After spending almost two years behind the bar at Vogue Lounge, Bangkok-based Japanese bartender Hideyuki Saito finally opens his own cocktail joint, Bronx Liquid Parlour, within the more quiet enclaves of Thonglor.
A discreet, unmarked entrance keeps you guessing its exact location. As you might expect, Bronx has the elements of a vintage jazz bar-slash-speakeasy, from its polished wooden furniture and warm lighting to the framed images on the wall. There are sizable dining tables for big groups but the hot seats by the bar are also highly recommended.
Saito offers crafted cocktails that are all about unique and surprising ingredients. Various spirits to please every taste are in stock but a bit more preference is given to Japanese whisky, gin and tequila. The young mixologist has created 20 signature drinks and serves them in glassware especially designed for each drink. Try Murasaki (B580), a sweet, plum-based drink that combines vodka with shiso wine, fresh pomelo juice, lemon juice and a little bit of syrup. This drink also comes in a sharing portion, served in a pot and with two ceramic tea mugs rimmed with pink pepper salt. We also recommend Francessca (B380), a tequila-based cocktail with Grappa Sarpa Oro di Poli, Pear Eau De Vie, triple sec and fresh lime juice served in a footed rock glass with Italian herb salt on the rim and smoked Prosciutto on the side. A drink to prove our claim that Saito serves Japanese technical precision to perfection is Sei (B380), a sweet, spirits-forward drink that blends a secret rum-based mixture with matcha, using a traditional muddler, in a teacup (it tastes like a matcha latte with a kick). Do grab some food before visiting; only cold cuts are available to eat.