See the Ranked Results of The Bar Awards Bangkok 2018, Then Go Have a Drink

PUBLISHED March 1st, 2018 05:00 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:24 pm

The Bar Awards returns to Bangkok for the second consecutive year with a five-day cocktail festival, which officially closed with a bang the past Sunday night at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit. The party saw more than 250 members of the bar and beverage community coming together to celebrate Bangkok’s amazing bar scene.

The winners are decided by the city’s Panel that comprises 40 industry professionals, including bartenders, bar owners, brand representatives, and distributers, as well as journalists, chefs, and sommeliers for more diversity in the peer-reviewed process. Without further ado, here’s the full Top 10 list, in ranking order, no less:

The Rising Star, presented by Perrier

Winner: Noppasate “Depp” Hirunwathit – Rabbit Hole

New blood, with all their passion and new ideas, are a fundamental part of the F&B industry. The Rising Star award recognises the most promising young bartenders aged 28 years and below. The hard work of the runner-up last year, Noppasate “Depp” Hirunwathit of Rabbit Hole in Thonglor, won him the top honours. He’s also representing Southeast Asia in the global finals of Bacardi Legacy 2018.

Other nominees who made the Top 10 list:

2. Krit “Joey” Parkobdee – Tropic City
3. Patchara “Fon” Hitchman – Asia Today
4. Jane Kaew-Yod – Sorrento
5. Pinsuda “Ann” Pongprom – The Bamboo Bar (Mandarin Oriental Bangkok)
6. Dedsakda “Kenny” Thianthong – Vesper
7. Worawut “Golf” Treewatanawong – Q&A Bar
8. Nattawut “Wut” Jeerasatienkul – Vesper
9. Saimai Nantarat – A Bar Rooftop (Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park)
10. Wattunyu “Micky” Mukmongkol – #FindTheLockerRoom

Best Restaurant Bar, presented by Restaurant Pub Bar Asia

Winner: Eat Me

It’s not surprising that Bangkok institution Eat Me (turning 20 years old this year) is a keeper, with an excellent modern, Asian-influenced, international comfort food dishes by Head Chef Tim Butler and savoury, Thai cuisine-inspired cocktails from Head Bartender Buntanes “Pop” Direkkrittikul.

Other nominees who made the Top 10 list:

2. Bunker
3. Zuma
4. Tep Bar
5. Penthouse Bar & Grill (Park Hyatt Bangkok)
6. Il Fumo
7. Sorrento
8. Smalls
9. Canvas
10. Rarb by Escapade

Best Beer Bar, presented by Peroni

Winner: Mikkeller Bangkok

Mikkeller is a familiar name amongst the hopheads. Mikkeller Bangkok has one of Asia’s best selection of craft beers (and many of them are exclusive to the bar) curated by the craft’s experts. With 30 rotating taps and an impressive bottle shop, what’s not to love?

Other nominees who made the Top 10 list:

2. Hair of the Dog
3. Taproom (All locations)
4. Let the Boy Die
5. Wishbeer
6. Brewski (Radisson Blu)
7. Beer Belly
8. HOBS House of Beer (All locations)
9. Bottles of Beer
10. Brew Beers & Ciders

Best Wine Bar, presented by Jerry

Winner: La Casa Nostra

This is one category for the oenophiles, awarding the establishment providing the wine experience with a knowledgeable team and an exciting wine list. La Casa Nostra is an Italian restaurant in Sathorn offers good food – think the likes of Crispy Pork Belly with Avocado Mash and Saffron Risotto with slow cooked egg and pancetta – and great wine.

Other nominees who made the Top 10 list:

2. Riedel Wine Bar & Cellar
3. Quince
4. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon
5. Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant (Pullman Bangkok Hotel G)
6. Bunker
7. About Eatery
8. Il Fumo
9. Opus
10. La Bottega di Luca

Best Hotel Bar, presented by Chalong Bay

Winner: The Bamboo Bar, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

The Bamboo Bar at Mandarin Oriental takes the Best Hotel Bar title two times in a row with its seductive elegance, heritage, and award-winning mixology team blending classic drinks with original recipes.

Other nominees who made the Top 10 list:

2. Penthouse Bar & Grill, Park Hyatt Bangkok
3. The House on Sathorn, W Bangkok
4. Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant, Pullman Bangkok Hotel G
5. The Speakeasy Rooftop Bar, Hotel Muse Bangkok by MGallery
6. Aqua, Anantara Siam
7. Attitude, Avani Riverside Bangkok
8. Char Rooftop Bar, Hotel Indigo Bangkok
9. Vertigo and Moon Bar, Banyan Tree Bangkok
10. Woo Bar, W Bangkok 

Best Bangkok Institution, presented by Angostura

Winner: The Bamboo Bar, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Loyal customers are essential to a bar’s longevity. To be nominated for this category, establishments had to be open for a minimum of five years. And given that the Mandarin Oriental came into existence in 1876, it makes sense that The Bamboo Bar is also an institution in its own right.

