The IBIS Riverside has great views for under 1800 baht a night with pool and breakfast. Also great food nearby.

One of the best hotel deals in the city.

11 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Twice as bad as Phuket

Thats inaccurate - AQI in BKK is 27 and Phuket is 41 (from your own data) - BKK is better than Phuket not twice as bad.

Additionally, its not really a like for like comparison - Capital city vs Island Beach ?

Compare the AQI to other capital cities and you'll get my point further - Your implication was that a roof-top bars might not be enjoyable because of the pollution in Bangkok - the AQI sites prove that implication wrong.

Bangkok Air Quality index is currently 'Good' - though admittedly the AQI becomes poor around end of December-January time.

You're looking for reasons 'not to' enjoy something and coming up with flawed evidence.

- and

AQI in BKK at the moment - is currently Good - kind of idea for a rooftop bar.

8 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Bangkok Air Quality index is currently 'Good' - though admittedly the AQI becomes poor around end of December-January time.

so it's only a couple of months of year the air gets bad?

Thats inaccurate - AQI in BKK is 27 and Phuket is 41 (from your own data) - BKK is better than Phuket not twice as bad.

Not my data. Hummin data. Forecast is 65 for Thursday. Triple that of Phuket.

2 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

so it's only a couple of months of year the air gets bad?

Bad all year. Massive amount of cars there. He is crowing about 1 day of data which is highly misleading.

Bangkok has massive amounts of rubbish too.

14 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Additionally, its not really a like for like comparison - Capital city vs Island Beach ?

Compare the AQI to other capital cities and you'll get my point further - Your implication was that a roof-top bars might not be enjoyable because of the pollution in Bangkok - the AQI sites prove that implication wrong.

Beach bars on the mainland too. Much cheaper than Bangkok.

Bangkok is hot and humid 365 days a year with no sea breeze. You can cherry pick 1 low AQI day but it means little.

A freshing sea breeze makes a bar in a hot climate far more pleasant.

49 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

I visit Bangkok 3 times a year. Polluted all year round. I go to a night market under trees and the trees absorb some pollution. Those rooftop bars are very pretentious. The fact you can't name 3 genuine reasons for liking them means they are.

Not quite. I haven't tried to name three reasons at all, because it's ultimately pointless. If you don't enjoy rooftop bars, I'm unlikely to change your mind, just as I wouldn't persuade someone who dislikes beaches.

The difference is that I'm not inventing reasons to like or dislike something. We all have preferences. My point is simply that your criticisms seem to start from a negative premise and lack much balance.

You've also stated that Bangkok is polluted all year round because you've visited three times a year. That's demonstrably incorrect. I live in Bangkok, and while there are periods when the air quality is genuinely awful, particularly during burning season, there are also long stretches when the AQI is great. In fact, when conditions deteriorate, much of Thailand is often affected, not just Bangkok - As proven the AQI in Bangkok right now is good.

49 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

A beach bar has a sea breeze, less pollution, less noise plus you can walk on the beach. Western cities have rooftop bars too but don't have Thai style beach bars so Bangkok rooftop bars are not unique or special.

Icon Siam has great views. I've been there a few times. Nice food too.

I'll play your game - a beach bar has Sand everywhere, in shoes, drinks and food, Mosquitoes and sandflies, Humidity and sweating, Strong sun and risk of sunburn, Wind blowing napkins, menus and hats away. Stray dogs or animals wandering around, Seaweed, jellyfish or unpleasant smells, Crowds and noisy families, Drunken tourists (roof bars too !), Limited parking or difficult access, Rain squalls with little shelter, Expensive "tourist pricing" (roof bars too), Poor toilet facilities, Dark beaches at night with limited lighting.....

.... My point here is we can find something negative to fit our bias if we want to, none of these automatically make beach bars bad, just as lifts, heights, dress codes or expensive cocktails don't automatically make rooftop bars bad. Whether they're negatives or minor inconveniences depends largely on whether you enjoy the overall experience.

Personally, I think beach bars are great, so are bars on the side of a the river, side of a mountain, or on a rooftop in the middle of a city - each have their highlights - or if we are negative enough we can find negatives - which is what you have done.

