It’s no secret that Bangkok’s bar scene has been up and buzzing for a while now. Between trendy speakeasies and spectacular rooftop bars, it’s an exciting time to go drinking in the city. And yet, whilst gin cocktails and wine bars will always be popular, a new trend is on the rise, and we’ve got the list to prove it.
Where mocktails were previously most commonly reserved for pregnant women or underaged children, the demand for non-alcoholic drinks comes with a wave of healthier lifestyle choices and a move towards vibrant nights out without the following hangover. Yet where ‘mocktail’ used to merely mean as much as ‘fresh juice and soda’, many bars are updating their drinks lists to incorporate cleverly concocted beverages, showcasing thoughtful creations that are prepared with similar precision to their alcoholic counterparts.
As more bars in Bangkok are opening up to this idea, we’ve put together a list of our favourite mocktails of the moment, featuring local flavours and colourful inspirations — without the dreary morning-after consequences.
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Inspired by a lush meadow of flowers, Up & Above Bar has recently unveiled a beautifully fragrant lavender-inspired cocktail list for the summer. Deeply refreshing and charmingly coloured, the Lavender Day Dream is made up of grape juice, lime juice, and lavender syrup, topped with a lavender foam. Sure to teleport your taste buds straight to the fields of the Provence, it’s definitely a dreamy mocktail that is true to its name, and a refined choice for those who know that ‘non-alcoholic’ does not have to translate to ‘boring’.
Up & Above Bar, The Okura Prestige Hotel Bangkok, 57 Wireless Rd., Pathum Wan, Bangkok, +662 687 9000
2 /7
Created by the same team behind the uber-cool Greyhound fashion and food brand, Another Hound comes as its chic Italian and Asian spin-off, with a suitably inspired menu to match. Bearing not just a sultry name, the Oriental Kiss mocktail is made with Chinese plum and fresh guava, with the addition of guava juice and syrup for a velvety smooth drink that holds a cool, sweet kick. Almost sorbet-like in texture, it’s a rare combination of fruits, but one that certainly works, and exudes sleek simplicity in true Greyhound style.
Another Hound Cafe, F/G, Siam Paragon, Pathum Wan, Bangkok +662 129 4409; 1/F, The Emporium, Klongton, Bangkok, +662 664 8663; F/5, Central Embassy, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, +662 160 5777
3 /7
Part of the newly-launched Chocolate Bar experience at the Mövenpick’s Lelawadee Restaurant, the Choco Oreo mocktail is a must-try for all cocoa lovers. Paying homage to the hotels’ Swiss roots, master mixologists put together this smooth combination of top grade dark Swiss chocolate, oreo cookies, whipped cream, and a cookie and cream syrup, to create an indulgent beverage suited both as a dessert or an extremely fun evening drink. Dreamy to look at, and even moreso to sip, it’s the mocktail of our most mouthwatering fantasies, and a delicious choice for the dedicated sweet tooth.
Lelawadee Restaurant, Mövenpick Hotel Sukhumvit 15, Wattana, Bangkok, +662 119 3100
4 /7
Consisting of an incredible six-venue three-floor entertainment complex atop the Park Hyatt hotel, The Penthouse Bar + Grill proves a worthy visit for many reasons, from dining to drinks. A deeply refreshing choice, the Ampawa mocktail here is made with lemongrass syrup, aloe vera juice, lychee, fresh lime juice, and ginger beer, bringing a pop and a zing with its zesty and fruity flavours. An insider’s tip? Though the Cocktail Bar proves a lively location, definitely head to the Rooftop Bar just above to enjoy an extended drinks selection, including a Miang Kham mocktail — an aromatic beverage inspired by the Thai food of the same name.
The Penthouse Bar + Grill, Park Hyatt Bangkok, 88 Wireless Rd., Pathum Wan, Bangkok, +662 011 7480
5 /7
Situated inside the right wing of the unmissable yellow colonial style House on Sathorn, the bar at the award-winning destination is easy to steal the scene with its charmingly opulent interiors. And yet whilst many come to the bar day to night for their extravagant cocktails, few know that their virgin cocktail list cleverly matches up. Almost like a liquid homage to Thailand’s beloved mango sticky rice dessert, the signature Secret of the House mocktail is made with mango juice, coconut milk, yuzu, and sticky rice syrup, to create an impressively sweet yet suave beverage.
The Bar at The House on Sathorn, 106 North Sathorn Rd., Bang Rak, Bangkok, +662 344 4025
6 /7
Supanniga Eating Room is renowned around the city for its authentic Thai food eateries, yet its most beautiful location is indisputably at the Tha Tian branch, overlooking the stunning Wat Arun temple directly opposite across the river. A stunning spot for a sundowner, the Kiwi Green Tea mocktail proves a vibrant choice with striking presentation. Combining the gentle herbal flavour notes of green tea with the playfully sour spritz of kiwi, it’s a creatively paired drink, allowing non-alcohol drinkers to take part and sip along the trending hype of the tea cocktail.
Supanniga Eating Room Tha Tian, Riva Arun, 392/25-26 Maharaj Rd., Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, +662 714 7608
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A single glance of the colourfully illustrated drinks menu at Polynesian-themed bar Trader Vic’s is sure to excite the eye of any avid drinker, and whilst their cocktail list is an extensive one, their mocktail list follows a similar Pacific Rim flair. Home of the original Mai Tai cocktail, the global bar offers a non-alcoholic version available to try here too, yet for those seeking a less mainstream route, the Coral Reef mocktail is an inviting alternative. Made with strawberries, mango nectar, coconut cream, and mint, it has something of a smoothie revamped for the evening, and amongst live music and Tiki masks, it’ll get you right on that tropical vacation feeling — no matter what you’re sipping.
Trader Vic’s, Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort, 257/1-3 Charoennakorn Rd., Bangkok, +66 2476 0022 ext.1416
Lisa Gries
Creative Content Director, Bangkok
Lisa is the Creative Content Director at Lifestyle Asia and Prestige Thailand. When she’s not knees-deep in SEO analysis or editorial calendars, you’ll likely find her in downward-facing dog at the yoga studio, or immersed in conversation at a secret bar in China town. Lisa writes mostly on dining, travel, and pop-culture, and is a huge fan of soup dumplings, Riesling, and power napping — in exactly that order.
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