Looking for affordable rooftop bars in Bangkok? Most people include enjoying some sky high drinks on the top of their to do list when visiting this buzzing city. However, it can be a bit of a shock when you see how much a night out at one of the famous spots will cost. On our first few visits we avoided them as we were on a budget, so when a friend who lives in Bangkok shared some spots he heads to for sunset drinks we knew we had to get him to write them up for us to share with you! Read on for Stephen’s top picks.

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Bangkok is internationally renowned as being a city scattered with rooftop bars, and with over 70, visitors are spoiled for choice. Many of the high-end ones are in 5-star hotels, and as a result, they’re very expensive.

Here’s an example:

Octave on the 45th floor of the Marriot Hotel in Sathorn, while absolutely worth visiting at least once, will set you back 250 baht for a local beer (you can buy the same bottle in a mini-mart for 60 baht). Cocktails start at 420 baht, a glass of wine is 500 baht, and a glass of soft drink is 160 baht. If you are feeling like a snack, a bowl of french fries will set you back 320 baht. As you can see, you’ll need to bring your American Express card for a night out at Octave.

So, how can you enjoy the rooftop bar experience in Bangkok without taking out a second mortgage? The good news is that I’ve done the research and after several years living in Bangkok I have found some venues that are so much cheaper, yet still get you the classic rooftop experience.

Where to Find Bangkok’s Affordable Rooftop Bars

Here’s my secret. While the exy ones are primarily found in Sathorn and Sukhumvit atop luxury hotels, all you need to do is go to some of the less touristy neighbourhoods, and presto, there they are.

The other tip is to find a bar on top of a hostel, not a hotel. Bangkok has some awesome hostels in prime locations, and the bars are more relaxed and significantly cheaper.

Finally, remember, you’re paying for a view, so the more affordable ones aren’t as high up as the expensive ones. Most of the ones coming up are on floors 5–8 instead of floors 35+. But, you know what? You can still get a premium view of the city and, in some cases, the Chao Phraya River from them. 

Here are a few of my favourites with directions on how to find them and a sample of the prices. 

Swing Bar by ChingCha

My first affordable rooftop bar is on top of a hostel close to the famous Giant Swing, which you can see from the bar.

Swing Bar by ChingCha is on the 6th floor of the ChingCha Bangkok Hostel. I love the panoramic view of the area, including Wat Suthat Thepwararam. 

I especially love the prices here. Cocktails start at 170 baht, local beer is 130 baht, soft drinks are 30 baht, and a bowl of French Fries is only 100 baht. They also have a 2 hour unlimited drinks promo on at the moment.

Swing Bar by ChingCha is open daily from 5 pm until midnight.

How to Get to Swing Bar

Swing Bar by ChingCha is a little bit tucked away. Apart from getting there by taxi, the MRT Station Sam Yot is around 1km away, so a 10-minute walk or 3-minute tuk-tuk or motorcycle ride.

Legend Rooftop Bar

Tucked away in Lad Phrao, Legend Rooftop Bar is on the 12th floor of a tower. You get 360° views of the area, including the famous Elephant Tower. It’s mostly a local hangout, giving you a more authentic experience. The vibe is youthful and laid back.

It’s a low-key bar, but the advantage is that you’re not paying any more for drinks than you would at any street-facing bar. Cocktails start at 220 baht, local beer is 120 baht, soft drinks are 30 baht, and a plate of french fries is 145 baht.

Legends Rooftop bar opens daily at 5.30 pm and closes at midnight on weekdays and 1 am on weekends. Soccer fans can watch their team play on the big screen on match days.

How to Get to Legend Rooftop Bar

Legend Rooftop Bar isn’t on a main road. BTS station Phahonyothin 24 is the nearest, just under a km away. That’s about a 10-minute walk or 3 minutes on a motorcycle taxi.

Heaven Rooftop Bar and Lounge

The next one is one of my favourites, and unlike the others, it’s in a central tourist area, Silom. Heaven Rooftop Bar and Lounge is on the 7th and 8th floor of the Silom Plaza on the corner of Silom Road and Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Roads. I really love this location and the view of the King Power Mahanakhon building.

