What started out as a German microbrewery has morphed into one of Bangkok's best all encompassing entertainment venues. Now at two locations, the original Tawandang still combines a country western pub complete with excellent ribs and tasty micro beer along with a very Thai music vibe, featuring live rock and pop acts each night, along with providing a giant dance floor for the sated diners to work off their dinners. It gets very lively in here and is an excellent insight to the Thai live music world, not to mention just a great spot to dance your *** off! The beer here certainly isn't "craft," but the fun scene makes it worth the trip alone.
Recommended for Brew Pubs because: For an insight into a real local Thai brew night out, Tawandang still remains one of the city's best choices.
Dave's expert tip: not an easy place to get to, but most taxi drivers know it (but make sure not to confuse it with "Isan Tawandang." Location is on the Chao Phraya River near the Rama 9 bridge.
72 Courtyard is a hip and happening large food and drink complex occupying a a space opposite Thonglor Soi 17. There are a host of places to eat and drink here, and Beer Belly is one of the better options, offering a large selection of craft beer and great selection of beers from around the world to go with Thai and a few Western nibbles. In good weather, there are long tables set outside, as well as plenty of interior space, and it's a popular locale with large groups of Thais, who come here both for the excellent beer options as well as to engage in the beer pong, pool, ping pong, and other games all available to patrons. There are plenty of creative tap offerings, plus bottles from Japan, Spain, and other far flung destinations. Happy hour devotees will love Beer O'Clock, which happens everyday from 5-8 pm. Buy any draft beer and get your second pint for free.
Recommended for Brew Pubs because: For Bangkok's best value craft beer offerings, Bottles of Beer is the best choice.
Dave's expert tip: To get here take the BTS to Thonglor and taxi or motorbike taxi up to just between Soi 16 and Soi 18. You'll find the 72 Courtyard complex on your right side.
The folks behind Beervana, the craft beer curatorship, and Whisgars, the cigar and whiskey bar, got together to create CRAFT, which started as a popup beer bar, and went on to have 20 rotating taps of fine craft beer. They have now expanded across town, with the new CRAFT, a full fledged pub that features over 100 bottles of craft beer from around the world, along with 20 rotating taps from craft brewing giants like Nogne O in Norway, Baird in Japan, and American stalwarts like Anderson Valley, Rogue, and Deschutes. The pub also has live sports on, and is a great place to meet like-minded beer aficionados. If you don't want to make the trek all the way across town and you are staying on Sukhumvit, you can hit up their smaller bar which is on Sukhumvit Soi 23.
Recommended for Brew Pubs because: For fine craft beer, CRAFT certainly know their suds!
Dave's expert tip: Make sure to check CRAFT's Facebook page for special events like release parties, beer and gourmet food pairings, and craft beer workshops and tastings.
Rooftop drinking is a big part of the Bangkok nightlife, and now craft beer aficionados have their own place to pound good beer. Up on the 30th floor of the Radisson Blue Hotel the bar overlooks the lights of Sukhumvit and features 12 rotating taps of craft beer and ciders, along with an incredible array of over 100 bottles from around the world. In addition to the suds they have burgers, fish and chips, Thai delights, and plenty of appetizers to munch on. A state of the art cooling system ensures that the taps are kept cool, and if you can snag a coveted lounge sofa seat you might find yourself passing the night away here.
Recommended for Brew Pubs because: For Bangkok's highest craft beer venue, head up to Brewski!
Dave's expert tip: The nearest BTS station is Asok. Head east to Sukhumvit Soi 27, a 5 minute walk away, and the Radisson Blu is on your left.
Soi Nana, a small lane on the fringes of Chinatown (not to be confused with the red light area of Nana on Sukhumvit), is leading the way for cool retro-style hangout bars coming to this older part of the city. While most of the bars here focus on creative cocktails, craft beer is now well represented in the neighborhood with the arrival of Pijiu, named after the Chinese word for beer. Pijiu is brought to you by Beervana, the craft beer distributors who have been a major player in the Thai craft beer craze, and you'll find plenty of U.S. staples like Stone, Deschutes, and Anderson Valley.alongside of some of the best Thai craft favorites. The bar has a retro-jazz look, and makes for a welcome change from the often pretentious beer hangouts over on the Thonglor and Silom sides of town.
Recommended for Brew Pubs because: For a great selection of American and Thai craft beer in Chinatown, Pijiu rocks!
Dave's expert tip: The closest public transport access is the Hualamphong MRT station, although you still will have to walk 10-15 minutes down Charoenkrung Road to get there. A taxi will be the easiest way.
