World Class Cocktail Festival Bangkok 2019: Ploenchit-Chidlom

Set in a courtyard dominated by lush foliage and a serene koifilled pond, Aqua at Anantara Siam is the perfect destination for afternoon tea and light snacks, and the ideal setting for an intimate rendezvous over evening cocktails. The bar selection includes classic cocktails, refreshing signature drinks with local twists, and a variety of flavored mojitos.

Located in the basement of Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bar 494 is a small and casual bar that’s famous among locals in-the-know for its unbeatable happy hour promotion and two-hour wine buffet. (Needless to say, it’s impossible to find a seat later on in the evening.) The bar is also a great place for pre-prandial drinks that don’t break the bank.

Afternoon tea and light nibbles may draw the crowd to the lobby bar of Siam Kempinski, but it’s the tropical tipplers and juiceinjected martinis that make them stay. Live piano performances in the late afternoon contribute to the serene ambiance.

Dim lighting and dark furnishing shroud this swanky Italian restaurant in an air of mystery. Operatic performances from Tuesday to Saturday elevate the superb food and booze experience to another level. Their extensive selection of wines, spirits, and cocktails encompasses unique and refreshing flavors.

This plush dining room, which looks out to Siam Kempinski’s swimming pool and verdant gardens, is an ideal spot for sipping refreshing drinks inspired by local Thai flavors as well as beloved classic cocktails. These drinks are the best complement to the international and Thai delights prepared by executive chef Stefan Trepp.

In addition to panoramic views of Bangkok’s skyline, this massive three-level dining complex offers six restaurants and bars, including a steakhouse called The Grill Room, a plushy lounge that offers a good selection of modern cocktails and a private chef’s table service. Sleek marble and polished dark wood dominate the space, the elegance only interrupted by a smattering of colorful art pieces.

This old-school nightclub in the basement of Grand Hyatt Erawan has something for everyone, whether you’re here to indulge in the food or to simply party the night away. Nosh on scrumptious Italian fare for dinner and after dessert plus a cocktail or two, take your spot at the center of the room and dance away to tunes from your childhood. The later hours bring you back to present day you with a playlist of modern hits.

An earth-toned setting, offset by colorful murals by celebrated Thai artists, welcome tipplers to the tenthfloor lobby bar of Park Hyatt Bangkok. Indulge in one of their signature cocktails or ask the bartender to craft a special concoction according to your tastes. The venue also boasts an outdoor area where you can enjoy the balmy breeze and chilled vibe along with your drinks.

The city's new sky-high cocktail establishment, The Loft, promises to amaze with sleek interiors, expansive Bangkok views, and delicate concoctions inspired by vintage recipes included in the classic cocktail tome The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book. One of the three segments of Waldorf Astoria’s top-floor dining and wining triplex, The Loft is an elegant mélange of vintage charm and sheer opulence, its interiors evocative of a cool artist’s tastefully decorated digs. Big communal wooden tables are splashed with paint, Pollock-style, while painting accessories scattered across the bar do their part to represent the artist’s studio. The center of the room highlights Art Nouveau elements, a spider-shaped chandelier and a sleek marble bar top, while a floor-to-ceiling glass wall provides a 180-degree lookout over Bangkok’s illuminated skyscrapers.  Head bartender and bar manager Michele Montauti (formerly at The House on Sathorn) puts his spin on classics featured in The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book, and conjures up contemporary variations that tickle the palate and appease the cocktail connoisseur. He recommends the fizzy Lalla Rookh (B450), a mix of Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum, Pierre Ferrand Cognac, rose syrup, lime, egg white and vanilla soda, or the Waldorf Claret Cup (B480), a well-balanced bevvy that combines the fruity, sweet and acidic notes of Martell Cognac, dry curacao, Maraschino liqueur, lime and a splash of soda. For an old-school classic with a local punch,

Before it became a thing in Bangkok, The Speakeasy, the rooftop bar at Hotel Muse, was already delivering Prohibition vibes with elegant décor that takes you back to 1920s. Spanning two levels, The Speakeasy connects to Long Bar, where you have a better vantage point overlooking Bangkok’s CBD, or take a hidden entrance that leads you to the al fresco bar on the 25th floor. The Speakeasy’s cocktail menu delves into forgotten classics but also provides light cocktails for easy sipping, while the food list explores Thai and French mash-ups. The bar also houses the Blind Pig Cigar Lounge, which offers a great selection of premium Cuban cigars.

Awarded World Class Bartender of The Year in 2017 at the Diageo World Class Global Final in Mexico City, Canadian mixologist Kaitlyn Stewart of Royal Dinette in Vancouver will be performing her mixing magic at Speakeasy Bar on 7 June (20:00-24:00). Stewart was the second female bartender to be given the title, and the ninth bartender to be named into the World Class Hall of Fame.