Cocktails Abroad – Thailand

Summer is nearly here (honest…) and if you’re anything like us you’ve been planning where you’re going to spend your hard-earned time off this year. It’s also possible that, while away, you might fancy indulging in the odd exotic tipple. Since Rebecca Milford recently found herself in Thailand, she thought it only fair that she discovers the best place for some libations in the sun…

Exotic cocktails with a stunning view at Moon Bar, Bangkok

Photo opportunities come thick and fast in Bangkok, and it is known for the vibrancy and chaos of its streets. So what better way of experiencing this crazy, intoxicating place (while still retaining an air of relaxation) than from above? And there is no-where better to do this than the al fresco drinking opportunity that is Moon Bar at Banyan Tree Hotel.

Located in the trendy financial district of Sathon, Moon Bar is renowned for the incredible service, its superb atmosphere, and a menu that really shines. Exotic ingredients are rife – lemongrass, fresh tangerine, Homemade Butterfly Flower Syrup… the list is incredible. We enjoyed the Heat Broker – a refreshing and punchy blend of Tanqueray gin, lime, sugar, soda and a fresh mango slice, as well as the Thai Countess – a delicious aperitif combining fresh seasonal fruits, Kaffir lime leaves, Smirnoff Red, Martini Extra Dry and Campari. There are also the classics, and the expert bartenders can whip up almost anything – we finished with a burst of the tropics in the form of a Mango Margarita, enjoyed while taking in the amazing scenery below.

@BanyanTree_BKK

Classic cocktails in a creative pocket of Pai at Sabai Bar

Anyone who has visited Pai in the north of Thailand will know what a hippy-Mecca it is, from the bamboo huts to the pervading sense of chilled-out relaxation that reigns supreme. Freshly made juices might line the streets, but you can also pick up a pretty decent cocktail as well. We found a wonderfully intimate place that we loved along one of the main streets– made even more special by the exciting and gorgeous décor.

For anyone who wants a well-made classic (mojito, mai tai, margarita… you know the score) then stop by Sabai Bar – a temple to art and craft, as well as live music. It’s not huge, but busy nights see people spill out onto tables in the warm street, and there are a mix of bar stools, reclining day beds, and wooden tables. The space has been designed by the owner Yan and his friends, incorporating the best of up-cycling (a bicycle wheel into a dream catcher? Genius!) along with gorgeous pieces if unique art. It’s the perfect place to order a drink, sit back, and enjoy life.

Unique cocktails enjoyed in luxury in Mantra, Pattaya

Pattaya is an interesting place – sometimes you might wonder if you’re in Thailand at all, given there are so many ex-pats. Happy hours and beach-front bars that look less than salubrious are common, but rest assured there is a sophisticated side to the city – and it’s Mantra restaurant. Located inside the Amari Hotel hotel, it hovers around the 4^th place on Tripadvisor for best restaurant in the whole of Thailand, and after visiting, we could see why.

The dining room is a masterpiece, but if you simply fancy a cocktail in the bar then you’re still in for a mega treat. Decorated in the oriental Eastern style with hints of morocco – think glowing lanterns, lounging day beds, hanging curtains of filmy gauze and dominant colours of gold, red and burnt orange – you feel like you might be in the entertaining room of a grand emperor. And the cocktails are equally impressive, offering unique tastes and specialised ingredients. We had never tried a Rose Apple before (they’re exclusive to this part of the world, apparently), and so were excited to try the Rose Apple Martini. It was sweet and yet delicate, with a hint of apple-meets-pear fruitiness – a definite original. The Mantratini – a blend of Raspberry and Mandarin Vodkas, Malibu, strawberry and cranberry along with Sweet and Sour Mix, had a real sherbet pep to it, with a lovely tang which made it clean the palate. We also fell head over heals for the Melodious Mangorita – nowhere does mango like Thailand, and this was evident in the smooth and decadent freshness that merged Tequila and Cointreau for a great take on a margarita.

Theatrical cocktails in stylish surroundings at Le Maverick, Bangkok

To say that we were impressed while propping up the bar at Le Maverick, a gorgeous French restaurant in Sukhumvit, Bangkok, would be an understatement. We have been rather spoilt in being able to test out the new cocktail fads in London, and so opportunities to be surprised and wowed don’t come often enough. But watching the team spin their theatrical magic here had us nodding in admiration.

Take a seat at the bar, peruse the impressive menu, and then sit back to watch the magic happen. The list, created in house and making the most of special infusions, mixes and blends, is a real treat, but it’s also wise to ask what the bartenders recommend. We began with what is possibly one of the finest cocktails we’ve tried in quite some time – the Maverick Mojito. A blend of rum, freshest of lime juice, lychee, a special home-made infusion of cloves and cinnamon, all topped off with lavender flowers. The taste was sensational – a perfect blend of sharp and delicately sweet from the fruit, while the waft of lavender every time we took a swig added an extra dimension.  All topped off with dry ice for that theatrical presentation. We also loved the Cuban Cigar, incorporating some cloche-work, scented smoke, a smoldering cinnamon stick and egg white for extra silkiness with the apricot brandy, and the Kaffir Brush – tequila, mango, pineapple and kaffir leaf, along with more special infusions. As exotic as it gets.

@MaverickBKK

 

Masterful Margaritas at Hotel W, Bangkok

Sometimes one cocktail sums up your time abroad – it might be Mojitos in Barcelona, Negronis in Rome or Mint Juleps in New Orleans. For us, the cocktail of Thailand was the Margarita, and there was one place we especially adored for this fruity concoction. The WooBar at W Hotel in Sathon is open to non-guests as well as those lucky enough to stay, and it’s as slick and cool a joint as any, with sumptuous sofas, a space-age bar, and outside seating for those wanting to enjoy the heat. The cocktail list is extensive, but it’s the margarita list that got us all of a flutter. There are suggested concoctions, but you can also craft your own. We went for the Mango and Chilli Margarita, and then invented the Dragon Fruit and Thai Basil. Both were utterly divine – the first being a burst of tropical goodness with that hint of heat, while the second had all the exotic flavour of herb, matched nicely by decadent dragon fruit. They looked the part, had just the right tequila quantity, and didn’t OD on the salt. Definitely cocktails to make a Bangkok beeline for.

 

@WHotelBangkok