Winner: Bar.Yard

A lot of bars want to unseat Bar.Yard from its top spot as the top rooftop bar at the BAD Awards, a spot it’s held for half a decade now. After the revamp this year, frankly, none of the other rooftop bars had a prayer. Bar.Yard 2.0 has them all beat. The new atmosphere is going for a tropical urban atmosphere that doesn’t skimp on the Thai influences and Pan-Latin touches. With a new food and drink menu — with some favorites staying on both — the new rash of curated drinks mix the likes of Brazilian spirits and tropical fruits. New design, new drinks, new food; Bar.Yard wins again, and they’ll likely be the venue to beat for years to come. Good luck with that. 

ANJU

K-pop, Korean cocktails and a skyline view? Anju has the rooftop formula pretty well figured out. Sitting on the 31st floor of Sindhorn Midtown Hotel Bangkok, Vignette Collection by IHG in Langsuan, this Korean rooftop restaurant and bar pairs sweeping city views with neon-lit interiors, modern Korean cuisine, Korea-inspired cocktails, and a lively after-dark atmosphere.

The rooftop is the real star. Come around sunset to watch Bangkok turn golden, then stick around as the city lights start flickering on below. With DJs from Sunday to Wednesday and live music from Thursday to Saturday, the mood gradually shifts from sunset drinks to full-on night out.

Call: 02-796-8888
www.sindhornmidtown.com

Piscari

Sunset, skyline and a very good cocktail? That’s Piscari. Perched on the 23rd floor of Andaz One Bangkok, this Mediterranean-inspired rooftop looks out over Lumphini Park and brings a relaxed mood to the city.

The cocktail list takes its cues from Mediterranean aperitivo culture, mixing gin, tequila, whisky and bitters with unexpected flavours. Long Way Home packs gin, Campari, Aperol, coffee liqueur and peach into one seriously flavourful glass, while Honey and Hemlock goes richer with whisky, Amaro Averna, wild honey and Campari foam. Prefer something bright? Paloma d’Oro gives the classic Paloma a Mediterranean twist with tequila, grapefruit and Mediterranean tonic.

For something a little extra, don’t miss out on the hidden speakeasy area at the venue for a more intimate vibe.

Tichuca

Sunset is the time to check out Tichuca, a fun, multi-level rooftop bar with a jungle décor inspired by South Africa. The bar provides an escape into lush foliage and tropical feels. There are three levels decked out with wooden furniture, rattan chairs, flora, and a massive LED-lit tree that sways behind the bar. Found 46 floors above Bangkok, this is an energetic space for a fun party vibe, so if you’re looking for a rooftop with a good menu that gets loud, this is the spot you need to try. 

The Norm Bangkok

Open for just a few months, this venue is making a big splash on the nightlife scene for one reason: style. The varied spaces make The Norm Bangkok sound hectic, but the stylish atmosphere really brings this whole venue together. You can find a DJ spinning outside and have creative signature cocktails while chilling inside. The drink menu — divided into Nostalgic Bangkok, Modern Bangkok, and Progressive Bangkok — leans into the classy vibe. 

The Speakeasy Rooftop Bar

Want to feel like you’ve accidentally wandered into a 1920s gangster movie? Head to The Speakeasy. Perched across the 24th and 25th floors of Hotel Muse Bangkok, this Langsuan rooftop is all velvet, Art Deco drama, secret doors and cocktails that look like they have something to hide.

Downstairs, the Blind Pig sits behind a velvet curtain, because apparently a normal entrance would be far too sensible. Upstairs, things get even better: there’s a 360-degree rooftop, a leafy Secret Garden and private domes that make excellent hiding places when you’ve decided the rest of Bangkok can wait.

The cocktail list takes its cues from the Golden Age of cocktails, but throws Thai ingredients and flavours into the mix. Food covers European-style small plates and Thai-inspired bites, which is useful because drinking on an empty stomach is rarely the sophisticated move it feels like at the time.

Sato San

Atop the Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong, this is a new rooftop bar on the Bangkok scene, and it’s making some noise. Sato San Rooftop Bar is the city’s Thai-Isaan and Japanese rooftop with 360-degree views. The cocktails are fairly uncomplicated, but they stick with the theme of mixing the cultures — like the Sake & Longan and the Pandan Cake Cardamom. Don’t forget to try the Thai Sato menu and the highballs to keep the night going. Expect DJs on the regular and a youngish crowd. 

Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar

A favorite for the downtown crew, Octave Rooftop Lounge and Bar is what you think of when you think of a Bangkok Rooftop Bar: decent drinks, beautiful people, wild views. A rooftop bar with the added bonus of being right by Thonglor. Cocktails don’t come quite at street-level prices, but you do get a stunning view of downtown Sukhumvit, coupled with an upbeat crowd of tourists. It’s multi-level, multi-functional, and a classic rooftop hang. 

Ojo

At 76 floors above Bangkok, Ojo is not exactly playing it cool. Located at The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, this glamorous Mexican restaurant combines dramatic city views with a polished dining room inspired by 20th-century Mexico. Expect plenty of pink, gold, velvet and Art Deco-style details, plus a terrace that delivers one of the city’s most impressive skyline views.

But don’t overlook the cocktails. Tequila and mezcal take centre stage, with the drinks list playing with Mexican flavours, tropical ingredients and contemporary techniques rather than simply sticking to the usual Margarita formula. Expect plenty of bright, refreshing combinations alongside richer, spirit-forward serves—making the bar just as much a reason to visit as the food.

The food comes from Mexican chef Francisco Paco Ruano, the mind behind the one-Michelin star Alcalde in Guadalajara, who gives regional Mexican cooking a contemporary Bangkok makeover. 

Penthouse Bar + Grill

If you like your Bangkok nights with a side of skyline, Penthouse Bar + Grill is a pretty convincing argument for heading upstairs. Spread across the top three floors of Park Hyatt Bangkok, the venue takes you from charcoal-grilled steaks on Level 34 to cocktails and live jazz on Level 35, before sending you all the way up to an open-air rooftop on Level 36.

The Cocktail Bar is the social heart of the operation, with a plush vintage-motoring look, double-height ceilings and panoramic views. From Wednesday to Sunday, live saxophone or trumpet kicks in from 8pm, making it an easy place to settle in for a few drinks rather than simply stopping by for the obligatory sunset photo.