Sharing the 28th floor of 137 Pillars Bangkok with Nimitr fine dining rooftop restaurant and terrace, Jack Bain's Bar is a good place to start the evening or end the night come March.
The colonial signature Jack Bain’s Bar at 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok brings an ambience of the British colonial gentleman’s club to a hidden corner of the 28th floor, with a leather and teak interior, and a space that allows astonishing views across the cityscape.
The bars nostalgic and historical atmosphere harks back to the golden age of cocktails with craft colonial and Asian-inspired cocktails, premium whiskeys, sabered Champagne and bespoke spirits. Cocktails created by head bartender Thavon Wongyai form a signature listing that ranges from classics such as the Old Fashioned and Whisky Sour, through to home-crafted Thai-inspired cocktails using premium locally-produced and imported spirits.
Jack Bain’s Favourite is inspired by the man himself, a lover of whisky. Ingredients are Glenmorangie whisky and Martini Vermouth, topped with kaffir leaf and orange jelly infused with whisky.
Bain was a Scotsman whose father, William, was manager of the Borneo Company, which had logging concessions in the north of Thailand during the colonial era. William brought his family up in a teak homestead near the Ping River in Chiang Mai, which also served as the Borneo Company headquarters. When young Jack grew up he in turn became manager, and raised his own family in the house. Much later, after the company had ceased to trade, Jack sold it to the present owners who sensitively renovated the magnificent old teak property. The homestead now forms the centrepiece of 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai.
There is a Jack Bain’s Bar at 137 Pillars House, and the concept has been transported to 137 Pillars Bangkok, where it is inspired by the style that characterised the gentlemen’s clubs and helped to define the colonial era throughout the British Empire.
Jack Bain’s Bar in Bangkok has the classic club look of dark wood paneling, rich upholstery, plush leather chairs and subdued lighting. Club chairs made from leather and with overstuffed cushions provide informal seating for drinking and conversation, along with Chesterfield sofas, for settling back with a glass or two.
The Borneo pays homage to the Borneo Trading Company and is a blend of Regency Thai whisky and martini vermouth infused with the forestry aroma of smoked cinnamon and Borneo camphor, with a twinkle from the cinnamon swizzle stick covered in gold particles.
Baan Dum was the name of 137 Pillars House in the old timber trading days, the name meaning “black house”. Ingredients of this drink are Issan Thai rum and triple sec with a contrasting dash of lime. To add a distinctively Thai aroma roasted ground rice is used to garnish the glass.
It’s not all thirst-quenchers here. Light bar meals are on the menu and combine food that can be discovered in British clubland with dishes inspired by Thai classics.
Jack Bain’s Bar is open Wednesday to Sunday, 6-11pm. Call 02-079-7000 or Line: @137pillarshotels.