So - if you want a direct answer: For cities like Bangkok, rooftop bars are particularly appealing because they offer a rare escape from street-level traffic, heat, and congestion and showcase the city's vast skyline with amazing views.

Many good things include....

• Spectacular panoramic views of the city skyline.

• Watching the sunset with an unobstructed horizon.

• A feeling of being above the noise and chaos below.

• Cooler breezes, especially in tropical cities.

• Unique photo opportunities and memorable backdrops.

• The atmosphere feels more exclusive and special.

• Seeing landmarks illuminated at night.

• Great place for dates and romantic evenings.

• A sense of escape without leaving the city.

• Excellent people-watching from a different perspective.

• The transition from daylight to city lights creates a unique ambience.

• Perfect setting for celebrations and special occasions.

• Open-air environment compared to enclosed bars.

• The contrast between a relaxed drink and a bustling city beneath you.

• Watching storms, lightning, or weather roll across the skyline from a safe distance.

• Better appreciation of a city's scale and layout.

• A "holiday feeling" even when you're in your own city.

• Live music or DJs often feel more atmospheric outdoors.

• The combination of views, lighting, music, and altitude creates an experience that's difficult to replicate anywhere else.

But, if you still think Bangkok is polluted all year round and thats why you hate rooftop bars - so be it.

1 minute ago, Rockyroad said:

Beach bars on the mainland too. Much cheaper than Bangkok.

Bangkok is hot and humid 365 days a year with no sea breeze. You can cherry pick 1 low AQI day but it means little.

I didn't 'cherry pick' one low AQI day - I simply chose today.

... and also live here all year round so know exactly the extent of pollution - or in most cases, lack thereof.

1 minute ago, Rockyroad said:

A freshing sea breeze makes a bar in a hot climate far more pleasant.

Again - flawed premise with the implication that you wouldn't get a breeze at a rooftop bar.

By the way - I'm not trying to convince you to like rooftop bars - I'm simply countering the bo!!ox you are writing - because making up rubbish based on bias and no experience is, well, bo!!ox.

14 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

so it's only a couple of months of year the air gets bad?

One thing that often gets overlooked in these discussions is that Bangkok's air quality problem is largely seasonal, not year-round.

The main issue is the burning season, typically from Late December, January, with February and March often being poor - During this period, agricultural burning across Northern Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, combined with forest fires, releases large amounts of PM2.5 into the atmosphere. That smoke can travel hundreds of kilometres and affect Bangkok even though the fires are nowhere near the city.

At the same time, the cool, dry season creates stable atmospheric conditions and temperature inversions that trap pollution close to the ground. Add Bangkok's traffic, diesel vehicles, construction dust and general urban emissions, and air quality can deteriorate quite quickly.

However, from around May through November, conditions are often completely different. Regular rainfall helps wash particulates out of the air, stronger atmospheric mixing disperses pollution, and AQI levels are mostly in the Good range.

During these months, Bangkok can have air quality comparable to many European cities.

That's why the statement that "Bangkok is polluted all year round" isn't accurate.

There are periods when the air is genuinely awful, and anyone living here will acknowledge that. But there are also long stretches of the year when air quality is perfectly reasonable.

The city's reputation is largely driven by the severity of the burning season, not by conditions throughout the entire year.

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I didn't 'cherry pick' one low AQI day - I simply chose today.

... and also live here all year round so know exactly the extent of pollution - or in most cases, lack thereof.

Again - flawed premise with the implication that you wouldn't get a breeze at a rooftop bar.

By the way - I'm not trying to convince you to like rooftop bars - I'm simply countering the bo!!ox you are writing - because making up rubbish based on bias and no experience is, well, bo!!ox.

I've been to Bangkok 65 times. It is a very polluted city. Your cherry picked posting is nonsense. Massive traffic, loads of rubbish and polluted most days.

Tomorrow the forecast AQI is 3x Phuket which proves you wrong.

