What’s New In Bangkok: April - June 2019
Check out these 20 restaurants, bars, and nightclubs in Bangkok recently opened in April - June 2019.
We’re all feeling the temperature drop and chill moods of the rainy season right now. In this kind of atmosphere, an ordinary night out with your friends and significant other can quickly turn extraordinary.
Our “What’s New” series is back to bring you updates on new and noteworthy venues in Bangkok this quarter. Venture out and have the time of your life at these hangout hotspots, non-stop style.
Here are 20 restaurants, bars, and nightclubs recently opened in April - June 2019. Scroll right down to find out if any of them is an absolute can’t-miss for you!
(In alphabetical order.)
After Moon by DNA
Located near Ekkamai-Ramindra Expressway, this venue is the new home of Aftermoon by DNA. The nightclub’s concept is that it’s not a place, but people. Wherever the venue moves to, you can bet the warm and energetic ambiance will follow.
Aftermoon is divided into two areas: the outdoor ‘chill-out’ zone, which will feature live music as well as house and hip-hop sets during early evenings. (The entertainment will officially begin on July 16.)
Inside is the main club area for fans of EDM, trap, hardstyle, and more. Expect nightly sets from four DJs and a couple of MCs to pump up the party - the likes of Queennara, Foamberry, Tony Blackk, P-Nat, Pearyroc, Dopeherehere, Mister+, Bizzo, April, and more.
The decor is mostly black with a raw, underground style. The most prominent feature is the production systems used to control the lights, colors, lasers, graphics, and sounds during the shows. With its full-throttle entertainment, you can always expect blood-pumping nights at Aftermoon.
Bottle Rocket Craft Beer Bar
Bottle Rocket - the craft beer bar on Phra Athit Road - has moved to its new home on the second floor of a commercial building next to BTS Sanam Pao (Exit 4). The name of the venue itself should give you plenty of hints about its design concept.
Bottle Rocket’s unique appearance comes from the use of materials such as iron, aluminum, and copper & black tones. Some of the decorative pieces, such as the portholes that line the walls, are actually submarine components.
These choices play up the venue’s astronaut & aviation theme, while the beer keg seats leave little doubt about what Bottle Rocket is famous for.
As you enjoy live acoustic music (every Wednesday-Saturday), you can sip on cold craft beers from Thai and international brands. The bar offers 20 options on the tap, plus over 60 bottled and canned selections that are kept on constant rotation. If you’re looking for something non-alcoholic, there are also ciders and soft drinks available.
Though Bottle Rocket doesn’t serve main courses, you can pair your beer with munchies such as popcorn, edamames, naems, sausages, and taro fish snack.
Chill Inda House
This new Thonglor hangout for hip-hop lovers is the joint effort of Khan Thaitanium and HOKT, a Japanese rapper. They want to create a small community where hip-hop fans can chill, chat, and exchange cool items while pre-partying for the nightly entertainment.
Chill Inda House is divided into three floors. On the first is a bar & restaurant with a raw, street style. Surrounded by polished concrete walls and black furniture, your eyes are naturally drawn to the bar counter with the hidden purple and orange neon lights. Lining the walls are rare art pieces from Khan’s personal collection.
On the second floor is the Tokyo Vintage Crib, which welcomes fashionistas who are more hip-hop oriented. The shelves feature clothes and accessories from various brands that cost anything from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands of THB. These high-end brand include Ginrhymes, Avalanche, Louis Vuitton, Rolex, Cartier, Chanel. Go on a shopping spree if you feel like it!
Finally, the third floor is designed as a gallery where artists can put their work on display and sale. The featured pieces are rotated every few months. If there’s no work displayed at the moment, the area will serve as a guest lounge during various events.
Hip-hop and R&B tracks will fill your night here with uber-chill vibes. The Japanese fusion appetizers and main courses are prepared in a homemade style by a Japanese chef. (For more details, scroll up to see the image caption.)
The drink menu includes a variety of options such as sakes, whiskeys, vodkas, tequilas, shochus, wines, beers, and champagnes.
