Soul Bar in Bangkok's Talad Noi is the soul and funk live room next to Chinatown, the first of its kind in the Old Town. Bohemian shophouse, rotating local soul bands.
Tip: Live music Tue-Sat from 21:00. No cover, drinks from 180 baht. Small room, arrive before 21:30 for a front seat by the band.
Address: 945 Charoen Krung Road, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
FooJohn Building in Bangkok's Talad Noi is the three-tier dive in a restored 1960s post-modern shophouse. French bistro ground floor, hidden upstairs cocktail bar, rooftop BBQ.
Tip: Find the mirrored stairwell at the rear for the second-floor speakeasy. No reservations, cash easiest, cocktails from 300 baht. Rooftop opens 18:00.
Teens of Thailand on Bangkok's Soi Nana was the city's first specialist gin bar, in a renovated Chinatown shophouse. House gin infusions and an art-led listening room upstairs.
Tip: Around 15 seats plus standing. Unusual G&Ts (chrysanthemum, salted guava) the move; reserve a stool by phone for Fri-Sat.
Asia Today in Bangkok's Soi Nana is the neon-lit back-alley cocktail bar from the Teens of Thailand team. Asia's 50 Best Bars list since 2022, wild Thai herb infusions.
Tip: Enter via the fire-exit door at the rear. No menu beyond a printed list; cocktails 350-450 baht. Walk-in only, fills by 22:00.
Smalls in Bangkok's Sathon is photographer David Jacobson's three-floor French-bistro listening room. Parisian exposed brick, rooftop terrace, vinyl jazz on Wednesday DJ sets.
Tip: Closed Tuesdays. Reserve a rooftop table at sundown; absinthe-led cocktails 350-500 baht, French bistro plates kitchen until 23:00.
Wong's Place off Soi Sri Bamphen has been Bangkok's late-night dive bar since 1987. Wood-panelled bunker exempt from the city's closing curfew, the post-everything destination.
Tip: Wedge a knee at the bar after 02:00 when the city closes. Cash only, drinks from 150 baht, no music charge. Cult VHS film posters cover the walls.
FooJohn Building in Bangkok's Talad Noi is the three-tier dive in a restored 1960s post-modern shophouse. French bistro ground floor, hidden upstairs cocktail bar, rooftop BBQ.
Tip: Find the mirrored stairwell at the rear for the second-floor speakeasy. No reservations, cash easiest, cocktails from 300 baht. Rooftop opens 18:00.
Iron Balls Distillery on Ekkamai is the steampunk gin distillery and bar with the still behind the counter. Booth-only basement, gin-and-tonics from house-distilled coconut gin.
Tip: Walk-in only, cocktails from 350 baht. The G&T flight is the test drive; the booths face the copper still. Closes 01:00 nightly.