Getting high – Bangkok literally takes drinking to another level. You’re never far from a rooftop bar.
Bangkok’s full name – look it up because it ain’t gonna fit in this box.
If you like wet t-shirt competitions then visit during the Songkran Festival, it’s basically the world’s biggest street water fight.
‘Sanook’ (fun) is a way of life for Thais. They want you to have a good time. Don’t let them down.
It holds the record for the most expensive pet wedding in the world: in 1996 two cats were married in a ceremony that cost $16,241.
Like the Titanic, Bangkok is sinking (at a rate of 2 – 5cm / year) so get out there before it’s too late.
Most bars close at 2am, so you need to get friendly with some of the city’s late-night drinking dens like the legendary Wong’s Place.
Wear your party pants – it is illegal to go out in Bangkok without underwear, whatever length your hemline. Inspections are discouraged.
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Above ElevenAbove Eleven is the capital’s shiny new hangout. BarChick can’t get enough of the views from this 38th floor bar, the entirety of Bangkok’s burgeoning skyline is pretty much yours to take in, and it’s a beauty. There are all sorts Read More |
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Apoteka ThonglorThis place looks like an old Victorian apothecary crossed with a mad Thai drinking den and a Western saloon, which basically amounts to good times. Silent movies are projected onto the huge exposed brick walls, the hanging lights are made Read More |
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Bad MotelIn a city where rooftop drinking comes with a hefty price tag and green space is at a premium, Bad Motel is a winner. This three-storey bar has a courtyard garden on the first floor and a terrace on Read More |
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BrewBrew is all about the beer and cider, obvs. With over 200 varieties, this place stocks the highest concentration of draft and bottled beers in the kingdom. That means one helluva drinks list, this thing is encyclopedic with more bottles Read More |
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Distil at the Lebua HotelThis place trumps the famous Sky Bar by setting up shop one floor up in the Lebua State Tower Hotel, bagging the prize of highest bar in Bangkok. If you want a seat on the bar’s small outdoor terrace, prepare Read More |
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Fat Gut'z SaloonA small, cosy, narrow cocktail joint with a local vibe, it’s the kinda place where everyone knows your name. When BarChick rocked up, a five-piece band was belting out Guns & Roses covers… Thai style. Serving up a long list of drinks, Read More |
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Garden of DreamApart from a much-needed ‘s’, this compact fourth-floor bar certainly lives up to its name. Before you step over its threshold, Alice in Wonderland quotes on the stairs lull you in readiness for your otherworldly destination. Dainty lighting and Dali-worthy Read More |
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Hyde and SeekA loud and proud cocktail bar like the kind you might find in London or New York. As the name suggests (and like many Bangkok treats), this place isn’t the easiest to find, and if you don’t hear the muffled Read More |
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Long TableLong Table has something many other upmarket BKK rooftop bars are severely lacking in: atmosphere. Whether it’s the sultry low lighting, the long ebony bar, or the bangin’ beats, Long Table is all about understated sophistication. Classy. Named after the 25-metre Read More |
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Maggie Choo’sSanya the bossman / former owner of Bed Supperclub has created an adult underground playground… of the non-kinky variety. The firm but fair doorman from the States decides whether you’ll be making it down the stairs, past Ziggy the iguana and Read More |
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MikkellerThe January arrival of Mikkeller in Bangkok heralded a new era for the city’s craft beer revolution. Located in a residential area just a stone’s throw from Soi Ekamai, this secretive spot is the fourth home of Denmark’s most coveted Read More |
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Moonbar At The Banyan TreeA special occasion joint, if you’re on a tight Thai budget then be warned because your notes won’t get you far here. If you’re packing plastic or splashing the cash, then make your way to Banyan Tree Hotel and hit Read More |
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MooseThe décor here is all distressed wood, wrought iron and white fairy lights, with the occasional sweep of a green vine, it’s tasteful without being bland. Like neighbouring Tuba, Moose cashes in on its own very popular 5-8pm happy hour Read More |
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NestWith all the spicy rooftop bars to visit, Nest is a little vanilla. But after a long night out on the relentless Soi 11, it can be just the tonic. And with a protective awning for the wet season, it Read More |
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Opposite Mess HallThis is a favourite haunt for anyone who knows and loves their booze and food. Tucked down a quiet soi in upmarket Thonglor, Opposite Mess Hall is the perfect spot to escape the city’s raucousness. Attention to detail is spot Read More |
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Shades Of RetroThis place is one serious sensory overload. Sink into a soft 70s sofa, sip on an expertly mixed drink and get lost in this oasis of vintage junk. There’s a Vespa, a Hammond organ, retro records playing, old amps stacked Read More |
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Sky Bar at the Lebua HotelPerched on the 63rd floor of the Lebua State Tower Hotel, a whopping 200m off the ground, unsurprisingly this place has great views. The fact that it’s attached to Sirocco, the world’s largest open-air restaurant, makes this the most famous Read More |
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The Iron FairiesWe reckon anywhere you have to push past a huge black velvet curtain to enter has gotta be hiding something good, and when it came to Iron Fairies we were totally right. Wind down the wrought iron staircase, and lose yourself Read More |
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TubaStaying true to Bangkok’s obsession for all things vintage, Tuba is a mainstay of Ekamai nightlife. A life-sized Yoda statue greets you at the door and 70s pin-up girls eye you from oil paintings as you wind your way through Read More |
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Wonderful BarFor all its amazing bars, Bangkok’s 2am-closing policy is a real heartbreaker. On those nights when your thirst is unquenchable, head to BarChick’s best-kept Bangkok secret: Wonderful Bar. VW vans converted into makeshift bars can be found throughout the city (to Read More |
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Wong’s PlaceThis place is nothing short of an institution, and it’s pretty legendary in a city which changes its bars like its underwear. If you’re looking for a post-midnight party then this hole-in-the-wall hide away is it. Beers, whiskey and dudes getting Read More |
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WTFWhat the f*ck? Nah, you filthy-mouthed thing, it stands for Wonderful Thai Friendships (of course), which is the whole foundation of this friendly little joint. Opened as an alternative to the super clubs with loud music and big crowds, WTF Read More |