🔄 Last checked 4 Jul 2026 · details and hours can change — check the venue before you go
If you want to drink in the Bangkok bar with the longest story to tell, head to The Bamboo Bar inside the Mandarin Oriental on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, in the Charoen Krung / Bang Rak district. It opened in 1953 as the city's first live-jazz bar and has been a fixture on Asia's 50 Best Bars for years. It cracked Asia's top 10 in 2019, was named Best Bar in Thailand in both 2019 and 2021, and made its debut on the World's 50 Best Bars at No.35. Step inside and you find dark wood ceilings, cane-and-rattan chairs with tiger-print cushions, and a colonial-era soul that has aged beautifully, all set to a live jazz band playing nightly.
The cocktail list tells the story of Thailand through a glass. Head bartender Jamie Rhind's Compass menu reinterprets ingredients from each region of the country. The one regulars talk about most is Cashew Down South, built on Chalong Bay rum with cashew, basil, cucumber and spiced pineapple for a full southern-Thai flavour. Another crowd favourite is the Mango Sticky Rice, which tastes just like the dessert, while rum-and-herb drinkers gravitate to the Thaijito with lemongrass and brown sugar. Prices sit at the premium end you would expect from a five-star hotel bar, but you are paying for the craft, the room and the music together.
The easiest way in is BTS Saphan Taksin, then the hotel's cross-river shuttle boat to the Oriental pier. The bar runs Sunday to Thursday 5pm to 1am and Friday to Saturday until 2am, with live music from around 9pm. It does not take reservations, so it is walk-in only; on a weekend, arrive before the band starts to land a good seat. After 6:30pm, dress smart: gentlemen in long trousers and closed shoes, and no sleeveless shirts at any time.
The Bamboo Bar
The Bamboo Bar sits in Charoen Krung / Chao Phraya Riverside (Mandarin Oriental); nearest BTS Saphan Taksin. A live-jazz evening by the river, a special date, or anyone chasing Bangkok's most legendary bar
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| 50 Best ranking | Asia's 50 Best Bars — former/nominated |
| Area | Charoen Krung / Chao Phraya Riverside (Mandarin Oriental); nearest BTS Saphan Taksin |
| Signature drinks | Cashew Down South, Mango Sticky Rice, Thaijito |
| Price / drink | premium |
Before you go
Bangkok's top bars fill up fast on weekends — message the bar on Instagram (@thebar) to check on a table, go smart-casual, and come thirsty.
Where to stay nearby
Base yourself near Bangkok's bar districts.
See all of Bangkok's 50 Best Bars, ranked
Bangkok's 50 Best Bars