15 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Not quite. I haven't tried to name three reasons at all, because it's ultimately pointless. If you don't enjoy rooftop bars, I'm unlikely to change your mind, just as I wouldn't persuade someone who dislikes beaches.

The difference is that I'm not inventing reasons to like or dislike something. We all have preferences. My point is simply that your criticisms seem to start from a negative premise and lack much balance.

You've also stated that Bangkok is polluted all year round because you've visited three times a year. That's demonstrably incorrect. I live in Bangkok, and while there are periods when the air quality is genuinely awful, particularly during burning season, there are also long stretches when the AQI is great. In fact, when conditions deteriorate, much of Thailand is often affected, not just Bangkok - As proven the AQI in Bangkok right now is good.

I'll play your game - a beach bar has Sand everywhere, in shoes, drinks and food, Mosquitoes and sandflies, Humidity and sweating, Strong sun and risk of sunburn, Wind blowing napkins, menus and hats away. Stray dogs or animals wandering around, Seaweed, jellyfish or unpleasant smells, Crowds and noisy families, Drunken tourists (roof bars too !), Limited parking or difficult access, Rain squalls with little shelter, Expensive "tourist pricing" (roof bars too), Poor toilet facilities, Dark beaches at night with limited lighting.....

.... My point here is we can find something negative to fit our bias if we want to, none of these automatically make beach bars bad, just as lifts, heights, dress codes or expensive cocktails don't automatically make rooftop bars bad. Whether they're negatives or minor inconveniences depends largely on whether you enjoy the overall experience.

Personally, I think beach bars are great, so are bars on the side of a the river, side of a mountain, or on a rooftop in the middle of a city - each have their highlights - or if we are negative enough we can find negatives - which is what you have done.

So - if you want a direct answer: For cities like Bangkok, rooftop bars are particularly appealing because they offer a rare escape from street-level traffic, heat, and congestion and showcase the city's vast skyline with amazing views.

Many good things include....

• Spectacular panoramic views of the city skyline.

• Watching the sunset with an unobstructed horizon.

• A feeling of being above the noise and chaos below.

• Cooler breezes, especially in tropical cities.

• Unique photo opportunities and memorable backdrops.

• The atmosphere feels more exclusive and special.

• Seeing landmarks illuminated at night.

• Great place for dates and romantic evenings.

• A sense of escape without leaving the city.

• Excellent people-watching from a different perspective.

• The transition from daylight to city lights creates a unique ambience.

• Perfect setting for celebrations and special occasions.

• Open-air environment compared to enclosed bars.

• The contrast between a relaxed drink and a bustling city beneath you.

• Watching storms, lightning, or weather roll across the skyline from a safe distance.

• Better appreciation of a city's scale and layout.

• A "holiday feeling" even when you're in your own city.

• Live music or DJs often feel more atmospheric outdoors.

• The combination of views, lighting, music, and altitude creates an experience that's difficult to replicate anywhere else.

But, if you still think Bangkok is polluted all year round and thats why you hate rooftop bars - so be it.

I would rather you not try to convince him that Bangkok is a good place. The last thing the city needs is another weird dude slithering around, gawking at people and generally making everyone uncomfortable. Better to leave him cocooned in the belief that Bangkok is somehow undesirable.

In any case, the city probably sits well beyond the limits of his shoestring budget. From his perspective, it is far easier to dismiss something than admit it is financially out of reach. Everyone is better off if he remains tucked away in his far flung village in Isaan, hunting down the lowest prices Thailand has to offer.

At the end of the day, strip away all the excuses and elaborate justifications for why he dislikes certain places, and only one thing remains standing. Cost.

2 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

I've been to Bangkok 65 times. It is a very polluted city. Your cherry picked posting is nonsense. Massive traffic, loads of rubbish and polluted most days.

Tomorrow the forecast AQI is 3x Phuket which proves you wrong.

Nothing cherry picked - I simply picked today without further thought. After you have highlighted it, I also recognise the Bangkok AQI projection for the rest of the week is worse than Phuket - which makes sense given one is a Capital city with 20-25x the population of the other, an island.

I'm not sure that will make Rooftop bars the unbearable experience you are attempting to portray.

