When Swedish bartenders Sebastian De La Cruz and Philip Stefanescu opened Tropic City at the end of 2017, they brought something entirely new to Bangkok: the city’s first tropical cocktail bar. In a converted old house on Charoenkrung’s creative strip, surrounded by gallerists, restaurateurs, and artisans, they created a rum-soaked, pastel-hued escape that quickly became one of the most awarded bars in Asia—peaking at sixth on Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2023 and earning placement on the World’s 50 Best Bars list.
The inspiration was personal. Growing up in Sweden, where winters are long and light is scarce, the founders dreamed of tropical warmth. When they met at a bar in Bangkok and discovered a shared passion for tiki culture and craft rum, the idea crystallised: a tropical bar that combined Nordic minimalism with the lush, joyful aesthetics of the equatorial world. The result was something more sophisticated than a traditional tiki bar—modernist in design, serious about cocktails, but irresistibly fun.
The Cocktails
Tropic City’s menu is flavour-driven, playful, and rum-heavy. Cocktails range from ฿380 to ฿500 and feature house-made infusions, reductions, and tinctures that elevate the tropical genre beyond its clichéd reputation. The Tropicopop, a clarified milk punch that changes with the seasons, is the menu’s centrepiece. Jungle Letter 23 combines Monkey Shoulder whisky with Plantation Pineapple rum, Yellow Chartreuse, banana-infused dry sherry, and house-made bitters. The Cane Suggah reimagines the piña colada with sugar apple, coconut, Pisco, Chalong Bay Cinnamon rum, and fresh citrus. A Crystal Negroni arrives perfectly clear and visually striking.
The food menu, prepared in collaboration with nearby Michelin Plate-awarded 80/20, sources from “various places along the equator”: squid ceviche (฿320), jerk chicken with rice (฿340), Malaysian oxtail curry, and Peruvian fish cakes. It’s tapas-sized, globally minded, and perfectly calibrated to sustain an evening of serious drinking.
The Space
Step through the door and you’re transported. Pink flamingo and parrot murals cover the walls. Pineapple and flamingo neon signs glow above Portuguese-style colourful tiles. Fresh orchids sit alongside mid-century modern furniture and vintage sofas. White-washed brick walls and roughly hewn wood accents keep the aesthetic grounded, whilst dim, warm lighting creates an atmosphere that guests compare to stepping into Havana or a Caribbean beach bar—except the cocktails are sharper, the music (hip-hop, soul, tropical house) is better curated, and the service is impeccable.
The outdoor terrace is packed nearly every night, creating a sociable, convivial energy that draws a mix of Bangkok locals, international cocktail tourists, and Charoenkrung’s creative community.
Recognition and Legacy
Tropic City’s awards shelf tells the story of a bar that helped put Bangkok on the global cocktail map. It peaked at sixth on Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2023, appeared at 66th on the World’s 50 Best Bars, and earned multiple Spirited Awards Top 10 nominations for Best Bar Team in Asia from Tales of the Cocktail. BK Magazine named it Bar of the Year and Best Bar in Charoenkrung for multiple consecutive years.
But Tropic City’s true legacy extends beyond awards. It was a pioneer: the bar that proved Bangkok could sustain world-class tropical cocktail culture, that Charoenkrung could be a serious nightlife destination, and that craft bartending and pure fun were not mutually exclusive. It catalysed a wave of cocktail innovation in the neighbourhood that continues to this day.
Practical Information
Address: 672/65 Soi Charoen Krung 28, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
Hours: 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM daily
Cocktails: ฿380–500
Peak ranking: #6 Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023; #66 World’s 50 Best Bars
Reservations: Recommended, especially weekends (+668 383 827 50 or [email protected])
Best for: Rum lovers, tropical cocktail enthusiasts, creative crowd, date nights
Nearby: 80/20 restaurant, Warehouse 30, Charoenkrung galleries
