Urban-hip bar & eatery serving delicious Thai-street inspired cuisine & cocktails in bold design-forward venue.
September 19th, 2013
Inhabiting a previously rundown three-level shophouse on the main road of Bangkok’s most fashionable nightlife and lifestyle district- Thonglor- Badmotel projects a dramatic presence with its deliberately created facade of urban decay. A refreshingly original concept that plays on the apparent contradiction between a dilapidated building structure and a sleek, on-trend food and beverage service, Badmotel has attracted a vibrant crowd of regular customers since its opening back in December 2012. Combining both indoor and outdoor areas across several floors, Badmotel offers a menu featuring dishes comprised mostly of Thai-street food with a modern twist, and a solid drinks program that is highlighted by the in-house, infusion based cocktails with their Thai-inflected flavours. Adding further substance to its concept, Badmotel embraces both music and art, with regular exhibitions and live music events conducted in the spaces on the upper levels of the building.
Conceived and operated by the team behind the popular Mellow Restaurant & Bar that stands on the opposite side of the main Thonglor roadway, Badmotel is garnering its own distinctive reputation as a dynamic and fashionable venue, exerting a bold, design-forward presence among the plethora of cookie-cutter trendy bars, restaurants and nightlife venues in the Thonglor area. Badmotel opens daily from 5 pm until late, with a popular happy hour promotion during the week, nightly resident DJs, supplemented with regular live music events and art exhibitions. A valet parking service at the kerbside adds convenience for guests arriving by car. With its popularity, table reservations are recommended for weekend nights.
MODERN THAI STREET-FOOD AT BADMOTEL
The kitchen at Badmotel serves up tasty Thai street-food influenced cuisine with an extensive menu that draws its inspiration from a hotel “room service” concept. Dishes are based on familiar Thai-street inspired comfort food recipes, “upgraded” with unique twists, and modern presentation. Dishes are assembled on the menu under six categories- Appetizers, Salad and Yum, Deep in Grease, From the Grill, Pasta and Noodles, and Rice Dishes. Serving portions are generous- with prices all very approachable.
Some of the standout dishes include the Foie Gras Look Koei (B280), Nahm Burger (B220), Smoked Salmon (B240 ), Calamarata Pasta with Kha Moo (B180), and Beef Sirloin steak with Jeaw Sauce. New seasonal dishes are periodically added to the menu- showcasing the best of fresh seasonal produce. At the time of writing, a seasonal promotion features five dishes using imported French organic mussels, available until the end of November 2013.
SIGNATURE THAI- INFLECTED COCKTAIL CREATIONS
In addition to an impressive drinks list that features a well-crafted selection of premium spirits, wines, craft beers, imported and local beers, and plenty of non-alcoholic options, the cocktail program is the headline attraction of the bar service at Badmotel. Complementing a selection of classic cocktails, in-house infusions and innovative cocktails conjured up by the bar team are the specialty attraction- with their creative presentation and tasteful flavour combinations. Thai herbs and ingredients are added to premium quality spirits and carefully infused in large glass jars, imparting unique Thai- inflected flavours to the signature cocktail “Creations”. Drinks that exemplify the unique Thai flavour combinations include- ALO! HUGO!! – Pampero Rum- with Falernum Pandan, Rosemary, Kaffir lime, Namm Tan Peep; BAD COMPANY- Ketel One vodka infused with in-house recipe of local herbs and fruits; and HAHAHA MARTINI- Ketel One vodka, home-made chilli liqueur, galangal & cumin powder, pickled grapes. All signature cocktail “Creations” are attractively priced at B220 per drink.
Badmotel- Bar & Courtyard
The sparse street-front facade of Badmotel features full height glass set into the white-washed building exterior- and is devoid of any branding at the street level.
A window-front bench provides ideal “people-watching” possibilities.
Adopting an industrial-chic aesthetic, the ground floor bar and eatery-area features polished concrete flooring, white-washed exposed brickwork, and a pared-back decor of simple, utlitarian furnishings, with splashes of color provided by fluro-green barstools and steel mesh panel overhead the timber communal bench.
A sleek L shaped bar, attractively backlighted and topped with buffed stainless steel, anchors the ground floor space. Suspended metal shelving behind the bar showcases the extensive range of liquor- plus large glass jars containing the signature in-house vodka infusions.
An attractive outdoor garden courtyard provides a relaxed setting for casual dining and socialising. Extendable overhead awnings provide shelter from inclement weather.
An external staircase from the courtyard provides access to the upper levels of Badmotel.
Upper level gallery & event space and rooftop bar
On the second floor- the ceiling has been mostly removed to create a double-volume space that is utilised primarily for the regular art exhibitions, special parties and live music events. The kitchen occupies the adjacent space on this level.
Unfinished concrete steps lead up to the partial third floor- and above- the rooftop space. Jagged edges of the deconstructed brick walls frame glimpses over the main Thonglor road.
External view of the three level shophouse facade – with the retro white neon sign spanning the roofline.
The open rooftop deck has its own bar facility to cater for events. Walls are decorated by works from notable graffiti artists.
Highlights from the bar & kitchen
BAD COMPANY- Ketel One vodka infused with home recipe of local herbs and fruits. Serves 4. (B480)
NEVER SAY NEVER- Hale’s Blue Boy, Milk and Rum served with Thai dessert condiments (B 280)
BANGKOK MULE- homemade Bael-infused Ketel One vodka, apple juice, fresh lime, Angostura bitters, ginger ale. (B 280)
Foie Gras Khai Luk Koei / ฟัวกราส์ไข่ลูกเขย – Pan fried Foie Gras with deep fried eggs and crispy shallots tamarind sauce. (B 240)
Moo Ping– grilled pork on skewer with fried sticky rice rolls, and original spicy sauce.
Nham Burger / แหนมเบอร์เกอร์ – Aged pork, minced and grilled tenderly, served with a butter toasted bun and ginger chutney. (B 220)
Badmotel Restaurant & Bar- Bangkok
Address: 331/ 4-5 Soi Sukhumvit 55, (between Soi 15 & 17) Thonglor, Bangkok. 10110 Thailand
BTS Station: Thonglor
Reservations: +66.2 712 7288
Facebook: www.facebook.com/badmotel
IG: @badmotelbangkok
Opening Hours: Daily 5:00 pm ~ 01:00 am
Promotions:
Happy Hour– Sunday to Thursday 5 pm ~ 8 pm Buy 1 Get 1 Free selected Cocktails, Singha Draft, house wine & house pours
Music- Nightly from 9 pm until late.
Do Not Disturb– Weekly special events with guest DJ and Live Performers- Saturdays 10 pm ~ 2 am
Gallery Space- regular art & photographic exhibitions
