The best bars in Phrom Phong

The peeps behind Sugar Ray, the city’s coolest hidden gem, have collaborated with the owner of old town speakeasy Ku Bar to open a jazz bar named after one of Chet Baker’s hit songs. Alone Together lies behind a non-descript wooden door that’s obstructed by a chaotic curtain of electric wires. Inside is a boisterous, candle-lit music hall dominated by masculine brown wood. Take a seat at the narrow bar or walk further in to the spacious living room-like area, where jazz musicians perform from Wednesday to Sunday night. Upstairs is a cigar bar-cumvinyl shop operated by Recoroom. Anupas “Kong” Premanurat, who designed the tipples at Ku Bar, is behind the cocktail program here, the one that doesn't recognize the concept of signature drinks. “I want customers to walk into the bar and simply order their favorite classic drinks like gin and tonic or whiskey and soda,” he says. But Kong injects his personal touch into these classics, using local produce as substitutes for certain ingredients, along with house-made liqueurs. For example, the absinthe in the Sazerac (B420) is replaced by bai prong fah (murraya leaf), a staple herb used to make larb (meat salad) in the north. The leaf, surprisingly boasts a similar flavor profile to the green spirit, and gives a more refreshing finish to Alone Together’s version of the beloved cocktail. Creamy beach favorite, piña colada (B380), is recreated into a lighter version using fresh coconut juice and house-made smoked coconut liqueur. The Scr

Spirits importer and distributor Bacchus is no stranger to the city’s Japanese restaurants and izakayas. The company has been acting as purveyor, importer and distributor of premium Japanese spirits for years and has introduced Bangkok to some of the best palate-pleasing, head-numbing whisky and sake the island country can provide. Now, Bacchus has made it easier for Sukhumvit tipplers to access their bottles with the launch of a stylish watering hole that, curiously enough, is backed by a French-sounding name. Tucked in Sukhumvit 39 (an area regularly packed with Japanese expats) Salon du Japonisant, at first glance, looks a tad like those earth-toned townhouses that dot upscale residential neighborhoods in Tokyo. Step in and you’ll find yourself in an achingly cool drinking room that will please Japanophiles. The walls are decked with colorful sake labels, setting a playful vibe for a comfy room that blasts slick-as-hell hip hop tunes. Your journey into Japanese spirits begins with the exploration of a wide range of whiskey selections from distilleries like Suntory, Mars Shinshu and Chichibu. Our go-to choice was the Hakushu single malt whiskey served highball in a stylish Kimura glass. You can also find rare selections like Suntory Whiskey Century 2001, Suntory Whiskey “Imperial” and Suntory Crest 12 Years. For those who prefer sake, Salon stocks up on a variation of rice wines such as Born Junmai Daiginjo “Gold”, which has a complex flavor but is not too difficult to drin

A collaborative project among seven friends, Mutual Bar is a casual and cozy space where you can wind down while surrounded by comfy seating, good cocktails and lively music. The drinks list focuses on seven signature cocktails, each one inspired by the characters of the owners, plus one DIY cocktail created with the help of the folks from Asia Today bar in Charoenkrung. The refreshing Allen’s Apple (B340), inspired by one of the owner’s life in New York and his love for Woody Allen, mixes bourbon, orgeat syrup, red wine reduction, apple and lime juice. The coffee-infused Vivid Midnight (B340), “a breakfast in a glass” created from one of the partner’s love of all thing black, beer, and breakfast, sees a mixture of brandy, Thai-style espresso coffee, stout beer, orgeat syrup, and lemon juice; while the spirits-forward Hendrix’s Garden (B340), a drink by a musician owner, reflects his admiration for the legendary Jimmy Hendrix, and is a mix of whisky, tequila, amaro, pandansyrup, and burnt rosemary. The bar also introduces a special drink each month. If you go now, you can try the Freddie Mercu Tea (B340), an Earl Grey- and gininfused drink with butterscotch syrup and egg white, and served in a cute tea set. Classic cocktails and wine are also available. The bar doesn’t serve food but they do provide complementary unlimited snacks with your drinks. In the future, Mutual Bar plans to host events and talks. Keep your eyes peeled for updates.

Just like other hotel rooftop bars, Aire Bar at Hyatt Place offers expansive views over Bangkok. The difference is, the drinks here don’t empty out your pocket. Offering the perfect lookout to Benjasiri Park against a backdrop of skyscrapers, the bar caters to punters on a budget—sparkling wine starts from B199 while cocktails created by mixologist Nick Braun sets you back around B260.

Named after the mellow hue the sky took on when its owner first arrived at the location, Vanilla Sky is nestled on the 35th floor of Compass SkyView (aka that tower sitting right behind the Emporium mall), offering stunning views of Sukhumvit from every angle. The music is pretty chill, and perfectly complement the bar’s selection of refreshing cocktails. For a more exciting experience, ask for the flammable cocktail named Lamborghini (Sambuca, Kahlúa, Blue Curaçao, Bailey’s, B850) or head downstairs to Vanilla Club.

Hanakurata serves great food, amazing cocktails and killer sake. The strawberry mogu mogu, mixed with Yakult and fresh strawberry, preps up the palate for a variety of Japanese dishes, from tofu salad with zesty dressing to saba rolls.