Heaven Rooftop Bar and Lounge is not far from many of the high-end rooftop bars in Sathorn, but the prices are much lower. Cocktails start from 220 baht; local beer is 120 baht, soft drinks are 40 baht, and French Fries are 120 baht.

The other thing I love about Heaven is that it stays open later than most others. It’s open daily from 5pm to 2am.

How to Get to Heaven Rooftop Bar and Lounge

Unlike some other bars in this review, Heaven Rooftop Bar and Lounge is really easy to get to. It’s on Silom Road, so buses, taxis and tuk-tuks are readily available. The nearest BTS station is Chong Nonsi, only a 6-minute walk away. 

Escape Bangkok

Here’s one in the heart of all the expensive 5-star rooftop hotel bars that’s less pricey. It’s called Escape Bangkok, and it’s on the 5th floor of the EmQuartier Shopping Mall on Sukhumvit Road.  

It’s decked out like a beach bar; there’s plenty of bamboo everywhere, and there are sofa beds and straw lanterns. 

Escape Bangkok isn’t as cheap as the others on this page, but it’s still not as over-the-top as the other end of the scale.

Cocktails start at 320 baht, local beer is 140 baht, soft drinks are surprisingly high at 90 baht, and a plate of French Fries is 190 baht. It has an extensive food menu, but some prices are the prices are pretty high.

Escape Bangkok at EmQuartier is open daily from 5.30 pm to 12.30 am. 

How to Get to Escape Bangkok

You can’t get much more convenient than right next door to a BTS Station and the EmQuartier. Phrom Phong station even has an exit connected to the shopping mall. As a main thoroughfare, Sukhumvit Road has buses and taxis within easy reach.

Top Knot

On the 8th floor of the Hotel Once, right on the Chao Phraya River, a couple of doors away from one of Bangkok’s most popular markets, Asiatique The Riverfront, is Top Knot. You don’t need to be that high up to enjoy river views. The location on the east bank means you have a prime seat for the sunset. 

What I love is how casual Top Knot is. The outdoor area is minimally decorated, so that nothing detracts from the spectacular views.

Top Knot is affordable, too. Cocktails start at 250 baht; local beer is 140 baht, and soft drinks are 90 baht. It has an extensive menu, and that’s where they make their money; even French Fries cost 220 baht. 

Top Knot is open every day between 7.30 am and 10.30 pm.

How to Get to Top Knot

The best way to get to Top Knot is by ferry. Alight at Wat Rat Singkhon pier, and it’s a 5-minute walk. The nearest BTS station is Saphan Taksin, just under 2km away.

River Vibe Bar and Restaurant

This one is a little different. It’s actually a sky terrace on the 8th floor of the River Vibe Bar and Restaurant. The views over the Chao Phraya River are stunning and perfect for sunsets. 

Hidden in Chinatown means it doesn’t get too crowded, except for special events.

The pricing is pretty reasonable, especially with those views. Cocktails start at 280 baht, local beer is 140 baht, and soft drinks are 65 baht. A plate of French Fries will only set you back 150 baht.

As River Vibe is a restaurant, its hours are slightly different. It opens really early at 7.30 am but then closes at 10.30 pm.

How to Get to River Vibe Bar and Restaurant

Many reviewers comment that it’s a little hard to find as the main entrance is in a soi (alley). It’s best to take a tuk-tuk or taxi. The nearest MRT station is Hua Lumpong, which is 1km away.

find these bangkok rooftop bars on google maps

There’s an Affordable Rooftop Bar for Everyone

So there you have it. You can enjoy a night at one of Bangkok’s rooftop bars without putting a massive dent in your holiday budget.

Set your expectations lower. You won’t be that high in the sky, but you’ll get some epic views, including the Chao Phraya River, and most importantly, you’ll spend up to half of what you would at the ones at the other end of the scale.

I really hope to see you at one of these venues. Who knows, I may even shout you a cocktail!