The mixologists behind Q&A and Sugar Ray, as well as the Chinese-themed bar Dim Dim, has launched a new cocktail den in Sukhumvit, and this time, exotic Thai ingredients and fruits play the leading role.
Hidden behind an unmarked wooden door at the corner of Salil Hotel on Thonglor Soi 1, Thaipioka welcomes you with simple yet stylish interiors set off by soft, discreet lighting. A lengthy and massive teakwood bar-cum-table, which can seat up to 20 guests, takes up most of the space. Rustic, Asian-style porcelain and baskets of fruits adorn the table, as if to foreshadow a soon-to-be-served concoction. Potted palm plants are scattered here and there to give a sense of lushness to the space, while a more private corner for groups is equipped with comfy red cushions.
Chanchai “Boyd” Rodbamrung, a familiar face behind the bar at Sugar Ray, and Thailand’s winner of the 2013 Diageo World Class competition, unconventionally pairs Thai ingredients with spirits, using techniques like infusion and sous-vide to come up with creative, complex concoctions. There’s the silky-smooth Mulberry Sangria, which ditches the usual Shiraz for mangosteen wine with mulberry notes (B340). Spices make their ways into cocktails like Turmeric Thai tea, a frothy, vodka-based concoction that tastes like sweet milk tea, only with a punch of absinthe (B340), and Sesame Manhattan, a drink with a deliciously nutty flavor courtesy of black sesame oil and walnut bitters (B360). There are also special items on rotation including a smoky Sazerac with beef brisket oil-infused bourbon (B400).
A stylish space plus bold creations promise an unforgettable experience at Thaipioka. Drop by on Friday and Saturday when deejays lift up the sopoforic vibe of Soi Thonglor 1 with fun, funky tunes.
