Bangkok's House of Beers takes its Belgian brews to Ari

Enjoying a huge surge in popularity at its Thonglor location, Bangkok’s famous House of Beers -- or HOBS for short -- has opened a new joint in Soi Ari, a neighborhood that's become the latest hotspot for the city's hip and wealthy. 

Located on the top of Aree Garden, a new plaza filled with chic eateries, including the buzz-worthy Polka Dot Cafe, the new version of HOBS is similar to its Thonglor brother in size -- tiny -- so reservations are recommended if you want a table.

If you don't mind the cigarette smoke and can handle fans instead of air conditioning, grab one of the balcony seats, which offer nice views of the whole place. No reservations? Plop down on a bar seat or try out the lawn seats downstairs, at the far end of Aree Garden. They’re quiet and cozy.

The new HOBS offers the same variety of beers and dining options as the other branch. There are five types of draft beer on tap and 30 to 40 types of bottled beer.

If you're new to the Belgian brew scene, we recommend the Hoegaarden draft, a wheat beer popular among the locals for its smoothness. If you're feeling more adventerous, try the bottled Tripel Karmeliet and Chimay. For something sweeter there's Stassen's cider. Both the apple and pear ciders are quite soft, but beware of the 6 percent alcohol content that could potentially knock any lightweights out if enough are consumed. 

The food menu isn't that big but there’s a decent variety of dishes. I enjoyed the crispy fish and chips and the juicy pork chops. The Belgian fries, mussels and sausage platter are enjoyable too. 

If you're driving, there's a decent sized car park in the front or you can park on the side of the street if its full. If coming via the BTS, get off at Ari station, walk into soi Ari and grab a tuktuk down to Aree Garden. Almost every driver knows where it is. Click here for a Google map of the location.

House of Beers (Aree Garden)