No city on the planet does rooftop bars like Bangkok. There are dozens across the capital, from intimate jazz dens in lower-slung buildings to open-air magnets soaring 60 floors up, where the brilliant sunsets are only matched by the thumping action that follows.
Now more than ever, Bangkok hotels have upped their rooftop bar game, adding eclectic soundtracks and live music, globe-spanning food menus and cocktail programmes that can compete with some of their celebrated counterparts on the street level.
We’ve pored over The MICHELIN Guide to bring you Bangkok’s most exciting hotel rooftop bars to visit, whether for winter sundowners or an unforgettable night out any time of year.
Bar.Yard
Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, One MICHELIN Key – a very special stay
The Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok’s buzzing rooftop bar regularly ranks among the city’s best. It’s no surprise. It has everything you could want – tasty tropical cocktails, a menu of full-flavoured barbecued dishes that go above and beyond your average bar fare, a 40th-floor alfresco patio overlooking the ponds and palms in Lumpini Park, a music program featuring everything from hip-hop to disco to live performances from local stars. But Bar.Yard’s true superpower is its lack of pretension. Even if you stop in for only one drink, you might find yourself dancing all night with friends you’ve just made.
CHAR
Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road, Selected – a high-quality stayHeight isn’t everything. Though a less imposing 26 floors up, CHAR has one of the better vantage points in town, overlooking embassies. Set inside Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road, the boutique sub-brand of the InterContinental family, the bar-restaurant doesn’t lack style, either. CHAR has an upscale-casual vibe, complete with weekly jazz nights and drinks that will always look great on your social feed. But its greatest strength will always be the views. Chit Lom’s luxury condos and office towers sparkle behind leafy low-rise ambassador residences and foreign missions – a setting that’s nearly impossible to replicate.
Lennon’s
Rosewood Bangkok, Two MICHELIN Keys – an exceptional staySpending the night at Lennon’s in Rosewood Bangkok is like hanging out at your cool rich friend’s house. There’s a collection of 6,000-plus vinyl records promising deep cuts. The bar is stocked with top-flight gin and whiskey alongside rum, gin and mescal from artisans from around the world, including Thailand. AvroKO-designed lounges flank a long and intimate bar space filled with walnut interiors and warm dangling bulbs. If you’re searching for a place to ring in the holidays, you’ll feel right at home at Rosewood Bangkok’s high-flying speakeasy.
The Loft
Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, Selected – a high-quality stayThe Big Apple meets the Big Mango 56 floors up at the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok. The Loft is a loving tribute to New York, from the muscular marble floors and opulent art nouveau accents to the lean list of cocktails inspired by original recipes from the flagship on Park Avenue. Although it’s an indoor venue, you can still admire sunsets over Bangkok’s illuminated line of skyscrapers in the distance.
Ojo and Sky Beach
The Standard Bangkok, One MICHELIN Key – a very special staySome bars capitalise on expansive views solely with expensive drinks. Ojo and Sky Beach at The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon are not those bars. The former specialises in progressive Mexican cuisine and cocktails laced with Mexican flavours. Think mescal and ancho liqueur, as well as more subtle expressions, like the use of epazote (Mexican tea). All of this takes place under a sparkling crystal crown in a 76th-floor space that pops with shades of peach and gold. Want to wow your date? This is a good place to go.
Sky Beach takes rooftop revelry to even loftier heights. To the loftiest, for that matter. The building’s 78th floor has been revamped with the brand’s signature boho-meets-art deco aesthetic. It’s currently the highest bar in Thailand, too. Grab a spritz laced with lychee and Thai basil, take a seat on the canary yellow cushions and watch the sunset paint the skyline gold before some of Bangkok’s most talented DJs elevate the action into the night.
Penthouse Bar + Grill
Park Hyatt Bangkok, Two MICHELIN Keys – an exceptional stayIt’s choosing your own adventure at The Park Hyatt Bangkok’s rooftop bar and restaurant complex. There are five venues spread across three floors, including a steakhouse, whiskey bar and cocktail bar complete with DJ decks a half-floor up, overlooking the space like a preacher at the pulpit. If you prefer to feel the breeze, visit the alfresco bar overlooking Phloen Chit on floor 36. The garden lounge is ideal for sundowners with its jazz soundtrack, classic and refreshing cocktails (mojitos, caipirinhas, Palomas) and wines by the glass.
Sky Bar
lebua at State Tower, Selected – a high-quality stayWhen you think about Bangkok rooftop bars, you probably picture Sky Bar. lebua at State Tower’s long-standing landmark has appeared on every rooftop best-of list you can name. It’s Insta-famous for its gilded open-air setting and stunning views, an icon 64 floors above the Chao Phraya River. It even featured in The Hangover 2 (hence the signature drinks, the Hangovertini and Hangovertini Reserve, a premium version made for high rollers). All of which is to say: Sky Bar is a fixture in the city’s nightlife scene. It’s also a great place to have a drink before dinner at MICHELIN two-starred restaurants Chef’s Table and Mezzaluna.
