Leading SL cocktail bars unite for monumental two-part showcase in Bangkok

• Double-header showcase will see SL’s bar community take over two of Bangkok’s most prestigious venues for pair of high-energy guest shifts on 29 May and 3 June
• Collective initiative takes SL’s rapidly evolving bar culture, ancestral crafts and contemporary hospitality to global stage

In a historic first for the country’s hospitality industry, eight of Sri Lanka’s most definitive cocktail bars are joining forces in Bangkok this week and next week for a two-part collaborative showcase. 

Operating under a shared vision of unity, humility, and collective representation, these venues are coming together to take the island’s rapidly evolving bar culture, ancestral crafts, and contemporary hospitality to the global stage.

The double-header showcase will see Sri Lanka’s bar community take over two of Bangkok’s most prestigious venues for a pair of high-energy guest shifts.

The journey begins today (29) at the iconic The House on Sathorn, featuring a high-octane line-up of four distinct venues:

• Hideout Lounge (Kandy): Tucked away in Sri Lanka’s ancient hill capital, this creative collective stands as Kandy’s sole progressive cocktail destination, blending regional cues with thoughtful, tropical infusions. https://www.instagram.com/hideoutloungekandy/
• Raa (Hiriketiya): The world’s first and only bar dedicated entirely to traditional toddy and arrack, anchored by fresh toddy tapped directly on-site and built around a hyper-local, circular palm-tree ecosystem. https://www.instagram.com/raa.hiriketiya/
• Shoulders (Colombo): A high-energy capital venue that reworks well-loved global classics with inventive twists, unexpected ingredients, and a bold, playful nightlife spirit. https://www.instagram.com/shouldersbyharpos/
• Uncles (Colombo, Ahangama, and Unawatuna): A beloved institution and high-energy bar group, celebrated for its local-forward cocktails, street-food-inspired small plates, and an effortless, fun-loving vibe built for great times. https://www.instagram.com/uncles_colombo/

The showcase culminates on Wednesday, 3 June at Anantara’s design-forward Aqua Bar, curated in partnership with The Dram Attic, where four globally recognised coastal and urban heavyweights will take the reins:

• Jungle Kade (Madiha): A wild, laid-back southern surf-town expression of hospitality centred around open-fire cooking, house ferments, and bold, experimental island flavours. https://www.instagram.com/junglekade/

• Kampong (Colombo): A hidden speakeasy drawing inspiration from its vibrant, multicultural neighbourhood, translating urban Sri Lankan culture into contemporary mixology. https://www.instagram.com/kampong.colombo/

• Ropewalk (Galle): Housed within the historic Galle Fort, this venue has built a stellar reputation around reimagining heritage arrack culture through elegant, spirit-forward modern serves. https://www.instagram.com/ropewalksl/

• Smoke and Bitters (Hiriketiya): Internationally acclaimed for its bold tropical style shaped by indigenous spices, smoke, and house ferments, earning the #67 spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars extended list. https://www.instagram.com/smoke.bitters/

More than a series of standard guest shifts, this dual-destination takeover marks a rare moment of complete solidarity within the local hospitality scene. By bringing together bars of wildly different personalities—spanning beachfront surf towns, historic fortresses, ancient mountain cities, and bustling urban hubs—the collective aims to showcase the sheer diversity and depth of modern Sri Lankan identity.

Throughout both evenings, bartenders will champion indigenous ingredients, including toddy, local spices, coastal flora, and native spirits, offering international audiences a cohesive glimpse into a cocktail culture that is increasingly drawing global attention for its warmth, originality, and profound sense of place.

Driven by a collaborative, ego-free spirit, this showcase is a masterclass in what happens when independent creators unite to champion their homeland—putting a definitive, boundary-pushing stamp on Asia’s hospitality map.