Chongjaroen Groove
Chongjaroen Festival is something of a hotspot in Kaset-Nawamin neighborhood. And now, its charm and excitement have been recreated in downtown at Groove@CentralWorld. Using the same ‘Lost Chinatown’ theme, the decor features wood furniture, partitions, Chinese lanterns, and eye-popping mural art made stylish with colorful neon lights, giving the venue more playful vibes.
The great atmosphere is completed with DJ and various genres of live music (mostly Thai hits) put on rotation every night for some laid-back party moods. Previous special events saw Thailand’s top artists such as Atom Chonkant, Zeal, Greasy Cafe, and Season Five.
A highly popular gastropub, Chongjaroen Groove serves diverse and flavorsome food. The menu includes Sino-Thai fusion appetizers and main courses such as ‘pla ra’ grilled pork, grilled beef cheek on rice with plum sauce, water mimosa noodles, tom saep, and duck larb. Have lunch here during the working hours, or celebrate your time off-work with some friends during the dinner.
The drink menu covers everything from tea & coffee to signature cocktails, whiskeys, brandies, vodkas, beers, and soft drinks.
Circus Music Bar
Situated in Vibhavadi Rangsit (Dindaeng) is a brand-new hangout within budget prices that lets patrons enjoy a spectacular, circus-themed setting. True to its name, Circus Music Bar transports party lovers to an iconic circus tent with its design and decor.
With red & white canopies, clown logos, and mock posters for circus acts, the place looks lively with the use of orange neon and colorful disco lights.
Of course, an essential part of any bar is the music to keep the fun going. Live bands play at Circus Music Bar daily between 20.00-00.00. The playlists are mostly Thai hits anyone can sing along and dance to.
What’s more, the venue regularly books big-name artists. Previously, the crowd was entertained by the hip-hop artist Urboy TJ, who made the music lovers bounce along in excitement.
If you want to liven up your party with some drinks, Circus Music Bar serves a variety of alcohols with a focus on beers and whiskeys and choices of soft drinks to go with.
Flamenco Bangkok
In the downtown neighborhood of Phromphong, there’s a new hangout packed with vibrant Latin atmosphere. The venue might remind you of a scene from the movie - a woman in red & black dress shares an intimate dance with a gentleman. That dance is the Spanish traditional ‘Flamenco’, and also the bar’s namesake.
As you walk into the venue, you’ll be awe-struck by a wall of huge neon lights shaped after Latin culture icons such as a bull from the bullfighting and the Mexican taco. There are also large paintings of a couple doing the flamenco dance and a woman blowing a saxophone while looking absolutely stunning.
Flamenco’s 800 m² area is divided into five zones, all decked out with a mix of vintage vibes and modern luxuries. These areas include the indoor seating and live stage with live Latin music, like jazz, blues, soul, zumba, rumba, and energetic sets by DJs.
Others are the loft lounge, the outdoor space with a 180° view of Bangkok nightscape, and the cigar lounge behind the counter bar, which boasts an international selection of cigars.
Flamenco serves Latin-American tapas to go with a wide selection of drinks such as wines, whiskeys, tequilas, beers, brandies, and champagnes. What you can’t miss, however, is the signature cocktails crafted exclusively for the bar’s patrons.
Jacqueline Bangkok
Siri House, the lifestyle hub in Chitlom, recently opened its cocktail bar - Jacqueline Bangkok. Named after Jackie Kennedy, a former First Lady of the US, the bar pulls inspiration from her flair and style, resulting in a cozy, yet classy, living room of an East Coast American house.
Jacqueline Bangkok is divided into three zones. The open-air area at the front allows you to take in the view of the garden and pool below. Meanwhile, a stretching bar counter connects the outdoor to the indoor area.
The interior is set as a living room with simple elegance and immaculate details; marbles, retro lamps, rattan furniture, and framed pictures of trees. A piano sits in one corner for the musician to play, and the velvet sofas pull out the ‘60s vibes.
From inside, you can walk out to the terrace and take in the chic, yet serene, ambiance - green plants, lounging couches, and torches for some modern twists. You’ll also enjoy the jazz music in the background.
