Three Sky-High Thai Bars Elevate Sunset Dining with Distinct Culinary Experiences Across Thailand

Three Sky-High Thai Bars Elevate Sunset Dining with Distinct Culinary Experiences Across Thailand

By Hariharan U

Published on June 3, 2026

A new wave of elevated dining experiences is transforming Thailand’s rooftop hospitality scene, with three sky-high venues offering distinct culinary journeys that pair panoramic sunset views with curated food and beverage concepts.

From Chiang Mai to Bangkok and Pattaya, MAI The Sky Bar, LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar, and Yitong Chinese Restaurant & Sky Bar are redefining rooftop dining by blending regional identity, global influences, and immersive design-led experiences.

In Chiang Mai, MAI The Sky Bar at Meliá Chiang Mai presents an “Artisan Thai Cheese & Wine Pairing” experience, available daily from 6 pm. The concept highlights locally crafted cheeses from Chiang Mai-based producer Jartisann, paired with Thai wines from Monsoon Valley in Hua Hin. The experience emphasizes seasonal sourcing and regional craftsmanship, showcasing Thailand’s evolving artisanal food culture.

The bar’s signature cocktails further reflect its creative direction. “MAI The Sky” blends lychee, vanilla, and cava foam into a golden-hour-inspired presentation, complete with a miniature aeroplane garnish. Another highlight, “Temple,” combines Siam Lanna Gin with Niem-Sompoi cordial, drawing inspiration from local botanicals and spiritual symbolism.

Recognized as a Tatler Best Spotlight Bar 2026 by Tatler Asia, MAI The Sky Bar offers 360-degree views of Chiang Mai, spanning the Ping River and Doi Suthep Temple. A glass bridge adds to the architectural experience, enhancing its reputation as one of the city’s most distinctive rooftop destinations.

In Bangkok, LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar at INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit is offering a daily “Social Hours” promotion between 5 pm and 7 pm, featuring two-for-one sunset drinks. Guests can enjoy selected wines, Chang draught beer, and signature cocktails inspired by Spanish and global flavours.

The venue also extends across two levels, including a 34th-floor rooftop space with a pool bar, infinity pool, and terrace overlooking the city. The design creates a unique visual connection between dining levels, offering diners an immersive skyline experience.

The culinary programme at LUZ has been refreshed by Spanish Chef de Cuisine Juan Ignacio García Racionero, introducing dishes inspired by Basque pintxos, Madrid-style tapas, Andalusian seafood, and coastal rice preparations, reinforcing the venue’s Iberian identity.

Further south in Pattaya, Yitong Chinese Restaurant & Sky Bar at Meliá Pattaya Hotel offers a culturally rooted dining experience centered around its signature wood-smoked Peking duck served in Hong Kong style. The restaurant’s concept, “A Feast of Flavour,” focuses on family-style dining designed to encourage shared culinary experiences.

The menu draws inspiration from Chinese communities in Chonburi and features dishes that reflect both tradition and modern refinement. Complementing the cuisine is a cocktail programme infused with Chinese ingredients, including goji berry gin creations, rosella tea blends, and ginseng-based cocktails, alongside thoughtfully crafted non-alcoholic options.

Across all three destinations, the emphasis remains on immersive dining experiences that combine food, culture, design, and storytelling. Together, these rooftop venues highlight Thailand’s growing reputation as a global hub for experiential hospitality and sunset-led social dining.


The Leela Ambience Gurugram Curates New Luxury Retreat Experience

The Leela Ambience Gurugram Curates New Luxury Retreat Experience

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 22, 2026

The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel & Residences is inviting guests to slow down and enjoy a more relaxed city escape with its new Luxury Retreat Reserve, an experience created around leisurely mornings, unhurried afternoons and memorable evenings.

Set within the luxury urban sanctuary, the stay offers rooms overlooking a sprawling 1,000-acre forest, giving guests a peaceful setting while still being in the heart of the city.

The experience begins with breakfast at Spectra, the award-winning all-day dining restaurant, followed by a three-course lunch at Diya. Known for its contemporary take on Indian cuisine, Diya brings together traditional flavours and a refined dining setting.

Guests can then spend a relaxed afternoon at The Courtyard Garden, where afternoon tea is served among lush greenery and private cabanas. The setting offers a quiet break from the pace of everyday city life.

For guests who prefer to spend their leisure time outdoors, the experience also includes access to activities at The Leela Ambience Golf Greens and The Leela Cycling Trail, available at an additional charge. The 9-hole golf course offers views of the surrounding landscape, while the cycling trail features curated routes for guests looking to explore the outdoors. After an active afternoon, guests can unwind at the spa with an exclusive credit, which can be used towards personalised therapies.

As the day comes to an end, Zanotta offers an Italian dining experience with panoramic Pearl and Ruby views overlooking Gurugram’s skyline. The restaurant combines Italian cuisine, elegant interiors and a curated beverage selection for a refined evening. The experience also includes round-trip transfers within a 10-kilometre radius and a bottle of house wine, adding to the ease of the stay from arrival to departure.

Available for bookings from 1 September 2026, Luxury Retreat Reserve is designed for guests looking to step away from busy schedules and simply enjoy a slower pace, good food, outdoor experiences and the comfort of having nowhere else to be.


Cygnett Hotels & Resorts Opens Cygnett Collection Jim Corbett

Cygnett Hotels & Resorts Opens Cygnett Collection Jim Corbett

By Hariharan U

Published on August 21, 2026

Homegrown hospitality chain Cygnett Hotels & Resorts has opened Cygnett Collection Jim Corbett, a 50-key resort near Ramnagar in Uttarakhand. The property is now part of Trademark Collection by Wyndham, adding to Cygnett's destination-focused portfolio and strengthening its partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

Located along the Umedpur–Chilkiya belt, the resort offers easy access to Jim Corbett National Park while also remaining connected to Ramnagar and other popular attractions in the region. Its location is suited to travellers visiting Corbett for wildlife experiences, family holidays, short leisure trips, corporate retreats and social occasions.

