9 Best Nightlife in Pratunam

Bar9 Rooftop is located on the 9th floor of Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam. While the rooftop is modest in size, altitude and drink selection, it has a relaxed poolside atmosphere with a pleasant view of central Bangkok and the busy avenue leading to the Siam shopping district.

What makes this small, hidden rooftop bar worth mentioning is its strategic location just next to the hectic Pratunam area. Such a haven of peace after the heat of the busy market and exhausting shopping is a real blessing. Set on a soft artificial lawn, the sofas and loungers are large, fancy and very comfortable – perfect for a cool sundowner cocktail. Staff also happen to be really friendly.

Cru Rooftop Bar is the highest and certainly one of the fanciest rooftop bars in Bangkok. It serves some exclusive labels of G.H. Mumm Champagne, a snack menu of world delicacies and offers its guests genuine 360-degree views of the city.

Located above Centara Grand at CentralWorld, CRU Bangkok takes pride of place on the 59th floor (and quite literally on the rooftop) of the hotel. It has a more intimate and sophisticated feel than Red Sky and Uno Mas below, with its own private lift and a chic, white-on-white design. There’s a large circular bar in the centre and a huge illuminated arch that changes colours throughout the night and gives photos some nice contrasts. CRU, from the French word meaning ‘wine of exceptional quality’, is a fitting name.

Red Sky is a fancy rooftop bar and restaurant in Bangkok. While it doesn't offer striking riverside or treetop views that other rooftop bars enjoy, it has pretty impressive 360-degree panoramic vistas from the 55th floor in one of the most convenient locations in town.

If you visit Bangkok, chances are you'll end up shopping in the Siam area, where the largest and most trendy shopping malls are located. Red Sky bar is part of the Centara Grand Hotel, which itself is actually part of this gigantic CentralWorld shopping mall. So it seems to be a perfect combination: shop until your credit card drops, then recover from walking miles and miles with a dinner or a glass of chilled wine with unforgettable views from the rooftop above the shopping mall itself.

Sapphire Bar is a stylish bar, which is found in the lobby of The Sukosol hotel. It follows a distinctly 1920s ‘speakeasy’ theme, fitting with the jazz-oriented roots of the hotel. The whole bar area is spacious and intricately designed, complete with blue vases sat on each table, classic furniture and a swanky mirrored ceiling.

Alongside some laidback jazz music in the background, you can enjoy some tasty tapas as well as imaginative cocktails. Happy hour runs from 5pm to 7pm daily. Sapphire Bar also lays on a rather luxurious ‘afternoon tea for 2’ from 2pm to 6pm.

WALK Rooftop at Centara Watergate is arguably the best bar in Pratunam. This rooftop bar lets you get a taste of the city’s upscale, trendy nightlife, in a part of the city with not so many options for unwinding after a day of shopping in the markets and the wholesale malls for which Pratunam is famous for. This venue’s panoramic views and Thai-flavoured cocktails are highly recommended.

The Rock Pub Bangkok is a long-running live music venue lying at the foot of Ratchathewi BTS Station in central Bangkok. With over 20 years in the game and a modest list of international acts having graced their stage, this dingy Bangkok nightspot has gained an institution-like status for anyone into rock 'n' roll.

Expect plenty of guitars, lots of head-banging and even the odd mosh pit when it gets really crowded. The range of rock genres you’ll hear is diverse too, with bands playing heavy metal, grunge, thrash, post-hardcore and more, depending on the night.

With 84 storeys, the Baiyoke Tower is an unmissable towering landmark in Pratunam area. The skywalk with large windows on the 77th floor is the best place to get sweeping bird’s-eye views of the skyline while the revolving rooftop observation deck on the 84th floor is a bit too noisy and hot to keep visitors very long.

Coco Walk in Bangkok is a lively little alleyway off Phayathai Road in the heart of the city, perfectly set up some Thai-style bar hopping. The small soi of bars, pubs and restaurants lies in the shadow of the huge Ratchathewi BTS Skytrain Station, meaning that although this might not be the most picturesque drinking spot in town, it’s certainly one of the most convenient – especially if you’re staying in one of the dozens of hotels in the surrounding Pratunam or Ratchathewi area.