A new generation of Thai bartenders is taking the craft cocktail scene in Bangkok by storm, serving up Thai riffs on Western classics as well as bold new inventions unmoored from tradition. The recently announced Asia’s 50 Best Bars list saw Bangkok venues claim more spots in the top 50 than any other Asian city, proving that there is no better time to delve into the bustling and vivid melting pot that is Bangkok’s drinking scene.
The city’s burgeoning cocktail scene unfolds against a unique cultural, political and economic backdrop. In Thailand, craft cocktails are not the norm, imported spirits face hefty tariffs, and homegrown distilleries navigate labyrinthine red tape. Budding mixologists often operate with one hand tied behind their backs—nevertheless, many see these restrictions as an opportunity to experiment. The nascency of the industry means that Thai bartenders can begin with a blank slate, free to create inventive new drinks based entirely on local flavours, techniques and produce.
The seven Bangkok venues featured on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list are far from an exhaustive account of Thailand’s bars, but they offer a diverse snapshot of the capital’s vibrant and dynamic drinking culture. GRAZIA Singapore invites you to step into the best of what Bangkok’s budding cocktail scene has to offer.
No. 4: Bar Us
Savoury cocktails take centre stage at this cutting-edge drinking house, which doesn’t shy away from unconventional ingredients traditionally found in Asian food. Be warned: ordering the ‘Pad Thai’ or ‘Ramen’ won’t procure a bowl of noodles, but instead a pair of funky and daring cocktails crafted with a mix of local ingredients like sugarcane, ginger brine, and, yes, ramen soup. The all-black interior and staff clad in white lab coats lend an edge to this otherwise elegant and intimate space, and it’s no surprise that their unorthodox approach to cocktails has landed them in the top five bars in Asia.
Bar Us is located at 61/37, Soi Sukhumvit 26, Khlong Tan Nuea, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
No. 5: Dry Wave Cocktail Studio
For the less brave amongst us, the newest Thai entry to Asia’s 50 Best Bars list offers a series of inventive spins on classic favourites. Dry Wave Cocktail Studio’s menu consists of innovatively dubbed “Super Classics”, each of which is a reinvention of two classic cocktails with a local twist. In the crowd favourite Fruitful of the South, for one, the Singapore Sling meets the Malaysian Jungle Bird in a creamy, tropical, pandan-infused tiki drink. The husband and wife owner duo drew ample inspiration from nature, which is evident in the bar’s calmly inviting design. Built around an ancient tree, the space is bathed in warm lighting and earthy shades.
Dry Wave Cocktail Studio is located at 263 Thong Lo 13 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
No. 19: BKK Social Club
The team behind this glitzy and glamorous nightlife destination located in the Four Seasons at Chao Phraya River endeavours to bring a taste of Latin America to Bangkok. While their bright and spicy food menu expertly blends Thai and Mexican influences, BKK Social Club’s cocktails stay firmly rooted in Latin American tradition. One series of drinks honours Mexican icons such as Frida Kahlo and Carlos Santana, while another pays homage to traditional Mexican spirits. Expect top-notch hospitality and a lively, convivial atmosphere as you sip agave-based tipples amongst a chic crowd.
BKK Social Club is located at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, 300/1 Charoen Krung Road, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thailand.
No. 26: G.O.D. (Genius.on.Drugs)
Expect the unexpected from this unabashedly provocative new project by Thai cocktail veterans Niks Anuman-Rajadhon and Attaporn De-Silva. The eclectic combination of stained glass, graffiti, and suggestive sculptures immediately announces that nothing is off limits at this Chinatown drinking den. Where Bar Us flirted with breaking the rules of cocktail construction, G.O.D. breezes right past them. The menu offers a range of spirit-forward drinks, each sporting a bold new spin and paired with a bite. Take the Uni Martini, for example, which is served ice-cold alongside a scoop of bafun uni on the back of your hand, a smoked Hay olive, and specific instructions regarding the order of consumption—uni, martini, olive, then back to the martini, for those curious.
G.O.D. is located at 25, 27 Soi Rammaitree, Pom Prap, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
No. 29: Vesper
Vesper has been a stalwart of Asia’s 50 Best Bars list and an institution of the Bangkok cocktail scene for the past decade, earning it 2025’s Legend of the List Award. The European-inspired bar embraces Thai influences by sourcing its ingredients locally and blending modern mixology techniques with Asian flavours such as mango and tom yum. Menus are themed and periodically revamped, with the current People of Vesper menu drawing from the personalities and backgrounds of friends of the bar, and previous iterations focusing on famous artworks. Be sure to peruse the Vesper Bible, which immortalises the various past renditions of the bar’s eponymous gin cocktail, to understand how Vesper earned its spot as a local legend.
Vesper is located at 10/15 Sala Daeng 2 Alley, Si Lom, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500, Thailand.
No. 43: Opium Bar
Tucked above Chinatown’s storied Potong restaurant, Opium Bar is a refined speakeasy that trades gritty nostalgia for sleek indulgence. Its “liquid surreality” menu sees modern cocktail techniques meet both seasonal and unconventional Thai ingredients such as oyster salt and banana liqueur. With its elusive entrance and sultry ambience, Opium Bar offers a sophisticated escape for discerning drinkers seeking to explore Bangkok’s mixology scene.
Opium Bar is located at 422 Vanich 1 Rd, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand.
No. 48: Bar Sathorn
Set within the historic House on Sathorn, Bar Sathorn offers a journey through time inside a lovingly restored 19th-century mansion. Once the residence of nobleman Luang Sathorn Rajayukta, the space now hosts a bar of deep elegance, wrapped in emerald tones and gilded accents. The cocktail menu is structured like a narrative, divided into eras from the 1800s to the present, with each drink paying homage to the building’s storied past. Ideal for intimate evenings and curated sophistication.
Bar Sathorn is located at The House on Sathorn, 106 North Sathorn Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand.
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