Ku Bar
Ku Bar is a hidden, reservation-only cocktail bar in Bangkok's Old Town (Phra Nakhon / Rattanakosin), reached via a narrow, dark alley alongside the Brown Sugar jazz bar on Phra Sumen Road, where a spirit house guards a small brown door and a dusty concrete staircase leads up to the third floor. Behind a sliding wooden door lies a minimalist, brutalist-inspired space of raw concrete, wood and a marble counter, cozy yet slightly eerie, evoking an abandoned omakase restaurant with iron-grated windows drawn from old Thai architecture. The bar is helmed by Anupas Kong Premanuwat, who honed his craft over five years at New York's acclaimed Angel's Share speakeasy. The cocktail menu changes monthly and spotlights local ingredients sourced from the fresh market, with house drinks priced around 350-380 baht, such as a tequila-and-celery drink, a sherry and rose-infused vermouth creation, a 10 Herb cocktail with bruleed sugar, and a banana-chocolate drink with Fernet Branca. Natural wines are also available from around 320 baht per glass. It is a tiny, two-person operation with a strict no-standing policy, so advance booking is essential. The intimate, hushed atmosphere rewards adventurous drinkers who appreciate craft and creativity. It is consistently ranked among the best bars in Bangkok's Old Town.
