Blue Sky at night, revellers’ delight

Celebrating at classy and sassy Blue Sky is an all-round elevating experience

If you live in Chatuchak, Bang Khen or Huai Khwang, or even Bang Kapi, Hua Mak or Pak Kret, you’re lucky. You’ve a perfect solution to where to celebrate virtually on your doorstep. No vexing vehicular or sardine can train ride to a cool party venue for you.

Simply grab a taxi (unless you’reteetotaling) and scoot on over to Blue Sky, the bar, bistro and quasi-club complex that crowns Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok.

After all, it’s a piece of history: Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok has been towering over its neighbours for over thirty years. And as for feathers in its high-altitude cap, Blue Sky was named one of the 15 Most Exciting Rooftop Bars in the World by Architecture Art Design website.

So barge into the large, luminous lobby, skip to the lifts and hit the 24 button. In a heartbeat you’re disgorging into a “let’s partay” fantasy land. Part cool club, part fancy bistro, Blue Sky is a glitzy, glamorous perfect venue for any night on the town, let alone the year’s biggest bashes.

The shooting star corridor-connected warren of black, silver and gold drinking and dining rooms leads to moody blue hue chill-out terraces with moon-glo lowslung sofas and unobstructed UFO-landing-levitation views across Chatuchak to modern Gotham and ancient Ayutthaya.

Dine and drink al fresco or dine indoors in the sparkling dining room, like sitting inside a chandelier, and adjourn to the outdoors for liqueurs.

A dazzling range of cocktails, premium spirits, Champagne and a Wine Spectator Magazine award-winning wine selection is served, along with an irresistible menu of contemporary bistro cuisine.

Wine and Champagne are particular passions, and much in evidence, at Blue Sky, not to mention an endless array of cocktails to nurse while drinking in the view and refreshing air.

DREAMIN’ OF A BLUE NEW YEAR’S EVE

The line-up for New Year’s Eve is looking particularly piquant, as accomplished Swiss Executive Chef Christian Werdenberg and his team have prepped a delectable 7-course New Year’s Eve Dinner 2017/2018 @ Baht 5,500++/person including 1 glass of Sparkling Wine. Switzerland recognises Christian as a Certified Gastronomy Chef and it shows.

We start with a perfect fine de clair oyster exquisitely presented with a spoonful of coal black baeri royal caviar and a slice of lemon; classic and consummate. But that’s only the amuse bouche.

Next up is an equally classic French terrine: finest duck liver marinated with port wine, brandy, sherry and salt, pressed and refrigerated until firm, shaded like brown marble, it yields enticingly to the teeth and tongue. Topped with Port wine jelly infused with orange for a delectably bitter contrast, the crunch of a pistachio biscotti, and a tiara of pomelo segments and micro greens with a drizzle of balsamico, complete the thoroughly appetizing composition.

Oh my, the great Escoffier would be salivating. And the more so by the soup: Champagne and Brie Cheese Velouté. Velouté is one of France’s celebrated creamy soups and translates, both linguistically and gustatorily, as velvet. The velvet effect begins with chicken stock prepared with Parmesan cheese rind then blended at the last minute with brie and champagne. The earthy crunch of roasted walnuts, sweet yield of grape and a vaguely pungent dash of truffle oil render the dish definitively gourmet.

Like the meal overall, it’s not just classic French cuisine but in a style that reflects the fact that Christiane has spent most of his career pleasing palates in Asia.

A second appetizer is equally divine. Who knew that pureed parsley and garlic could taste so yummy? Or escargot bourguignon (with burgundy wine) so exquisite? Potato mousseline provide a luscious counterfoil with creamy and chewy textures combined.

A palate cleansing shooter of green apple and aloe vera sorbet balls does its job in style, rendering the taste buds a blank canvas anew.

The last important decision you make in 2017 will be Dutch veal or Atlantic turbot. Both are exceptional. The fish first. Firm white flesh in a sea of superb lobster-carrot bisque is deceptively simple. In fact, the bisque is built the proper way, with roasted lobster shells (no shrimp!), then enriched with carrot juice. Crunchy herb crouton (all the breads are excellent) and buttery sautéed chanterelle mushrooms round this out divinely.

And yet the slow roasted 80° Dutch veal loin is almost as tender — even without being cooked sous-vide, Christian being skilled enough to achieve the desired succulence with skilful searing and slow-roasting. Completed with another superb sauce blended from coriander seeds, contrasted with sautéed chanterelle mushrooms and crunchy herb crouton, what’s not to love?

A fan of the classics, Christian confesses that molecular cuisine is not his thing — unless you count the occasional espuma, the festively fizzy foam, which brings us to dessert: Maracaibo chocolate crèmeuse, coconut espuma, rum-marinated dried pineapple. It’s a decadent dish he learned in his apprenticeship and has carried with him ever since. Finally, coffee, tea or herbal infusion with your macaroon — friandises?

Mention must be made of the seamless service orchestrated by the virtually telepathic restaurant manager, Adithep Licharoen.

Take your time and you won’t have long to linger, perhaps with something stronger, until the fireworks, which from this vantage present a minimalist cascade of colour all over the city at once. Fortunately, the dinner price includes entry to the Countdown Party at Club Terrace. The party is open to non-diners for booze and nibbles at Baht 500++/person including a free drink, but it’s best to end the year with the 7-course bang of a Blue Sky Bistro feast.

CELEBRATE WHEN THE MOOD TAKES

But don’t wait for New Year to hit Blue Sky. Executive Chef Christian and the team of culinary artists offer a nightly range of specialties in modern French Bistro style for diners to enjoy against that background of spectacular views.

Open from 6 pm until 2 am daily (last order 10.30pm), Blue Sky provides the perfect venue for stylish dining and afterwork unwind cocktails in amazing surroundings. This is the place to meet friends, party, have a romantic date, entertain guests or just relax and scope the sparkling city.

A hot tip is that every night from 10pm –11pm they have a buy one get one free happy hour, to help warm up the evening and tempt you into lingering on after dinner, to enjoy the altitude and view. Here, you can opt to prop up the main bar and make your way through the extensive cocktail list.

Should this whet your appetite, then to book your spot under the stars, you can contact 02 541 1234 ext. 4603. Email: fb_office@chr.co.th.