At Stella Bar, Cocktails Tell the Story of Siam

Every establishment comes with its own story. Or at least, the places concerned with myth-making. The name Capella Bangkok speaks for itself. Perched upon the eastern banks of the Chao Phraya River, Capella Bangkok often finds itself in the top three rankings of the best hotels in the world.

Awarded three MICHELIN Keys for their stellar service and menus, anyone stepping foot onto their premises arrives with a predetermined expectation. The hotel occupies a space that keeps one foot firmly in the present while revering the charm of the past. I find this to be true of Stella Bar as well.

Stella derived from Latin refers to the innumerable stars in the sky. A bar amongst the stars, for the stars—sounds like a haunt from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

And stepping into it does nothing to dissuade from this notion. In fact, it encourages it. Even its entrance promises opulence of a bygone era. The sliding doors with their gold geometric patterns in the Art Deco style feel like something out of The Great Gatsby.

There is a certain glamorous quality to the whole space with its black-and-white marble floor tiles that are reminiscent of the ivory keys of a piano.

I’ve done a lot of hearkening back about the romantic notions of 1920s New York that I encountered in Stella Bar but I would be remiss not to mention the history of Old Siam which is built into the establishment’s menu.

As a port city, and surrounded by water on three sides, Thailand has always been a haven for traders, ideas, and goods. This kaleidoscopic energy has followed Bangkok, and by extension Thailand, into the present.

Anchoring the entire space is its centrepiece, a beautiful, almost lifelike white peacock sitting underneath a chandelier. I am told that the peacock is the embodiment of the celestial body of the bar’s name: Stella. This gorgeous creature is so true to form you might imagine a magical night where the peacock comes to life and walks among the patrons.

Space & Crowd: Tucked away at the farther end of Capella Bangkok’s lobby, Stella Bar can seat up to 50 patrons at a time. The space is divided into three main sections: the bar, the VIP corner, and the central lounge.

The bar gets patrons up close and personal with the bartenders who are happy to strike up a conversation about your drink order or whatever may be on your mind.

The VIP corner leans towards a more orientalist and private spin. The far wall is painted in gorgeous golds, greens, and whites while the Chinese divans are filled with fabrics of deep blacks and gilts. The intimacy of the VIP corner is well suited to larger groups looking to celebrate together.

Then, there is the central lounge with the gorgeous centrepiece and a view of the Chao Phraya River. In the corner sits a piano where a live band performs five days a week (Wednesday through Sunday).

There is a mix of sofa and chair seating scattered throughout the area, so whether you’re out on date night or a girls’ night, Stella Bar has seating for you though be sure to reserve your space beforehand.

Thai mixology is at the heart of Stella Bar as they reinterpret and reinvent traditional Thai flavours. So it is only fitting that we start our array of drinks with The emerald (THB 560++).

Inspired by the juxtaposition of Sathorn district’s glitz and the old shophouses living in humble harmony, this drink blends PATRÓN Silver Tequila, Bombay Sapphire Gin, several other spirits, and Tang Thai green melon to create a sip that is both crisp and juicy.

Complementing the drink was our first bar bite: the Norwegian salmon & crispy rice (THB 420++). As the name suggests, the base layer of crispy rice sandwiches wasabi, avocado cream, and pickled ginger with a slice of salmon. Once you bite into it, it’s not too crunchy nor too soggy. Just right.

The Australian beef skewers (THB 750++) came next with a garnish of chimichurri sauce. Served by the pair on a plate, this bar bite was wedded to the spirit-heavy Bangkok noir (THB 590++).

With a base of Michter’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon, this drink is layered with a bittersweet aftertaste; great for those who enjoy a drink that lingers, one which they can sip on all night. The dark colour of the drink itself is reminiscent of a black orchid, and it is no surprise where the noir in this drink comes from.

Our final drink of the night, and my personal favourite, was the Mango moonlight (THB 590++). A bright splash of amber, the drink was inspired by Thailand’s most popular dessert: mango sticky rice. And I must say, it definitely delivered.

It was a production from the start to finish with the translucent bubble sitting atop the drink, just waiting to be popped. Despite being spirit-forward, it was smooth all the way down and anchored beautifully by the Grilled squid (THB 520++).

It only made sense to pair this drink with a pure taste of Thailand as the grilled squid had a Thai red curry snapper filling and was enhanced by the makrut lime leaves and sweet basil.

Masala also got an insider scoop on what’s to come at Stella Bar in the latter half of the year. Helmed by Miriam Nini and her team, the new cocktail menu at Stella Bar is a continuation of its New Siam storytelling but pulls focus towards the countries which have had an impact on Thailand’s trade and culture.

As part of our exclusive, we saw the team create three cocktails from their repertoire: the Hong soy punch (THB 550++), inspired by the fruity flavours of Thailand and peppery notes of China; the Khao grasshopper (THB 580++) celebrates the fusion of Thai toasted rice and Japanese matcha in a nontraditional Grasshopper cocktail; and, finally, the Harvest colada (THB 550++) which tips its hat to Portugal, the first European country to trade with Siam.

Be sure to try Stella Bar’s newest menu when it launches in late November. I know I will!