Jacqueline Bangkok is a full-option cocktail bar with five signature cocktails and 15 rare classic cocktails you might not have tried anywhere else yet. The drink menu also includes aperitifs and other spirits such as brandies, whiskeys, rums, vodkas, beers, wines, and soft drinks.
If you’re hungry, you can order some mouthwatering Mediterranean dishes from Quince downstairs.
Lennon’s
Located at Rosewood Bangkok Hotel in Ploenchit, the speakeasy is designed to look like a retro ‘50s-‘70s recording studio. As you exit the elevator on the 30th floor, you’ll arrive at the venue’s music collection room, which holds over 6,000 vinyl records and a corner of cassette collections.
You can request DJs to play any record you’re interested in; they spin at Lennon’s between Tuesday - Saturday.
After going through the door to the main bar area, you’ll see that the venue is divided into three zones. Two lounging areas on the left and right sides allow you to relax on vintage velvet sofas, while at the bar area, you can be mesmerized by masterful bartenders preparing the drinks.
The winding spiral staircase takes you to cigar lounge upstairs, which boasts an extensive selection. All three areas are surrounded by large window panes that let you admire the glowing Bangkok nightscape.
The most distinctive character of the bar is its signature cocktails, inspired by songs from international superstars of various genres. However, Lennon’s also serves a wide selection of rare whiskeys you can try.
Mikkeller Discovery
This miniature craft beer bar is tucked away in Siam Discovery’s men’s streetwear zone, Cazh, on the first floor. Mikkeller Discovery is the third branch of Mikkeller Bangkok; the bar intends to introduce varieties of craft beers to its patrons and invites them to enjoy the wider selection at its two main branches in Ekkamai and Ari.
Since this branch is located in an indoor shopping center, the decor is quite different from Mikkeller’s usual homey and rustic ambiance some might remember.
There’s still the same cozy, warm feel from wooden furniture and cute decorations like dried flowers. However, the venue is better served for sipping on a drink while waiting for your friends or trying a bunch of new beers rather than an overnight hangout.
Mikkeller Discovery serves ten kinds of craft beers from the tap and offers many more canned options with regular new additions. The bar mostly focuses on Thai and Asian lagers, IPAs, stouts, and others with unusual flavors that’s different from the ones most Thais are used to.
Between 14.00 - 17.00, when alcohol cannot be sold, there are many non-alcoholic options such as natural sodas and soft drinks. Why not enjoy them with some of the appetizers Mikkeller Discovery offers? The bar serves french fries, hot dogs, sandwiches, and, the near future, Denmark-Thai fusion dishes.
Mo Chou
If you want a bar/restaurant that exudes authentic Chinatown vibes, add Mo Chou to your “can’t-miss” list. In every inch of the venue, you can see Chinese identity and culture reflected.
The name “Mo Chou” refers to a female figure from a Chinese poem, who is said to be “free of sadness”. Full of joy and confidence, this mirthful character is rendered through the mural arts by alumni of Poh-Chang Academy of Arts. Other decors include mock-vintage Chinese furniture, ‘teng lang’ lanterns, and old-style liquor jars.
The neon lights glow hot red - the color of luck and joy in the Chinese culture. They provide the venue with mood-setting tones and a unique appearance.
Mo Chou is divided into indoor, open-air, and terrace areas. The view you get from the terrace is one of the highlights. From there, you can see the 100-year-old Yaowarat market sign and the bustling streets below. The locale, Trok Isaranupab, is an old neighborhood entwined in the history of Sino-Thai merchants.
The entertainment is brought on by tunes from many genres, mostly easy listening. Mo Chou books live bands with solo singers, folk sounds, and full band ensemble every Tuesday to Sunday. At the same time, you also have the choice of enjoying various drinking games at the venue.
As for drinks, Mo Chou serves original signature cocktails with Asian herbs and ingredients such as wasabi, lychees, and ginger. There are also other alcohols and soft drinks to go with the wide selection of Thai-Chinese dishes. (If you’re craving for something from Jumbo Lobster’s grill downstairs, you can get those too.)
