the BTS to Phrom Phong Station and take Exit No. 1
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 5PM till late
Telephone: + 66 2 003 6000
4. Moon Bar at Banyan Tree Hotel
Image credit: @ughettetravel
For those looking for a rooftop bar that’s all class, then Moon Bar fits the bill perfectly. All the local Thai hi-so (socialites) already flock here for the views – it’s hard to go wrong when you’re 61 floors in the air.
Image credit: @chaeyeon_choco
But cocktails here don’t come cheap: you’re not just paying for alcohol and mixers, you’re also paying for the stunning views and feeling of exclusivity – can’t quite put a price tag on that, amirite? It’s an experience you’ll need to try once whether it’s with a classic cocktail like a Mojito or a quirky concoction like an Apple Pie Martini.
Both are priced at ฿550.
Image credit: Banyan Tree Bangkok
It’ll be best to head here at dusk to get a bird’s eye view of the sunset before night completely takes over – but you’ll be left with the twinkling lights of the buildings all around anyway.
Address: 21/100 South Sathon Road, Banyan Tree Hotel, 61st Floor, Bangkok 10120
Directions: Take the BTS to Sala Daeng Station or MRT to Lumphini Station
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 5PM-1AM
Telephone: +66 2 679 1200
5. Above Eleven at Fraser Suites Sukhumvit
Image credit: @aboveleven
Massive structural trees towering high above your head? A maze-like entrance – complete with organic vines and grass-covered walls? Or, how about a quirky Peruvian-Japanese menu that does everything from ceviches to charcoal skewers? Well, you’ll find it all at Above Eleven, a rooftop bar on the 33rd and 34th floor of Fraser Suites Sukhumvit.
Image credit: @aboveeleven
The ambience changes completely once it hits nightfall: the structural trees light up with an ethereal pink glow and the music amps up to play rhythmic beats. You can even expect live DJs each night – for instance, Monday for hip hop and funk and Tuesday for deep-house. There’s also a weekly Jazz Night on Thursdays, with the Clif Hardy Sextet Jazz band.
Image credit: @kissybangkok
Cocktails start from ฿320 with Peruvian-inspired drinks like Leche De Tigre, a blend of Pisco, leche de tigre (Peruvian marinade), and egg white, or garden-themed drinks like Big Smokey Apple, which is Bacardi White with apple and lime juice.
They also have a full food menu, with a wide assortment of Peruvian Platters (from ฿1,200), ceviches (from ฿250), and a Japanese section that offers up sushi rolls and sashimi plates. We’ve got our eye on their sushi rolls – especially the fusion Club Sandwich Roll (฿540) which is loaded with salmon, tuna, avocado and cream cheese.
Address: 38/8 Soi Sukhumvit 11, Fraser Suites Sukhumvit, 33rd Floor, Bangkok 10110
Directions: Take the BTS to Nana Station and walk down Sukhumvit 11 for 900m (11-min walk)
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 6PM-2AM
Telephone: +66 0 2 038 5111
6. Wanderlust Rooftop at Nagiya Restaurant Building
Image credit: @rooftopmadness
Although Wanderlust Rooftop isn’t perched at the top of a skyscraper, they have plenty of whimsical charm that makes up for their lack of vertical presence. You’ll still be lounging at a rooftop, but instead, one with wooden crates, strewn fairy lights, and an artificial grass lawn.
Image credit: @lovely_sunoo
Drink up: cocktails here are all priced at just ฿220. They’re not fancy cocktails by any means, but drinks like Kahlua Milk and Orange Malibu.
And although they term themselves as a ‘bar’, their food menu is rather hefty. There’s a mishmash of Thai and Western cuisine, with Kee Mao Goong Pasta (฿250) and Grilled Beef with Nam Jim Jaew (฿185) – a spicy tamarind sauce.
Address: 44/1 Soi Thonglor 13, Nakiya Japanese Restaurant Building, 5th Floor, Bangkok 10110
Directions: Take the BTS to Thong Lo Station and walk down Sukhumvit 53 Alley for 1.3km (16-min walk)
Opening hours: Tue to Sun: 6PM-2AM (Closed on Mondays)
Telephone: +66 88 696 9445
7. Roof 409 Bar & Bistro at Mercury Ville Chidlom
Image credit: @lizz.nguyen777
It’s not a large space over at Roof 409 Bar & Bistro, but they’ve certainly got the cool factor down pat. With red lounge couches and an extensive cocktail menu, this is the place to go if you’re looking for a no-frills bar to enjoy the cool night air. It might only be 4 storeys high, but there’s an unblocked view of Bangkok’s skyline.
Don’t get your hopes up for a sunset shot though – there are too many buildings around.
