While the main Thonglor stretch sees a line-up of weighty food and booze venues, the small alleys on the opposite side of Sukhumvit is home to more low-key hidden gems such as Blue Dye Cafe, a coffee shop-slash-glassware showroom located on Soi Sukhumvit 36.
Recently, the brewing house launched a bar on its second floor, converting a small space that used to be the showroom for owner Kittipong Paiboonsombut’s denim clothing line. Called Middle Bar, the cozy bar serves wellexecuted cocktails amidst a setting punctuated by homey bohemia (white tribal-style tapestry, simple wooden furniture and vintage bric-àbrac).
The bar opens at 19:00, past Blue Dye Cafe’s shop hours, so access requires you to ring the doorbell and wait for someone to run down and usher you in. Mark Samart, the former mixologist at Shades of Retro, keeps a watchful eye behind the bar and makes sure each item comes out as perfect as could be. The cocktails here are marked by a number, an easy system to help you remember your favored mix. Beginners to booze can start off with number 7 (B340), a sweet and refreshing tequila-based drink cut through with a fruity mix of pineapple and lemongrass. Number 5 (B340) is an upgraded twist on the G&T, combining the herbal flavors of Jagermeister with the refreshing notes of cucumber. Negroni fans may want to go for number 1 (B380), which contains triple the portion of gin and an extra dash of Angostura bitters.
Simple minimalist setting aside, Middle Bar proves that its concoctions are on par with its Thonglor counterparts, making it the perfect alternative for those who would rather avoid the raucous crowd at Sukhumvit Soi 55 during the weekends.