Nabah Grill & Sky Lounge
The traditional Indian restaurant on the 16th floor of Solitaire Bangkok has been transformed into a new hangout that offers a unique experience of food, drinks and, entertainment. Each night at Nabah features a different party theme; previous events include ‘80s, ‘90s, Arabian, and Aladdin nights.
The interior is divided into two parts: the indoor area and outdoor lounge. Nabah’s design has a regal Arabian style with modern twists and gimmicks such as a ‘planetarium’ ceiling. Gaze into the night sky without taking a step outside!
One area that will please many party-goers is the open-air cigar lounge, which is surrounded by a nighttime panorama of Bangkok’s Sukhumvit district.
Nabah serves a variety of international fusion menus like kebabs, salads, and french fries. But the most recommended is the signature grilled chicken, where you can choose any cut, spice, and side you want. The menu can be perfectly paired with all kinds of drinks served at the bar: signature and classic cocktails, spirits, beers, wines, and soft drinks.
Perfect Strangers Bangkok
Most relationships start from two strangers meeting. By being the ‘perfect’ stranger to each other, you can then become friends, families, or lovers. This is the concept behind Perfect Strangers bar.
Located in Pradipat, the venue serves as a coffee shop during the day and an ultra-chic cocktail bar after sundown. Its name is used as the design and decor theme; strange things combined in a seamless mix.
One of the main highlights is the coffee counter, into which a MAVAM espresso machine is embedded. This allows drinkers and baristas to better interact with each other. Same goes for the cocktail bar and late-night patrons, who can exchange their secrets on drinks.
Drinks at Perfect Strangers is intriguing and creative. During the day, they serve coffee mocktails that mix fruit and coffee to let you savor the coffee taste and also make it easier to drink.
At night, try coffee cocktails, which contain the aroma or a dash of coffee for aftertaste (and not actual espresso shots that’ll keep you up all night). There are also seasonal signature cocktails plus beers and soft drinks, which you can enjoy with the Thai/Japanese/Italian fusion menus.
For the essential part - the mood-setting music - there are live Thai & international pop, jazz, and blues every day. If you’re feeling nostalgic and want to groove to some ‘90s hits, drop by Perfect Strangers on Wednesdays at 20.00 and after 22.00.
Ruenglalyn Retro Bar
At the activity space (cinema side) on Mega Bangna’s 1st floor is a venue for those who miss the feel of the ‘90s. Here, you can take a break from the day’s shopping or simply enjoy your time with some friends.
Ruenglalyn is divided into two zones: the open-air deck and indoor area. The decor is bright and colorful - neon lights bent into popping graphics and quotes with walls of small, retro cartoon posters. The dazzling overtones are brought down slightly by dark furniture for a touch of contemporary style.
As mentioned, Ruenglalyn’s playlists are made for lovers of the ‘90s. Live bands and DJs bring you back to the good old days on the daily. Even though the venue sits in a mall, the ambiance isn’t any less energetic than bars in other nightlife hotspots.
Ruenglalyn is a bar & bistro where you and your friends can enjoy a wholesome dinner. The menu includes spicy Thai fusion flavors with appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, and hot pots.
Among the popular items are deep-fried pork belly, pineapple fried rice, grilled beef brisket with black pepper sauce, and seafood tom yam. Don't forget to pair them up with some crisp cold herbal drinks, soft drinks, and beers.
RUU Music Bar
Drinks and music - two things that go best together, according to the partners of RUU (R-U-U) Music Bar. That’s why these two elements are at the very heart of the bar’s main idea: to entertain its nightly customers.
That core concept and the owners’ love for art mean the decor is mostly rare antiques, stunning pieces of art, and an array of mismatched furniture. However, these elements are blended perfectly in the cozy indoor area and open-air seating among the greenery.
On regular nights, DJs entertain the crowd with songs from various genres such as ‘80s, house, and disco. You can also expect some live acoustic music. In special events, however, you’ll enjoy performances by talented artists such as Byrd & Heart.
And on ‘RUU Playlist’ nights, be sure to invite your friends (DJ or otherwise) to share their favorite tracks to other patrons. Sometimes, microphones are passed around the venue for some enthusiastic singing, turning the night into a karaoke fun time.
