Bangkok is home to a host of famous rooftop bars and restaurants. Venues like Lebua at State Tower (featured in the movie Hangover 2) and Vertigo at Banyan Tree can be a great experience, but they can also be crowded and the service can be hit and miss. Fortunately, there are a number of excellent alternatives in Bangkok which are friendlier on the wallet, see fewer tourists and provide a more intimate experience compared to the more well-known rooftop bars in the Thai capital.
Cielo Skybar is located away from Bangkok’s main tourist areas, but still easy to reach by Skytrain and makes for a relaxed evening with friendly, attentive staff. Whilst you can’t see the Chao Phraya River or any of Bangkok’s most famous landmarks from Cielo Skybar, the view of the city remains impressive and sunsets here can be sublime.
I’ve only had drinks at Cielo and have yet to try the food. The menu I was shown was limited in choices, but prices were reasonable with a smoked salmon salad listed at 230 Baht. Cocktail prices start from 250 Baht with special promotions and buy 1 get 1 free offers often available between 6pm-8pm. Imported wines at Cielo are expensive because of the high import duty. Prices start from 290 Baht per glass although I thought it was a shame they didn’t have any Thai wines on their list. Other sample prices:
Deep fried chicken wings in Thai spices 190 Baht
Spaghetti carbonara 250 Baht
Singha beer 120 Baht
Heineken 150 Baht
Tea and coffee (hot or iced) from 50 Baht
Smoothies from 80 Baht
Mocktails from 90 Baht
Like many rooftops bars and restaurants in Bangkok, Cielo also add-on a 10% service charge plus 7% for tax (VAT), but this is marked on the menu.
On my recent visit I tried the Cocktail of the Day, the Thai Mojito. Made with Mekhong Thai spirit, cinnamon, ginger, basil, lemongrass, mint and lime the taste was potent, but wonderful. At 350 Baht it was more expensive than the other cocktails listed, but with a buy 1 get 1 free offer was decent value and the quality of the ingredients was excellent.
Cielo Skybar is open from 5pm until midnight. The bar and restaurant are actually located on the 46th floor of a residential building, the Skywalk Condominium, and guests need to go to the visitors’ office first before taking the lift to the rooftop.
The Skywalk Condominium is located in a cluster of buildings known as the ‘W District’ in between Sukhumvit Soi 69 and 71. The easiest way to get there by public transport is to take the Skytrain to Phra Khanong Station. When you get off at Phra Khanong take Exit 3. You then walk in the direction of the traffic until you reach the W District on your left-hand side which is where the Skywalk Condominium is located. There are signs here for Cielo Skybar and if you walk towards 7-Eleven you’ll see the entrance to the Skywalk Condominium just around the corner. From Phra Khanong BTS station the walk to the Skywalk Condominium is approximately 5 minutes.
