Who’s on shift? ‘Asia’s 50 Best’ barkeeps to descend on these Bangkok bars

Matteo Cadeddu makes a cocktail at Opium Bar. Photo: Opium Bar
Matteo Cadeddu makes a cocktail at Opium Bar. Photo: Opium Bar

Some of Asia’s top bartenders will fan out through Bangkok next week to take up guest posts at some of its trendiest bars.

After two years of doing its thing online, Asia’s 50 Best Bars will host its award ceremony in Bangkok next week, and that means drinkers can get a taste at their guest shifts around the city. 

There will be dozens of happenings for those who keep good cocktails on their radar.

April 25

Home Cocktail Bar from Delhi takes over Independence Bar – the newest bar from the folks behind Teens of Thailand and Asia Today.

All-American classic craft cocktail bar The Diplomat from Hong Kong brings everyone’s favorite Americana cocktails to Thonglor’s Find The Locker Room.

Photo: Find the Locker Room

April 26

Malaysia’s Backdoor Bodega takes over Rabbit Hole.

Drink cocktails from last year’s #6 best bar, Manhattan Bar from Singapore, at high-end Phloen Chit speakeasy Lennon’s.

Chase the white rabbit to Alice, the Alice in Wonderland-themed bar from South Korea, all the way to ABar Rooftop.

Photo: ABar Rooftop

Scrappy’s Bitters brand ambassador Eric Sabloniere takes over Chinatown’s Opium Bar.

Australia’s Maybe Sammy joins with their sister bar Dean & Nancy on 22 to take over Soi Convent’s Vesper.

Bringing Bali to Bangkok with Potato Head Beach Club takeover at Tropic City.

Photo: Asia Today

From 8pm to midnight, Soi Nana’s bars are splitting two guest shifts; for more information on who’s up first, follow their social media.

“Reservation only” Sago House from Singapore brings their potions to Teens of Thailand, accompanied by another guest shift by Adrian Besa from Mandarin Oriental, Singapore.

Grab drinks from ​​Singapore The Ritz-Carlton’s Republic Bar at Asia Today, and also two other bars from Singapore – Native Bar and Analogue Bar – on the same night.

Rum and whiskey night at Tax with Singapore’s rum-focused Cocktail Pub Sugarhall and Daniel E., Southeast Asia’s Dewar’s Whisky Ambassador.

Photo: Tax

April 27

South Korea’s Southside Parlor takes over Charoenkrung’s tropical bar Tropic City.

Drink cocktails inspired by Alfonso X of Castile, the 13th-century Spanish monarch who allegedly invented tapas, by The Wise King Bar via Hong Kong at Firefly Bar inside Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel.

Photo: Tropic City

Rosewood Hong Kong, home of DarkSide Bar, serves dark-everything – from dark spirits to dark chocolate – at their Bangkok counterpart in the Rosewood’s Lennon’s.

Taste Singapore’s rooftop bar Smoke & Mirrors cocktails at Ms. Jiggers, a cocktail lounge inside Kimpton Maa-lai Bangkok.

Photo: Lennon’s

April 29

2021’s third best bar in the world, Paradiso, from Spain brings their signature cocktails to The Loft.

Singapore’s Nutmeg & Clove, Republic Bar, and Mandarin Oriental Bar take over Find The Locker Room.

Leon Tan, formerly Native – a bar focused on sustainability – goes behind the bar at Ms. Jigger.

Chongnonsi’s Sampan Bar hosts Hong Kong’s The Wise King.

Escape, a rooftop space above the EmQuartier, opens their bar for South Korea’s Southside Parlor.

Mahaniyom, the new bar by the brains behind the now-defunct Backstage, hosts South Korea’s Zest.

Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar on a Thursday evening. Photo: Chayanit Itthipongmaetee / Coconuts Bangkok

Visit yet another South Korean bar in town, Bar Soko, at The House on Sathorn.

Campari lovers head over Vesper and welcome Camparino in Galleria, which has been appreciating Italian aperitivo culture since 1915.

Charoenkrung’s Tropic City opens their door for Bar Tesouro from Goa, India.

April 30

Stay in Soi Nana the entire night hopping between four of its bars. Teens of Thailand will host The Cocktail Club (Jakarta); Asia Today will host The Elephant Room (Singapore); Tax will be taken over by Revival Bar (Singapore); and Independence Bar will have Peter Chua – a top bartender from Singapore’s Night Hawk – presiding.

For Aperol Spritz, pool, and sunset, head over to The Okura Prestige Bangkok.

Photo: Teens of Thailand

This story originally appeared on BK.



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