paikapai.official
Photograph: paikapai.official
Photograph: paikapai.official

Bangkok’s 7 best new bars of 2026

Fresh bars just dropped and Time Out's got the lowdown on where to grab cocktails, wine and beer right now

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We keep this article updated regularly to make sure everything stays accurate and current, pop back anytime for the latest or check out our best bar list for 2025 if you’re looking for some more to add to your list. 

New year, new bars to explore. With such great feedback last year, we asked the folks at Paikapai (@paikapai.official) back to help us put together this year's guide to Bangkok's best new bars, and their enthusiasm for the project never gets old. Their story isn't complicated. What started as regular 'post-work drinks’ with mates turned into a whole community. The name literally means 'let's go!' in Thai, which pretty much sums up their approach to how they check out new bars and share with their audience.

When they're deciding if a bar makes the cut, they always look past the menu first. For Paikapai, atmosphere matters most – does it feel welcoming? Can you actually relax here? Then come the cocktails, which need to be excellent, and service that feels warm rather than rehearsed. Those elements together make somewhere worth returning to.

Bangkok's bar scene feels particularly alive right now. Bartenders are getting creative with local ingredients, making Thai gin and rum something to seek out rather than overlook. You get drinks like Wasteland's 'fossil fuel' that you won't forget in a hurry. Entire neighbourhoods transform too. Soi Nana in Yaowarat has gone from ‘quiet street’ to ‘global drinking destination’ in just a few years. That energy makes sense when you think about it. Thais love gathering, and when you mix that with Bangkok's cosmopolitan spirit, you get a cocktail culture that holds its own anywhere.

So here's the 2026 list, put together by customers who happen to pay very close attention. 

See our 2025 new opening bars if you want to pin more on your map.

Or continue your journey after these bars to nightclubs in Bangkok.

Here’s where to go

  • Things to do
  • Saladaeng

What is it? A rooftop cocktail bar perched on the 44th floor of Dusit Central Park, serving up 360-degree views that show off Bangkok from every angle. ÆTHER really makes you remember why they call it the City of Angels.

Why we love it: There's this massive silver speaker slap bang in the middle of the bar that somehow frames the skyline instead of blocking it. Minimal design, maximum impact. Sunset's when you want to be here. The light does something lovely as it bounces off all the surfaces and you can feel the mood shift as evening creeps in. Once it gets properly dark, the lighting and sound kick in and the whole atmosphere flips. The drinks follow a bit of a journey too, starting deep and warming before gradually lightening up as you move through the menu. It's thoughtful without being fussy, which is exactly what you want from a night out this high up.

Time Out Tip: Get there around 5.45pm if you can. The sunset's lovely, sure, but watching the venue transform from golden hour calm into proper late night energy is half the fun.

44/F, Central Park Offices Building. Open daily 5pm-2am

  • Saladaeng

What is it? A new social club and rooftop bar on the 42nd floor of Dusit Central Park's office tower. Cosy lounge meets sky-high perch, with panoramic views stretching across the skyline and over to Lumphini Park.

Why we love it: Wood, stone and leather set the tone, all softened by gentle lighting and an easy soundtrack that doesn't try too hard. The furniture's worth noting too – over 100 iconic Fritz Hansen pieces that give the whole place some quiet, but very clear design credibility. The space splits into four different zones depending on what sort of evening you're after. The Main Hall's the biggest, all warm timber and tall windows that frame the city beautifully. The Living Room wraps around a curved bar lined with Arne Jacobsen's egg chairs, perfect for stretching out a drink or three. The Terrace opens right out towards Lumphini Park and comes alive around sunset when the DJ starts up. Then there's the Whispering Room, tucked away for when you want something more private, low-key and a little bit secret. 

Time Out Tip: Book ahead, especially for Fridays and Saturdays when the place fills up fast.

42/F, Dusit Central Park. Open daily 5pm-2am

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  • Nong Khaem

What is it? A Japanese-style bar with an Isan twist, perched on the 32nd floor of Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong. The concept sounds odd on paper but somehow works brilliantly, blending restraint with a bit of mischief.

Why we love it: Japanese minimalism meets the joyful, slightly cheeky energy of Isan culture and the result feels genuinely different from the usual rooftop offerings. The bamboo archway's the standout feature. During the day it's subtle enough, but once it gets dark the whole thing lights up in vivid red and turns into quite the photo op. Seating splits across two sides depending on your mood. The DJ booth faces Ratchaprasong if you're after something livelier, while the Sukhumvit side's quieter and doubles as the smoking area for anyone wanting a slower pace. The kitchen follows the same cross-cultural approach with an Isan meets Japanese fusion menu – combinations that shouldn't work… but absolutely do.

