Many restaurants aspire to give their patrons an elevated dining experience, and in some cases, this has been taken literally. Bangkok is home to a vast array of rooftop restaurants and bars, some of which are well-known, go-to places for a dinner with a magnificent view of the city's skyline. This week, we have rounded up a number of relatively new rooftop restos for you to check out and enjoy. Protip: don't look down. Seriously.
Brewski
Raddison Blu
Above sea level: About 100m on the 30th floor.
Don't miss: The huge party table that you can play Jenga on!
Perfect for: A fun night out with friends or maybe to watch a football game with your buddies.
Picture perfect spot: The minute you walk out of the elevator and turn, you're greeted with a magical view of the city. Perfect for all your selfie needs.
This industrial-like rooftop bar gives off an American backyard vibe and is a great place to hang with friends over a couple of -- well, brewskis. Obviously, the main attraction is the beer. The bar is armed with 12 taps of 12 different types of beer from all over the world, but in our opinion, they wane in comparison to the Thai draft beers they serve. They've also got Thai street food snacks you can get to go with your beer like Gai yang (B200) and a quirky little dessert called Beeramisu (B290), and yes it's exactly what it sounds like. Our personal favourites, though, would have to be the Double dog (B680) and the ever so juicy Wagyu kagua (B620).
Brewski (Open 5pm-1am) Raddison Blu, between Sukhumvit Soi 25 and 29. Fb.com/brewskibangkok, 02-302-3333.
Sky On 20
Novotel
Above sea level: 90m on the 26th floor.
Don't miss: The Ginger mojito. A must-have.
Perfect for: A night out with bae.
Picture perfect spot: By the tables next to the glass fence that overlook the city, preferably during sunset.
Sky On 20's laidback atmosphere is perfect for when you just want to chill over some drinks and food with bae. If you're going there with a number of people, though, don't fret. They've got circular couches that can seat up to about 10 people. Plus, if you're there and you're more inclined to party than to chill, they've got a DJ to rock your socks off from Wednesday to Sunday. Aside from the drinks, be sure to try out the food, dishes like the Parma ham (B440), the Crab mayonnaise bruschetta (B310), or the sampler of Cold cuts (B450). Say hi to the friendly Portuguese bar manager, too.
Sky On 20 (Open 5pm-2am) Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, Sukhumvit Soi 20. Fb.com/skyon20bangkok, 02-009-4999.
Bangkok Heightz
Continent Hotel
Above sea level: About 100m on the 39th floor.
Don't miss: The Lamb shank massaman curry. Seriously, don't miss it.
Perfect for: Pretty much anything, really. Chilling with friends, a date, or dinner with one heck of a view.
Picture perfect spot: At the tables right beside the windows where you witness the traffic of Asoke from up above.
Bangkok Heightz is indoors and one could argue that it technically isn't a rooftoop venue. But hey, it's 100m above sea level, so that has to count for something. Unlike the other locations on this list, Bangkok Heightz has a very Thai menu. The fact that they serve up Cha yen (B320) is testament to this. It's mixed with three different kinds of whiskey because yay, alcohol! Other drinks include the Khan tong (B320) and the Chaophraya (B320), both of which are deceivingly fruity and may not seem alcoholic at first. They do have dishes that stray away a bit from local delicacies like the Grilled Australian Rib Eye (300g for B1,099, 200g for B870). However, in our opinion, the crowning glory of Bangkok Heightz's menu is the Lamb shank massaman curry (B690). Yes, we realise we've already mentioned that, but it's just that good.
Bangkok Heightz (Open 6pm-12am) The Continent Hotel Bangkok, between Asok and Sukhumvit Soi 23. Fb.com/BangkokHeightz, 02-686-7000.
Attitude
Avani Riverside Hotel
Above sea level: About 100m on the 26th floor.
Perfect for: Date night. Or better yet, proposal night.
Picture perfect spot: The Green Area where you can recline with a drink in hand while taking in a beautiful view of the Chaophraya River.
Attitude is the quintessential romantic spot. It stands out from the rest in this list because of one thing: its riverside location. There's just something about being beside a river and a hundred metres off the ground that amps the romance up several notches. Drinks specifically for him or her are available. Our pick: for her, the Molecule of love (B350) complete with strawberry caviar for extra sweetness; for him, the Last Drink of Al Capone (B350), a smoky drink to calm the nerves before popping the big question. If you're in for a quirky meal, have their Red Thai curry pot plants (B240) with Oreo on top, or if you're really, really hungry, the Wagyu beef tomahawk (B4,950) is your best bet. Have dinner, enjoy the view and have a late night boat ride on the river to top off the evening.
