Viva Chao Phraya!

Viva & Aviv the River is pulling in the hungry travellers with its lovely sunset views over the Chao Phraya and a diverse choice of cocktails and imported wines.

The brainchild of Wipassara Siriratmanawong, who runs a furniture factory, it began life as the terrace bar that grew out of her furniture showroom on Soi Thonglor. That operation proved so popular that she moved it to larger premises on the riverside late last year.

Viva & Aviv the River seats 120 around the long counter bar, in private corners and on the spacious outdoor terrace. Everywhere it’s a homey and relaxed thanks to leather and wooden seating (which is also for sale).

Foreign DJs fill the dance floor each evening with funk, rock, house, hip-hop and pop music. The wine cellar stocks red and white from Italy, France, Australia, New Zealand and Chile, starting at Bt230 per glass and Bt1,100 per bottle.

Key to the bistro’s appeal, though, are the refreshing fruit cocktails, selling for Bt250 each.
Women love the Som-o Something made with gin, fresh pomelo, basil, lime and grapefruit.

The men often go for the Cuban Smuggler, comprising rum, cola, lime, orange, vanilla and apple that’s infused with cigar smoke. It’s served in a Coke bottle.

“Every cocktail and mocktail is new, different from anything else you might have tried,” says Wipassara. Among the popular cocktails is Young Guns & Old Grenades, a blend of lychee, pomegranate, ginger, sour apple and white rum.

Better have something to eat as well. You can’t go wrong with the Bt225 Carlito’s Carnitas pizza, a Mexican-style platter of braised, roasted pork with salsa, cilantro and mozzarella, or the Bt250 Esaan Naam Calbonala, which is pasta mixed with sour sausage from the Northeast, percorino cheese and herbs.

Every month there’s a Kolour Sunday Party with the full range of delectable dishes and beverages and the DJs toiling from afternoon to midnight.

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<<< Viva & Aviv the River is on the ground floor of the River City complex and open daily from 11am to midnight.
<<< Book a table at (02) 639 6305 or the “vivaavivtheriver” page on Facebook.