Winner: Bar Us
From the team behind Messenger Service Bar in Suan Luang, Bar Us is at the forefront of a shift in the city’s cocktail scene, a shift that blurs the line between food and drink. The team behind Messenger Service really hit a nerve in the city when they opened this space on Sukhumvit Soi 26 in 2023. Now, they’re getting the recognition they deserve.
Owners Taln Sudarat Rojanavanich and Aum Veerach Sawaengsupt, both former interior designers, have transformed the space into a modern-day booze laboratory. If you’re all about the vibe of the space, this is where you need to be. Dark wooden tables and strategically placed spotlights accentuate the dimly lit room. It all comes together for a sophisticated yet intimate setting.
With a bar headed by Pongsakorn “Beer” Pongsakorn and Thanat Tangroungsin, the savory cocktails here have seen the brand traveling from Prague to New York, and they’ve been nabbing headlines along the way. Earlier this year, they nabbed No.6 at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026.
Years from now, we’ll be wondering how Bar Us became a Bangkok institution. The answer is in the glass.
BKK Social Club
It’s glitz, it’s glam, it’s Mexico, it’s Argentina, it’s Bangkok. BKK Social Club has long been in the upper echelon of the Bangkok cocktail scene, often ranking in some of the highest international plaudits of any bar in the city. Found at the plush Four Seasons, drinkers enter a dark, dazzling bar counter permanently packed with the city’s well-dressed and jet set. And while the wow-factor might be the reason many visit this Bangkok icon, the treat in the glass definitely deserves a mention. Headed by Philip Bischoff, you’ll find cocktails inspired by people from Frida Kahlo to Carlos Santana and places from Chichen Itza to Chiapas.
Dry Wave Cocktail Studio
Dry Wave Cocktail Studio was last year’s biggest bar opening — bar none. The cocktails, the style, the stories, and the star power all gave this bar a leg up in the game. This year, that momentum continues as this brand expands its reach with new venues, but the city still loves the original flavor. Supawit “Palm” Muttarattana, with some of the best bars in town on his resume, might be the biggest name in the Bangkok nightlife game right now, and this space is the crowning achievement.
GOD (Genius on Drugs)
In GOD we trust. Genius on Drugs is a bit of an odd one. The design is pretty eclectic, to say the least. A little bit bunker, a little bit church — all style. From the nightlife superteam of Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, Gunn Lee, and Attapon De-Silva, the cocktail vibes here are experimental in the extreme — we’re talking uni martinis and oyster salted cacao negronis. This is a team that doesn’t skimp on atmosphere, and follows it up with stellar drinks. If you know Teens of Thailand, Asia Today, Tax, and Independence Bar, you’ll love this spot.
Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar
Ronnaporn “Neung” Kanivichaporn is a legend on the Bangkok cocktail scene, and this cozy, no-frills cocktail bar sitting above Charoenkrung nose-to-tail restaurant 100 Mahaseth lets the drinks do the talking. Funky, edgy, and unapologetically Thai, Manhaniyom mirrors the downstairs concept, spotlighting a single ingredient — scraping, squeezing, and distilling every last ounce of flavor. The current Resourceful Cocktails Vol. 4 sees the team tackling mushrooms, cashews, pumpkin, and more.
