Dry Wave Cocktail Studio Dominates Bangkok Bar Show Awards 2026
Thailand's cocktail community gathered at Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok on 26 October 2026 for the Bangkok Bar Show Awards & Thailand's 20 Best Bars 2026, an annual celebration recognising the bartenders, bar teams and hospitality professionals contributing to the country's evolving drinking culture. From independent cocktail establishments and luxury hotel bars to wine bars and rooftop destinations, the awards acknowledged the creativity, craftsmanship and hospitality that have helped establish Thailand's presence on the international cocktail stage.
Dry Wave Cocktail Studio and its co-founder, Supawit "Palm" Muttarattana, dominated the evening, with achievements that have continued for three consecutive years. Dry Wave retained the No. 1 position on Thailand's 20 Best Bars for a second consecutive year, earning Best Bar in Bangkok and Best Bar in Thailand, while Palm received Bartender of the Year for the third consecutive year. The establishment also secured Bar Team of the Year, completing a three-award achievement that reflected both individual leadership and collective craftsmanship.
BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River climbed to No. 2, receiving Best Hotel Bar and the Art of Hospitality Award. Bar Us followed at No. 3, while G.O.D. and Last Call Bar Bangkok secured fourth and fifth positions respectively. Opium Bar, Bar Sathorn, Firefly Bar, Vesper and Asia Today completed the top ten, bringing together establishments with different approaches to cocktail craftsmanship, atmosphere and hospitality.
For Palm, receiving Bartender of the Year for a third consecutive year adds another distinction to a professional journey spanning more than two decades. Bartender, entrepreneur, consultant, and mentor, he has played a role in several key chapters of Bangkok's modern cocktail development, from the rise of internationally recognised cocktail competitions to the emergence of independent establishments with distinctive creative identities.
Palm began establishing his professional reputation through hotel bartending, including a formative period at The St. Regis Bangkok. A significant turning point came in 2012, when he won Diageo World Class Thailand and earned the chance to represent the country at the global competition in Rio de Janeiro. The achievement brought him wider recognition and opened opportunities that would eventually extend his influence beyond the bar counter.
He subsequently became Brand Ambassador for Diageo Reserve Thailand, working closely with bartenders and hospitality professionals through education, training and industry activities. His experience later expanded into bar management and consultancy, helping develop establishments tied to Bangkok's cocktail evolution, including Vesper, Rabbit Hole and Fuchsia. Palm was also among the founding partners of Backstage Cocktail Bar, which became a recognised name within the city's cocktail community before closing in 2021.
His competitive achievements continued in 2019, when he won the Campari Bartender Competition Asia and was named Bartender of the Year at The Bar Awards Thailand. These distinctions reinforced his reputation for technical knowledge, creativity and an appreciation of classic cocktail traditions, qualities that would eventually become central to his own establishment.
In January 2024, Palm opened Dry Wave Cocktail Studio in Bangkok's Thonglor neighbourhood alongside his wife and co-founder, Niwarin "Ae" Phlainoi. After years of working with established hospitality businesses and developing concepts for other venues, Dry Wave gave him a chance to express a more personal interpretation of cocktail craftsmanship, combining his experience with an approach that respected established traditions while exploring new possibilities.
At the heart of Dry Wave is the concept of Super Classics, an approach that brings together two classic cocktails to create a new expression. Rather than simply combining ingredients, Palm and his team examine the flavour structures, techniques, and defining characteristics of established recipes, finding a balance that keeps both inspirations recognisable while producing something distinct. The concept reflects an understanding of cocktail history without allowing tradition to limit creativity.
The establishment's identity extends beyond the drinks themselves. Its interior incorporates flowing forms, contrasting textures and a design language inspired by natural movement, creating an environment that complements the bar's creative philosophy. Technical precision and relaxed hospitality coexist, letting guests appreciate the cocktails' complexity without the experience becoming unnecessarily formal.
Recognition arrived relatively quickly. Dry Wave received the Campari One To Watch Award at Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024, signalling its potential within the regional cocktail scene. By 2026, it had climbed to No. 4 on Asia's 50 Best Bars and No. 27 on World's 50 Best Bars, bringing further international attention to the Bangkok establishment. Its recognition at the Bangkok Bar Show Awards adds to a growing collection of achievements that reflect its development since opening.
Palm's third consecutive Bartender of the Year award also carries particular significance when considered alongside his earlier achievements. His experience in competitions, brand education, consultancy, and entrepreneurship has given him an understanding of the industry from several perspectives. The continued recognition of his work reflects the importance of maintaining both technical standards and creative direction while adapting to an increasingly competitive hospitality environment.
Dry Wave's success at the Bangkok Bar Show Awards 2026 also illustrates the importance of teamwork. While Palm's experience and creative philosophy have shaped the establishment's identity, the Bar Team of the Year award recognises the people who translate those ideas into a consistent guest experience. Maintaining recognition year after year presents its own challenges, especially as Bangkok's cocktail industry expands and new establishments introduce different approaches to drinks and hospitality.
The 2026 ranking paints a varied picture of Thailand's cocktail landscape, with independent establishments ranking alongside internationally recognised hotel bars. Bangkok dominates the selection, although the inclusion of Bar.San in Chiang Mai and Garnish Samui on Koh Samui demonstrates that the country's cocktail culture is not confined to the capital.