Time Out Tip: Golden hour specials run during sunset with bites like salmon belly and drinks like Aperol spritz starting around B150 to B300.

32/F, Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong. Open daily 6pm-2am

  • Bang Rak

What is it? A bar inspired by the French Riviera that's landed right in the middle of Bangkok. The whole place borrows that sun-drenched Mediterranean ease and spreads it across two floors overlooking Lumphini Park, with the city's skyline rising up behind like a rather dramatic backdrop.

Why we love it: The first zone sits beside the bar where a DJ keeps things gently moving. The space has a certain gloss to it without feeling overdone. White toned surfaces catch the light beautifully as evening shifts into night and, when the breeze moves through the room, everything feels quietly alive in a way you only really clock once you've settled in with a drink. Head upstairs and the mood changes. The second zone resembles a small garden terrace with open views across the city. It's quieter up here, better suited to long conversations that can stretch out without any rush. Once the sun dips below the skyline, the energy picks up. 

Time Out Tip: Go for the violette in iris (B450) if you want something floral and easy drinking, or the amara rosa (B450) if you fancy a bit more complexity. The grapefruit and spice combination's got a lovely smoky finish that sneaks up on you.

29/F, SO/ Bangkok hotel. Open daily 5pm-midnight

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  • Nong Khaem

What is it? A rooftop on the 23rd floor of Andaz One Bangkok that's shaped around a Mediterranean theme. The bar has Aperitivo-style cocktails and sharing plates, with a small speakeasy corner tucked away for anyone curious enough to hunt it down.

Why we love it: Around sunset the atmosphere hits differently, with sweeping views across Lumphini Park that make you want to linger over another round. As night settles in, the mood gradually shifts from golden hour calm towards something closer to a proper party. The real surprise? The desserts often steal the show. The pistachio mille-feuille is well worth ordering, but the apple crumble served hot with vanilla ice cream is the one that keeps people coming back. Drinks wise, the ruby whisper mixes whisky and limoncello in a way that shouldn't work but absolutely does, while the paloma d'oro gives you that refreshing Mediterranean twist without being too sweet about it.

Time Out Tip: Use the valet parking at the Andaz entrance. Navigating the massive One Bangkok parking complex yourself is more hassle than it's worth.

23/F, Andaz. Open daily 5pm-midnight 

  • Cocktail bars
  • Ari

What is it? A warm cocktail bar that works like a pantry of local ingredients, pulling flavours from nearby producers and turning them into drinks that tell small, familiar stories. Sometimes you'll recognise everything in the glass, other times you won't have a clue what you're tasting.

Why we love it: The bartenders here favour classic structures so the ingredients can do the talking. The menu shifts constantly depending on what's sitting in the archive at any given moment and the whole approach feels refreshingly straightforward. If you fancy something simple and they've got what's needed, they'll mix it for you and slide it across the counter without any fuss. A few drinks worth mentioning. The green keow savoey (B420) brings mango and passion fruit together in a gin fizz that's bright, sweet and gently fizzy. Sit at the bar, sip it slowly and soak up the lively yet comforting atmosphere.

Time Out Tip: Ask the bartenders for the Archive Story of the day. They love explaining where the Thai ingredients come from, whether it's pounded unripe rice or wild honey from somewhere local.

2/F, No Bar Wine Bar. Open Wed-Sun, 7pm-1am. Closed Mon-Tues

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  • Café bars
  • Silom

What is it? A 70 year old building in soi Decho, Silom, housing a wine bar, restaurant, small cinema and bookstore, all under one roof. 

Why we love it: They've done a brilliant job preserving the original character of the building. Walls, windows, doors and even old rooms remain intact, with a vintage safe cleverly repurposed into wine storage. Work through a wine list that runs to over 2,000 bottles, then sink into indie flicks or classic Thai cinema in a room that feels more 'jazz bar' than 'screening room'. With just 25 mismatched seats to choose from, we couldn't help but take a peek. The small cinema is romantic, screening new films each week. They're developing a proper bookstore corner soon as well, which should round things out nicely. Between the wine selection, the films and the promise of shelves full of books, Sala Saneh is the sort of neighbourhood hangout you simply can't help coming back to.

Time Out tip: Film screenings focus on Thai classics but usually come with English subtitles, making them accessible for both locals and international visitors.

Soi Decho. Open Thu-Mon, 6pm-midnight. Closed Tue-Wed

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