Tropic City in Bangkok's Charoen Krung 28 is Phil Bartlett and Sebastien Manou's rum-led tropical cocktail counter, Asia's 50 Best Bars No. 6 in 2023, in a heritage shophouse.
Food program: Snacks and bar bites
Tip: No reservations; arrive by 21:00 for a counter seat. The downstairs is the standing-room option after midnight.
Address: 57-59 Soi Charoen Krung 28, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
Sky Bar at Lebua in Bangkok's State Tower is the open-air rooftop on the 64th floor over the Chao Phraya, since 2003 and famously from The Hangover Part II in 2011.
Signature drink: Hangovertini and rooftop classics
Food: Light bar snacks
Tip: Dress code is smart casual, no shorts or open-toe shoes. Sunset slot books out; arrive by 17:30 for the best skyline views.
Vesper in Bangkok's Convent Road is the Italian-aperitivo cocktail counter on the ground floor of an art-deco shophouse, Asia's 50 Best Bars regular and a 1920s-inspired room.
Signature drink: Negroni and Italian aperitivo classics
Food: Italian aperitivo bites
Tip: Sit at the marble counter for the bartender's view of the Italian-vermouth menu. Open from 16:00 for early aperitivo.
Rabbit Hole in Bangkok's Thonglor is a three-floor speakeasy whisky bar with a hidden entrance, Asia's 50 Best Bars regular, dark wood and bookshelves on every level.
Signature drink: Bourbon-led custom drinks
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: Look for the unmarked door on Thonglor. Reservations recommended for the upstairs lounges; the bar counter takes walk-ins.
Teens of Thailand in Bangkok's Soi Nana Chinatown is the gin-led cocktail counter from Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, the room that kicked off the Soi Nana craft-bar district in 2016.
Signature drink: Botanical gin and Thai-herb tonics
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: Look for the unmarked timber door. Tuesday is the quieter night; weekends fill the standing room by 22:00.
Tep Bar in Bangkok's Soi Nana Chinatown is the Thai-spirit cocktail bar with live mor lam music nightly, opened 2014 with ya dong herbal infusions and classical Isan band.
Signature drink: Thai-spirit highballs and ya dong infusions
Food: Thai-style bar snacks
Tip: Live mor lam music Wed-Sun 21:00; arrive by 20:00 for a counter seat. Vegetarian-friendly bar snacks.
Q and A Bar in Bangkok's Asoke is the speakeasy cocktail counter behind an unmarked door, opened 2014 by Suwincha Singsuwan with a custom-build approach to the menu.
Signature drink: Classics and custom builds
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: Counter seats turn faster than tables; book a table for groups of three or more. Music shifts from jazz to old-soul through the night.
