The buzz: Thonglor welcomes a new speakeasy, Rabbit Hole, which lurks behind a wooden door between soi 5 and 7. There’s no proper sign out front so look out for the space between Ainu Japanese bar and Ramen Ajisai.
The decor: Step inside this three-story shop-house and you’ll find a charming, dimly-lit, narrow bar with a huge rose gold booze rack behind a marble bar. With its plentiful bar seating, the first floor has all the atmosphere of a serious drinking establishment, while upstairs sees more quiet corners for group gatherings—and an extra bar, so you won’t be kept waiting too long. The slowly-changing lighting adds to the intimate mood.
The drinks: Two veteran bartenders from Diageo World Class stage—Suwincha “Chacha” Singsuwan and Naphat “Yod” Natchachon—man the space, cranking out classic drinks with technical twists and infusions. There’s plenty of variation on the spirit shelves, with a good number of Scotch, American and Japanese whiskeys available by the glass or bottle. Don’t miss their White Truffle Martini (B450), which they make using a process called “fat washing.” White truffle oil-infused Tanqueray Gin is chilled to -18 degress then served straight into a martini glass washed with dry vermouth. The oil is skimmed from the top before the drink is garnished with an olive. For something refreshing, go for the Mad Hatter (B350), a gin-based long drink that mixes together passion fruit, smoked tea, lime juice, syrup and a dash of absinthe, topped with soda and torch-dried orange for a smoky aftertaste. Queen of Heat (B350) reminds us of the classic White Lady cocktail: vodka, lotus syrup, lime juice and egg white garnished with lotus petal. Another spirit-forward drink that’s really crisp and smooth is Spade Gardener (B350), which uses apricot-infused rum with plum bitters and lime juice, served with a Chinese plum. They don’t serve any food, so be prepared before coming for a drink.
The music: Groovy house music with live DJs on Fri-Sat spinning sets that are a little more upbeat.
The crowd: Thonglor’s pretty faces, but also don’t be surprised if you meet a lot of bar owners and veteran mixologists.
Why you should care: Aside from the impressive decor, Chacha and Yod know how to make the most of the wall-to-wall booze, serving some seriously good cocktails.
