The community spirit of the Bangkok bar scene has always been a large factor of why I've stayed. The family ethos of bartenders is well known but the young Thai industry shows that time and time again, they look out for each other when times are tough. The impacts of the COVID pandemic has had devastating effects on the world with hospitality taking the biggest hit. Thailand's growing economy was sustained by the mass of tourists visiting each year, yet with travel restrictions and border closures, many of the country's great beach resorts and hotels have had to turn to domestic tourism or die.

The bar trade has also felt these pains, particularly with the government's hard stance on alcohol consumption. Even as I write with the new year beginning we face a second wave in Bangkok with the first set of rules to come in being a ban on alcohol sales in venues. This led to influx in sales online yet due to efforts to contain the spread of the virus an online ban has also been implemented. How does the Bangkok bar scene, which has exponentially grown in skill and world class venues, survive such impacts? I believe an approach to localization has been the defining factor.

Niks Anuman, Founder of the Teens of Thailand and Asia Today has been a champion in the fight against an oppressive opposition to alcohol consumption. However, with 2021’s latest rules, he has flipped his business. The famous gin bar where patrons enjoyed the ambience, watching bartenders mixing drinks is now a Dim Sum production line. Being situated in Bangkok’s ChinaTown has largely inspired this but with an average day of 1000 units being sold, he can sustain his business and keep his staff on the payroll.

Bar 335, A fairly new speakeasy on the scene has turned to supporting small independent coffee roasters. Instead of creative cocktails now they serve a visually appealing coffee centric menu. Bringing masses of instagrammers to their stores over the weekends.

Before the new set of lockdown rules, Gabriel Gliga, General manager of Havana Social had amassed a strong and loyal fan base for its cuban inspired venue and rum focussed beverage program. With the travel ban he sought to build the spirits of the bar scene by hosting a set of 12 bartender swaps over the summer period of 2020, This gave our bars hope in being able to spread the word of the smaller venues to the large base of consumers that would visit.

Bangkok’s bar scene will endure. Bars have created new offerings and even business models to continue their success. And the sense of community spirit and diversification of offerings will sustain its survival until normality will resume.