Set on the top floors of the swish Rosewood Bangkok is another addition to Bangkok’s long list of speakeasies. Lennon’s indulges the audiophile’s whims by celebrating those good old days when listening to music was considered an art form. Nostalgia is evoked in a setting reminiscent of a 1950s home-recording studio and a drinks list that features all-time classics.
A dimly-lit mezzanine, dressed in handsome brown wood, welcomes tipplers as the elevator doors open on the hotel’s 30th floor. This partrecord store, part-bar is home to more than 6,000 vinyl records and tape cassettes (said to be the country’s biggest collection), all of which are up for purchase or can be played on request. The room leads to a proper cocktail bar, which features modern art deco interiors by AvroKo, the design firm that has furnished quite a few cocktail bars in the city with a similar masculine luxe appearance. A main bar separates two identical lounges, where guests can cozy up in leather sofas and listen to what the DJs at either room are playing, usually upbeat tunes and jazz.
The cocktails are curated by Italian head bartender Daniele Cervi and are inspired by titles of the beloved musical hits. Jazz favorite “Fly Me to the Moon” is the inspiration for a spirits-focused, whiskey-based drink (B420) of the same name that has nutty and chocolate hints of Amaro liqueur, cacao white and Mancino red vermouth. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go (B420), referenced from the ’80s pop hit, is a pick-me-up concoction with vodka, coffee stout beer, espresso and banana. For something smoother, go for the drink inspired by Indian musician Ravi Shankar’s noted performance of “Tabla Solo in Jhaptal” at Woodstock in the ’70s; it’s a refreshing Oriental cocktail that mixes whiskey, spiced syrup, lemon and bitters (B430).
The bar also churns out classic cocktails like martini and negroni using spirits from the ’40s to the ’70s, such as Booth’s Extra Dry Gin, old Wodka Wyborowa and vintage Campari. Each drink comes with a hefty price tag of B2,200.
A top-of-the-line sound system takes your chillaxed drinking session to the next level. Plus, the venue also provides an amazing view of Bangkok’s CBD, especially stunning at nightfall.