Thailand’s Hottest Rooftop Bars: Sky-High Sundowners in Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Pattaya

Thailand has perfected the art of the rooftop bar, blending epic skyline views with inventive cocktails, poolside glamour and destination‑worthy dining. From Chiang Mai’s misty mountains to Bangkok’s glittering skyscrapers and Pattaya’s Gulf of Thailand panoramas, a new generation of sky bars is redefining where to watch the sunset – and where to stay.

Chiang Mai: Walk a Glass Bridge Above the City

Perched on the 22nd floor, MAI The Sky Bar at Meliá Chiang Mai is the highest rooftop bar in the city and one of its most dramatic. The 360‑degree venue looks out over the Ping River to the east and towards Doi Suthep Temple to the west, with tiered terraces at different heights and a glass bridge linking the highest seating areas for serious “wow” factor at sunset. Glass balustrades keep the focus firmly on the view, while live bands and DJs turn the space into one of Chiang Mai’s liveliest late‑night spots.​

Leaning into Meliá’s Spanish heritage, the menu is divided into tapas‑style “Para Picar”, sharing boards under “Tableros”, and “Postres” for dessert, backed by creative cocktails inspired by the forests and mountains around Chiang Mai. The bar is also building a reputation for event programming, including a Beats and Baubles Christmas Eve celebration, a New Year’s Eve countdown and a Spanish Gastronomy Series with visiting chefs hosting four‑day culinary showcases that culminate in Sky & Vine finale nights with wine pairings and live entertainment on the Upper Deck.​

Bangkok: Sip Cocktails Beside a Transparent Infinity Pool

In the capital, INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit takes the rooftop game up a notch with The Giant Swing Pool Bar on the 34th floor, wrapped around a transparent infinity pool that doubles as a show‑stopping photo backdrop. A contemporary interpretation of Bangkok’s famous Brahman Giant Swing structure anchors the space, while an expansive terrace scattered with loungers and daybeds channels an Ibiza‑meets‑Bangkok vibe with panoramic skyline views.​

Open from 10am until midnight, the pool bar serves Mediterranean, Thai and international snacks – including the hotel’s signature INNSiDE Burger – alongside a line‑up of playful cocktails. After dark it becomes an upper‑level extension of LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar one floor below, where guests can even look up into the base of the infinity pool. Wednesdays are all about “Viva la Fiesta”, a weekly rooftop party with guest DJs, live percussion, paella and sweeping night‑time views, while the Giant Swing Pool Bar also hosts a New Year’s Eve celebration that runs from early evening through to the small hours.​

Pattaya: Toast the Gulf of Thailand at a Wellness‑Inspired Sky Bar

Pattaya’s rooftop scene has a stylish new addition in Yitong Sky Bar, crowning the 12th floor of the newly opened Meliá Pattaya Hotel with sweeping views over the Gulf of Thailand. Part of Yitong Chinese Restaurant & Sky Bar, the venue focuses on Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine with an emphasis on health and sustainability, positioning itself as “goodness for body, mind and soul”.​

The bar’s cocktail list is as thoughtful as the food: signatures include Kuaile De, featuring goji‑berry‑infused gin with honey, lemon and cava; Chun Hou, blending brandy, orange curaçao, rosella tea and rose syrup; and Tian De, a more robust mix built around Campari, ginseng and Chinese liquor. The name Yitong, meaning “together”, nods to Chonburi’s historic Chinese communities and is reflected in family‑style dishes and a social, share‑plate atmosphere. High above the shoreline, Yitong Sky Bar will see out the year with a New Year’s Eve Countdown party complete with gourmet canapés, free‑flow house wine and local beer, plus a midnight glass of sparkling wine, while the hotel’s “Chill & Cheers Escape” package includes a welcome cocktail at the bar for an easy rooftop‑centric getaway.​

Whether you’re drawn to Chiang Mai’s glass bridge in the sky, Bangkok’s transparent infinity pool or Pattaya’s wellness‑minded Gulf views, these extraordinary rooftop bars prove that in Thailand, the best nights out often begin far above street level.