The Havana Social Bangkok is a new hidden bar located on a small alley down Sukhumvit Soi 11, in this city of angels. Before we went there I was expecting some cool place with a 1940’s Havana style with great cocktails. Well, it turned out this is one of the most beautiful bars we have ever seen. Drinks? Awesome as well. Enjoy this Havana Social review and imagine yourself here with a cold one in one hand and a fat cigar in another.”Viva la revolución“
Contents
Ambiance
Every hidden bar has its unique entrance and this one ticks all the boxes. Outside we found a “normal” phone booth where we dialed Havana Social secret code. Hint: for a code, ask a guy who is selling Cubano Sandwiches in front of this phone booth. With the right code, the secret doors open and you step into a totally different world. It’s an artistic place, half a world away from its actual location. Whoever designed it has a true talent and entering this bar sent us right to Havana.
Welcome to Havana Social
Dimmed lighting with old antique furniture and shabby walls conjure the warm rustic ambiance. The music is just right for this place and on weekends, there’s a live performance by a Cubano band with salsa rhythms. If you are a passionate salsa dancer, you’ll definitely want to return back for another dance night. The right address for all the event details is the bar and the staff will be happy to fill you in.
As an illustration, The timber bar is respectively long with vintage wooden bar stools. Here, behind the bar, the barmen worked their magic, while we sat on the velvet sofa waiting for our drinks. Anyway, Habana Social stretches for one more story. On the second floor, there’s a lounge with the same theme and a huge cigar collection. What could be more Cuban than drinking some good rum and enjoying a Cuban cigar?
Perfect Design
Havana Social is full of details, even when it comes to the restrooms, where you can listen to revolutionary speeches of Fidel Castro while looking at old posters. When we were sitting there and enjoying our cocktails our desire to see Cuba became more intense. The owners of this bar really know how to bring Havana to the Orient!
Drinks Selection
Looks like bars here in Bangkok are taking stock serious. First, there was The WoodShed Bar and then The Bamboo Bar with a crazy offer. In the same fashion, the Havana Social is one seriously stocked bar, and their menu is nothing short of extensive. We knew that it was a rum oriented bar, but there is also so much more. There’s a short list of vodkas, gins, tequilas and quite a long list of single malts. Even Hibiki can be an option if you are for Japanese whiskey.
When it comes to rums, they are listed by a country of origin. They hold rums from Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Cuba, Colombia, Brazil, Virgin Island, Indonesia, Philippines, Panama, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and much more – an outstanding collection if you ask me. Additionally, at Havana Social serve also the wine, beer, and of course soft drinks.
Cocktails are sorted as Pre-revolution, Post-revolution, special shoots, and mocktails. The recipes are interesting and it is quite hard to choose the right one for your night. By the way, even the drink menu is thoughtfully designed in a 1940’s Havana style. Like I said: details!
Our Cocktails
Yes, I agree here at Havana Social hidden bar, you will have a hard time to choose your drink. Everything sounds so amazingly good! After ten minutes of holding this drinking card, we opted for the spicy “Capitol Couture” for myself and the sweet “Ricardo Robson” for my lady. After finding out how great the cocktails were, I ordered one real Cuban-style “Old Fashioned”
Capitol Couture
This Thai inspired cocktail is made of vanilla & turmeric Infused 42 Below Vodka, house salted caramel syrup, fresh lime, pimento ginger soda, Thai chili, and it’s topped with a pinch of rock salt. The slightly spicy taste goes pretty well with the vanilla and caramel. The tropical taste of ginger and turmeric come second on the palate when the alcohol is well hidden. You get a nice spicy kick in your throat and the salt ensures a pleasant aftertaste of lime and ginger. This cocktail is perfect for a hot tropical night or as a warming up drink before your salsa steps.
Ricardo Robson
Even after research, I have no idea who this Ricardo Robson is. Well, I find a folk singer, but doubt it’s the one they were referring to. Anyway, the name doesn’t matter here, and Vivi was instantly impressed with this cocktail. How could she not be when there was a huge piece of a real honeycomb full of honey for garnish!
The Ricardo Robson is made of Diplomatico Anejo Rum, house hibiscus grenadine, fresh orange and lime, blood orange liqueur and a touch of honey. The citrus taste infused with hibiscus is the first thing you will notice. After that, the honey aroma lifts up the citruses and rounds out the rum, which is actually pretty strong. This cocktail is no virgin, that’s for sure.
Nibbling the honeycomb is not just tasty but it complements the drink very well. The aftertaste is completely citrusy with pomegranate in front. A top-notch cocktail!
Old-Fashioned
Obviously, this cocktail is a bit manlier. It is made of Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Bourbon, Angostura bitters, lemon zest oil and a sugar cube. In the foreground, you will taste Evan Williams Bourbon. The Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Bourbon from Kentucky is actually a great entry-level bourbon with classic sweet vanilla taste and a rich oak finish. However, this mixture goes well with the citrusy flavors and sweet sugar kick. The zesty aroma follows at all times, even when the alcohol shows up. This cocktail is pretty strong and can be classified as a man’s drink.
Our Review of Havana Social Secret Bar
Havana Social is one of the best hidden bars we have ever been to. We are glad we found it and we warmly recommend to all our readers. They have great drink selection, and hungry belly can be filled here as well: a good Cubano sandwich is a nice base for cocktails later. The first thing to remember, the ambiance at Havana Social is breathtaking and all the details will get you in the right mood. With this in mind, we won’t be surprised if this will become the most instagramable bar in Bangkok.
Havana lovers, good artisan drinks lovers or simply salsa lovers will find their place here. Don’t forget to put on one of their hats for a selfie session with your rum and cigar! Ouu, I almost forget. Havana Social is only a few steps away from this great wine bar – The Bar Upstairs. Maybe you should check it out as well if you are here in the neighborhood.
Havana Social Review Card
- ATMOSPHERE – 9.7/109.7/10
- SERVICE – 9.2/109.2/10
- DRINK SELECTION – 9.2/109.2/10
- PRESENTATION – 9.1/109.1/10
- OUR DRINKS – 9.4/109.4/10
- VALUE – 8.9/108.9/10
Price and Location
Cocktails at Havana Social will cost you anywhere from 10 USD to 13 USD. However, our visit costed about 30 USD, which is a bargain for a place like this. If you would like to give it a try and enjoy this Havana Social spirit, here is the link to a location.
Dress Code at Havana Social
Just don’t forget your decent attire: the dress code here prohibits open shoes like sandals, flip-flops etc for men. Yes, my dears, Birkenstocks are also open shoes and ugly as well, so leave them at home or in the garbage!
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