Sips and nibbles at CHAR Rooftop Bar
CHAR ROOFTOP BAR
INTERNATIONAL
Daily 6pm-midnight Hotel Indigo Bangkok, 26/F, Wireless Road fb.com/charbangkok, www.charbangkok.com, 02-207-4999
THE SETTING
CHAR Rooftop Bar recently opened as a part of CHAR Bangkok which consists of the bar itself on the 26th rooftop floor and CHAR Restaurant with private rooms on the 25th floor. We checked out the bar part only as we heard through the grapevine that it offers some poem-inspired cocktails that you can wax lyrical over. It turns out that, here, they do have a great view and some beautifully crafted concoctions to boast about, but foodwise it could do with offering more variety and something more substantial. The bar décor gives out a mixed mood of glam, retro and modern. The view from the top is quite breathtaking, overlooking the residence of the American ambassador’s green compound, the red and yellow stars of car lights being stuck on the road down below and even more stars of lights coming from countless skyscrapers in the horizon. The glass fence allows for an uninterrupted view, although it may induce acrophobia for some. The beautiful setting, nevertheless, definitely calls for a group selfie or two. Or an album.
THE MENU
The bar offers international nibbles that can be counted with two hands over a wide price range as well as a serious selection of spirits and cocktails. We lined our stomach to accommodate the evening’s l ater alcoholic intake, first with Olives & grilled bread (B180). It sounds so simple but offers more than its name suggests. The light slices of toast go great with black and green cured olives which give juicy and salty bursts. The lightly grilled pear slices are crunchy and sweet. Another addon are peanuts, which came coated with cayenne and chipotle peppers. Freshly shucked oysters (B100 per piece) are served with three dips. These bivalve beauties are so tender but not as plump as we would have liked them to be. We find the sour cream with yuzu paste complements them best. If you want something that really jolts your palate with a strong flavour, Smoked beef tartare (B260) should do the job. Put some of the zesty jumble of finely chopped and well-seasoned beef tenderloin on a piece of thin-yet-crunchy toast. Each mouthful contains so much flavour and texture, but some may find it overwhelming. CHAR canapes platter (B420) offers several hits. Foie gras on pain perdu edges over the other five items with its rich and buttery sensation. The chicken ratatouille comes in a small block over bread but is packed with flavour. The prawn cocktail, however, feels like a filler compared when to the other more well-thought-out items on the same plate. There are many drinks you can make a toast to an occasion with, including ten signature cocktails inspired by well-known poems. Lovers confession (B320) lures you in with its blend of sweet, sour and refreshing sensations and the fact that it’s so easy to sip. Memory (B320) wins our approval with its playful presentation and a harmony of different tastes. Served with a cotton candy, the marshmallow-infused vodka with fruity hints washes along some of the rainbow sprinkles on the glass’ rim on its way into your mouth, resulting in sweet-and-sour, refreshing and fragrant sips. Served in a Japanese tea cup, Kanagawa (B300) delivers interesting salty-and-sour sips. It feels, to us, like a mojito but made with vodka and Japanese flairs through plum and matcha. It isn’t as refreshing as the previous two drinks, though.
INSIDER TIP
Char’s signature drinks are originally created by award-winning Italian mixologist Francesco Moretti. A long list of cigars are available too. Obviously, CHAR Rooftop Bar is a place to cap the night off rather than to properly wine and dine. Maybe you want to have some real food at CHAR Restaurant (which, btw, was packed on the Monday we stopped by) before you end your night at the bar?
VALUE AND VERDICT
The execs and diplomats near Wireless Road now know where they can head to for some stylish after-work relaxation. The price of cocktails is pretty steep but somewhat justified by the finesse behind them. In comparison to other rooftop venues, we have had grander experiences but CHAR Rooftop Bar does have its own charm, namely its creative cocktails, which are definitely worth toasting to.