Bar@494 is located on the lower level of the hotel and is such a pleasant retreat with the hull of an outrigger canoe as the centerpiece that divides the seating into two parts in the main bar room, additional seating surrounds this in the semi-courtyard outside. This is one of the few bars in Bangkok that offers a large selection of wines by the glass in addition to all the expected drinks and cocktails. (I will cover the rest of the establishments that also do this soon on my return from Japan).

Here is the way it goes, the wines-by-the-glass are listed
by price starting at:
Price 169 Baht – A selection of Chilean wines,

Price 199 Baht – Includes a better grade of Chilean wines and one Italian Cabernet or Chardonnay and a Shiraz-Cabernet from Australia Price 239 Baht – One unwooded Chardonnay from South Australia, a Chardonnay-Pinot Grigio, two Sangiovese and one Chianti plus one South African and Argentinean wine

Price 494 Baht – better quality Australian, Chilean and Argentinean wines

Price 390 Baht – Sparkling Italian Prosecco

Price 949 – Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne
The wine selection changes from time to time.

Before the non-smoking law was amended just recently, to include bars and nightclubs and any air-conditioned room, the inside area around the canoe was the non-smoking area and the area in the courtyard was for smokers, and located conveniently just a few steps away was a shop stocking all the famous brands of Cuban cigars, which were available to the customers of the bar.

This new law has changed all this at least as far as the hotels are concerned, although the hotels are obliged to obey the law to the letter other establishments pay no attention to it at all. It just depends on where you go however, this may change when the police start levying fines in June to both customers and establishments. To what degree the law is finally enforced will eventually depend on how much teeth are involved in enforcement of these new smoking laws and for how long.

Not more than 25 meters away on the same floor is the Italian Restaurant Spazzo. Later in the evening when the music starts and you cannot here yourself think, Bar 494 offers a place where people can actually talk to each other of course, it is not a pick-up bar as Spazzo becomes late at night, and as a matter of fact, almost all through the evening.