Bangkok is home to dozens, if not hundreds, of different rooftop bars. Some of them just offer nice views while others really capture the city’s energy - and Tichuca Rooftop Bar is one of those places. Sitting high above Sukhumvit Road in the T-One Building, Tichuca has become one of the trendiest hotspots in the city, mainly down to its viral “Avatar Tree”. This LED masterpiece is the focus of the entire bar and it shifts colors throughout the night.

It changes from bright greens (giving it the jungle effect) to deep purples (giving it the Avatar or “jellyfish effect”). It kicks off with soft oranges at sunset and dazzles in vibrant pinks once the DJs start spinning records. We’re not the biggest fans of rooftop bars to be honest, but Tichuca is the exception to the rule. We’ve visited a number of times now and it always makes for a fun night out, whether we’re catching up with Kat’s old friends or simply enjoying a romantic cocktail together.

Tichuca Rooftop Bar - City Views — *Tichuca Rooftop Bar*

Tichuca Rooftop Bar - Best Bar in Bangkok — *Tichuca Rooftop Bar*

Tichucha Rooftop Bar Overview

📍Location: 46th floor, T-One Building, Soi Sukhumvit 40, Bangkok.
🕔 Open Hours: Open daily, 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM, with later closing times on Friday and Saturday nights (typically around 1:30 AM).
🌅 When to Visit: Get there at 4:30 PM to start queuing for the first elevator up. This way, you’ll be able to secure a table for sunset.
🛂 Entry Requirements: The age limit is 20+ only. Foreign visitors need to show their physical passport for ID.
👗 Dress Code: Described as “casual chic”. It’s best to dress up nice, and avoid shorts and flip-flops.
🍹 Prices: Cocktails range between 400-600 THB. But there’s also a 17% tax/service fee on top of that.
🍟 Food: Very limited. Snacks like chicken skewers and potato wedges are on the menu. Make sure you eat a proper dinner or late-lunch first.
📋 Reservations: Tichuca is primarily a “walk-in” venue. Just arrive before 5:00 PM and you should be fine, especially during weekends.
🎶 Vibe: Energetic, atmospheric and social. It’s a great place for sunset and city views, and it offers a dancefloor for partying.

Tichuca Rooftop Bar

Is Tichuca Rooftop Bar Worth Visiting? Our Honest Review

Yes, Tichuca is absolutely worth visiting. It’s one of the best rooftop bars in Bangkok, and probably only superseded by Nobu and SIN Rooftop Bar (in our opinion). But it’s worth knowing a few things before you go so your expectations are met. For starters, this isn’t the place to go for fine dining or award-winning cocktails.

When we first visited Tichuca, we settled into our seats ready to soak up the sunset views (which were stunning by the way). We didn’t have any dinner beforehand and ended up ordering from the menu: the only options at the time were french fries and popcorn chicken. It was a bit disappointing but that feeling quickly faded after a few cocktails, sunset snaps and being blown away by the skyline views from the very top platform.

Another key consideration is that you’ll likely have to queue in the lobby if you don’t arrive before 5:00 PM. This happened to us, on our most recent visit, and the queue took around 30 minutes at 8:00 PM. Cam also had to bring his physical passport, which was slightly inconvenient to be honest. The other entry requirement we noticed was having to prepay for our first drinks, although that’s pretty standard with Bangkok rooftop bars.

When we finally arrived, we had to wait around before a table became available. So, we just hung out at the bar and caught up with our friends before getting offered a table at around 9:30 PM. None of the cocktails really stood out, but we did see people ordering the famous fresh-pineapple cocktail which is supposed to give you that iconic “urban jungle in the sky” shot. It’s definitely something we’ll order next time!

All in all, Tichuca does live up to the hype! It’s easy to bump shoulders and meet new people, have a bit of a boogie on the dance floor, and soak up the awesome skyline views. It’s not made for fancy engagement dinners or elaborate proposals - it’s just an awesome spot to immerse yourself in Bangkok’s energy.

“Avatar Tree”

Tichuca Rooftop Bar with friends

Entry Requirements: Must-Knows Before You Go

Bangkok’s rooftop bars tend to have stricter entry rules than your average street-level bar, and Tichuca is no exception. As already mentioned, you’ll need to take your original passport with you to show at the door, not a digital screenshot or photocopy. This is the biggest mistake travelers make when planning a night out at Tichuca. On the other hand, Thai citizens (Kat falls into this category), just need to show their Thai ID card or driver’s licence.

The minimum age for entry is 20 years old, which is strictly enforced. Even if you’re 18 and visiting with family, unfortunately the staff won’t let you in. But if you meet the age requirement and bring your physical passport, getting in is usually very straightforward. And then it’s simply a matter of making sure you dress the part.

Tichuca Rooftop Bar Dress Code: What to Wear

Although it might sound like Tichuca is quite strict with its entry requirements, the dress code does give a little more leniency. You don’t need to “dress to the nines”, the official policy is casual chic which basically means neat and stylish. Something that pairs well with the LED tree is a good choice.

Basic standards still apply though. Sportswear, gym clothes, and flip flops are a “no-no”. Men should wear closed-toe shoes but women, obviously, can wear high heels and dressy sandals. Cam normally wears a nice pair of jeans and a clean t-shirt, which seems to be good enough to enter. While Kat has worn a basic sleeveless dress before and had no issues.

