I usually love to find unique bars when I travel abroad, especially speakeasies. This one, although not a speakeasy, has a very jungle-like feel! Once inside, there's a sense of needing to search for the bar within the jungle.
Before I went, I actually made a reservation, but I found that they didn't seem to care much about reservations here in Chiang Mai. I casually walked in, and they didn’t even ask if I had a reservation. However, the bartenders always kept a smile on their faces, and even though their English wasn't great, they still tried hard to explain things.
The drink menu actually looked quite rich… I ordered the ❤️Suppress. I highly recommend this drink—it combines Japanese plum wine with Thai chili to create a very harmonious flavor. The bartender mentioned that it was quite spicy while he was making it, but when I made a surprised face, it seemed like he adjusted it a bit! The resulting drink had a spicy kick in the mouth without being overwhelming, and combined with the plum wine, it was really smooth and delicious!
My friend's drink was also something he loved; he enjoys that smoky taste. The bartender was very creative in achieving the flavor my friend wanted.
Overall, I recommend this bar! However, it’s a pity I can't speak Thai, so I couldn't communicate much with the bartender. If you like to chat with bartenders, you might feel a little disappointed!
If you're staying near the Nimman area in Chiang Mai,
it's actually not hard to find this bar 🍸.
Their sign is quite large,
but the bar is located on the eighth floor of a hotel,
and the space inside is a bit small, so it doesn't accommodate many guests!
However, as soon as you step in, you'll be infected by the enthusiasm of the bartenders.
Their English skills are quite good,
and not only can they make the cocktails on the menu delicious,
but they can also pick up on your preferences and create a special cocktail to surprise you.
This is one of my favorite bars during my five days in Chiang Mai!
I specifically noted a few cocktails that impressed me:
❤️ Surr
This is the bar's signature cocktail and is one of the most ordered drinks, perhaps because its name is the same as the establishment's name, so many people instinctively order it. It truly deserves the title of signature cocktail because it perfectly suits the public's taste; the flavor is excellent, making it easy to accidentally finish a glass 🍸! If you slightly enjoy a sweet flavor, you won’t go wrong with this drink as your first choice!
❤️ Krathong
This drink is one of their new innovative cocktails, offering a very fragrant banana rice flavor combined with a hint of pineapple 🍍. It also has the unique fragrance of lychee skin. The first sip is truly surprising because it’s rare to come across such a unique-flavored cocktail. If they hadn’t recommended it, I might not have thought to try something with such a special taste!
❤️ Suay-Dork
It's remarkable how this cocktail manages to have a waxy 🕯️ smoky flavor, which is indeed surprising and makes me admire the bartender's creativity, along with a light jasmine fragrance blended in. Then, on the side, you get a cute little jasmine cookie. I believe this cocktail is not just a drink; it has a touch of ingenuity that gives you an astounding feeling while you’re drinking!
❤️ Maenak
This cocktail is a special creation by the bartender Sunny. After making it, he shared the story behind its name, which refers to a Thai ghost 😈. The origin of the story is that when Maenak was pregnant, her child passed away, but she didn’t realize she was dead and kept searching for her child!
It sounds like a somewhat scary story, but it also carries a hint of sadness. This cocktail has a slightly sour 🍋 taste, which seems a bit sad and evokes a sense of loss!
I highly recommend this bar. During my five days, I visited quite a few bars, but this is the only one I returned to for a second visit! I hope everyone who goes to Chiang Mai can experience it for themselves!
As soon as you open the door, it feels like another world~ Just stepping through a simple wooden door reminds me of Japan. The staff are all Japanese (and they can handle basic Chinese for ordering, so no worries), and most of the customers are also Japanese. Smoking is allowed indoors, so if you don’t like the smell of smoke, it might not be for you. The place isn’t big, but it has everything you need, and the restroom is at the back, so it can be a bit inconvenient if some customers drink too much, haha.
They focus on shochu here, but there are plenty of other alcoholic options available. It’s great for those who want to drink. The variety of shochu is vast, with many not listed on the menu, and you can enjoy it straight, with sparkling water, with oolong tea, or with flavored tea, depending on your preference. Daiyame has a hint of lychee and goes down easily, making it perfect for those new to drinking shochu. The staff recommended Torabana Kirishima, which is similar to Daiyame; it’s fragrant but has a stronger alcoholic taste, which isn’t bad at all. Then I tried the flavored tea for the first time, and it was quite good. Originally, I thought I’d have a gin and tonic as my last drink, but then a friend came, and I ended up having a fifth drink, a mud turtle (barley and sweet potato). Personally, I liked the barley one more as it was smoother.
