Real Talk on Bangkok’s Rooftop Bars
When you go to Bangkok you go to a rooftop bar. It’s THE thing to do. When I lived in Bangkok, I lived in Bangkoknoi, a neighborhood across the Chao Praya from my school, Thammasat, and down the street from Siriraj Hospital, where the King used to live. It’s pretty removed from the new center of the city (Sukhumvit) and there aren’t many sky scrapers, so in 6 months I never went to a rooftop bar.
This time was different.
I read reviews, grouped bars together based on location, and went hopping. Here’s the real talk on the rooftop bars the World Wide Web recommends.
Cloud 47
This was my favorite. Huge space, really expansive view of the skyline, fun music, and not super crowded. You can sit at tables and eat dinner, or enjoy a few drinks while moving your head back and forth to take in the whole view.
The Speakeasy at Hotel Muse
Because of its location it’s more in the Bangkok skyline than apart from it. But you still get a great view with an awesome atmosphere. They also made my vodka soda so strong I had to ask for more soda water to be added to it. Twice.
Be sure to get upstairs. There’s a hidden stairwell, behind a painting that slides to the right and the upstairs has an open air view and very great vibes. I might have accidentally sneaked up there. TBD.
Vertigo and Moon Bar
This is at the top of most BKK rooftop bar recommendations, but there’s a problem with that. It’s really, really crowded. It’s got a good view and pretty cool vibe for sure, but you can’t really see the view because of all the people.
Park Society
I got to PS really late when they were no longer serving drinks, so I can’t speak to its full ambience. But the space was really cool, the view was great, and there were stragglers still having lively conversations at their tables, so I’m guessing it’s a good spot to chill with friends for a drink.
Above Eleven
Doesn’t have a great view because it’s right in the middle of Sukhumvit, but definitely has the most fun, party vibe of all the rooftop bars I went to. It’s near Sukhumvit Soi 11 so a good place to start or end the night, and is open until 2 — a rarity in BKK rooftop bars.
Distil
This is the cocktail bar in Lebua tower, where Sky Bar and Sirocco are. I had the best cocktail of my life there (Red Velvet), but the view faces the opposite direction of the center of the city. Cool to see, but not as cool as staring at the full BKK skyline.
Sky Bar
This is at the top of every rooftop bar list and I don’t understand why. The view’s fine, but it’s a small platform with a sort of bar on it, packed with people. Zero atmosphere and you can barely use the space for what it’s for — snapping your picture and leaving.
Red Sky Bar
Least favorite of the 8 rooftop bars I went to. It’s on top of Centara Grand @ Central World and wraps around the top of the building. A fine place to go with friends or reserve a table, but because it wraps around the building, you’re stuck with the view from your table.
To be fair, there is a champagne bar a floor up, but I and the other peasants didn’t get to go up there. I’m guessing you had to book in advance.
If you’re curious, below are the geological groupings of the rooftop bars I used to plan my hoppings. The groupings themselves aren’t sorted in any particular order — you can plan that based on your own preference.
South of Lumphini Park bars (I liked all of these)
Vertigo and Moon Bar
Park Society
Cloud 47
In-between Vertigo and Moon and Sky Bar
Zoom Sky Bar
Scarlett Wine Bar
Near Saphan Taksin BTS Station
Sky Bar
Distil
The Roof @38th Bar
East Sukhumvit
Octave Rooftop Bar
Cielo Skybar
Near Sukhumvit 19
Above Eleven
L’Apart
Long Table
Near Central World
Red Sky Bar
Char Bangkok
Speakeasy at Hotel Muse
Zense — near central world
North of Central World
Hotel Novotel Platinum
Roof Top Bar — Baiyoke Sky Hotel
