I'll give you three clues about how to find the newly-opened bar Lucky Duck: follow the grey wall with white pineapple wall sculptures on Maitri Chit Road and Soi Nana n Yaowarat, then find a glossy black door and look for an upstairs entrance that screams "quack, quack!" with a replica of a roasted duck food stall.
Waddling into the shadow of bar-filled Soi Nana (the one in Chinatown, not the infamous one near BTS Nana), Lucky Duck, whose full name is Mister Ou's Famous Lucky Duck, is filled with design notes taken from classic Chinese cinematography. Lucky Duck understands the assignment in turning heads and leaving patrons in awe with its well-appointed decor that channels the street's sordid past, where present day boutique hotels were once brothels.
While the concept may be predictable, "another day, another Chinese-themed bar in Chinatown?", designer Nopadon “Ou” Baholyodhin, whose resume includes Sansiri's chief creative officer, former creative director for Jim Thompson and interior designer of stylish eateries like Contento and sky-high Mexican restaurant Ojo, pulled off the "Shanghai speakeasy meets Hollywood prohibition" vibe. Not only has he designed Lucky Duck, he also owns the place.
As low-key and sexy as it comes, the dim-lit speakeasy looks like a movie set where you can film part two of Da Hong Denglong Gaogao Gua (Raise The Red Lantern), thanks to its leopard sofa booth with a wooden canopy that draws inspiration from the classic Chinese wedding bed. Not to mention Chinese decor that amps up the ambience, like lanterns, Chinese masks and a dancing lion head, all of which are crafted by the local community.
A gold accent subtly exudes a touch of class, with a touch of the tropics from bamboo-covered pillars, palm tree-shaped lamps and exotic wallpapers from Jim Thompson's vintage collections — all carrying Ou's design signature.
Lean into the theme with thoughtfully-crafted signature cocktails like Rice Lady (B320), reminiscent of a piña colada with rum infused with pineapple, coconut and roasted rice. An obvious homage to Wong Kar-wai's In The Mood For Love, In the Mood (B380) is an aromatic and romantic mix of rose petal-infused gin, strawberry shrub, Strega and sparking wine. It is served with a mini rose-scented Castella cake.
Concubine (B420) is named after the iconic Chinese film Ba Wang Bie Ji (Farewell My Concubine). The drink offers a complex sip with a strong punch of sourness from Triple Sec and pomegranate-infused liqueur, along with a smokey whiff of mezcal. And just when you thought you'd experienced it all, a shichimi-coated rim gives you an umami aftertaste.
The Lucky Duck Negroni (B420) puts a floral and fragrant spin to the classic, mixed with rose petal-infused gin, chocolate sous vide Campari and herbal Cinzano vermouth.
Lucky Duck is open Wednesday through Sunday from 7pm till late. Call 090-898-2397, email luckyduckbkk@gmail.com or visit IG.com/luckyduckbkk.
