Bangkok Rooftop Bars

Bangkok is a city of sights, sounds and smells. Its roads are a racetrack of cars, trucks, motorbikes and tuk tuks jostling for position, all somehow squeezing past each other with horns tooting but seldom causing even a scrape. The shops are some of the best in the world – from markets to high-end malls, you can shop until you drop. And it’s hard to forget the city is steeped in culture with plenty of majestic temples and humble riverside neighbourhoods to visit.

But late of an afternoon, when the sightseeing is done, head up, to one of Bangkok’s many chic and stylish rooftop bars, and see the city from a different angle.

Up here mixologists are shaking signature cocktails and chefs are plating up pieces of art as the sun slides over the horizon and the city lights begin to twinkle. You can expect to feel it in your wallet, but hey, who can put a price on memories?

Here are my four picks of Bangkok rooftop bars:

1. Vertigo and Moon at the Banyan Tree

On the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree Bangkok, this long, narrow bar is one of the city’s favourites. Vertigo restaurant is at one end and Moon Bar is at the other, with nothing between you and the night sky. Try the signature Vertigo Sunset cocktail: a delicious concoction of Malibu, pineapple, cranberry and lime juice.

2. Three Sixty Lounge at Millennium Hilton

Probably one of the least talked about, yet most highly rated, this bar in the Millennium Hilton makes up for a lack of height (only 32 floors up) with location. It’s not outdoors, but the floor to ceiling glass windows have 360 degree views of the Chao Phraya River. The view is spectacular and the bar isn’t as crowded as the other bars. Just one floor below is a small open-air bar if you’re up for an al fresco cocktail.