Bangkok
The floor-to-ceiling wall of beautiful calligraphy labelled bottles is proof of Hanakaruta's dedication to premium Japanese booze. Sake and shōchū (strong…
Must-see nightlife in Thailand
Bangkok
Owners of the wildly popular Vesper have expanded their food-and-beverage empire to this 20th-century villa once owned by a former Thai king. In contrast…
Chinatown
Established in 1927, this quaint shophouse is one of Bangkok's last remaining Chinese teahouses. There's nothing special about its condensed-milk-infused…
Phuket
The low-key, pagoda-like beachfront bar at the swanky Surin Phuket has a glorious setting, perched on white sands at the southern end of beautiful Hat…
Ko Chang & Eastern Seaboard
On the long pier, unassuming Teab Ta has a fabulous selection of craft beer from around the world, including various northern European brewing…
Bangkok
An enviable riverside location makes this restaurant-bar a contender for one of Bangkok’s better sunset cocktail destinations. Seating is both outdoors on…
Phuket
As nightlifey as Nai Yang gets, this stylish, palm-studded, sandy-floored lounge bar and restaurant sits just back from the beach, sprinkled with bamboo…
Phuket
It's all about the freshly roasted, small-batch, single-origin Thai and international beans at this concrete-floored, industrial-feeling cafe, 700m inland…
Songkhla Province
This family run venture has been renovated into a cool, modern art-shop-slash-cafe. Instead of heads of dead animals and bric-a-brac hanging from the…
Chiang Mai
Though technically a restaurant and gallery, Faces is better regarded as a cocktail bar. It's set in a brick courtyard filled with terracotta sculptures…
Ko Samui
This place has an entire soi named after it. Traditionally one of Samui’s favourite bar-cum-clubs, the Green Mango is very big, very loud and very fa·ràng…
Northern Bangkok
Over four floors in the leafy neighbourhood of Ari, this cafe and co-working space has an affection for board games, with hundreds on offer, and even Game…
Ko Tao
This relaxing, secluded and rustic spot at the Earth House bungalow operation serves up a global selection of 40 beers, craft labels and ciders in a…
Ko Pha-Ngan
Listen to laid-back live music and recline on lean-to orange triangle cushions set around candlelit low tables at this chilled space as it sprawls out of…
Bangkok
Unabashedly laid-back and cheerful, this is the neighbourhood pub every Bangkok resident dreams of having. Sporting the unkempt look of a Montmartre-esque…
Ko Pha-Ngan
Coffee connoisseurs will love this sibling of Bubba's Coffee Bar. Sourced from farms in the mountainous north of the country, not only is the coffee…
Bangkok
Seemingly taking its influences from the movie Cocktail, Revolucion does fun, if gimmicky, house drinks, such as the cherry Manhattan, a whisky and…
Chiang Mai
With a minimal all-white design, this chic cafe on the bottom floor of a boutique hotel offers creative brews paired with picturesque backgrounds – you'll…
Ko Phi-Phi
The 'alt' bar destination in Ton Sai Village, inland for those seeking to escape the house and techno barrage on the beach, Banana Bar is spread over…
Ko Samui
This ramshackle and delightfully remote bar is popular with couples for the tranquillity and divine sunsets. Looking out over an isolated craggy bay,…
Ko Samui
Part of the Library hotel, this highly stylish bar along Chaweng Beach Rd is uber cool with a contemporary design and serves some excellent cocktails – it…
Ko Samui
The rather charmless interior decor and downcast service win no prizes, but the beer (from 120B) – brewed on-site – gets serious accolades and big thumbs…
Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand
Siam Square, Pratunam, Phloen Chit & Ratchathewi
A bar-restaurant, not to mention a bona fide gathering place for the city’s hacks and photographers, the FCCT also hosts art exhibitions ranging in genre…
Phuket
This hole-in-the-wall cafe on the main drag serves up icy drinks, fresh fruit shakes, light breakfasts, sandwiches and delicious desserts in a fun and…
Siam Square, Pratunam, Phloen Chit & Ratchathewi
An evening at this comically misnamed bar is more like chilling at a stoner buddy’s terrace flat than a jazz club. There are indeed views of the BTS, jazz…
Thanon Sukhumvit
We're happy to tell you about Black Amber if you promise to keep it to yourself. A dark, sumptuous ambience (furnishings include an entire ostrich…
Chinatown
Irreverence is this subaltern-themed, graffiti-walled bar's middle name. Bartenders here are practising artists in their day lives, the music is more REM…
Thanon Sukhumvit
Is the canned soundtrack the only thing that's preventing you from obtaining karaoke superstardom? At Waon, piped music is replaced by a real live piano…
Thanon Sukhumvit
With drinks averaging 250B, Sky on 20 has a reputation as a laid-back place for bargain sundowners. Electro house beats fill the open-air bar that has…
Chinatown
Can't afford the overpriced cocktails at Bangkok's upscale rooftop bars? The excellent river views from the top of this guesthouse will hardly feel like a…
Hat Patong
This fun biker bar welcomes all, wheels or not. Once a bit of a dive, Nicky's has never looked better. There's a good selection of beers and the menu…
Mae Hong Son
Technically a restaurant (mains 80B to 260B), Sunflower takes its design inspiration from Fred Flintstone's house – with a low stone roof supported by…
Thanon Sukhumvit
Golden Coins microbrewery has six taps of beer on offer, including a dessert-style stout and a not-too-hoppy IPA that pairs perfectly with the American…
Ko Ratanakosin & Thonburi
Perched above Arun Residence hotel, Amorosa takes advantage of a location directly above the river and opposite Wat Arun. The cocktails aren't going to…
Thanon Sukhumvit
Locate the phone booth, dial the secret code (the doorman will help you out here) and cross the threshold to pre-revolution Havana. Part bar, part dance…
Hat Yai
Mercifully close to the train station, this quiet, air-conditioned oasis is a good place to pause and reorganise yourself after jumping off a long train…
Bangkok
Long-standing Telephone is famous for the phones that used to sit on every table, allowing you to phone up that person who's caught your eye across the…
Thanon Sukhumvit
Queen Bee has a relaxed feel, friendly staff, cheap beers, tasty food, pleasant alfresco seating downstairs, a pool table upstairs and great live music…
Thanon Sukhumvit
Intimate Ink & Lion in the charming Ekkamai neighbourhood blends strong hand-brewed coffees and sweet soy-and-honey drinks behind the bar with a mix of…
Chiang Rai
The coffee and cakes here are good enough, but it's the presence of 25 cats – all different breeds – that have made this place wildly popular with both…