With 30 taps and specialised bottle selections from around the world, Mikkeller has burst onto the Bangkok craft beer scene with a vengeance, and has to be on any craft beer lover's list. The array of great boutique beers here is staggering, and the laid back brew pub, started by a couple of Danish beer lovers who worked for Carlsberg in Thailand, run their own import beer company, and now are doing their own craft thing, is one reason why the hip Ekkamai neighbourhood continues to lead the high end alcohol craze taking over the city. Mikkeller puts on plenty of special event nights, both in terms of beer specials and inviting expert brewmasters from around the world in to show their stuff, and for those who want to just kick back and relax, the garden setting here is perfect.
Recommended for Brew Pubs because: For great craft beer and a homey atmosphere, you cant top Mikkeller.
Dave's expert tip: Check out their Facebook page for regular updates on specials and events, as they are pretty regular and ongoing.
Bottle Rocket checks all the boxes in terms of a Thai nightlife venue, meaning live music, good food, party crowd, and cool interior design. This latest addition to the craft beer scene wouldn't be out of place next to the clubs on Thong Lor, only the young and hip crowd which shows up are not sharing bottles of whisky, but instead drinking pints of craft beer! The bar's decor is themed to resemble the interior of a spaceship as well as a submarine, so think quirky and unique, especially after you've had a few drinks. There are different live bands every night, which you can find out about on the pub's Facebook Page, and while the mostly Thai crowd seems to come here to party and take Instagram shots, serious craft aficionados will want to partake of the 20 taps here, which feature craft beers from the US, Canada, and Europe. This is the place to turn your clubbing friends onto the craft beer experience, and the beer selection is large enough to find something for everyone. There are also a ton of bottles to try if you should ever run out of tap time.
Recommended for Brew Pubs because: For craft beer and a quirky party atmosphere, Bottle Rocket will take you to the stars!
Dave's expert tip: The nearest public transport station to get here is the Sanam Pao BTS. Just head north out of the station up Phahayothin and you'll find Beer Bottle on the right side of the road.
Wishbeer got its start when French owner Jerome Le Louer and several friends started dreaming of all the beers from home they loved to drink but couldn't find in Bangkok....which led Le Louer to do something about it, namely by opening his own online beer delivery service, www.wishbeer.com. This expanded to the idea of having a relaxing sit down bar where one can not only enjoy some great beers on tap, but also take home any of the 500 plus bottles of beers and ciders from around the world that is part of Wishbeer's extensive collection, one of the largest in Thailand. Located in a former elevator factory warehouse, Wishbeer is a fine spot for chilling out and sampling the 18 different beers on tap (which rotate every month), including Belgian or popular craft beer selections. As Le Louer comments, "Only 20% of the 500 bottles we stock can be found in supermarkets" making it Bangkok's most extensive beer shopping and drinking spot around. The happy hour prices here also make it Bangkok's best craft beer bargain, so make sure to come in early.
Recommended for Brew Pubs because: For a great selection of world beers, both on tap and in the bottle, plus the city's best happy hour prices, you can't beat Wishbeer.
Dave's expert tip: It's easy to get here: take the skytrain to the Phra Khanong station and walk back down Sukhumvit towards Ekkamai. When you get to Soi 67, turn right and the pub is through a small hallway about 50 meters down on your left side.
Taproom has survived the various alcohol crackdowns, Covid, and the closing of several of its branches and come out all the stronger, still with several branches around town (Sukhumvit Soi 26, Ari, and this main one at The Commons in Sala Daeng). Rotating 26 craft beers from around the world, you'll get exposed to some delicious IPAs, stouts, and other unique crafts that you might not find elsewhere. There are so many different beers here, by the time you've finished a few pints, you may find new kegs being tapped, replacing the ones you just tried! The location in the sleek Commons is comfy, there's food if you get hungry, and they even offer the occasional Master Craft tasting classes and other fun "beersy" things to do.
Recommended for Brew Pubs because: For an extensive selection of world craft beers, Taproom has it all tapped out!
Dave's expert tip: To get here take the BTS to Sala Daeng, and walk south down Sala Daeng Road until you reach Sala Daeng Soi 1 Alley. Turn left here and walk half a block up, you'll find The Commons on your left.
Call it a craft beer lover's speakeasy if you'd like, Hair of the Dog raises the bar on fine craft beer with its 13 rotating taps of some of the best craft beer from around the world. It's in the class of Bangkok brew masters Mikkeller, but in far more intimate surroundings, basically just a counter full of stools that encourage plenty of interaction with the knowledgeable "beeristas" behind the bar. Prices don't come cheap here, but they do have a ladies half price night on Wednesdays, plus some happy hour specials before 6. There is also a second branch which is just as small over in Mahatun Plaza at Ploenchit.
Recommended for Brew Pubs because: For outstanding craft beers, Hair of the Dog chooses some of the best.
Dave's expert tip: Take the BTS skytrain to Phrom Phong and walk over to Villa Market. The bar hides just down Soi 33/1 and down an alley which loops back around to Villa.