Happening Bangkok Rooftop Venue Celebrates First Birthday With Innovative New Menu

Crowning Thailand’s first INNSiDE hotel, sky-high LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar is marking its first anniversary with a vibrant new menu that applies a novel twist to classic Spanish dishes.

Awe-inspiring Rooftop Bars In Thailand

There are bars and then there are rooftop bars. We’ve put together a mini round-up of two awe-inspiring rooftop bars in Thailand – one towering over Bangkok, the other Chiang Mai. Perhaps these blurbs may fit with a broader story you’re working on about bars? We’d also welcome the chance to welcome you to experience these bars for yourself.

Bangkok Rooftop Bar Commands 34th Floor with Transparent Infinity Pool

Together with INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit’s jewel in the crown, a transparent infinity pool, The Giant Swing Pool Bar commands the 34th floor. Nestled between bar and pool, a compelling contemporary interpretation of Bangkok’s Brahman structure The Giant Swing makes for a dramatic photo backdrop. Adjacent to the infinity pool is an expansive rooftop terrace, dotted with outdoor lounges and sunbeds, that evokes an Ibiza mood accompanied with panoramic vistas. Open from 10am until midnight, the open-air pool bar serves Mediterranean, Thai and international snacks and dishes such as INNSiDE’s Burger and cool beverages including imaginative cocktails. By night, the pool bar becomes an upper-floor extension of the hotel’s 33rd floor LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar. A spectacle unlike any other in Bangkok, tapas bar guests peer into the bottom of the infinity pool.

Chiang Mai Rooftop Bar Features Glass Bridge

Chiang Mai’s highest bar, Meliá Chiang Mai's 360-degree rooftop bar dubbed MAI The Sky Bar affords sweeping views of the Ping River to the city’s east and famed Doi Suthep Temple on the mountaintop to the west. Perched on the 22-floor, the bar features rooftop terraces at varying heights, with a spectacular glass bridge connecting the bar’s highest seating areas. Surrounded by glass balustrades that give way to stunning views of Chiang Mai at sunset and by night, the bar’s entertainment includes live bands and DJs. Drawing on Meliá’s Spanish roots, the city’s most happening venue’s menu serves a variety of tapas and pinchos, grazing boards and desserts under sections dubbed “Para Picar”, “Tableros” and “Postres” respectively. The mixologists craft a selection of beverages including imaginative cocktails that reference Chiang Mai’s forests and mountains.

Thailand’s First ‘INNSiDE by Meliá’ Unveils Sky-High Tapas Bar’s Menu

Towering over Bangkok’s trendy On Nut neighbourhood, INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit’s awe-inspiring rooftop tapas bar has crafted an exciting new menu, accompanied with views of both the city … and the bottom of a transparent swimming pool.

Chiang Mai’s Highest Rooftop Bar Launches Exciting New Menu With Green Twist

Meliá Chiang Mai’s 360-degree rooftop bar has unveiled a new menu with dishes underpinned by local sustainable and organic farming.

The highest bar in Chiang Mai, aptly named Mai the Sky Bar, is perched on the hotel’s 22nd floor, affording awe-inspiring views of the Ping River to the city’s east and famed Doi Suthep Temple on the mountaintop to the west. 

Bangkok situation update and, er, the best rooftop bars.

Please see http://www.thailandjingjing.blogspot.com for more recent up-to-the-minute updates on the Bangkok situation and the situation in Thailand as the Thai election draws nearer. Thanks.


'Oim roolly glared we caaaim,' said a middle-aged female Aussie tourist, as the group chinked glasses at Vertigo, on the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel. It's funny how the Aussie accent at home is just the endearing Aussie accent we all know. But somehow on this romantic night it cut through the air like a chinesaw. I mean chainsaw. The group was saying how they nearly cancelled their flights after hearing 'the news' about Bangkok, but here they are enjoying a truly stunning 360-degree city night vista and quenching their thirsts with cocktails.

In fact this blog was supposed to be about 'all the bad stuff' going on in Bangkok at the moment (no, no, I'm not talking about Patpong). So we caught the Skytrain to Sala Deang station right in the middle of the Silom District. You might remember that as being one of the places I indicated might be best to avoid around this time.

Anyway, we enjoyed a really authentic Thai meal at a restaurant called Banana Leaf in Silom Complex, adjoining the BTS, before getting a tuk-tuk to the Sukhothai Hotel. Apart from a car accident, there was no sign of anything untoward, and certainly not an out of place policeman, soldier nor Red Shirt to be seen anywhere. So ...

From there we strolled to the Banyan Tree. And, boy, is Vertigo well named. I swear the skinny building was swaying in the evening breeze as we emerged on the top deck. And busy! We finally found a cushioned bench at the far end adjacent the railing. Bangkok seemed right in our faces, as we picked out the major buildings and got our bearings. Cocktails are a bit punchy at around 300-350 baht, but, hey this is a five star hotel rated by Conde Naste as one of the world's very finest. The special Jamaican coffees only added to the swaying sensation.

In a similar vein, check out Skybar and Sirroco on top of the Lebua Hotel. On the 63rd the latter holds the distinction of being the world's highest al fresco restaurant. Woah -- this is high! What an amazing difference those two floors make ... it seems like we are set well back from the action, looking at Bangkok from afar -- more like we're in a low-flying airplane -- although it is easy to pick out the Chao Phraya River coursing below. The Skybar itself is a circular bar that glows radioactively amid the plush surroundings, seeming to levitate transcendentally.

Continuing the sky theme, try Red Sky at Centara Grand Hotel, which is a chic urban bistro and lounge style set up (see photo). The lighting on the roof is one of the most amazing lights on the Bangkok skyline, as it looks like some sort of extreme Rollercoast of Death arcing over the roof of the building, glowing red and all the colours of the rainbow. Here, you are only 55 stories up, but being right downtown in the Siam area, gives you a different perspective of Bangkok again.

Anyway, we finished our night with a deliberately long and slow walk from Banyan Tree hotel down Silom Road to the MRT station Silom. Under a perfect half moon sky, with stars and the odd cloud for character, it was a lovely, peaceful night.

Now I am reading this morning's Bangkok Post (Thursday 25 March 2010) and I read where the nationwide rally in support of Thaksin, widely tipped to beheld on Verdict Day (tomorrow) -- and the subject of so much media bleating and over-reaction -- has now been deferred. Furthermore Red Shirt leader Veera Musikhapong is quoted as saying whatever their moves may be, they will be adhering to a strict code of 'non-violence, peaceful, unarmed.'

Certainly not the story I thought I was going to be writing, but, that folks, is what Bangkok is like right now. Jing jing! So another beautiful day writing around the pool then ... Oim roolly glared I caaaim, too.

PS: Footnote (May 2011): Sirroco Bar features prominently in the Hollywood movie Hangover 2 ... complete with gangsters, CI agents and helicopters. That doesn't happen there every day, trust me!