Bangkok, among other things, is a beer city.  There are several brewpubs in Bangkok, Thailand.  The Tawandang Beer House is one that is worth visiting for food, entertainment and beer.  

Bangkok brewhouse and restaurant is worth visiting.

     Anyone who has traveled to Thailand knows about the refreshing character of cold Singha and Kloster beer.  Whichever of the two is more hoppy is my favorite.  It seems to vary every time I visit.  Nevertheless cold beers go down very easily and before I know it I’ve had enough. 

     There isn’t much diversity.  You’ll find quite a few German imports and of course the ubiquitious Heineken, Corona and other international brands.  The imports are not exotic, nor are most of them very fresh.

     If it’s fresh beer you seek, the Tawandang German Brewhouse at 462/61 Narathiwat Road, Rama 3 in Bangkok is worth a beer adventure.  It opens at 4 p.m., but few are there at this time.  Stay late and experience the full impact of a night out with beer loving Thais.

     As I entered the parking lot the aroma of hops and malt percolates through the humid air.  A large cathedral-like dome graces the brewhouse.  The beer hall/restaurant is huge and impressive.  The menu offers an extensive selection of German-Thai hybrid and Thai specialties. 

     This is not a place built for tourists.  There’s bierhaus style seating for over 1,000.  Some areas  are broken into smaller more intimate sections.  Large stage entertainment begins in the early evening and evolves with clientele, mostly Thai people of all ages.

    Then there’s the beer.  A smooth German-style Dunkel (dark lager) was my favorite.  Refreshing, with a wonderful hop bite and an authentic roast malt character that surpasses most Dunkels I’ve had in Germany.   Dark beers are always less popular than light beer, and in this case that’s a good thing, because the beer is lagered in the serving vessels for a longer period.  The quality was very good.

     My second choice was the light lager.  Unfiltered and yeasty this smooth beer had a yeast-fruitiness typical of German-themed international brew-restaurants.  Tawandang’s popularity seemed to me to put pressure on the brewhouse to serve their lager before it’s ready.  

     I’m not a Wheat beer fan, but I recognized the authentic fruitiness of their offering, with a touch of added “funk.”  Not quite up to par with some of the more perfectly brewed German Weissbiers, but acceptable if you aren’t as picky as I am.

     If you want your experience Thai style you can always order extra chili with your food, knowing there’s beer is on the way.

The Base Bangkok

Although the travel industry has taken a real hit from recent political and economic problems, Astudo Hotel and Resort Management Company has secured management rights for 10 new properties due to open next year. According to company CEO Anthony McDonald, “Investors and owners realize that with tough market conditions it is even more essential to have professional management for their hotels, which can provide access to extensive sales and marketing networks throughout the world”.

Having opened resorts in Samui, Kui Buri, Koh Kood, Pranburi, Chumphon and Chiang Mai in the last 18 months, Astudo’s credibility as a fast growing professional hotel operator for boutique properties is attracting more hotel owners to their portfolio. Astudo managed hotels carry one of their four brands, depending on the type and positioning of the property. “This enables the company to share marketing and sales investment and effort across their whole portfolio of properties. This is very attractive to owners of small boutiques who struggle to get market visibility”, said McDonald. 

The company is due to open its first 100 rooms, 3 star budget city hotel called “The Base” on Silom road early next year, with a second property to follow in Manila later in 2009. Discusses with another Sukhumvit based owner, will likely provide their third “The Base” planned for the end of 2009. The 3 properties will add another 300 rooms to Astudo’s hotel portfolio, in this fast growing budget sector. The company has targeted to grow “The Base” hotels to a total of 10 properties by 2010, with regional expansion to major capital cities during 2010.

A remarkable success story for the Thai hotel industry, Astudo has captured a large slice of the Boutique hotel management market, where typically international chains cannot operate successfully due to their inherently large overheads. According to McDonald, “Our focus on helping owners build their business, consistent and aggressive marketing and sales, and cost control is striking a note with owners looking to outsource management to a trustworthy partner”. Astudo’s vacation residence brand “Le Bayburi” will open 3 new properties in the near term. Projects will be in Samui and Phuket, adding to their existing property in Pranburi. Other likely projects in 2009 for Le Bayburi will be in Krabi and Koh Chang. Combined, these projects represent an investment of over 3 Billion Baht, with a total of more than 400 rooms.

Having invested over 700 Million Baht in their flagship X2 Design Resorts in Kui Buri (Hua Hin) and Samui, the company is close to concluding management of two new build X2 properties, with open dates planned in 2010. The projects with a combined 100 rooms will be in Bangkok and one resort location.

In spite of the forecast drop in tourism next year McDonald added, “I am very confident in the medium and long term prospects for the industry. Market conditions will be tough for sure, but with a focus on marketing and sales, and continued support from the government agencies we forecast a return to normal very soon”.

Bangkok Nightlife

Travel agents and tourism officials expect bargain prices in coming months as Thailand scrambles to salvage its peak tourist season after anti-government protests shut the country’s two main airports for a week and stranded thousands of visitors.

The Bangkok closures cost Thailand about $3.7 billion, and up to 2.3 million tourists may cancel plans to visit, according to reports.

Prakit Chinamourpong, president of the Thai Hotels Assn., called the turmoil economically worse than the 2004 tsunami that devastated Thai resorts. “We already have . . . hotel occupancies down from a usual high-season 90% to a mere 10% to 15%. Layoffs, or in many cases, shorter working hours have already been introduced,” said Tom Bishop, owner of DTC Travel in Bangkok.

As the “Land of Smiles” struggles to rebound, Bishop and others said travelers might find some good discounts. Phornsiri Manoharn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, announced a plan for promotional campaigns.

Among recent deals on the tourism website, www.tourismthailand.org, were free second or third nights at hotels and special fares on Bangkok Airways.

By Dec. 5, all airlines had resumed operations at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, and the number of flights was approaching the usual 547 per day, local media reported. Although a recent State Department travel alert urged Americans to avoid demonstrations, and political instability remained, the capital was calmer last week. “The positive is that while there was mass inconvenience during the demonstration, no tourists were hurt, and there was no vandalism or damage of any kind left by the demonstrators,” Bishop said.

He added that he hoped would-be visitors would focus on Thailand’s beaches, cultural sites, cuisine and golf courses rather than what he termed “a week of indecision.”