Page 91 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 3 | February - March 2024

THE KEY ROOM NO. 72

Tucked into the Josh Hotel in the heart of Ari, The Key Room
No. 72 can only be unlocked with a special key card given to you
by the hotel’s concierge, where you have to request, aptly, the key
to room number 72. After scanning yourself in the same way you
would a hotel room, you’re ushered into a wood-panelled room
in sumptuous shades of red and brown, and treated to a cocktail
menu inspired by the sensory experiences of the fictional Mr.
Josh’s global travels. For example, Mr. Josh Journey is comprised of
a classic old fashioned on the rocks, but topped with sugar flakes
to offset the bitter aroma of the whisky.
Instagram: @thekey.joshhotel

008 B AR

Found in MUU Bangkok in Thong Lo, the entrance to 008
Bar deliberately brings to mind a wartime bunker, replete with
olde-worlde furniture and a typewriter, but when you pull back
heavy curtains on the other side, you’re led into a cosy speakeasy
with golden recessed lighting and dark-panelled walls. However,
the stunning views of the city stop it from feeling claustrophobic,
and their collection of rare whiskies is impeccable. Make sure
to also sample their ‘Prohibition-era’ cocktails, “made for the
refined palate,” such as their Golden Age 20 which uses Whitley
Neill Dry Gin and is evocative of a negroni, but easier to drink.
Instagram: @008bar

RA Y COCKT AIL & B ITE

Located on the Ground floor of Building C of The Salil Hotel
Riverside Bangkok, Ray Cocktail & Bite is hidden behind a
door that fits seamlessly into the wall, behind which is a hallway
that seems to end in a dead end. Beyond the heavy curtains,
however, is a cocktail bar with deliberate Japanese touches, and a
large, marble bar that winds around the room in an eye-catching
design. This allows everyone to sit and watch the magic happen,
or nibble on delicious Japanese bites as they wait for their cocktails.
Another project of the team behind the Sugar Ray franchise,
the cocktails are expectedly delicious, and they are divided into
three categories:Simple, with refreshing, easy-to-drink options;
Sophisticated, with more complex flavours; and Japanese Classics,
whose name speaks for itself.
Instagram: @ray.cocktailandbite

SALON DU JAPONISANT

Also in Phrom Phong, in Sukhumvit Soi 39, is Salon du Japonisant,
a Japanese-themed, ‘omakase’ style bar. The entrance is obscured
by a dark wall that serves as a screen, but it’s not too hard to find,
although its discrete nature and lack of signage mean that the
building could easily be mistaken for the entrance to the home of
any of the Japanese families living in the area. Once you’re through,
the space is homier than expected, with modern Japanese screens
and a selection of pictures up on the wall. As expected, the bar
boasts an impressive selection of sake and whisky labels, and make
sure to ask for the innovative ‘Floating Technique’ when trying
their whisky, which will separate the layers of smooth single malt
and water in a glass, allowing for a transcendent sipping experience.
Instagram: @salon.du39

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