TLDR
Key Takeaways
- Eight top cocktail bars from Sri Lanka are showcasing their talents in Bangkok this week.
- The first event occurs on Saturday, 30 May, at Bar Sathorn, featuring bartenders from Hideout Lounge, Raa, Shoulders, and Uncles.
- The second event takes place on Wednesday, 3 June, at Aqua Bar, hosted with The Dram Attic, featuring bartenders from Kampong, Ropewalk, Smoke & Bitters, and Jungle Kade.
- These guest shifts highlight the unique flavors and cocktails of Sri Lanka, using indigenous ingredients and local spirits.
- This showcases the growing international recognition of Sri Lanka’s cocktail culture, making the events a must-attend for cocktail enthusiasts.
Eight of Sri Lanka’s most well-regarded cocktail bars are heading to Bangkok this week for a two-part guest shift series, and the lineup is worth paying attention to.
The first evening takes place this Saturday, 30 May, at Bar Sathorn, starting from 8pm. Bartenders Ruzaiq, Don, Sammy, and Rio, representing Hideout Lounge from Kandy, Raa from Hiriketiya, and Colombo venues Shoulders and Uncles, will each bring their own approach to the bar. Raa is particularly distinct: it’s built around fresh toddy tapped on-site and is dedicated entirely to traditional Sri Lankan toddy and arrack, with no close equivalents elsewhere.
The second evening moves to Aqua Bar at Anantara on Wednesday, 3 June, curated with The Dram Attic. The night runs in two slots: Nelaka and Nabeel from Kampong and Ropewalk take the bar from 7:30 to 9:30pm, followed by Sameera and Ashwel from Smoke & Bitters and Jungle Kade from 9:30 to 11pm. Smoke & Bitters currently holds the #67 spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars extended list.
What makes this worth noting isn’t the spectacle of it, but the range. The eight bars span beach towns, a highland city, a historic fort, and the capital, and collectively represent a bar scene in Sri Lanka that has been gaining serious traction internationally. Indigenous ingredients, house ferments, toddy, local spices, and native spirits run through the menus, giving Bangkok audiences a grounded look at what contemporary Sri Lankan cocktail culture actually looks like.
Guest shifts are common. A coordinated, eight-venue showcase from a single country presenting a unified but varied identity is less so. For anyone in Bangkok this week with an interest in where Asia’s cocktail bar scene is heading, both evenings are worth the detour.
Follow @barsathorn and @aquabarbangkok on Instagram for more details on both events.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The first event is at Bar Sathorn on Saturday, 30 May 2026 from 8pm. The second is at Aqua Bar at Anantara on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, from 7:30 to 11pm.
Eight bars are taking part: Hideout Lounge, Raa, Shoulders, and Uncles on 30 May; and Kampong, Ropewalk, Smoke & Bitters, and Jungle Kade on 3 June.
The bartenders will be working with indigenous Sri Lankan ingredients including toddy, arrack, local spices, coastal flora, and house ferments.
Yes. Smoke & Bitters from Hiriketiya holds the #67 position on the World’s 50 Best Bars extended list.
Follow @barsathorn and @aquabarbangkok on Instagram for the latest updates