Before I knew it, it was already four o’clock when we left. I heard my friend stayed until they closed at seven in the morning. If you don't mind the smell of smoke, this place is really quite nice; I would recommend it for practicing Japanese or just enjoying a drink.
This bar wasn't originally on my list, but I suddenly saw it on the map and thought it seemed like a pretty quiet place, so I decided to follow the route and give it a try! As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a very enthusiastic waitress who guided me to my seat. They were not only welcoming and polite, but their English was also very good, and they explained the drink menu in great detail.
Based on her recommendation, we ordered a somewhat special cocktail: ❤️mango sticky rice. After all, mango sticky rice is a local specialty dessert, so I thought it would be quite unique as a cocktail. However, it turned out to be a bit too sweet. While it perfectly masked the harshness of the alcohol, it was somewhat like mango coconut juice and lost its balance! It would be better if they could reduce the sugar a bit!
The drink my friend ordered was actually quite good, so if you have the chance and don't know where to go, you can try some of the other drinks on the menu—you might find some signature cocktails that are really enjoyable!
At first, we had a bit of trouble finding this bar 🍸. We wandered around in the vicinity when suddenly an old gentleman asked us if we were looking for a bar. He then directed us to a dark little path leading upstairs. Upon entering the bar, I felt amazed all the way through. Eventually, we found the bar behind a bookshelf 📖! The atmosphere inside the bar was great, and there were quite a variety of choices on the drink menu!
Before coming here, I actually made a reservation. However, since we arrived a bit early, there were actually available seats when we walked in! But after sitting for about 20 minutes, the place was already completely full! If you're planning to come a bit later, I suggest making a reservation!
The cocktail I ordered today is called ❤️Helen. It tastes quite nice and is a flavor that most girls would find acceptable, with a slightly sour and sweet taste. It’s a good way to kick off a night at the bar!
Overall, I think this bar is worth recommending. It's not too noisy and has a bit of novelty and fun to it! If it's your first time in Chiang Mai, you might want to give it a try!
MADE Taipei is located at the intersection of Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road and Section 1, Da'an Road, near the bustling East District shopping area. The store is on the second floor, and the silver sign at the first-floor entrance is quite eye-catching.
Although we came to a bar, for various reasons, it wasn't suitable to drink today. So, we only ordered pan-seared cherry duck breast, private house braised appetizer platter, crispy ten-spice chicken feet, Korean cheese steamed egg, and Tsingtao beer, totaling about NT$1,400. There were actually some other dishes, but for various reasons... anyway, that's that 🥹. The minimum spending at the store is actually NT$600 per person.
Pan-Seared Cherry Duck Breast: The duck breast has a lovely pink color and a delicate texture, with the duck skin, duck fat, and dipping sauce all complementing each other perfectly, allowing the rich aroma of duck meat fat to linger in the mouth. The salad was quite standard.
Private House Braised Appetizer Platter: This is ordinary but delicious braised food. The price of NT$260 is due to it being a bar, and it is indeed tasty, though the price is quite high. The more memorable items were the "tofu, baby corn, and beef," all well-braised and flavorful.
Crispy Ten-Spice Chicken Feet: Fried foods are always best eaten hot. The crispy thin skin is sprinkled with chili flakes and garlic bits, adding spiciness. The boneless chicken feet are easy to eat without any burden. I really liked this dish.
Korean Cheese Steamed Egg: The cheese flavor makes the steamed egg rich and smooth, and the topping of shrimp roe adds a luxurious touch. Enjoying the steamed egg with shrimp roe creates a delightful symphony of two completely different textures in the mouth.
Tsingtao Beer: The dried lemon slices provide a refreshingly crisp taste, helping to reset the palate while enjoying these rich-flavored dishes at the bar.
Overall, it’s a bar with quite good culinary standards. The store on the second floor feels a bit crowded; the space isn't very spacious, and the music is somewhat loud, leaning more towards the lively atmosphere of a Friday night.
I recommend it to everyone!
The Bug Bar is a hidden gem in Taitung, as it's almost impossible to find any information about it on Google Maps. However, you can find this place on Facebook. The entrance to the bar is actually a small gate, and once you step inside, there's a large courtyard, which might be surprising if it's your first visit.
I personally feel that the style of this bar leans towards the quirky side, as there are indeed artworks related to bugs, and the overall atmosphere has a strangely Ito Junji vibe. Whether you like it or not really depends on personal preference. Such a style is indeed rare in Taitung, but bars like this are quite common in Tainan.
As for the drinks, there is no menu, so the staff will guide you on what drinks to order and introduce the characteristics of their various cocktails. They generally offer classic cocktails or similar drinks; for example, since I like tequila, I chose a cocktail that has tequila as its base (please forgive me for forgetting the name; it's just too hard to remember, and I might have had a bit too much to drink 🤣). The cocktails are all on the refined side, so each drink basically costs around 400.
