33 Best Bars in Bangkok, Thailand

Beam is home to Asia's first "body kinetic" dance floor, shaking vibrations into dancer's feet during live techno and deep house gigs. The futuristic decor and throbbing lights fit perfectly with the progressive underground beats of DJs from Bangkok and abroad.

The entrance to this secret salsa lair is a fake telephone booth in a dark unsuspecting alley across from the Frasier Suites Sukhumvit. Inside you'll find a diverse crowd shimmying to Afro-Cuban beats, sipping Cubra Libres on leather couches, and smoking in the cigar lounge, harking back to Havana before the revolution. 

The views are staggering at the Banyan Tree Bangkok's 61st-floor alfresco bar, and the cost of cocktails is up there, too, but for the vistas alone it's worth the splurge. Come a bit before sunset—the bar opens at 5—to get the best view from the low-slung seating. If the weather is clear, you can stargaze using the bar's telescope. If the weather's bad at all, Moon Bar will be closed.

This downtown rooftop bar atop the Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit is known for its 360-degree panoramas and for reasonable drink prices compared to other rooftop bars. 

There's nothing else quite like this bar on the 63rd floor of one of Bangkok's tallest buildings. Head toward the pyramidlike structure emitting eerie blue light at the far end of the restaurant and check out the head-spinning views. The place's most famous concoction, the Hangovertini, was made famous by the Hollywood film (The Hangover II) shot here.

The New York--born impresario behind the late Q Bar opened this unique establishment in a funky three-story corner building with spiral staircases that feels more Berlin or Paris than Bangkok. There's an open-air rooftop hangout and the second floor is sceney, but downstairs is the place to be to appreciate the French and Vietnamese antiques, the owner's impressive contemporary art collection, and the traditional absinthe spigots. Bartender Danny Yeung knows the classics but can improvise to taste. Jazz performances take place on the ground floor on Wednesdays and eclectic DJs spin on weekends. 

From this 12th-floor bar that overlooks the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, you can watch the horse races while sipping a Siam Mary, the Bangkok version of the Bloody Mary. The bar continues the age-old St. Regis tradition of Champagne sabering (opening a bottle using a saber), displayed nightly at 6. The afternoon tea here, with tiers of colorful treats, is also impeccable.

Hidden behind an old-fashioned Indian-style door in Chinatown, the gin bar Teens of Thailand has helped kick off a renaissance of trendy cocktail bars and art galleries in the area. Choose from a list of different gins and tonics for your perfect libation; otherwise the chalkboard cocktail specials change daily.

This rooftop bar on the 33nd floor of the Frasier Suites Sukhumvit offers sweeping views of the city in sophisticated surrounds. Order a pisco sour and some Japanese-Peruvian snacks, like ceviche and sushi, and enjoy the DJ's beats.

This small, narrow shophouse bar has been hosting top-shelf blues and R&B bands for two decades. 

Sometimes the party spills out onto the street at this bar that overlooks the crowds along Soi 4. Balcony has a friendly staff and one of the best happy hours on the soi.

This legendary watering hole hosts international musicians playing easy-on-the-ears jazz. Expensive-looking animal print–upholstered furniture and dark wood create an upscale yet cozy space for listening to music and enjoying Thai-inspired cocktails.

Behind Buddy Lodge on Khao San itself, Brick Bar is a longtime venue known for nightly live music, often ska or reggae. It can fit a pretty big crowd.

A good place to check out live jazz and the occasional blues band, the smoky Brown Sugar has been in business for over three decades.

Boutique beer lovers flock to this hip outdoor spot where, as you can guess from the name, all the brews are 100% craft. There are some U.S. favorites as well as Czech, Scandinavian, and Japanese options. There's another branch on Silom Road.

Inside the Conrad Bangkok, this relaxed yet sophisticated bar offers well-made cocktails, plus a good wine and Champagne selection. The 5 pm to 8 pm happy hour is popular with staff from local embassies. Jazz ensembles perform live nightly except Sunday.

Thai A-listers have made Distil, on the 64th floor of one of Bangkok's tallest buildings, their stomping ground. A full-time sommelier is on hand to take care of your wine desires, and you can order a Hangovertini, created one floor down at the Sky Bar for the Hollywood film Hangover II.

A young crowd packs this snappy-looking bar to bask in the "fun, lust, and joy" (or so the website says). The B300 cover charge on weekends includes two drinks, while B150 on weekdays includes one.

Hidden away in a small alley off Thonglor Soi 6, this bar established by Carson Quinn, one of Bangkok's top mixologists, and Scott Hess, a DJ of similar fame, offers an intimate ambience with wood paneling and subtle lighting in which to enjoy bespoke cocktails and an eclectic mix of tunes. 

There's no cocktail menu at this hidden speakeasy from legendary Bangkok mixologist Joseph Boroski: you simply tell the bartender what you're in the mood for and you'll get something special, made with dashes of rare ingredients.

This bar distinguishes itself with a tropical feel that is generally elusive in Bangkok—you can drink your cocktails by the river, either in a traditional sala or on outdoor sofas. To get here you need to sail about 30 minutes from Saphan Taksin Pier on one of the Anantara resort's dedicated boats, which can be quite pleasant on a nice evening.

Hidden below street level next to the Novotel Bangkok Silom, Maggie Choo's is a Bangkok institution with nightly live performances of jazz and other smooth tunes. The surreal feeling of being transported back to 1930s Shanghai, with heavy vault doors and ladies in embroidered cheongsams dangling on swings, is only amplified by the stiff cocktails.

Perched on the 76th floor, this is the highest rooftop bar in the city, and with its gorgeous French-designer interiors, it never fails to impress. It's the perfect setting for a sophisticated cocktail with unparalleled views, and there's a cosmopolitan food menu ranging from Middle Eastern to Thai to French.  

Decked out in red and black, this place is filled with people chilling out on comfortable couches. It used to be the place to go out in Bangkok, but those glory days seem to be over. Still, the decor is fun.

The sophisticated rooftop bar adjoining the restaurant of the same name has marvelous skyline views and the finest perspective on vast Lumpini Park. It's the perfect spot to catch the sunset colors while downing a martini or glass of wine from the globe-trotting selection. 

On any night of the week, Oskar is full of a mixed Thai and foreign crowd enjoying good cocktails and wood-fired pizzas, along with more satisfying international bites. The electronic beats spill out onto the street and eclectic DJs are regularly on board.

With many different beers on tap and in bottles, this very British pub tends to draw serious beer drinkers. There are also fun game nights on Wednesday and ladies' specials on Thursday.

Popular with locals and expats for over 30 years, the spacious Saxophone hosts some of Thailand's best rhythm and blues, jazz, blues, rock, reggae, and ska bands. There are bars on each of the three floors.

One of the city's hottest nightspots, this futuristic bowling alley, lounge, and bar has a sleek style that rivals most nightclubs. A DJ spins house music heard above the clatter of falling pins.