Last updated: April 26, 2024
For the ultimate in boujee Bangkok vibes, head up to the 22nd Floor of the Aira Hotel to Pastel Rooftop Bar & Restaurant where you’ll be able to soak up the electric atmosphere from the second the lift doors open. This sizzling hotspot is the perfect place to enjoy sunset, located in the buzzy Sukhumvit Soi 11 area of the city with an abundance of bars and clubs.
Pastel is the creation of three lifelong friends who had a very clear vision and a passion for good food being served in an atmospheric space. With the cool venue split into three main parts, bar, terrace and main restaurant, you can pretty much get a great view of outside from every table, while the elevated DJ booth shows that this place means business when it comes to partying! And when we say party, we’re talking carnivalesque vibes, house music, live drums and instruments, performances, dancers.. you name it!
The expansive space is filled with pretty banquette seating areas and fringed lamps on long hanging arc style arms over beautifully decorated tables. There’s seating right up against the glass so you really get that ‘in the clouds’ feeling, looking out at both the mesmerising Bangkok skyline and a cityscape of one of the most exciting cities in the world.
Creating killer cocktails at the main bar, Chatchai Kanjai has curated a delicious list of heady drinks using local ingredients and Asian influences. And when it comes to the food, Kilian Fioretto is the main man – a 1 star Michelin chef hailing from Switzerland who’s brought his expertise to Thailand, cooking great food with the best ingredients.
Designed to take you on a culinary journey through the Mediterranean, the sea and earth themed menu takes influences from Morocco, Rome and Nice amongst others, so no matter what cuisine you’re into, there’s going to be something you’ll love.
The food is beautifully presented, and the dress code is most definitely glamorous – so make sure you’re looking your best because the plates of food sure are! To start, you can expect fancy dishes like the luxurious truffle toast with mountains of fresh black truffle and decadent lashings of parmigiana cream.
From the raw bar section, we loved the fresh and punchy sea bass crudo with razor thin slices of sea bass served with radish, avocado and tangy miso mayonnaise. The bright green basil oil added zing and glossy colour throughout the dish and was a perfect accompaniment to the oysters (which are buy one get one free on Thursdays which is ‘ladies night’ from 5pm).
For mains, we feasted on slow cooked lamb shank with rich oriental spices, served with couscous and Moroccan salad decorated with sweetcorn and olives – the gravy poured over at the table for some extra theatre. A hunk of fresh grilled codfish grilled arrived proudly perched on top of a cauliflower and broccoli tabbouleh (like a low carb alternative to rice), but the garlic cream, beurre blanc and drizzle of basil oil, parsley and basil made up the calories!
We finished with a heavenly tiramisiu, removed from its glass jar at the table so the creamy filling oozed out across the layered sponge. Light and not too overpowered with coffee flavours, it was the perfect end to a super fancy meal. The later it gets, the bigger the buzz, but whether you’re there for a sunset drink, an early dinner or a late night party, Pastel will tick all your boxes. Click here to book.
