Bangkok has three more reasons to raise a glass. Three of the Thai capital’s cocktail bars have landed on the newly released extended ranking of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026, adding another international nod to a drinking scene that rarely seems to sit still.
The ranking, announced on September 23, covers bars placed from No.51 to No.100, ahead of the unveiling of the top 50 in Milan on October 7. Bangkok shares the spotlight with Tokyo, with each city claiming three places on the extended list, while Hong Kong leads Asia with four.
Making the biggest splash for Bangkok is G.O.D (Genius On Drugs), a new entry at No.85. It is joined by two more established names on the international cocktail circuit: Opium at No.97 and Vesper at No.99. G.O.D is also among five Asian newcomers to this year’s 51–100 ranking, alongside bars in Goa, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Together, the three offer more than bragging rights. For visitors, they can also be turned into a rather spirited introduction to Bangkok after dark.
Drink the list
Start around Chinatown, where G.O.D occupies a tiny, 15-seat space near Soi Nana. The experimental bar takes its inspiration from a ruined mythological temple, pairing highly conceptual cocktails with small bites designed to complement each drink. With guests gathered close to the counter and bartenders constructing drinks within arm’s reach, the experience is deliberately intimate and immersive.
From there, continue towards Yaowarat and Opium, hidden on the fourth and fifth floors of the historic Potong building on Vanich 1 Road. The bar describes its cocktail philosophy as “Liquid Surreality”, with drinks made from house-prepared flavourings, syrups, garnishes and other components. The setting draws equally on the building’s past and the energy of late-night Chinatown, making it a natural second act once the neon signs of Yaowarat begin to glow.
Then leave Chinatown behind and cross town to Silom, where Vesper has been holding court on Convent Road since 2014. Its long marble bar, dim lighting and polished atmosphere provide a change of pace after the more experimental first stops. More than a decade in business also makes Vesper something of a veteran in a city where cocktail bars can come and go quickly.
Three bars, three rather different versions of Bangkok nightlife — and a ready-made crawl for cocktail-minded travellers.
Asia raises a glass
Bangkok’s showing is part of a broader Asian presence in this year’s extended ranking. Sixteen Asian bars appear between No.51 and No.100, including addresses in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Taichung, Goa, Shenzhen and Singapore.
Globally, the 51–100 list spans 34 cities and includes 13 new entries. The ranking is compiled from votes cast by The World’s 50 Best Bars Academy, comprising more than 800 bartenders, drinks writers, educators and industry specialists around the world.
BANGKOK VISIT
A Stroll Through Song Wat
Tucked into Bangkok’s historic Chinatown, Song Wat Road blends its trading past with a creative new energy. Once a bustling hub for Indian, Chinese and Thai merchants, the riverside neighbourhood now brings centuries-old shrines and warehouses together with galleries, acclaimed restaurants and hidden cafés, making it ideal for exploring on foot.
>> Read more
Bangkok drinkers may want to keep the champagne — or perhaps something shaken and considerably stronger — on ice. The extended ranking is only the first half of the story.
The World’s 50 Best Bars will reveal its No.1–50 ranking in Milan on October 7, when attention turns to which other Bangkok addresses, if any, have made the upper half of the global list.
For now, G.O.D, Opium and Vesper provide three very good excuses to go bar-hopping.