The crowd at Tichuca is young and trendy - fashionable sneakers, fitted tees, polos and casual shirts feel right at home here. You might be able to get away with smart tailored shorts as well. However, we recommend that men wear long pants just to be safe. Large bags are often restricted, mainly because the rooftop is multi-leveled and can get busy at peak times. The setting encourages you to dress nice anyway, so you shouldn’t have any wardrobe malfunctions.

Tichuca Rooftop Bar - Sunset Time — *Kat at Tichuca Rooftop Bar*

How to Get to Tichuca: Location & BTS Directions

Once you’ve decided your outfit, you’ll need to know how to actually get there. Tichuca sits on top of the T-One Building in Thonglor, one of Bangkok’s trendiest neighborhoods. The easiest route is to take the BTS Skytrain to Thonglor Station, taking Exit 4, and then follow the skywalk that leads almost directly to the building. It’s an easy 5-10 minute walk.

If you’re arriving by Grab or taxi, just tell the driver “T-One Building” not Tichuca, as he might confuse it with another rooftop bar (this happened to us and caused quite the confusion). Just keep in mind that the traffic builds up significantly at 5:00 PM in Bangkok, so either arrive earlier than planned or take the BTS (which is probably the best option anyway).

At the lobby, you’ll have to wait in line, pass the entry requirements and then take two elevators up to the bar: one lift to the 40th floor and then a dedicated rooftop lift to the 46th floor. If you’re planning a big night out, it’s not a bad idea to stay in Thonglor and check out some of the other rooftop bars, cocktail lounges and late-night restaurants nearby. You can either walk or take a quick motorcycle ride to your next destination of choice.

Tichuca Rooftop Bar - How to Get There — *Tichuca Rooftop Bar*

Tichuca Menu & Prices: What to Expect

Budgeting for your rooftop bar adventures in Bangkok is crucial, otherwise you’ll rack up a massive credit card bill for your return home. Tichuca sits in the middle in terms of price, it’s not as extortionate as Lebua Sky Bar (for example) but it’s pricier than say Eagle Nest Rooftop Bar. What catches most people out is the 7% VAT and 10% service charge. A 400 THB cocktail ends up being around 470 THB, so it helps to do the mental maths before ordering. In our opinion, Tichuca is fairly priced for the experience you’re getting.

In terms of the cocktail menu, the most photographed drink is the Yuzu Colada, served inside a fresh pineapple. It makes for cool photos under the LED tree and only costs slightly more than the other Local Tiki Cocktails. Tichuca also offers a range of classic cocktails, whiskies, tequilas, rums, gins, beers, wine, etc. So there’s something for everyone.

Food-wise, the current menu offering is grilled chicken/beef skewers and fried potato wedges. It’s nothing to write home about but it helps to soak up the alcohol. Having a street-food-style meal before you go is a good idea, as it’ll sustain you through the night and keep your expenses down. At the end of the day, you don’t come to Tichuca for the food - you come for the drinks, atmosphere and views.

Tichuca Rooftop Bar - Views of Bangkok Skyline — *Views from Tichuca Rooftop Bar*

Walk-ins vs Reservations: Can You Secure a Table?

A common question that circulates with travelers is whether or not you can reserve a table at Tichuca in advance. Their official website policy states that they “only accept walk-ins”, so this seems impossible in theory. However, from our perspective, we have been there and seen tables labelled with a “reserved” sign. This might’ve been for special guests or high-spend tables, we’re not sure. You could try to request a reservation at Tichuca to see if they'll bend the rules, which apparently is possible from Sunday to Thursday.

To secure a table, especially on the weekends, timing is the most important factor. Arrive well before the opening time of 5:00 PM and you should be sweet. If you do arrive at the bar, and the 46th floor seating is all full, don’t worry: there are upper viewing decks on the 47th and 48th floors which have standing space and even more spectacular 360-degree views. As a general rule, weekdays are quieter than weekends and allow for almost instant entry.

Tichuca Rooftop Bar - Reserve a Table — *Reserved tables*

Tichuca Rooftop Bar - Table Drinks — *Drinking with friends*

Tichuca Rooftop Bar - Bangkok - Views — *Views from Tichuca Rooftop Bar*

Best Time to Visit for Sunset & the “Avatar Tree”

Tichuca opens its doors at 5:00 PM every day and that’s the key time to pencil into your calendars. The bar is open for a short 45-minute window before 5:45 PM sunset time in the dry season (November to April). During the rainy season (May to October), sunsets usually fall at 6:45 PM, meaning you can arrive later without missing golden hour.

The LED tree lights up in soft orange tones during sunset, but the most colorful displays usually occur when it’s fully dark. Each color changes the mood of the bar, jungle green and Avatar purple both set a different tone. Just be patient when taking photos, as it can take a while for the LED tree to run through its entire color spectrum. The atmosphere also markedly changes from weekends to weekdays.

Friday and Saturday nights are essentially big parties, with the Marichuca DJ sets pumping out house music and Afro-beats until the early hours of the morning (normally 1:30 AM). Naturally, the weekdays are more relaxing - smaller queues, less crowds at the top and lighter music. Sunday to Thursday is perfect for sunset viewing or casual drinks with friends. We’ve experienced Tichuca on both the weekend and during the weekday, and don’t have a preference either way!