The Pickwicks Chronicles

'A literary mystery cocktail bar drawing on Dickens, packed with Pickwickian escapades and drinks named after his characters.'

Tucked down a Bangkok side street, The Pickwick Chronicles makes a strong claim to being the city's most bookish bar. Wooden shelves line the walls, hardbacks pile up everywhere and the lighting stays just low enough that make the menu feel like part of the mystery. 

The name nods to The Pickwick Papers, or The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club if you want the full Dickensian mouthful. First published in serial form, the novel follows Samuel Pickwick and his companions as they leave London to chronicle life around England, stumbling into comic trouble as they go.

That literary streak carries through to the drinks. Order an Augustus Snodgrass Teddy Bear, a Tracy Tupman, Mr Wardle's Tiki Drink, Samuel Pickwick's Martini or Nathaniel Winkle Vol II and you can drink your way through the cast. The cocktails arrive with proper care, garnishes and all, and the bartenders are happy to explain which character sits behind each glass. A love of English literature helps. A soft spot for Dickens helps even more. 76/10 Lang Suan Road, Lumphini. Open Monday-Saturday, 5pm-2am. Entry is free. Call 098 494 6727.