If you're in Taitung and want to change the bar atmosphere and don't want to stick to KTV places, this place is suitable.
A bar located directly across from National Taiwan University in the Gongguan shopping district.
I first learned about them while studying; at that time, they were still operating from the back door of National Taiwan University. Later, due to urban renewal, they moved to the front entrance of the university. My first experience trying their drinks after they moved was quite memorable.
To conclude, I think they are a really good bar within the Gongguan shopping district.
The bar is located in the basement, but it doesn't have the usual stuffiness or dampness that you might expect. The space is quite ample and perfect for hanging out with a few friends.
They have their own unique drink menu, and you can also order classic cocktails directly from the bartender. I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor of their signature cocktails; the one I ordered was full of bonito flavor, and I highly recommend it!
After enjoying some of their specialty drinks, I decided to try their classic cocktails.
To be honest, for a classic cocktail priced around three hundred NT dollars, their quality exceeded my expectations. I wasn't initially expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised! I ended up ordering several more drinks to try, and overall, the flavors were really good 👍.
I'm quite happy that, even in a bar market where drinks often cost over four hundred NT dollars each, I can enjoy a well-made cocktail for just over three hundred. Plus, their operating hours extend quite late, making it perfect for night owls!
This bar's location is easy to find~ And there are many different hotels nearby, so if you're staying in the area, it's easy to walk over! When I first arrived at the entrance, it actually felt quite American, but once inside, it gave off a kind of messy and dirty feeling. I felt a bit embarrassed, so I still sat down to order... Very casually, I ordered a drink and a snack.
❤️ Loaded Nachos
It had a very authentic taste, but the tortilla chips were a bit too salty and slightly soggy, and the cheese had a more cheap flavor. If you're just pairing them with drinks, the taste is okay, as the beans added a nice touch, and the flavor was a mix of sour and salty! However, as an Asian, I might find it a bit unusual. Considering the sauce and chips were quite salty, I kept drinking alcohol to go along with it!
❤️ 7th Street Margarita
I usually order a margarita 🍸 whenever I enter a bar. If they can make this basic cocktail well, I'll try other drinks! Unfortunately, I only ordered this one. People can probably understand why… The cocktail had too much syrup in it 🍬 and felt like drinking sugary water. Coupled with the very salty chips, I might wake up super swollen tomorrow morning!
Of course, seeing this description, I definitely do not recommend it. If you're traveling to downtown Los Angeles, perhaps look for other cleaner bars, as I truly won't be going back to this one!
You also really like speakeasies and you happen to be going on a free trip to Los Angeles. If I don’t recommend this bar, then I’m sorry for having been around this city for so long! 😂
This bar 🍷 is completely reservation-based. If you've already arranged your trip to Los Angeles, hurry up and book online! Otherwise, if you wait too long, you might miss out!
After making your reservation, arrive at the entrance at the scheduled time. A staff member will come out right away to greet you. After a short wait in the garden 🌹, other staff members will take you in group by group to the #bar.
Once you enter, you can see Disney artists painting beside you, and the overall decor creates a very dreamy atmosphere!
Next, a very professional person will open a door for you. Then, a bartender and an announcer will explain the history and the drinks. In front of you, there will be ready-to-serve spirits…
❤️ Harbinger Jakarta Rum
This first sip is the smoothest among the three spirits! Although it’s not the same as the rum you usually drink, it has an alcohol content of over 40 degrees, but it doesn’t have a burning sensation! The overall taste is very fragrant and smooth!
❤️ Rites of Fall Rye
Personally, this one didn’t particularly appeal to me! It tastes very much like whiskey... and I’ve never really understood the aroma of whiskey! I always feel that smoky taste is burning me... but I believe those who like it would love it!
❤️ Darling 58
This is made from the previous whiskey-like drink! If you love an Old Fashioned, then I think you will definitely enjoy it!
❤️ Three Fates Genepi Liquor 🍸
This one is distilled... I don’t really like it as much! It tastes kind of like... glutinous rice but with a slightly sour feeling that seems almost spoiled... even though the announcer said it is very much like sake 🍶, I personally don’t feel that at all.
In short, if you like getting drunk, I think this is a great opportunity. 🤭
After this series ends, everyone will be taken to a different lounge area to sample different drinks!
You can choose to enjoy at the lovely second-floor candle-lit area 🕯️ or experience it in a unique lighting setting on the first floor. Some people even sign up for membership at this time—returning every season to try different drinks!
For those who are interested, hurry up and make a reservation!
