Bangkok's Millennium Hilton's 360 Bar

Sip a Martini or a Bellini at Bangkok's Best Jazz Bar the 360

May 19, 2009 John Howe

'What can I get you to dink, sir?' takes on a whole different meaning at the 360 Bar in Bangkok's Millennium Hilton Hotel.

One of the best places for a post-work week chill-out is the 360 Bar of Bangkok’s Millennium Hilton Hotel.

Choa Praya Views

Sitting on the very top of this 32-floor hotel, right on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the 360 Bar looks like a grounded flying saucer. Its floor-to-ceiling glass wall gives unrivalled views over Bangkok and both up and down river as it meanders its lazy way to the Gulf of Thailand.

Great Cocktails

A bonus is that the 360 serves what may be the best cocktails in Bangkok cleverly designed to reflect the time of day.

Bellini and More

In the mood for an appetising aperitif try what the 360 calls Bellini Sunset Collection? Now it is possible to have a classic Bellini just as it was first made originally made over 60 years ago in Venice’s Harry’s Bar and deliciously peachy it is too.

But the 360 has concocted a distinctive collection ranging from Apple-Cucumber Bellini, - a rapture in a glass, to the Pear and Rosemary creation that the menu described as ‘a delicious medley of Prosecco stirred with freshly poached pear and rosemary puree’.

Illuminated boats cleaved the glistening moonlight fracturing and strewing the pieces into a thousand luminescent crystal-like slivers across the surface.

The 360's "Extravagant Evening" drinks are just that - extravagant - and meant to be enjoyed as the evening shifts into night.

Their Grilled Orange Margarita a classic cocktail made with grilled and pressed Valencia orange, Grand Marnier, bitters and lime shaken with a premium Mexican tequila is a margarita like no other, a satisfying drink that needed to be taken at a slow pace.

Pasta at 360 Bar

As twilight fades into dusk and then to the darkness of the late night, the city’s lights flicker in the gloaming, you may want a snack and the 360 has a surprise in store here too.

Just like James Bond’s margarita the 360’s pasta dishes are shaken not stirred prepared piping hot from a cocktail shaker where all the ingredients are combined by the chef who proceeds to shake the constituents are served from the shaker to the plate. This certainly is a very different way to dish up a classic Italian favourite.

Jazz at 360 Bar

As night deepens the lights of Bangkok appears as fireflies hovering over the concrete jungle so resident singer CoCo York’s style of jazz lulls one into a state of funky reverie as she sings through the night and into the early morning. The chink of ice cubes falling into your cocktail glass and the ice-smooth notes of CoCo’s mellifluous voice are a match made in heaven.

Her voice is as plush and soft as fine velvet that soothes not just the savage breast but can induce a state of meditative reflection.

CoCo has seduced audiences across the world with her artful singing. She comes from the deep Southern US state of Louisiana and she is steeped in that wonderful tradition of mellow jazz. From Australia to Aruba, from Tokyo to Taipei CoCo has sung for the world’s leaders. Equally at home as a chanteuse for Bill Clinton as for the sophisticated audiences around the world, CoCo’s vocal style and repertoire are not to be missed.

For an evening of pure indulgence CoCo York’s voice, the 360 ambience and the perfect cocktails anywhere are just too good to miss.

But more than this simply to enjoy the glorious and ever changing river scene below, sipping a smooth libation while listening to contemplative jazz is just as perfect as Bangkok gets.

The copyright of the article Bangkok's Millennium Hilton's 360 Bar in Beer, Cocktails & Beverages is owned by John Howe. Permission to republish Bangkok's Millennium Hilton's 360 Bar in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

360 Bar