Have a Guinness

by Scott Coates

While Thailand’s beers, Singha, Leo and Chang are tasty, I prefer darker ales when available. In fact my favorite beer is almost as dark as they come.

My love affair with Guinness began back in 1993 during a visit to England. It was hardly love as I remember having to plug my nose to drink what tasted awful at that time. For some reason I got it in my head that Guinness was a special beer that if I applied myself I would come to like. A handful of forced glasses, a few years of age on my part and it’s now my favorite beer – period.

When I moved to Asia in 1999 there were only a few places in Bangkok that

The author enjoying a pint

served Guinness and it was expensive – about $10US/pint. Occasionally I treated myself to the odd pint but it was a rare thing. During the Rugby World Cup in 2007 Guinness dropped in price to about $5US/pint and my love affair was reignited. Over the last few years the number of pubs serving Guinness has grown considerably around the city much to my and travelers’ delight.

While we expose our guests to as many things Thai during Smiling Albino adventures we well understand the need to replenish one’s iron levels and enjoy a creamy pint of thick black goodness now and again. While Smiling Albino has not had a Guinness at every establishment in Bangkok serving it (we’re getting close) we have some favorites to share. When you’re in the City of Angels and in need of a pint, try these places:

The Dubliner
Perhaps Bangkok’s best Irish Pub, the décor is cozy, staff friendly, pub food tasty and they serve a nice pint of Guinness. Ask them to take their time on the pour and they’re more than happy to prolong it. Tuesdays are a perfect day to indulge as they have a promotion where your first pint is full price and subsequent pints are 100B/each ($3.5US).

Gulliver’s
They have several locations around the country but the Sukhumvit Soi 5 location is my favorite due to their patio. Despite being a hot country there are few patios in Bangkok. Gulliver’s has a large one and the crowd on Soi 5 is very interesting to watch to say the least. Friendly staff, pool tables inside, sports on large TVs and a diverse menu make this a good place for everyone.

Soi 8 Pub & Restaurant
A little gem tucked in Sukhumvit Soi 8, this place feels like any pub overseas. Nothing fancy, but good pours, a decent menu and pretty good band keeps things moving at night. It’s best at night and again they’re happy to take their time pouring the pint if you ask.

The Roadhouse
A huge restaurant/pub located in a prime location, The Roadhouse has it all – food, sports, foosball, and yes, Guinness. Three floors make up this large meeting place that focuses on barbeque foods and they do it well. While one of the more expensive pints in the city it’s a nice place to relax for a while before hitting the town.

Mojo’s
A bit of a different place that’s definitely not for everyone, if you’re looking for music, a dark room and coyote dancers, this is the place. Featuring friendly staff, pool tables, a decent live band and of course Guinness, this is a fun place to see a slightly darker side of Bangkok – worth a visit for at least one pint.

If you’re in need of an international beer (please try a few Thai varieties first), the above mentioned are good bets. Enjoy your pint!

TAGS: None