Editorial
Bangkok is, by consensus, the world's best rooftop drinking city. Sky Bar at lebua appeared in The Hangover Part II, and Vertigo at the Banyan Tree stands 61 floors up. The 10 below cover Bang Rak, Sukhumvit and Sathorn, the city's three rooftop quadrants.
Sky Bar crowns the 63rd floor of lebua State Tower, the gold-domed perch that drew the world after The Hangover Part II. The view runs down the Chao Phraya, and the dress code is strict, with no shorts and no sandals. It opens at 5pm and closes by half past midnight. Come for the sunset over the river, order a Hangovertini, and dress the part.
Vertigo and its adjacent Moon Bar sit 61 floors up at the Banyan Tree on Sathorn, an open deck with a 360-degree read of the skyline and almost no railing to soften the drop. The grill restaurant is Vertigo, the cocktails are Moon Bar. Arrive before sunset for a rail seat, and check the forecast, since storms close the deck fast.
Octave climbs three floors atop the Marriott Sukhumvit, from 45 to 49, ending in a circular bar with a full turn over Thong Lor. It runs livelier and younger than the river towers, with a DJ most nights. Come for the top-deck sunset, take advantage of the early happy hour, and expect a crowd once the music starts.
Red Sky tops the Centara Grand at CentralWorld on the 55th floor, marked by an illuminated arch that glows over the Ratchaprasong shopping district. The cocktail list is long and the city view sprawls in every direction. It suits a drink before the connected restaurant. Time it for dusk, when the arch lights and the skyline both come on.
Above Eleven sits on the 33rd floor of Fraser Suites on Soi 11, the rooftop that brought Japanese-Peruvian cooking and a Central Park theme to Sukhumvit. The Pisco cocktails are the signature, and the crowd skews social rather than reverent. Go for a long evening of small plates and drinks, and book ahead on weekends when Soi 11 fills.
Park Society occupies the 29th floor of So/ Bangkok, looking straight over the green of Lumpini Park, a rare patch of dark in the city's glare. The HI-SO bar above it runs more social and late. Come at golden hour for the park view and a crafted cocktail, then move up to HI-SO as the night and the DJ pick up.
Three Sixty Lounge wraps the 32nd floor of the Millennium Hilton on the Thonburi bank, a glass-walled dome with live jazz and a river view back toward the old town. It runs calmer than the Sukhumvit decks, built for conversation over spectacle. Come for the sunset over the Chao Phraya, take a riverside table, and stay for the late set.
Penthouse Bar and Grill tops the Park Hyatt on Wireless Road, a polished indoor-outdoor space across the hotel's upper floors with a terrace over Phloen Chit. The cocktails are precise and the steaks serious. It draws a moneyed after-work crowd rather than tourists. Come for a considered drink at the bar, and book the terrace for the city view at dusk.
The Speakeasy Rooftop crowns Hotel Muse near Langsuan, a 1920s-styled bar of dark wood and low light that opens onto an outdoor deck. It trades the glass-tower spectacle for intimacy and a strong classic-cocktail list. Come for an Old Fashioned as the sun drops, take the outdoor seats, and treat it as a quieter alternative to the river giants.
Sirocco shares the 63rd floor of lebua State Tower with Sky Bar, its grand staircase descending to an open-air Mediterranean dining terrace over the Chao Phraya. It is the seated, full-dinner counterpart to the standing crowd next door. Book a table at the rail for sunset, mind the same strict dress code, and expect the bill to match the view.
Bangkok's rooftop scene works because the city has the height, the warm weather, and a culture of dressing up for an evening view. Sky Bar at lebua and Vertigo are essential. Most peak between 7 and 9pm, on the sunset hour.
European Editor, based in London. Twelve years across Soho, Marais and Mitte. Strong opinions about ice.
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