As far as drinks go, RUU Music Bar serves spirits, beers, wines, and soft drinks. We recommend their signature and classic cocktails created by the bartenders so you’ll get a taste of new drinks with quality ingredients. Also available are appetizers such as nuts, deep-fried sun-dried beef, popcorn, and chips & salsa. (You can also order from other restaurants nearby.)
Siam Flowers Bangkok
Formerly a florist’s showcase shop, the venue is revamped into a flower-filled cocktail bar. Victorian vibes give Siam Flowers’ vintage style a subtle feminine feel. The decor makes full use of items originally from the shop like display cabinets and birdcages that hold dried flowers.
Other elements, like picture frames, gold-framed mirrors, small vases of flowers, and wooden & velvet furniture, also help create a captivating atmosphere.
The chillaxing mood is brought on by nu-jazz, acid jazz, and swing jazz - even if you’re not a jazz aficionado, you’ll still enjoy these groovy tunes.
Among the top drink recommendations are undoubtedly the signature cocktails, carefully crafted to match the character of Siam Flowers. Most of the drinks’ names and ingredients are inspired by flowers and women. However, the current menu has been adapted to suit a more generic crowd.
You can also request other classic cocktails. As for alternative options, Siam Flowers offers spirits, beers, wines, and champagnes. Since the bar doesn’t serve food, we’d recommend grabbing a meal before going in.
Sunray
On the third floor of the commercial building next to BTS Sanam Pao (Exit 4) is the funky-looking casual bar, Sunray. As its name suggests, the bar radiates a warm, vibrant ambiance that might remind you of summer. This has also become its main concept for the decor as well as food & drinks.
As you walk inside, you’ll notice the variance in design, which is due to the partners’ diverse tastes. Still, Sunray uses warm tones for both indoor and outdoor areas (where you can gaze out at the river and a spacious lot nearby).
One noteworthy design choice is the use of rectangular shapes, from the ceramic tiles lining the walls, chairs, tables, the bar counter, and even the projected graphics on the DJ booth. Small plants pepper the place, providing some extra warmth and liveliness.
Aiming to make Sunray a community for music lovers, the team meticulously selects the music and DJs for the venue. The playlists are exclusively alternative with a different genre on each day like disco, psychedelic rock, dream pop, retro, ‘80s-’90s, and more. (DJs take to stage daily except on Mondays.)
Sunray wants its menu to be accessible, so the list only includes 11 original fusion dishes such as pasta, rice menus, spicy salads, and smoked ribs. These go great with their drinks: beers, wines, spirits, soft drinks, signature cocktails, and classic twist cocktails (concocted by Pour’s mixologist.)
If you’re suddenly in the mood for craft beer or Japanese treats, just order from Sunray’s downstairs neighbor, Bottle Rocket Craft Beer Bar (2nd floor) or Bekku Tonkatsu (1st floor) and enjoy them at this quirky, casual spot.
Ten Smith Bar
If you want to go back to the old times, when you keep rewinding the cassette to listen to your favorite song over and over again, or rush back to your Gameboy as soon as you get home, drop by Ten Smith Bar. Here’s where ‘90s gadgets and knickknacks and a casual setting collide.
As you step into Ten Smith Bar’s 1st floor, you’ll be greeted with vintage movie posters, reminding you of your favorite cinematic moments. Near the bar counter is a shelf full of everyone’s favorite cartoon from childhood.
A jukebox sits right next to the stage; you can pick a song and sing along with the karaoke. Plus, the shifting neon lights create some extra retro vibes for the place.
Going upstairs, you’ll notice vintage signs and a cabinet of cassettes collection from Thai and international artists. (Many of you owned these tapes at some point, we’d bet.) There’s also a space dedicated to classic arcade games and a pool table that you can enjoy with some friends.
But the highlight, and an item we doubt any ‘90s teens would forget, is the ‘date cards’. Ten Smith Bar recreates these sappy mini-letters so everyone can indulge in some 1990s dating experience.
There are also drinking games to play while listening to Thai and international hits from all years by live bands and DJs. Best of all, you can request any tune you want by using Ten Smith Bar’s special ‘song request’ card.
