This shop-house bar is one of a new breed of Chinatown bars attracting Bangkok’s young and hip. There’s a charming retro ambience courtesy of reclaimed wooden furniture, classic sewing tables, old posters and an adorable chalkboard menu displaying Spanish tapas drawn from the owner’s six years living in Spain. Try the patatas bravas (fried potatoes) and bocadillos (sandwiches), all washed down with a Spanish Xoriguer gin.

 

 

This art space has held one successful event after another since it opened last year, from the shocking nudes of controversial Chinese artist Ren Hang to the reportage archives of Roland Neveu during the fall of Phnom Penh. Located in an actual old soy sauce factory, the bare-bones buildng—open plan, concrete floors, industrial lighting— is split between the gallery upstairs and a Thai restaurant and bar downstairs.

 

 

Hiding behind an ominous, Indian-style door is a small, moody bar belonging to a who’s-who of Bangkok’s art and nightlife scene, from fashion photographers and party organizers to mixologists and musicians. Do explore the vast collection of gin, from the must-try Hanami (the house pour) to the locally distilled Iron Balls. The decor is basic, mixing old shop-house charm with racy photography exhibitions.

 

 

This restored shop-house has plenty of raw appeal, and specializes in potent cocktails mixed with Thai fruits, herbs and spices. There’s also a good line of home-infused ya dong (Thai herbal whiskey) as well as a kitchen dishing out Thai tapas.Come nightfall, enjoy your meal while Thai musicians take the stage to play traditional music from Thailand’s Central region.
 

Soulbar

Soulbar is a bit like the new Adhere 13th, the long-standing blues club in Phra Athit. Tucked in a small shop-house down in the old Talad Noi neighhborhood, this simple but tastefully turned out bar plays host to live soul and funk bands every Tue-Sat. If the crammed band room is too jumping for you, there’s a more laidback lounge and terrace upstairs. Drop by for the daily happy hours (6-8pm)—our pick is the Summer Beer (mint chocolate kombucha and half a pint of draft beer, about S$6.30).

945 Charoen Krung Rd Nearest MRT: Hua Lamphong