Hotel Hangouts
By Michael Moore
Bangkok's major hotelries are chockablock with venues where people get together to chat, snack and have a drink. As diverse as there are colors in the rainbow, they range from places for a quiet rendezvous with a special someone to raucous nightspots designed to lure the city's swingers. Some are ideal for a before dinner drink, others attract the after work crowd, and a goodly number thrive as places where people unwind after spending an evening in a restaurant. Variety is what it's all about with each hotel attempting to create a setting that appeals because of its unique characteristics and the quality of what's on offer.
Although many of the customers are folks from out of town, don't get the idea these hangouts are only for people from out of town. Many Bangkokians have a passion for these places and enjoy going to them regularly. Although they're usually more expensive than neighborhood watering holes, you're always likely to meet someone new and the quality of the product is invariably higher, especially when it comes to musicians and singers. It's not likely you'll find a world famous musician or jazz diva at your local pub or bar, but they are commonplace at some of the Big Mango's hotels.
We don't have space to cover all of these hangouts, but we're going to give you a short guided tour. The pleasure of visiting them and then going out and making your own new discoveries is up to you.
Bamboo Bar @ The Oriental, Bangkok
02-659-9000
The name conjures up visions of intrigue and excitement and that's what you get at this perennially popular nightspot. The décor is jungle camp, the lights are low, the interior is loaded with bamboo, palm fronds and furniture covered with faux (or are they real?) animal hides. Located adjacent to the Oriental's pool, it's been around since 1946, making it ancient by Bangkok standards.
Longevity is attributed not only to the wide range of well-made cocktails, but also to the live jazz that is its trademark. Every evening the Bamboo Bar hosts some of the world's most famous jazz musicians and is especially noted for its female vocalists.
If you are into jazz and looking for a classy place with oodles of atmosphere, this Bangkok icon should be high on your list. For what you get, the prices are remarkably low and virtually the same as those charged at other hotel nightspots without entertainment. An ideal spot for couples, the service here is excellent. The Bamboo Bar opens at 11.00AM and doesn't close until the wee hours – 1.00AM on weekdays and 2.00AM on weekends.
Living Room @ The Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit
02-649-8888
As the name implies, the Living Room is a comfortable place with oversized chairs and sofas for seating. Throughout the day and during the week, it assumes a variety of faces: tea and biscuits in the afternoon, drinks, brunch and jazz on Sundays with cocktails and jazz in the evening.
The interior is spacious, round in shape with a stage in front of windows having the Skytrain as a backdrop. There is a small and seldom used bar on the left-hand side that mostly serves as a resting spot for musicians on break.
Ernie Watts, Jeremy Monteiro, Leroy Jones, Alice Day, the late Eldee Young – many of the world's great jazz musicians have or still perform at the Living Room. If you love jazz, this is the best place in Bangkok to find world-class performers.
There is a wide selection of beers, cocktails and other drinks; the wine selection is especially good, including several wines by the glass. Although efficient, the service doesn't have the open and friendly character of some of the other hangouts. Open daily from 09.00-24.00.
Glaz Bar @ Le Meridien Hotel Plaza Athenee
02-650-8800
One of Bangkok's most appealing hotel hangouts, Glaz Bar combines sophistication with good service, great food, first-rate entertainment with a casual and comfortable setting. One of the great things about Glaz Bar is the quality of the tapas plus other tidbits. Try the Tiger prawn with tamarind sauce (B40), Grilled marinated lamb chop with green chili (B140) or the Beef mussaman curry in soda bread cup (B60); they're great to eat and attractively presented.
Other pluses include the best service we encountered during our nighttime sojourns and furniture that was not only nice to look at, but also comfortable – a real plus when camping out for a period of time.
Well known jazz artists, like Maci Miller, are occasionally booked, but more often than not performers are high quality local or regional artists. The night we visited, the group – especially the Filipina singer – provided easy listening and interacted well with the crowd.
It's hard to find anything wrong with Glaz Bar. Especially suited for couples; it's open from 11.00-02.00 daily with live music from 21.00-01.00.
Aqua @ Four Seasons Hotel
02-250-1000
Located in the Parichart Court adjacent to Madison, the Four Seasons' popular Manhattan style grill, Aqua is a chameleon that changes roles depending upon the time of day and the day of the week. It starts with breakfast, goes on to lunch and then serves as an afternoon and evening rendezvous spot serving a range of drinks with snacks.
The garden setting is open-air and mildly formal with most customers sitting at tables. It is best suited for before or after dinner drinks rather than as a gathering point for those wanting to make noise or unwind after work.
Food plays a large role at Aqua. In addition to a selection of appetizer sized snacks featuring items from around the region, customers can enjoy Mediterranean items like hummus and baba ghanouj. The drinks list is extensive and features several excellent, but pricey single malt whiskies. The martinis are well made, getting good reviews. For wine lovers there is a good selection of wines.
Aqua is open for eats and drinks from early morning until midnight and is an integral part of the Four Seasons popular 11.30-15.00 Sunday Brunch.
Diplomat Bar @ Conrad Bangkok
02-690-9999
Classy yet comfortable, the Diplomat Bar is the quintessential gathering point. An easy walk from several embassies, this isn't a glitzy cocktail bar with umbrellas and sparklers; it's a hangout for mature and well heeled business and diplomat types. Shaped like a boomerang, it has a circular bar fringed with stools and lounge areas with tables in two wings and comfortable chairs. The décor is chocolate and beige complemented by oversized matt gold light fittings.
The drinks list features a great selection of premium beverages, including one of the most extensive lists of single malts in Bangkok. Most drinks are poured rather than shaken. There is a great grazing menu for snacking the evening away. The service is professionally attentive and non invading – around when needed, but otherwise they leave you alone.
The mood is set by the resident band, complemented by a jazz singer that changes every three months – currently the delightful Cherryl Hayes. Open daily from 10.00-01.00, a great place to while away an entire evening or enjoy a before or after dinner drink.
My Bar @ Dusit Thani
02-200-9000
Adjacent to the Skytrain and MRT subway, the Dusit Thani is about as conveniently located as any of the city's major hotels. My Bar is tucked away on the Upper Lobby Level adjacent to the popular Lobby Lounge. Spacious with a striking opaque bar with blue shining through it, it is furnished with comfortable pastel colored sofas and chairs.
Paolo Randone, Executive Assistant Manager for Food and Beverage at the Dusit outlined changes he has in mind for My Bar. "We plan to make this a place for the 35+ crowd," he told us. "We want it to be a place for couples to come for a drink. We'll have a DJ, playing everyone's favorite songs, but no techno. There will also be a "bottle keep" system. We want it to be a reasonable place to have a drink; a place people will feel like returning too many times."
Open daily from 17.00-01.00; this is an ideal spot to unwind after a hard day shopping or at the office. It appears poised to make a big move in the hotel hangout sweepstakes.
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The next time you are out on the town for a drink in addition to a good time, try one of the city's hotels. They bend over backward to please and have some of the best places in town to hangout and enjoy yourself.
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