The buzz: Sukhumvit's latest rooftop bar sits pretty on the 26th floor of the new Novotel hotel, offering laidback garden vibes and views of both Sirikit Lake and Benjasiri Park. You can forget sky-high prices, thankfully, with cocktails starting from a very friendly B250.
The decor: Take the small staircase up from the 25th floor and you’re greeted by an open-air space filled with a mix of circular couches and low seating in pastel grey tones. Apart from a few trees wrapped in fairy lights, the decoration is considerably toned down from your usual rooftop bar; instead letting the views speak for themselves. There’s a retractable roof for the rainy season too.
The drinks: The fruity, though not-too-sweet, cocktails come courtesy of Portuguese bar manager Joao Dos Santos, who previously worked as head bartender at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi. The apple and vanilla margarita (B300), for instance, benefits from the addition of lemon juice, which helps cut through the sweetness. Beyond cocktails, there's also a solid selection of whiskey, beer and wine, with a bottle starting from as little as B1,500 for the Taha by Tahuna Sauvignon Blanc 2014 from New Zealand.
The food: Not quite as vast as the drinks menu, but there are plenty of snacks like the spicy Spanish chorizo with squid (B340) and more substantial inter bites like the parma ham pizza (B430).
The music: Commercial easy-listening electro house, with a dedicated ‘90s night on Thursday.
The crowd: Older foreign hotel guests and younger locals looking for a bargain sundowner.
Why you should care: It’s not as flashy as most Sukhumvit rooftop bars, but that makes it a relaxed place for cheap drinks and actual conversation among friends.