Other nominees who made the Top 10 list:

2. Eat Me
3. Saxophone
4. WTF Cafe & Gallery
5. Hyde & Seek Gastro Bar
6. Aqua, Anantara Siam
7. Wong’s Place
8. Sirocco, Lebua Bangkok
9. Long Table
10. Telephone Pub

Best Hospitality Ambassador, presented by Fever-Tree

Winner: David Jacobson, Smalls

Great hospitality makes the night-out experience so much more enjoyable – for the first year that this award has been mounted, American David Jacobson is a Bangkok nightlife legend and veteran. His bar Smalls, located in Sathorn, is split over three levels of a corner townhouse with a display of prized contemporary art.

Other nominees who made the Top 10 list:

2. Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, Teens of Thailand and Asia Today
3. Suwincha “Chacha” Singsuwan, Rabbit Hole
4. Attaporn “Mr. B” De Silva, Q&A Bar
5. Jamie Rhind, The Bamboo Bar (Mandarin Oriental Bangkok)
6. Ronnaporn “Neung” Kanivichaporn, Backstage Cocktail Bar and #FindTheLockerRoom
7. Supawit “Palm” Muttarattana, Vesper
8. Carson Quinn, Iron Balls
9. Philip Stefanescu, Tropic City
10. Kittibordee “Gov” Chortubtim, Backstage Cocktail Bar

Best Hospitality Team, presented by Hendrick’s Gin

Winner: Backstage Cocktail Bar

There’s hospitality by the individual, but for the best experience, teamwork matters. The rambunctious bunch of boys – some of them are in the Top 10 for other awards – who took home Best New Bar last year are continuing to keep drinkers in Bangkok very happy.

Other nominees who made the Top 10 list:

2. The Bamboo Bar, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
3. Eat Me
4. Vesper
5. Rabbit Hole
6. Tropic City
7. Smalls
8. Teens of Thailand
9. Asia Today
10. Tep Bar

Most Creative Cocktail Program, presented by Cointreau

With their new art-inspired cocktail menu, Vesper constantly pushes the boundaries of creativity and innovation. Supawit “Palm” Muttarattana has run the bar so successfully that they’ve even ceased being a restaurant bar, becoming a full-fledged cocktail bar.

Winner: Vesper

Other nominees who made the Top 10 list:

2. Eat Me
3. Ku Bar
4. J Boroski Mixology
5. #FindTheLockerRoom
6. Thaipioka
7. Asia Today
8. Rabbit Hole
9. Tropic City
10. Backstage Cocktail Bar

Best New Bar, presented by Campari

Opening a new establishment involves a lot of effort, not to mention blood, sweat, and tears, which is what this award would like to acknowledge. Thonglor’s #FindTheLockerRoom is founded by illustrious members of the Asian bartender community – Hidetsugu Ueno (Bar High Five, Tokyo), Colin Chia (Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore), Ronnaporn “Neung” Kanivichaporn (Backstage Cocktail Bar, Bangkok), and Nick Wu (East End, Taipei).

Winner: #FindTheLockerRoom

Other nominees who made the Top 10 list:

2. Tropic City
3. Asia Today
4. Thaipioka
5. Penthouse Bar & Grill, Park Hyatt Bangkok
6. Jua
7. Salon du Japonisant
8. Just A Drink Maybe
9. Beer Republic
10. Luna Lounge

Bartender of the Year, presented by Monkey Shoulder

This year’s all-round star is Eat Me’s Head Bartender Buntanes “Pop” Direkkrittikul, who started learning the art of cocktails from Joseph Boroski, a highly sought after bar consultant in Bangkok, when he joined the establishment in 2011. His efforts have helped him move up the ladder behind the bar and helped the bar retain its reputation as one of the best in town – be sure to try his Laab Moo (the northeastern-style spicy salad with minced pork and crushed roasted rice) cocktail!

Winner: Buntanes “Pop” Direkkrittikul, Eat Me

Other nominees who made the Top 10 list:

2. Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, Teens of Thailand and Asia Today
3. Supawit “Palm” Muttarattana, Vesper
4. Suwincha “Chacha” Singsuwan, Rabbit Hole
5. Jamie Rhind, The Bamboo Bar (Mandarin Oriental Bangkok)
6. Ronnaporn “Neung” Kanivichaporn, Backstage Cocktail Bar and #FindTheLockerRoom
7. Danny Yeung, Smalls
8. Noppasate “Depp” Hirunwathit, Rabbit Hole
9. Sebastian De La Cruz – Tropic City
10. Kittibordee “Gov” Chortubtim – Backstage Cocktail Bar

Bar of the Year, presented by Mekhong

Outstanding bar team, impressive interiors, great vibes, and a kickass female Head Bartender – Suwincha “Chacha” Singsuwan – is why we’d love to go back to Thonglor speakseasy Rabbit Hole. Drinks are well-executed and consistent, making it a hit with the rich and beautiful Thonglor crowd and industry folks alike.

Winner: Rabbit Hole

Other nominees who made the Top 10 list:

2. Smalls
3. The Bamboo Bar, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
4. Teens of Thailand
5. #FindTheLockerRoom
6. Tropic City
7. Vesper
8. Ku Bar
9. Backstage Cocktail Bar
10. Eat Me