The buzz: Babble & Rum is not only the name of the main restaurant located on the first floor of Riva Surya, the new boutique hotel sat beside Phra Arthit pier, it’s also a proper bar with an outdoor terrace and a laidback upstairs area to put you in the mood for a breezy riverside night out.

The décor: The riverside terrace shares the same black and white theme as the main restaurant, and is furnished with round rattan sofa seats and daybeds. Take the wooden stairs to the second floor and you’ll find a square-shaped open bar, painted with Thai poetry, sat in the center of the room. The surrounding stools are ideal for more curious drinkers, but if it’s privacy you seek, then there are a number of daybeds from which to soak up the river view.

The music: On our last visit, the bar still had no soundtrack, but we were told that soft and easy-listening tunes will soon set the vibe.

The price: Mixologist Surachit “Art” Jarumanee returns home for good after 15 years working in hotel bars in Germany, during which time he also set up the bars for a couple of venues in Bangkok, including the recently opened Asia Bar + Kitchen. The signature cocktails include the Jamaican Fizz (vodka, mango fizz, mango, syrup and lime juice, B280), while there are also classic choices like Rivajito (classic mojito with Mae Khong, B250) and Espresso Martini (B250). As for beers, Chang, Singha and Heineken are B99 and imported choices like Corona, Asahi and non-alcoholic Clausthaler are B180.

Why you’ll come back: Phra Arthit Road has long proven its charm, and by offering a private river view and a more laidback atmosphere than the bars across the street, Babble & Rum is an obvious choice for some pre-game drinks. Vasachol Quadri