The resort features 50 rooms, each measuring close to 400 sq. ft., with layouts aimed at longer and more relaxed stays. Guests can dine at C Pavilion, the property's all-day dining restaurant serving Indian, regional and international cuisine. Other facilities include an outdoor swimming pool and landscaped outdoor areas.

Along with its leisure facilities, the resort has a strong focus on meetings and events. Summit, its approximately 3,000 sq. ft. conference and banquet venue, can host up to 250 guests depending on the event format. The venue, along with the outdoor spaces, is designed to cater to corporate offsites, intimate destination weddings and private celebrations.

"Jim Corbett has developed into a strong year-round leisure market, with demand extending beyond wildlife travel to family holidays, celebrations and corporate retreats. For us, this opening is also an important expression of what Cygnett Collection is intended to represent. We want to bring together destination-led properties that have a clear sense of place and an individual identity, while giving guests the consistency of service and operating standards associated with Cygnett," said Sarbendra Sarkar, Founder & Managing Director, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts.

The resort combines its destination-led character with Cygnett's hospitality experience and the reach of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Its association with Wyndham is expected to improve its visibility among domestic and international travellers while supporting Cygnett's plans to develop hotels in high-potential leisure destinations.

The opening also adds to Cygnett's efforts to build Cygnett Collection as a distinctive midscale portfolio featuring boutique resorts, heritage conversions and properties where the destination plays an important role in the guest experience. Hotels under the Collection are designed to retain their individual architectural and local character while following common standards of contemporary hospitality and the company's Cygnetture service framework.

With Cygnett Collection Jim Corbett, the group is expanding its presence in one of North India's established wildlife and drive-to leisure markets. The property brings together access to the Corbett landscape, accommodation, dining and event facilities for a range of travellers.

The resort's inclusion in Trademark Collection by Wyndham also highlights the growing collaboration between Cygnett Hotels & Resorts and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as both companies explore further growth opportunities across India and South Asia.

Commenting on the milestone, Sarbendra Sarkar, Founder & Managing Director, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts, said, "When we started Cygnett twelve years ago, we were convinced that India's hospitality growth story would increasingly be shaped by emerging cities and untapped destinations. The North East, pilgrimage centres and regional markets offered immense potential, and our strategy was built around participating in this transformation long before it became an industry trend."

He further added, "As we enter the next phase of growth, our focus is on creating a globally connected hospitality platform rooted in regional India. Our partnership with Wyndham, expanding portfolio of brands and strong development pipeline position us well to capitalize on the evolving travel landscape and create long-term value for our stakeholders."

Cygnett expects India's hospitality growth to be increasingly driven by spiritual tourism, experiential travel, destination weddings and infrastructure-led commercial corridors. The company believes emerging destinations beyond traditional metropolitan markets will offer significant opportunities in the coming years.

As part of its growth plans, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts has set a target of surpassing 100+ hotels and 10,000+ keys by 2030, as it looks to expand its presence across India and South Asia.


Fusion Hotel Group Integrates Ayola and Odua Brands from Topotels

Fusion Hotel Group Integrates Ayola and Odua Brands from Topotels

By Hariharan U

Published on August 20, 2026

Fusion Hotel Group has announced the integration of Ayola and Odua, two midscale Indonesian hotel brands operated by Topotels Hotels & Resorts, into its expanding regional portfolio. The move adds seven hotels to Fusion's portfolio and strengthens its presence in Indonesia and the wider Southeast Asian hospitality market.

Topotels currently operates seven midscale hotels across key Indonesian destinations under the Ayola and Odua brands. The properties serve both business and leisure travellers, with a presence in cities including Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya, as well as other regional markets.

Following the integration, Ayola and Odua will continue to operate under their existing brand identities. The hotels will benefit from Fusion Hotel Group's regional expertise, commercial platforms and operational support, with the integration expected to strengthen service consistency, distribution and access to Fusion's growing regional network.

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Commenting on the development, Willy Suderes, Chief Operating Officer, Topotels Hotels & Resorts, said, "This integration marks an exciting new chapter for Topotels. Joining Fusion will open new doors for our business, allowing us to deliver a better experience for our guests and provide stronger support for our owners. We're confident that the integration with Fusion will bring fresh momentum to our hotels and teams."

The addition of the two brands expands Fusion's collection of midscale hospitality offerings while providing a stronger operating platform across Indonesia. The country represents an important market for the group, with its major urban centres and regional destinations continuing to attract both domestic and international travellers.

Christopher Hur, Chief Executive Officer, Fusion Hotel Group, said, "We're delighted to welcome Topotels into the Fusion family. Their strong roots in Indonesia combined with Fusion's expertise will unlock new opportunities in key destinations across the country. This partnership strengthens our regional presence and supports our long-term vision for growth across Southeast Asia."

The integration forms part of Fusion Hotel Group's wider strategy of expanding its portfolio through partnerships and strengthening its presence across key Southeast Asian travel markets. The move also broadens the group's offering across different hospitality segments while retaining the individual identities of its established hotel brands.

Founded in 2008, Fusion Hotel Group operates 26 properties across Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, with a portfolio of eight brands. The group is known for wellness-focused hospitality and lifestyle concepts, alongside capabilities spanning hotel management, concept development and brand creation.

Fusion also operates in the branded residences segment, which continues to grow across the Asia-Pacific region.

With the integration of Ayola and Odua, Fusion Hotel Group further strengthens its position as a regional hospitality platform while expanding its operational footprint in Indonesia.

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