cocktail bars in bangkok: lebua sky bar and maggie choo's

View from the Sky Bar at the Lebua Hotel.

This post is a study in two cocktail bars: the Lebua Sky Bar and Maggie Choo's.

I must admit that when Mr. Sazy Rock and I visited Bangkok and met up with our chum, Lex, I insisted on going to some rooftop bar. I suppose, the whole thing was my fault.

After an early night of enjoying the offerings at Jaekoy, my group decided to explore the Bangkok cocktail scene. After all, it was Mr. SR's job to know about global cuisine and beverages. So, off we went with a lot of optimism in our eyes.

The first stop was at the Lebua Sky Bar. It should have been a sign when my small group was joined by a bunch of loud foreigners that saw us packed in an elevator that shot up all the way to the top of the Lebua Hotel. Yes, it was pretty up there. Yes, it was crowded (with many more loud foreigners -- I knew that it was a hotel bar that catered to foreigners). And, yes, we paid for the view and not for the drinks.

The Sky Bar at the Lebua Hotel.

We tried the following libations:

• Ernest Hemingway - this was supposed to be a Hemingway daiquiri but they gave me a weird tasting, sweet drink that tasted more like a cherry than a grapefruit.
• Martini- too warm and wet.

Martini at the Sky Bar.

• Old Fashioned - served on the rocks (I told neat). It was mediocre.

Old Fashioned at the Sky Bar.

• Manhattan - it tasted weird because it was spiced. 

Manhattan at the Sky Bar.

For these four mediocre (and sometimes bizarre) drinks, the price tag was very high. $100+. In U.S. Dollars. But, the views were stunning. 

Maggie Choo's

Our chum, Lex, then suggested that we try Maggie Choo's instead. The complete opposite of the Sky Bar, Maggie Choo's was located in a basement of some building. The decor had a bank vault theme. The noise level was also a lot more subdued.

Inside Maggie Choo's.

Despite the absence of any view, the drinks were tasty and priced within the realm of reason. We had the following drinks:

• Maggie Choo's Martini - very good and well balanced.

The martini at Maggie Choo's.

• Ron Zacapa Old Fashioned - this was a sweet drink because of the nature of the rum but it was good.

Ron Zacapa Old Fashioned at Maggie Choo's.

The lesson: as with most restaurants with a view, bars with a view most likely will depend highly on the view and not on the substance of the drinks.

Which sky bar have you visited that offered great views and drinks?