Bottoms up at ‘Mod Kaew,’ new Phloen Chit wine bar

By Coconuts Bangkok

Mar 2, 2021 | 11:08am Bangkok time

The new sip on the block in downtown’s Phloen Chit area is a down-to-earth wine bar that’s all about discovery.

Mod Kaew Wine Bar (mod kaew meaning “bottoms up,” as you might know) takes over what used to be Bambino, a space tucked down a small alley off the residential Soi Nai Lert. Inside, the vibe exudes a moody yet homey feel with touches of red neon, minimalist wood paneling, a wall lined with rows and rows of wine, and a giant Pablo Picasso portrait overlooking the living room-like space.

The venue is the brainchild of three industry vets – Pablo Padilla Fernandez of Soul Wines, Atcha Wongchindawest of Kim Jong Grill, and Ottara Pyne, ex-sommelier of Gaggan. Their goal is to bring together anyone and everyone, from aficionados and industry folk to natural wine first-timers and people who might prefer the grain to the grape.

There’s no wine list — instead, patrons can browse the bottles themselves or ask for some assistance from Pyne, who is a walking thesaurus of wines.

If you still can’t decide, try the flight school (THB690), which includes three options like a Bruno Duchene 2019, a dry, spicy natural red; the funky Jauma Chenin Sand on Schist 2017, a complex, gold-hued white with notes of green apple and peach; and the Italian Elisabetta Foradori 2017, a house-recommended entry point into the world of orange wines.

Food is no afterthought, with a menu of small bites like the WAP (THB380), aka the “wet-ass patty melt,” made with Beyond meat, Texas toast, black garlic chickpea mayo and crispy shallots, and the Wedgie (THB340), a head of greens slathered in green goddess dressing and topped with onion ash croutons and Chiang Mai tomatoes.

Half of the menu features dishes from guests that will change every two months. Currently you can feast on tuna tostadas (THB180) by chef Willy Trullàs Moreno and a smoked duck larb (THB320) by Jarrett Wrisley of Soul Food Mahanakorn.

Mod Kaew Wine Bar is located on Phloen Chit Road and can be reached from BTS Phloen Chit. It is open 5:45pm to 1am every day except Wednesday.