Bars, Cocktail Lounges & Nightlife — Bang Rak
The new name on Bangkok's most decorated bar address: Juxtabar in Bang Rak
A cocktail bar with a full back bar, a self-aware sense of humor, and zero interest in taking itself too seriously — now pouring drinks where Tropic City spent 8.5 years earning its reputation.
The Best in Bangkok Editorial Desk
July 2026
11 min read
Juxtabar
SPOTLIGHT
Juxtabar isn’t positioning itself as Charoen Krung 28’s next serious cocktail temple, and it doesn’t seem to be trying to. What comes through instead is a bar that’s confident enough to joke about its own “best bar” credentials while still pouring a full, well-stocked drinks program. If you’re after the meticulous, ingredient-led experience Tropic City was known for, temper expectations. If you want a lively room with a sense of humor and a photogenic corner, this looks like it delivers that.
Juxtabar isn’t trying to out-craft the cocktail bars that made this stretch of Charoen Krung famous. It’s doing something different: a well-stocked back bar, big drink spreads, staff who look like they’re having a good time on shift, and a social feed that pokes fun at “best bar” culture rather than chasing it earnestly. Add a blue-tiled photo corner regulars have already claimed and a “Lost & Found” board that says this is becoming a real neighbourhood spot, not just a launch-week pop-up.
Charoen Krung 28 is not a soi that hands its reputation to just anyone. For eight and a half years, the address at 672/65 belonged to Tropic City — the tropical rum bar that Swedish bartenders Sebastian De la Cruz and Philip Stefanescu opened in 2017 and turned into one of the most consistently recognised names on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, right up until its farewell party in April 2026. That’s the weight a new name at this address has to carry, whether it wants to or not.
What’s clear from the bar’s own Instagram is that it isn’t trying to inherit Tropic City’s tone along with the address. Where Tropic City built its identity on rum pedigree and tiki technique, Juxtabar’s feed reads like a bar that would rather make you laugh than impress you — a recent post claiming “Winner of Best Bar” in, as the caption itself admits, “a category we made up an hour before making this” tells you most of what you need to know about the personality here.
This is a working cocktail bar — a full back bar of spirits is visible in nearly every post, staff are shown pouring shots and building out ten-plus drink spreads for the camera, and there’s a distinct blue-patterned tile corner that’s clearly become the spot regulars pose in front of. A hand-written “Lost & Found” note board pinned near the bar is a small detail, but it’s the kind of thing that only shows up in a place people actually keep coming back to. There’s also World Cup viewing content in the mix, which suggests Juxtabar isn’t positioning itself purely as a serious cocktail destination — it’s angling to be somewhere people go for a good night out generally, drinks included.
Why we're watching this space
Bang Rak’s stretch of Charoen Krung has spent the better part of a decade turning from a quiet, colonial-era commercial road into one of Bangkok’s more serious drinking destinations — the kind of neighbourhood where a bar’s opening gets noticed by people who take cocktails seriously, not just by tourists working through a bucket list. A new operator inheriting an address this decorated has two paths: lean on the history, or make a clean break and build something that stands on its own. Based on what’s actually showing up on Juxtabar’s own feed, this one is taking the second path — meme-heavy captions, self-aware humor, and content built for shares rather than tasting notes. Whether that reads as refreshing or as skipping past the craft the address is known for probably depends on what you’re going in looking for.
Juxtabar vs. the neighbourhood's known names
Charoen Krung and greater Bang Rak already carry a handful of bars with real track records. Here’s how the area’s established names compare — and where Juxtabar would need to earn its place among them once its concept is confirmed.
| Venue | Area | Known For | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juxtabar | Bang Rak (Charoen Krung 28) | Full-spirits cocktail bar with a playful, meme-driven social media presence. | [PLACEHOLDER] |
| BKK Social Club | Sathorn (Four Seasons) | Latin American-inspired cocktails served in an elegant Belle Époque-style setting. | $$$ |
| Tax Bar | Pom Prap Sattru Phai | Creative vinegar-based cocktails hidden behind an unmarked entrance. | $$ |
| Crimson Room | Soi Nana, Charoen Krung | Rum-focused cocktail menu highlighting Southeast Asian flavours. | $$ |
| Charoenkrung Cafe Bar | Bang Rak | Relaxed neighbourhood bar offering beers and classic cocktails. | $ |
| OFTR | Sathorn Soi 12 | Classic cocktails served in an intimate bar above Samlor restaurant. | $$ |
| Lebua Sky Bar | Silom / State Tower | Iconic rooftop bar with panoramic city views and a formal dress code. | $$$$ |
BKK Social Club
Set inside the Four Seasons on the river, BKK Social Club leans into Belle Époque Buenos Aires — marble bar, gilded gates, bartenders in lab coats pouring mezcal-and-coffee negroni riffs. It’s polished in a way a neighbourhood bar isn’t trying to be, and the hotel setting shows in the prices. Worth it if you want the five-star version of a night out rather than the soi-level one.
Tax Bar
No sign, just graffiti reading “Nothing is certain but death & tax” — the menu of vinegar-based cocktails was born as a response to Thailand’s alcohol tax structure, and the bar hasn’t softened that edge since. Run by the Teens of Thailand team, it’s a strong pick if you want a drink with an actual point of view, though the concept can feel more interesting to read about than to drink through twice.
Crimson Room
Just off Soi Nana, Crimson Room built its name on an aged rum collection and a Thai chilli-and-lime daiquiri that regulars order by name. It’s a solid, unfussy choice in a stretch of Charoen Krung that can otherwise feel a little overdressed.
Charoenkrung Cafe Bar
This one doesn’t try to be a destination — it’s a cafe-by-day, bar-by-night spot with a decent beer and cocktail selection and staff regulars seem to actually know by name. Fine for a casual stop, but it’s not where you’d take someone you’re trying to impress.
OFTR
Sitting above Samlor on Sathorn Soi 12, OFTR (“On Top of The Rock”) keeps things simple — classic cocktails, relaxed room, no theatrics. Useful as a pre- or post-dinner stop, less so as a night’s main event.
Lebua Sky Bar
Famous mostly for its cameo in a Hollywood film and the views that come with 63 floors of height, Lebua’s Sky Bar is the version of “Bangkok rooftop bar” most visitors have already heard of before landing. That fame comes with dress codes, queues, and prices that reflect the view more than what’s in the glass.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of bar is Juxtabar in Bang Rak?
Juxtabar is a cocktail bar with a full spirits selection, known for a playful, meme-driven social presence rather than a formal mixology pitch. [PLACEHOLDER — confirm exact menu focus and pricing.]
Where is Juxtabar located?
672/65 Soi Charoen Krung 28, Khwaeng Bang Rak, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500 — the address formerly occupied by Tropic City until its April 2026 closure.
What are Juxtabar's opening hours?
[PLACEHOLDER — confirm before publishing.]
How do I get to Juxtabar?
The nearest station is Saphan Taksin BTS, about a 12 to 15 minute walk into the Charoen Krung 28 soi, or a short Grab ride if you’d rather skip the walk in the heat.
Is Juxtabar related to Tropic City?
[PLACEHOLDER — confirm any actual relationship, ownership overlap, or lack thereof before publishing. Do not imply continuity that isn’t real.]
