Anyone been to Insid Bar?

I live a couple blocks from there and walked past it for months before I realized it was a bar. The facade is basically a blank wall with a tiny sign, so it feels exclusive in a way that some people love. The cocktails are well made but nothing groundbreaking, and the prices match the Sukhumvit 31 real estate, think 350-400 baht a drink. If your friend is dead set on going, it's fine for one round to satisfy the curiosity, but I'd suggest walking over to Teens of Thailand afterward, it's a 10 minute walk and the gin cocktails there are genuinely better for about the same price.

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yeah the 5 star thing is super suspicious, most legit places have at least a few 3-4 star reviews complaining about service or wait times. insid bar is fine for what it is, a bit of a instagram trap tbh, the interior is pretty but the drinks are standard. if your friend wants that speakeasy vibe but with better quality, try find the photographer bar on sukhumvit 49, it's a 15 min taxi ride but the cocktails actually have some thought behind them and it's less of a tourist magnet

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The 5-star only thing is definitely a red flag, a lot of those places pay for review packages. Insid Bar is in a weird spot off Sukhumvit 31, it's a nice enough cocktail lounge but it's not some hidden gem that nobody's talking about. If your friend is set on it, go for an early drink, but I'd plan on moving to somewhere like Tropic City or Rabbit Hole after, both are on the same side of town and actually deliver on the hype.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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