On the menu are various international dishes - Thai, American, and Japanese cuisine fused into one tasty package. You’ll find your childhood favorites like egg soup with minced pork, deep-fried sausages, and other main dishes and appetizers that make for a wonderful dinner. The drink menu includes regular alcohol options like spirits, beers, and cocktails.
This Must Be The Bar
Hidden under Good’uck Hostel in Silom is the curiously named This Must Be The Bar. The craft beer bar is the result of the partners’ wish to introduce the local craft beers to Thai and foreign drinkers. This is why 80% of the selection is Thai craft beers, while the other 20% is imported brews that the partners personally love.
The laid-back setting of the bar really makes you feel right at home; this casual attitude also carries through to the ever-changing music and activities.
Some nights feature hip-hop acts, while others let patrons grab a mic and join in on karaoke fun. The decor leans on the unpolished side; empty bottles of craft beers put on the beams for display and eclectic sets of furniture that somehow go together so well.
For beer lovers, the venue offers four taps of the amber nectar on a constant rotation. There’s no telling how long these options will stay, but they’re mostly available for only a week or two. On the upside, you’ll get to try new, interesting brews on every visit.
There are also over 20 bottled and canned beer selections. Enjoy them with comfort snacks like edamame beans, deep-fried chicken rolls, grilled beef, or karaage chicken. (100 THB per dish)
If you’re too drunk to get home, you can rest at the hostel for the night; take a shower, sleep it off, and make your way back home safely in the morning.
To More
To More - a boutique bar in Charoenkrung - breaks away from regular music bars by adding a performance aspect to the mix. Its small stage has welcomed many aspiring entertainers.
That concept, combined with the partners’ love for Moulin Rouge (the musical which follows the stories of the famed Paris theatre), result in a vintage decor that calls to the ‘40s-‘50s aesthetics for inspiration.
That’s why To More’s decor follows this theme. The interior features red as the primary color, as seen on the bar’s velvet curtains, leather sofas, round barstools, while dark wood curved bar counter and tables provide the contrast. Spherical lamps reflect in mirrors, giving the place an ‘NY jazz bar’ feel.
Being a performance bar, To More has welcomed many talents to its stage. Shortly after its opening, its patrons enjoyed magic shows, ballets, and piano recitals.
At present, the acts differ each day. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the week’s featured shows. There’s live blues solo on Thursdays, and on Fridays and Saturdays, you can enjoy live funk, jazz, swing jazz by a full band. Finally, Sundays are ‘vinyl day’ for those who prefer their music old-school.
Of course, the theatre concept is used to design the drinks as well. The names of each signature cocktail come from famous plays such as Chicago, Miss Saigon, and The Phantom of the Opera. There are also draft beers, mocktails, soft drinks to choose from.
Hungry for some scrumptious snacks? Drop by at To More on Thursday-Sunday; the bar works with a traditional Thai restaurant, Sum Rub Sum Rahb Thai, to bring their customers tasty treats such as deep-fried chicken, grilled squid with chili paste, and deep-fried sun-dried wagyu.
Yoshi Bar
This restaurant and sake bar sits right next to RUU Music bar in 9:53 Art Mall. Its concept is conceived by the owner’s wish to introduce sake to those who might not know much about the drink and let them enjoy the Japanese liquor in a casual setting.
Yoshi Bar spans two floors. The decor leans into simple Japanese style with yellow & black tones and wooden furniture for some homey vibes. High tables occupy the first floor, and shelves of sake bottles are put on display near the bar counter.
The upstairs area is more private, its floor padded with tatami mats. You can sit around any of the small Japanese tables.
There are over ten selections of sakes at Yoshi Bar, and the drink menu describes each item to the newcomers. You can also enjoy other Japanese alcohols such as beers, shuhais, spirits, liqueurs, and cocktails.
On the food menu are original Japanese appetizers and main dishes. There are over 20 menus to choose from: oden, yakisoba, tako wasabi, grilled beef, and more.
While you enjoy the sake and delicious food, Yoshi Bar winds you down with some slow jazz in the background. There are special events every Saturday, like house and techno party where you can dance along, as well as funky reggae on some nights.