Thailand's 20 Best Bars 2026
1. Dry Wave Cocktail Studio
2. BKK Social Club
3. Bar Us
4. G.O.D.
5. Last Call Bar Bangkok
6. Opium Bar
7. Bar Sathorn
8. Firefly Bar
9. Vesper
10. Asia Today
11. Tax Bar
12. Aqua Bar
13. Zuma
14. Messengerservice
15. Cherry Olive Cocktail Bar
16. Bar.San
17. Garnish Samui
18. Bar Not Found
19. Black Cabin
20. Wasteland Bangkok
The mix of long-established venues and newer establishments reflects an industry that keeps evolving. While Vesper and Asia Today remain familiar names in Bangkok's cocktail community, Last Call Bar Bangkok, wasteland Bangkok (Best New Bar 2025), and Cherry Olive Cocktail Bar (this year's Best New Bar winner) show the diversity of the city's independent bar scene. Each brings its own creative identity and approach to hospitality. Hotel bars also maintain a significant presence, with BKK Social Club, Bar Sathorn and Firefly Bar securing places among the leading establishments.
Beyond the main ranking, the Bangkok Bar Show Awards recognised achievements across several categories, highlighting the different disciplines involved in operating a successful establishment.
BKK Social Club received the Art of Hospitality Award alongside Best Hotel Bar, acknowledging the importance of service within its overall identity. Located at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, the establishment has developed an international reputation for combining distinctive cocktails with attentive hospitality. Its second-place position reinforces the role of hotel bars within Thailand's contemporary cocktail landscape.
Tax Bar received Menu Design of the Year, recognising the importance of thoughtful presentation and storytelling in communicating a bar's identity. As cocktail menus become increasingly conceptual, their design has developed into an important element of the guest experience, connecting the creative philosophy of an establishment with the drinks being served.
Cherry Olive Cocktail Bar was named Best New Bar, marking an achievement for one of Bangkok's newer cocktail establishments. Meanwhile, Zuma received Best Restaurant Bar, highlighting the importance of beverage programmes in the dining experience, where cocktails contribute to a restaurant's overall character rather than merely accompanying food.
The awards also extended beyond traditional cocktail establishments. Mod Kaew Wine Bar retained Best Wine Bar for a second consecutive year, ahead of No Bar Wine Bar, Swirl and The Wine Merchant. The NORM Bangkok received Best Rooftop Bar, followed by Aether, Bar Yard and Tichuca. These categories recognised the diversity of Thailand's drinking destinations, from dedicated wine establishments to rooftop venues offering distinctive interpretations of hospitality.
Outside the capital, Bar.San earned Best Bar in Chiang Mai, while Garnish Samui received Best Bar in Phuket/Samui. These distinctions highlight the growing cocktail communities in Thailand's regional destinations, where local establishments are developing their own identities while contributing to the wider national bar scene.
Tamaryn Cooper won the Emerging Bartender of the Year award, recognising a developing talent in the industry. Alongside the recognition of experienced professionals such as Palm, the award reflects the importance of encouraging younger bartenders and supporting the next generation of hospitality professionals.
Bangkok Bar Show Awards 2026 – Individual and Special Awards
- Best Bar in Thailand & Bangkok: Dry Wave Cocktail Studio
- Best Hotel Bar: BKK Social Club
- Bartender of the Year: Supawit "Palm" Muttarattana
- Emerging Bartender of the Year: Tamaryn Cooper
- Bar Team of the Year: Dry Wave Cocktail Studio
- Art of Hospitality Award: BKK Social Club
- Menu Design of the Year: Tax Bar
- Best New Bar: Cherry Olive Cocktail Bar
- Best Restaurant Bar: Zuma
- Best Bar in Chiang Mai: Bar.San
- Best Bar in Phuket/Samui: Garnish Samui
- Best Wine Bar: Mod Kaew Wine Bar
- Best Rooftop Bar: The NORM
Bangkok Bar Show was co-founded in 2019 by Niks Anuman, whose involvement in establishments including Teens of Thailand, Asia Today, Tax Bar and G.O.D. has contributed to Bangkok's contemporary cocktail movement, and Colin Chia, a hospitality entrepreneur associated with Singapore's Nutmeg & Clove and Last Word, as well as Bangkok's #FindTheLockerRoom. The event was established to promote cocktail culture, spirits education and professional exchange within the industry.
Over the past decade, Thailand's cocktail landscape has developed from a relatively small community of dedicated establishments into a diverse industry attracting regional and international attention. Thai bartenders have increasingly gained recognition through competitions and international awards, while establishments have developed distinctive concepts drawing upon classic cocktail traditions, local ingredients, contemporary techniques and individual creative philosophies.
The Bangkok Bar Show Awards provide an opportunity to recognise these contributions nationally, acknowledging not only the establishments attracting international attention but also the individuals and teams responsible for maintaining the hospitality standards that define the industry.
For Dry Wave Cocktail Studio and Palm, the 2026 awards add another chapter to their continuing success. The recognition reflects the challenge of staying consistent while remaining creatively relevant, especially in an industry where new ideas and establishments keep emerging. From established names to newer arrivals such as Last Call Bar Bangkok, wasteland Bangkok and Cherry Olive Cocktail Bar, the ranking reflects a cocktail community whose strength lies in the different perspectives and experiences its establishments offer.
As Thailand's cocktail community continues to develop, the achievements celebrated at the Bangkok Bar Show Awards 2026 reflect an industry that has grown in confidence, individuality and international visibility, while remaining rooted in the hospitality and camaraderie that bring its people together.
Credits
Article: Wariya Intreyonk
Photos: Wariya Intreyonk, Chalad Charoenphongpak and courtesy
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