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

Where you live now?

On the Mekong river, east of Ubon.

13 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

play your game - a beach bar has Sand everywhere, in shoes, drinks and food, Mosquitoes and sandflies, Humidity and sweating, Strong sun and risk of sunburn, Wind blowing napkins, menus and hats away. Stray dogs or animals wandering around, Seaweed, jellyfish or unpleasant smells, Crowds and noisy families, Drunken tourists (roof bars too !), Limited parking or difficult access, Rain squalls with little shelter, Expensive "tourist pricing" (roof bars too), Poor toilet facilities, Dark beaches at night with limited lighting.....

Ban Krut and Bang Saphan have 50 baht meals on the beach with decent well behaved farangs and not that many of them. No mozzie issues there. Plenty of parking. Safe beach to walk on. Cheap rooms near the beach. Nice view of the temple on the hill. No dog issues.

Ao Manao has all day seating on the beach. Cheap food. Great view. No dog issues. Plenty of parking. Clothes for sale nearby. 60 baht gym.

Those Bangkok bars are pretty lame and rather a rip off full of pretentious snobs.

7 minutes ago, atpeace said:

On the Mekong river, east of Ubon.

You have a houseboat?

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Nothing cherry picked - I simply picked today without further thought. After you have highlighted it, I also recognise the Bangkok AQI projection for the rest of the week is worse than Phuket - which makes sense given one is a Capital city with 20-25x the population of the other, an island.

I'm not sure that will make Rooftop bars the unbearable experience you are attempting to portray.

Nothing terrible just overpriced drinks for a view. Icon Siam has the best views in the city and the view is free. It also has the best food court in Thailand.

2 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Ban Krut and Bang Saphan have 50 baht meals on the beach with decent well behaved farangs and not that many of them. No mozzie issues there. Plenty of parking. Safe beach to walk on. Cheap rooms near the beach. Nice view of the temple on the hill. No dog issues.

Ao Manao has all day seating on the beach. Cheap food. Great view. No dog issues. Plenty of parking.

That's part of the reason why Thailand is so great - there's something for everyone.

2 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Clothes for sale nearby. 60 baht gym.

Places selling clothes you say... erm, ok.

2 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Those Bangkok bars are pretty lame and rather a rip off full of pretentious snobs.

Now we're getting closer to the root of your bias, and it appears to be financially driven.

In hindsight, I should probably have left it at, "If it has to be explained to you, you won't get it"

Instead of simply saying Bangkok isn't your thing, you've moved on to attaching labels and making sweeping generalisations about the people who are there and go to bars there, portraying them as pretentious snobs. That's where the argument starts to lose objectivity.

Not liking something is perfectly reasonable. Assuming that everyone who enjoys it shares some negative character trait is something else entirely.

At this point, you're no longer discussing the venue or even the city. You're viewing the subject through a singularly negative lens and then working backwards to justify that conclusion. That's bias, not objectivity.

You're free to dislike rooftop bars, Bangkok etc, but dismissing those who enjoy the place as pretentious or shallow says more about your preconceptions than it does about the venues themselves. It's not a particularly intelligent starting point for a balanced discussion.

I like Bangkok,

7 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

You have a houseboat?

You have a houseboat?ou have a houseboat?

Not in but on:) hmm, across the street from the river would be a better description. A few house boats in the area which would be cool but never looked into living on one or even if it allowed.

Edited June 24Jun 24 by atpeace

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

That's part of the reason why Thailand is so great - there's something for everyone.

Places selling clothes you say... erm, ok.

Now we're getting closer to the root of your bias, and it appears to be financially driven.

In hindsight, I should probably have left it at, "If it has to be explained to you, you won't get it"

Instead of simply saying Bangkok isn't your thing, you've moved on to attaching labels and making sweeping generalisations about the people who are there and go to bars there, portraying them as pretentious snobs. That's where the argument starts to lose objectivity.

Not liking something is perfectly reasonable. Assuming that everyone who enjoys it shares some negative character trait is something else entirely.