Image credit: @antarachy
With a BTS train rattling past every now and then – you’ll feel like you’re in the heart of Bangkok. They hold a regular Mojito Night on Thursdays with Mojitos starting from ฿150, and also ship in their craft beers from international breweries – expect labels like Obsidian Stout (฿270), Birra Farmhouse Ale (฿290), and Boont Amber Ale (฿280).
If you’re there during the day, they’ve got a Lunch Set for ฿240. It comes with your choice of starter and main course or main course and dessert, pick from the likes of: Cheesy Nachos, Salmon Spaghetti, Beef Lasagna, and Meringue Raspberry Ice Cream.
Address: 504 Phloen Chit Road, Mercury Ville, 4th Floor, Bangkok 10330
Directions: Take the BTS to Chit Lom Station and walk down Phloen Chit Road for 140m (2-min walk)
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 11AM-12AM
Telephone: +66 2 648 5655
8. Brewski at Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok
Image credit: @radissonblubkk
While red wines and a classic margarita are traditions well-embraced, craft beers are currently where it’s at. With a huge array of 100 or so craft brews and a dozen beers on tap, Brewski at Radisson Blu is where you’ll get the hoppy beers you’ve been dreaming about.
Image credit: @asakok1120
For those after beers on tap, prices start from ฿70 for a 100ml serving but of course, they also offer half pints and full pints for those who can handle their liquor. They’ve got a solid assortment of craft beers, ranging from Belgian ales to Trappist beers.
If hungry, they also serve up tasty bar snacks like Brewski Fries with Smokey BBQ Sauce (฿170) and Gai Yang (฿220) – grilled chicken skewers.
Address: 486 Sukhumvit Soi 27, Radisson Blu Plaza, 30th Floor, Bangkok 10110
Directions: Take the BTS To Asok Station and walk to Praphatson Alley (500m, 7-min walk)
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 5PM-1AM
Telephone: +66 2 302 3333
9. The Speakeasy Rooftop Bar at Hotel Muse
Image credit: Hotel Muse
The colonial pillars and cigar lounge of The Speakeasy Rooftop Bar at Hotel Muse has us thinking we’ve been magically transported to a ‘20s era: it’s old school Hollywood when red lipsticks and flapper dressers were rife. And while there’s no need to glam it up to match the bar’s ambience, there is a smart casual dress code – like most of Bangkok’s rooftop bars.
The Blind Pig Cigar Lounge has a range of Cuban cigars and single malt whiskies – reservations recommended.
Image credit: @pingdafrog
There’s a carefully curated list of drinks here, from Bacon Old Fashion (฿370) to Wasabi Martini (฿360). If you’re after a bespoke cocktail, mixologists can also offer their favourite recipe for ฿450.
After you’ve enjoyed a few drinks at the bar, head over the Blind Pig Cigar Lounge to try a few Cuban cigars from the far-flung cities of Montecristo and Cohiba. They even have smoking jackets so your clothes don’t get tainted by the stench of smoke.
Address: 55/555 Soi Langsuan, Hotel Muse Bangkok, 24th & 25th Floor, Bangkok 10330
Directions: Take the BTS to Chit Lom Station and walk down Soi Langsuan for 500m (7-min walk)
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 5:30PM-12AM
Telephone: +66 2 630 4000
10. Red Sky at Centara Grand
Image credit: @ai_koko
Bangkok is one of our favourite travel spots to hit up, and there’s no doubt that you’ve stepped foot into CentralWorld at least once. But you might’ve missed out on Red Sky – the rooftop bar that’s at the very top of Centara Grand at CentralWorld.
And when the sun sets, everything takes on an unmistakably pink hue – with the help of a filter, of course.
Image credit: Centara Hotels Resorts
They only do classic cocktails like Whisky Sour, Pina Colada, and Daiquiri (฿430) but have plenty of spirits and aperitifs to mix with. For a bar, they’ve got a superior food menu that’s worth sitting down for. Fresh seafood is the obvious highlight here – oysters, Hokkaido scallops, king crab? They’ve got it all.
Only come here if you’re up for a splurge since their Seafood on Ice weighs in at a sky-high price of ฿5,555 – but it comes packed with a generous spread of fresh seafood including lobsters and oysters.
Address: 999/99 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Directions: Take the BTS to Siam Station and walk to Centara Grand (500m, 5-min walk)
Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 11:30AM-2:30PM, 6PM-1AM, Sat to Sun: 6PM-1AM
Telephone: +66 2 100 6255
Website
Tourism Authority of Thailand – Thanks A Million
There’s certainly no shortage of rooftop bars in Bangkok. Whether you like them high in the sky with elaborate cocktails or a cosy haunt with craft beers from all over the world, Bangkok has ‘em all.
Make sure to stay tuned to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s website for more updates on places to visit in Bangkok here!
Featured images adapted from: @maruay_jern and @love.12.12
This post was written by Pailin Boonlong for TheSmartLocal.com in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand.