Bangkok’s old town has never been so hip to hang out in, day or night, as it is now. And just recently, the neighborhood greeted a new bar that builds its cocktails around traditional Chinese medicines.
Hidden inside Tim Mansion, a hostel that was renovated from a traditional medicine store owned by the Timruengvej family, and is now on its third generation within the family, opened its in-house bar Uncle Tim just a few weeks ago. Decorated with red neon lights, plus paper dragon and lion bag puppets, the cocktail bar makes use of many of the traditional Chinese herbs that were once a major part of the shophouse’s former life as a dispensary.
Uncle Tim’s signatures include a drink that’s named after the family, the Tim Rueng Vej (THB588), which is served in a tea set comprising of a jar of vodka fermented with peach, plum and a dose of the family’s “secret” Chinese medicine. Surrounding the jar is a variety of old-school snacks such as baked broad beans, sweet and sour plums and old-school candies encased in colorful wraps.
For a smooth, easy-to-drink cocktail that leans on the refreshing and fruity side, we recommend the Uncle Tim (THB337), which blends elderflower — botanicals that come with a distinctive flavor, as well as antibacterial and antiviral properties — blended with vodka, lychee juice, lemon, apple and egg white.
The concoction itself is topped with an image displaying Uncle Tim, a character that’s based on the owner’s grandfather Tim, who was the chief apothecary running the former drugstore.
Uncle Tim is open from 7pm until late every day except Monday and Tuesday. It is located on Maha Chai Road and reachable from MRT Sam Yot.
FIND IT:
Uncle Tim is at 337, Maha Chai Rd, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
Open 7pm until late daily, closed Mon and Tues
Phone: +6694 236 1545
MRT: Sam Yot
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