Bangkok was already buzzing by the time I landed — a humid, golden afternoon shimmering with anticipation. That anticipation had a name: Bangkok Bar Show, the annual gathering co-founded by Thailand’s cocktail bar veteran Niks Anuman and Asia’s industry Icon Colin Chia, built to spotlight the very best of cocktails, spirits, and fine drinking culture.
From October 10 to 12, the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel had transformed into a living stage, where glassware clinked like percussion under laughter that refused to fade. That first night’s media dinner at the Four Seasons, hosted by Colin Chia and Niks Anuman, set the tone — a blur of reunion, rediscovery, and rhythm. The city’s pulse synced with ours.
Bangkok Bar Show 2025 stretched across three charged days — more than 50 international bar experts, 40 brands, 30 citywide events, and seven panel discussions folding into one continuous hum that wrapped itself around the city. It was a festival, yes, but also a force — a current that moved through Anantara’s marble halls and into Bangkok’s streets long before the first glass was lifted.
When the night unravelled into a surprise bar-hopping adventure, the mood turned electric. Our bus stopped first at G.O.D Bangkok, its cathedral-like arches glowing under candlelight as a pianist played beneath crimson hues. Then came AQUA Bar, where live music met guest shifts from Penicillin (Hong Kong), Tokyo Confidential, Licorería Limantour (Mexico City), and Moebius Milano. The air smelled of citrus peel, cologne, and warm rain — Bangkok, alive and limitless.
Day 2 — Momentum and Mastery
At the Anantara’s seminar halls, ideas poured as freely as drinks. From Nick Coldicott’s “Are We Truly Sustainable?” to Emma Janzen’s “Anatomy of a Well-Built Bar,” conversations dug deep into the modern hospitality mindset. Andrew Ho explored branding, while Vivian Pei’s “True Hospitality” brought warmth to the technical — proof that Bangkok’s bartending scene now spoke the language of philosophy and identity.
Across the city, the tempo scattered into constellations: Paradiso Barcelona at Mahaniyom, Bar Libre lighting up F*nkytown, and the Shenzhen Takeover at Firefly Bar with Obsidian, Bar Mood, and MO Bar Shenzhen.
Each pop-up felt like a chapter in Bangkok’s grand narrative — connected, yet definitely individual.
If there was one word for this edition, it was momentum. The SÁLON SOCIAL – LIQUID LEGENDS collaboration at the Four Seasons — six world-class bars, one stage — turned mixology into performance art. Every pour carried a story: of origin, technique, and audacity.
Day 3 — Voices and Vision
By the third day, exhaustion should have set in — but didn’t. The program hit its stride, beginning with the Women Redefining Hospitality Leadership panel, where Priyanka Blah’s remarks drew a response that felt larger than the room itself. It was less a talk and more a clear sign of how the conversation around hospitality is evolving.
Esther Tseng’s “Sober-Curious Generation” and Colin Chia’s “Next Gen Bartenders” continued the momentum, outlining where bar culture is headed with a mix of practicality and optimism. Outside the seminar halls, Bangkok returned to full speed. The Jakarta Takeover at F*nkytown — featuring Hats, St. Regis Bar, and Carrots — brought a burst of energy, while the Aperitivo Party at St. Regis Bar showcased Maybe Sammy and Bar Mauro’s Mediterranean flair. Above Board (Melbourne) took over Sugar Ray, and the Leading Ladies of China highlighted their craft at Black Cabin. Creativity wasn’t just on display; it was exchanged, shared, and carried from venue to venue throughout the city.
Thailand’s 20 Best Bars 2025
The Thailand Bar Awards 2025, held on October 13 at W Hotel Bangkok, felt less like a ceremony and more like a victory parade. The ballroom erupted as the winners of Thailand’s 20 Best Bars were revealed — chandeliers trembling with cheers. This year, Dry Wave Cocktail Studio claimed the crown as Thailand’s Best Bar, followed by a stellar lineup that showcased both legacy and innovation:
- Dry Wave Cocktail Studio
- Bar Us
- G.O.D. (Genius On Drugs)
- Opium
- BKK Social Club (Best Hotel Bar)
- Last Call BKK
- Vesper Cocktail Bar
- Bar Sathorn
- Firefly Bar
- Bar.San (Best Bar in Chiang Mai)
- Messengerservice Bar
- Bar Not Found
- Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar
- Wasteland (Best New Bar)
- Tep Bar
- Black Cabin
- F*nkytown (Best Restaurant Bar)
- 1970 Dusit Thani
- Aqua Bar
- The Fool Speakeasy Phuket (Best Bar in Phuket/Samui)
Special Awards:
- Bartender of the Year (Patrón): Supawit “Palm” Muttarattana
- Bar Team of the Year (Prakaan): Dry Wave Cocktail Studio
- Menu Design of the Year (Bangkok Bar Show): Dry Wave Cocktail Studio
- Art of Hospitality (Bangkok Bar Show): BKK Social Club
- Best Wine Bar (Bangkok Bar Show): Mod Kaew Wine Bar
- Emerging Bartender of the Year (Patrón): James Kosil Kamja of Lennon’s
The breadth of recognition highlighted Bangkok’s growing bar ecosystem — one built on creativity, consistency, and a strong sense of collaboration.
It wasn’t only about awards; it underscored how far the city’s cocktail community has progressed, and the direction it is steadily moving toward.
At the Closing Party in Bar Sathorn, guest shifts from Virtù Tokyo, Pony Up, and Employees Only NY kept the momentum going, turning the evening into a clear showcase of Bangkok’s confidence and hospitality — energetic, engaging, and firmly in its element.
The People, the Pulse, the Manifesto
You could barely take a few steps without encountering someone shaping the industry’s future. Niks Anuman moved quickly between seminars, offering insight with his usual sharp vision; Colin Chia spoke with calm precision about building legacy. Nearby, Emma Janzen, Vivian Pei, and Priyanka Blah added depth and perspective, their presence reinforcing the show’s credibility and reach.
Bangkok’s trajectory is no longer about catching up — it’s steadily positioning itself as a leader. Conversations on sustainability, inclusivity, and education anchored this year’s event, while the city’s willingness to take creative risks demonstrated just how confident its bartending community has become. Few places in Asia balance raw street-level charm with polished technical skill the way Bangkok now does.
When the final sessions wrapped, it was clear the momentum would carry on long after. The energy of the week stayed with me — a reminder of a city continuing to push forward, its vibrant bar culture impossible to ignore. Walking back into the warm Bangkok night, the familiar golden haze remained, now layered with the faintest trace of gin and optimism.
