Thailand

Creative Hour Tempo Bar free flow review: Two hours of free flow, with alcoholic drinks and sumptuous light bites, at a starting time of one’s choice between 5 pm and 10 pm is just the kind of hotel F&B promotion to our liking! And Happy Hour Asia can bear witness to that combining enjoying food and drinks with some creative brainstorming works just fine – and gets a boost by it, especially when the setting is inspiring and relaxing like this one! Our team met one night to do just that, resulting in a nod of appreciation from all participants for this promotion and the setting. The soundtrack is mainly piano background music, enable discreet conversations at the tables.

Tempo Bar is a discerning and impressive venue to ascend to, up the curved marble stairs from the lobby ground floor of Le Méridien Bangkok. It is a new bar since 2022, open from 17:00 for social gatherings, drinks and quick bites and that includes plant-based food. And there is no denying that this is an ideal night spot that looks very inviting once daylight falls. And very few hotels can in fact boast this kind of generous space to make the setting feel so impressive!

Situated on the mezzanine floor the venue is flanked by a wall on one side and views of the towering lobby space with its glass-facade along the other. In the bar hang brass-hued, transparent curtains from the centre high above, and that tilts to the two sides, forming a sort of luxury canopy setting. This is furthermore combined with a golden metal framework hanging also from the ceiling and that holds up non-transparent white lamp globes (in different sizes) with brass metal stripes at their middle

Along the wall, note even further enhancement of the setting with brass latticework and vertical wall lamps. And both table tops and the bar are designed with white-grey veined marble. The bar also has thin glass rods covering its front and it also has the brass metal framework, forming a vintage-style cage that frames it. Behind it there are shelves storing spirits.

For the Creative Hour offer guests have copies with the food choices where one can tick which items one want to order. As for the wine, it promptly served and refilled at the table during the two hours, with choices from Promesa (Chile): Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. There is also the option for “Premium Creative Hour” for free flow of sparkling wine (THB1,200 net/person versus 950).

For cocktails, choose from Vodka soda water, Gin tonic, Whisky soda, Dry Martini, Screwdriver, Thai Mojito, or Irish Old Fashioned Old-fashioned served in rocks glass – which is a perfect drink both to start and end the session.

The hot and cold tapas food menu includes Cold cuts; Cheese served with dry fruits and crackers; Jicama Ravioli with pulled pork, Mozzarella and Mango skewers with olive dressing; ‘Faux gras’ – vegetarian terrine of chickpeas, with fig brioche, mesclun greens, balsamic gelatine; ‘Alternative meatballs’ – eggplant and walnut spheres, homemade ginger ketchup; Spinach quiche; Boulette de roast-beef façon thaïe, with celery, mint and spicy sauce; and for desserts Fresh sweet Mango and sticky rice or Flourless chocolate cake. All the food is sumptuous, making the combination of the free flow package with the drinks well worth its price.

We look forward to a continuation and similar top-notch promotions at Le Méridien Bangkok!