10 Best Bars in Bangkok

"The Bamboo Bar, located in the Mandarin Oriental hotel—Bangkok’s Grand Dame—is a legendary home to jazz. Some might call this a jazz bar with great drinks; others say it’s a cocktail bar with great jazz. Either way, guests have enjoyed The Bamboo Bar since 1953 (though, it was redone in late 2014, with leopard- and zebra-print cushions and cane furniture); the iconic space has hosted the likes of Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, Dionne Warwick, Louis Armstrong, and Mick Jagger. The cocktails show their respect for the history of the bar—and for Thailand. The Thaijito, a rum concoction with crushed ice and muddled lemongrass and brown sugar, has been on the menu for decades—it’s a favorite drink of Pierce Brosnan." - Ashley Niedringhaus