View of Bangkok’s City Skyline from Zoom Ananatara Bangkok Sathorn

Visitors have no shortage of activities from which to choose when spending time in Bangkok. As David Bowden shares, one of the most enjoyable is to enjoy a meal or an evening cocktail at one of the city’s many rooftop bars.

Considering Bangkok’s lively and often raunchy nightlife, it’s a mystery as to how it became known as the City of Angels. Bangkok is now referred to as the City of Life which appears to be a more appropriate title. It’s a lively city, and with over 10 million residents it’s not surprising that something is open almost everywhere and anytime.

A typical Bangkok tourist’s day starts with some sightseeing in the morning, shopping in the afternoon, and partying at night. Bangkok has all the shopping bases covered from impressionable designer labels to cool market chic. Chatuchak Market is the most famous and a reason for many to travel to Bangkok and while there are bargains aplenty, it can certainly get rather hot and crowded.

Mall shopping is similar to many Asian cities, but at prices that will please those who travel from Kuala Lumpur. Siam Square is the best place to start as it’s accessible by the BTS train and several malls can be reached by foot. Designconscious shoppers should catch the BTS to Asoke and walk to Terminal 21 which is designed like an airport terminal. Each floor represents a famous shopping destination such as London, Paris, and Istandbul and there are lots of creative designs from Bangkok’s many young designers.

Night Falls

Bangkok has an exhilarating nightlife from simply eating out in unassuming roadside hawker stalls to colourful, animated, and risqué nightclubs and bars. Bangkok was also one of the pioneer Asian cities to open bars not only with attitude but also altitude. It now appears inconceivable that any architect and developer would dare open a new high-rise building without incorporating a bar, nightclub, or restaurant at the summit of the structure. Beer is more affordable than in Kuala Lumpur with only five-star hotels charging high prices, but even these are cheaper than in Malaysia. However, drinks in some of the atmospheric and iconic rooftop bars reach up into the stratosphere after happy hours prices have finished.

Getting high in Bangkok has now taken on a new meaning as bars, restaurants and clubs reach ever skyward in an effort to attain the city’s highest location. Most rooftop bars are in the open or semi-open – Red Sky (55th floor of Centara Grand Hotel), Vertigo (61st floor of the Banyan Tree), and Sky Bar (63rd floor of The Dome, State Tower) all offer panoramic views with a tropical open-air ambiance.

On my most recent visit to Bangkok, I ventured out to discover a few new rooftop bars and restaurants.

1. One Octave Higher

Photo credit: Bangkok Marriott

Octave is perched over several floors at the summit of the Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit (www.bangkokmarriott.com). It extends from the 45th to the 49th floors of this hotel located at Soi 57 along the main Sukhumvit thoroughfare and includes a restaurant, bar, rooftop lounge and a private dining room. Industrial chic with lots of local timber furniture presents a lively and inviting setting. Industrial glass provides the essential safety net between guests and the street below.

A dedicated elevator to the 45th floor provides exclusive access to the lounge/restaurant on the 45th floor, indoor attic (47th floor), balcony bar (48th floor) and the rooftop bar accessible via a flight of stairs (49th floor). The food served is Asian-inspired with more fusion than confusion and yes, tapas also make an appearance (small plates is the new jargon to apply to such servings).

The hero of the outlet is the rooftop bar with its round-the-compass views of Bangkok. An illuminated blue island bar provides all the mixology action with signature cocktails such as Taeng-mo Haze (watermelon-infused vodka, sweet vermouth, Rosé, and lime) and Land of Smiles (vodka, sake, coconut syrup, passionfruit, lychee, and lime) providing an essential touch of Thailand.

2. Nothing But Blue Skies

Blue Sky Rooftop on the 24th floor of Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok (www.centarahotelsresorts.com) is a little out of the city centre but close to the old airport and Chatuchak Market. There is a stylish dress code and the partying continues until 2am daily with happy hour drinks from 10pm to 11pm. Signature drinks like the Blue Sky cocktail use French Cîroc vodka and an impressive international wine list is available. This atmospheric bar is popular with locals and in-house guests with hotel club floor guests receiving discounts.

The adjoining restaurant has had a menu makeover from Executive Chef Eric Berrigaud who has introduced French cuisine to replace the former Thai and Western fusion menu. Now it’s exclusively French fine dining but with an urban bistro ambiance in what is considered one of Bangkok’s hottest rooftop outlets. Grilled Australian Tajima Wagyu 500-day prime rib beef is a popular item. Stir-fried Burgundy snails, pan-fried foie gras, duck consommé, and heart of veal shank are other standout dishes. I just loved the creativity of the artistic dessert of macaroon with fresh berries designed like a Big Mac. Blue Sky offers superb views and great quality at a fair price in a location halfway to Don Mueang Airport.

3. Zoom to the Top

Photo credit: Anantara Bangkok

ZOOM Sky Bar and Restaurant on the 40th floor of Anantara Bangkok Sathorn (www.anantara.com) provides a fresh window on the city of life in this atmospheric location high above Bangkok’s business district. Not surprisingly, tapas snacks such as crispy pork belly, chicken popcorn, Belgium potato fries, truffle wontons, and steamed oysters appeal to ZOOM’s party crowd. Fifteen wines by the glass, including Möet & Chandon and local wines such as Monsoon Valley are served. Global wines such as Howard Park Riesling from Western Australia and the Big Easy Red by Ernie Els from South Africa are available by the bottle.

Dining is important and guests choose from a mostly Western menu. Dishes include escargot and frog’s legs, soft shell crab salad, Provençal bouillabaisse, and beef bourguignon. A signature dish is seared jumbo Hokkaido scallops and akami tuna with avocado wasabi, lemon caviar, and tarragon reduction. Finish with a chocolate dessert of milk chocolate brûlée, white chocolate bavarois, cacao jelly and bananas. Four-course specials plus seven-course dégustation meals are available. When it rains, guests relocate one floor down to the safety of an enclosed interior but the panoramic windows still offer glimpses over the Bangkok skyline. While the weather impacts upon all the rooftop bars in Bangkok, it’s hard not to be impressed by the tropical ambiance. Usually there’s a breeze blowing and things cool down considerably in the evening and most bars have a backup plan for when it rains or there is lightening. Dusk is always the best time to take in the sights and usually to enjoy early evening happy hour prices.

Getting There and About

Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, and some other airlines fly to Bangkok direct with the flight taking two hours. Flights arrive into Suvarnabhumi Airport and from there it’s 45 minutes by taxi to the city although the rail link is probably the best way to get to the city unless you are travelling in a group. What was once Asia’s most jammed city is now one of its most accessible thanks to the BTS Skytrain, MRT subway, airport link and Chao Phraya Express. Taxis (most use meters and rarely rip off passengers) are the other option. (Note that AirAsia flies into Don Mueng Airport.)

Read This: Exploring the Home of Kukrit Pramoj in Bangkok: The 13th Prime Minister of Thailand

Source: The Expat Magazine February 2015