Tropical Rooftop Vibes in Ploenchit
Bar.Yard Rooftop Bar sits on the 40th floor of the Kimpton Maa-Lai Hotel, in the posh Ploenchit area of Bangkok. The floor is split into an indoor lounge and a large open-air terrace, with seating for both drinks and a full dinner. The kitchen does Latin American food, the cocktails are some of the most creative in the city, and the view stretches across two of the best sides of Bangkok. This was my third visit, and it was the best one yet.
The terrace faces east, so this is not a sunset spot. The trade-off is the view. On one side, I could see Lumphini Park, the big green lung of central Bangkok. On the other side, the towers of One Bangkok now stand tall on the skyline, a sight that did not exist when I first came here. The city lights after dark are the real reason to come.
Space on the terrace is limited, and the demand is high, so I would call ahead to book a table outside. The indoor area has its own look, with bright orange walls and deep booth seating, and it works well if the weather turns.
From up here the panorama runs across Ploenchit, the tree line of Lumphini Park, Wireless Road and well beyond. You can pick out the CRC towers and the cluster of tall buildings around them. Down at the foot of the Kimpton tower is the US Ambassador residence with its large green garden. You can even look down on ‘Char Rooftop Bar‘, another rooftop on the 26th floor of the Indigo Hotel.
What to Order
The menu is Latin American, with a clear Peruvian and Mexican base and a few Nikkei touches. It runs from ceviche and tacos to Josper-grilled meats, so there is something for a light graze or a full dinner. On my visits the food landed well above what I expected from a rooftop bar.
The guacamole is a good place to start. It comes fresh in a stone bowl with chopped tomato salsa and slices of avocado, served with maduros chips and corn tortilla chips, and it is one of the better ones I have had in Bangkok. The ceviche section is the real signature. I had the classic ceviche, hamachi in a leche de tigre base with sweet potato and corn, bright and clean with just enough chilli. There is also a Thai version with salmon, coconut milk and lemongrass if you want something closer to home.
For something hot off the grill, the anticucho wings are charcoal-smoked and marinated in anticucho sauce, served with avocado and corn salsa. They are sticky, smoky and easy to share. The kitchen also does tacos in sets, Peruvian short ribs, and larger grilled plates if you settle in for a proper meal.
The cocktails are where Bar.Yard really shows off. The list is built around bold, playful drinks, from a spicy margarita with ancho chilli to a tiki-style rum punch served in a carved mug, and a mango number blended with cachaça and corn. They are well made and a step above the usual rooftop fare. On my last visit the DJ was also excellent, with a relaxed set early on that built up nicely as the terrace filled and the sky went dark. It is the kind of place where you arrive for one drink and stay for three.
About the Hotel
Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok
Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok is in a prime spot on Langsuan Road near Lumphini Park. Each of its 362 rooms, including 131 serviced residences, blends Thai traditional motifs with modern design. The hotel has a spa, an infinity pool set in a tropical garden, and a pet-friendly policy.
More Photos
Bar.Yard Rooftop Info
Location: Ploenchit
Hotel: Kimpton Maa-Lai
Address: 78 Soi Ton Son, Lumphini, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330
Closest BTS/MRT Station: BTS Ratchadamri: 470 m
Open: 4 pm – 12 am, Monday closed
Phone: 02 056 9999
Floor: 40th
Bar.Yard Rooftop Map
Other Rooftop Bars in Bangkok
See also