At this point, you're no longer discussing the venue or even the city. You're viewing the subject through a singularly negative lens and then working backwards to justify that conclusion. That's bias, not objectivity.

You're free to dislike rooftop bars, Bangkok etc, but dismissing those who enjoy the place as pretentious or shallow says more about your preconceptions than it does about the venues themselves. It's not a particularly intelligent starting point for a balanced discussion.

You posted a 1000 words promoting rooftop bars like they are amazing when all they are is a bar with a view.

What's so great about that?

Warren Buffett uses discount vouchers in burger joints. Joe Smith brags about rooftop bars to impress people. Rather amusing.

6 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Nothing terrible just overpriced drinks for a view. Icon Siam has the best views in the city and the view is free.

Again, arguable and subjective... Different rooftop bars in different area's have great views, some better than others - they all have different prices - some much cheaper than others.

Some are also more interesting than others - especially if one is familiar with a certain part of the city than another.

6 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

It also has the best food court in Thailand.

Bangkok is a foodies delight - on any level.

1 minute ago, Rockyroad said:

You posted a 1000 words promoting rooftop bars like they are amazing when all they are is a bar with a view.

What's so great about that?

Warren Buffett uses discount vouchers in burger joints. Joe Smith brags about rooftop bars to impress people. Rather amusing.

I love views :) It is the most important aspect IMO. All my favorite places to eat and drink have incredible views. If the food sucks, I just order drinks and snacks.

10 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

That's part of the reason why Thailand is so great - there's something for everyone.

No snow skiing. No good surfing. The mountains are small. They attract very few top bands. The nightlife is pretty limited.

Lots of people never go to Thailand because of these limitations. Most go because it is cheap and warm.

3 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

You posted a 1000 words promoting rooftop bars like they are amazing when all they are is a bar with a view.

What's so great about that?

Warren Buffett uses discount vouchers in burger joints. Joe Smith brags about rooftop bars to impress people. Rather amusing.

173 words - You wanted to know why rooftop bars are enjoyable - I gave you an answer.

You can't afford them so don't like them and find better value elsewhere - thats also fine.

But - I keep coming back to the point "If it has to be explained to you, you won't get it" - and you've proven that with "all they are is a bar with a view"...

So - I'll just leave it there - you won't understand....

.... you might enjoy the 7-11 steps - great soi dog company and you can watch the world pass by and feel the local vibe....

-- -- -- --

BTW: - not just the rooftop bars, but some of the river side bars in BKK are great too.

1 minute ago, Rockyroad said:

No snow skiing. No good surfing. The mountains are small. They attract very few top bands. The nightlife is pretty limited.

Lots of people never go to Thailand because of these limitations. Most go because it is cheap and warm.

You're getting silly now...

10 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Not in but on:) hmm, across the street from the river would be a better description. A few house boats in the area which would be cool but never looked into living on one or even if it allowed.

Mekong is not really suitable for houseboat. Last place I would lived in a houseboat

Everyone is overlooking the simple reality that Raquel would not even make it through the door of any of those rooftop bars, and she is well aware of it. Most enforce a basic dress standard. She presents herself in an astounding combination of heavy duty shorts, sandals, and worn out t-shirts. She would be politely turned away at the entrance. The point is being missed entirely. She is assembling a thousand reasons to dislike rooftop bars because she already knows she would not be permitted inside. These are all red herrings and she is trying to lead you away from her reality. Her dress would not pass muster and neither would her wallet.

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

The discussion ended several posts ago.

What remains is your apparent need to keep arguing after the points have been made and answered.

You're welcome to continue, but you'll be doing it alone. Feeding stupid and pointless arguments only encourages them, and this thread has already suffered enough oxygen theft.

I posted the facts which you can't handle. You posted over 1000 words and very light on facts. You didn't even know Thailand had good beach bars on the mainland. Most tourists go to Thailand for the beaches and cheap prices. Very few care about rooftop bars and 400 baht drinks to look at concrete.

2 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Those rooftop bars are very pretentious.

Just accept it; you can't afford it.

3 minutes ago, Effective altruism said:

Just accept it; you can't afford it.

I'm richer than you.