Attitude Rooftop Bar & Restaurant (Open 10am-1am) AVANI Riverside Bangkok, 257 Charoen Nakhon Road. Fb.com/AttitudeRooftopBar, 02-431-9100.
CRU Champagne Bar
Centara Grand at CentralWorld
Above sea level: About 200m on the 59th floor. No, you didn't read that wrong. No, don't look down.
Don't miss: The Mumm N° 1 Pink, exclusively available only at Cru.
Picture perfect spot: Everywhere! Cru has a gorgeous 360 view of Bangkok.
Perfect for: When you want to escape responsibilities, leave them far below and chill. Also great if you're really into heights. Like, really.
Towering over the Bangkok metropolis is CRU Champagne Bar, located on the 59th floor of the Centara Grand at CentralWorld. This place definitely isn't for those afraid of heights. Think you've reached the top once you exit the elevators? You still have to walk up some stairs. Think you're done? Think again. There's a mini elevator you have to ride to get to this high-altitude hang-out. Aside from the gorgeous view and the fact that you can diabolically laugh at those suffering the Bangkok traffic below, you can get sweet drinks (and we mean literally) like Swallow's nest and Something green (B488). Each have their own quirky feature: Swallow's nest is served in a cage while Something green is topped off with a rubber ducky. Get their Iberico pork "Pluma" skewers (B485) partnered with nam jim jaew dipping sauce to go with your drink, or go for the Lobster, crab and corn nuggets (B750) that you can dip in some truffle aioli that's just to die for.
CRU Champagne Bar (Open 5pm-1am) Centara Grand at CentralWorld, 999/99 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan. Fb.com/champagnecru, 02-100-1234.
Vanilla Sky
Compass Skyview Hotel
Above sea level: About 110m on the 35th floor.
Perfect for: Drinks before heading out to dinner.
Don't miss: The complimentary tom yum nuts which go great with any drink.
Picture perfect spot: Is it red? Is it green? Neither! It's a colour-changing bar.
The Compass Skyview Hotel is relatively new, having only opened late last year and the rooftop bar, Vanilla Sky, definitely has potential. The bar's psychedelic countertop lights up like a giant lightsaber that changes colour and it's pretty enjoyable to sit there as you sip your drink. And there's a variety of drinks to choose from. Currently, Vanilla Sky doesn't serve food -- it's strictly drinks only. We think more people would flock here if it does start serving food. Meanwhile, you can dance the night away at the nightclub below before heading up to the roof to chill over their Royal mojito (B390) or, if you're feeling tropical, their Pina Colada (B350), while enjoying the pretty rad 80's playlist they have playing in the background.
Vanilla Sky (Open 5pm-2am) Compass Skyview Hotel, Sukhumvit Soi 24. Goo.gl/fLFN7t, 02-011-1111.
Broccoli Revolution
Story by Lyndia Bilton
Above sea level: 20m on the 3rd floor.
Don't miss: The Vegan burger. Nothing this healthy usually tastes as good.
Picture perfect spot: Over by the edge, up near the DJ. You'll get a great outlook over Sukhumvit Road. Watch the BTS fly by and chill to trendy laidback beats.
Perfect for: A low-key, mid-week hang with friends.
Yes, okay. This isn't that high. Consider it an option for those of you who suffer from vertigo. Like all their ingredients, Broccoli Revolution's rooftop has an earthy, organic vibe. Twinkling fairy lights, leafy pot plants and a resident DJ makes Broccoli Revolution's new rooftop the perfect place for a catch-up with old friends. The standout feature is by far the vegan menu. With locally sourced ingredients and organic certified options, Broccoli Revolution offers a guilt-free dinner menu that will leave you feeling full. There's something for everyone, from salads and pastas to smoothies and burgers. We opted for the Broccoli Quinoa Charcoal Burger (B290). Accompanied with a generous portion of low-cal veggie fries, the burger proved more than substantial meal. Another stand out was the Satay Tofu Sticks (B160). That sauce. So good. A slight downfall though, there's no table service on the rooftop. So, if you want to eat, order your meal to take away downstairs before bringing it up. The drinks menu is simple, offering craft beers as well as organic cider and wine. We opted for a glass of the Sparkling Prosecco and, despite the fact that the glass was actually a plastic cup, we thought it was great. g
Broccoli Revolution (Open 7am-10pm, Rooftop opens Wednesdays from 6pm-11pm) Sukhumvit Soi 49. Fb.com/broccolirevolution, 02-662-5001.
