Opium Bar

Two floors above Yaowarat, tucked inside the POTONG shophouse, Opium Bar is Chinatown’s after-dark sanctuary for serious cocktails. Set in a beautifully restored 120‑year‑old building that once housed an opium den, the room glows with low light, polished wood and just the right amount of intrigue. It’s intimate without being stuffy, the kind of place where conversations stretch and the outside neon fades. The menu leans into “Liquid Surreality” — inventive, well‑made drinks that nod to the neighborhood’s Thai‑Chinese heritage while keeping a sleek New York sensibility. Expect meticulous technique, clear ice, and flavors that unfold over a few sips rather than shout. It’s the sort of bar that lands on Asia’s 50 Best Bars for a reason: hospitality is dialed, music sits under the chatter, and the team will steer you to something spot‑on whether you want spirit‑forward or something lighter. Practicalities: you’ll find the entrance inside the POTONG building on Soi Wanit 1, a quick taxi from Khao San. Doors open from 4pm to 1am (closed Wednesday). Go early for a calm pre‑dinner drink, or roll in after 9pm when Yaowarat hums and the room loosens up. Counter seats are prized if you like to watch the bartenders work.