How does one capture Thailand’s many facets in a cocktail menu? The speedy tuktuks and bike taxis that zip through traffic, rows of snack shops at street markets, the pulsating nightlife, and so much more.
For Suchada “Fah Beer” Sopajaree, owner-chief bartender of Bangkok bar Lost In Thaislation, crafting a cocktail menu inspired by her city means having a story to tell, and a philosophy to share. “Bangkok is chaotic, fragrant, humid, loud, and deeply emotional, and I love that,” she says.
On December 12 and 13, Fah Beer brings her whimsical, inventive cocktails and sustainable, zero-waste behind-the-counter mixology to The Park, Chennai, for a two-day popup, One Night in Bangkok, at The Leather Bar and Lotus.
Gai Yang Sanam Muay
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
“The city’s vibrancy inspires me with bold and unapologetic flavours and its contrasts are reflected in my drinks that are sweet and salty, floral and earthy, and refreshing but fiery. The movement; the energy of the streets, markets, and nightlife constantly evolves, and my drinks follow that rhythm,” Fah Beer says. “I like capturing that Bangkok heat, sometimes through spice, sometimes through aroma, and balancing it with softness so the drink has a story, not just flavour.”
On the menu is Motorbike Taxi, a drink inspired by the crushed ice drinks in plastic bags carried by bike taxi drivers, Gai Yang Sanam Muay, which attempts to infuse the flavours of roast chicken and crisp snacks sold behind bustling Muay Thai stadiums, and the Thai Fruit Cart, an ode to the streetside fruit and juice stands of Bangkok.
These Bangkok-inspired cocktails will be served alongside snack options that draw inspiration from some classic cocktail favourites which includes a negroni char sui pork and chicken, as well as crisp pina colada chicken filo pastry, grasshopper tofu popcorn and mojito cold ramen with tempura.
Negroni Char Sui Pork
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Considered among Asia’s most inventive mixologists, Fah Beer, who was formerly at Bangkok’s #Findthelockerroom bar, also co-founded Wasteland with Kitibordee “Gov” Chortubtim and Dharath “Tot” Hoonchamlong, Thailand’s first fully sustainable bar conceived as a community sipping space which transformed what is typically considered waste into flavour-driven cocktail ingredients.
“When you work behind a bar every day, you begin to understand how much potential is hidden in things people usually throw away: citrus peels, herb stems, tea leaves, even spent fruit pulp .Citrus skins become cordials. Herb stems become tinctures. Overripe fruits become ferments. Even melting ice can be repurposed for dilution-controlled batches,” says Fah Beer, of her zero-waste mixology, which is rooted in respect for ingredients, craft and the environment.
This philosophy, she says, makes every drink feel more intentional and alive.
From her popup in Chennai, Fah Beer says people can expect Thai flavours in a way they haven’t tasted before.
“I am excited to showcase tea-driven cocktails that highlight Thai aromatics and signature drinks that blend elegance with playful Thai notes. For me, the popup is also about bringing my bar’s soul to a new space,” she adds.
On December 12 and 13 at The Leather Bar and Lotus, The Park, Chennai. Contact 9962725601 for more details.
Published – December 10, 2025 01:59 pm IST