Wednesday 15 July 2026

Good morning Bangkok. Happy Wednesday.

🌡️ Weather: 27-36°C (81-97°F). Warming back up. Scattered showers from mid-afternoon. High tides continue through July 19 with riverside flooding risk 6PM-10PM nightly.

🌫️ AQI: 68-155 (Good to Unhealthy). Wide range. Morning is the cleaner window. Mask recommended at the upper end..

⚠️ The following story involves loss of life. We have kept the details factual.

The fire broke out at approximately 11:50PM on Sunday, July 12, at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao in Chom Phon subdistrict, Chatuchak district. Firefighters from Phahon Yothin, Phaya Thai and Huai Khwang stations took approximately 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control. The venue, which described itself as a brewery and beer hall with capacity for up to 600 customers, rapidly filled with smoke after the fire started near the stage area. Band members performing that night told investigators they saw smoke coming from an electrical switchboard shortly before the blaze. Authorities are investigating whether a short circuit in a ceiling air conditioner was the cause. Most victims were found in the bathroom area where they had sought shelter. Initial findings indicate the majority died from smoke inhalation. Bangkok Governor Chadchart confirmed the death toll and said 18 people were initially hospitalized, with eight in serious condition from burns. The toll has since risen to 30 as critically injured victims have died in the days following.

Royal Thai Police chief Kittharath Punpetch said the single-story venue had four exits, but police are examining whether two rear exits were blocked or unusable. One exit near the restrooms, where most victims were found, had a table blocking the way. Another near the kitchen had a damaged exit sign and a sliding door missing its handle. The venue's flammable ceiling decorations may have accelerated the fire's spread. The venue had passed a safety inspection in April. The owner is in the ICU in critical condition. The Chatuchak district office has ordered the building closed for 30 days. Rong Beer issued a statement apologizing to victims and families, and announced an information and assistance center. Families of deceased victims will receive ฿29,300 each. Those still in hospital will receive ฿4,000. The venue held a fire insurance policy with Tipaya Insurance Company for 40 million baht.

Bottom Line: 30 people went out on a Sunday night and did not come home. The investigation will determine what happened. What is already known is that exits may have been blocked, decorations were flammable, and the venue filled with smoke faster than people could escape. Governor Chadchart has launched an investigation committee. We will continue to follow the story as facts are confirmed.

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Mountain B in Sattahip, Chon Buri, killed 22 people on August 5, 2022. The venue had flammable acoustic foam on the walls, one main exit and no fire escape. On July 1 this year, a worker died in a fire at an unlicensed Pattaya host club that had no fire exit and no operating permit. Twelve days later, 30 people died at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao. Each fire features the same combination: flammable interior materials, inadequate or blocked emergency exits, and a venue that either was not properly inspected or passed an inspection that did not catch the problems.

Thailand has fire safety regulations. The Building Control Act requires venues above a certain size to have fire exits, sprinkler systems and fire-resistant materials. The Chatuchak district office confirmed that Rong Beer had passed a safety inspection in April. The question is what that inspection covered and whether it checked the exits, the ceiling decorations and the emergency signage that police are now flagging as potential contributing factors. After Mountain B in 2022, the government pledged stricter enforcement of nightlife safety standards. After the Pattaya fire on July 1, the alarm sounded again. After Rong Beer, with 30 dead, the question is no longer whether the regulations exist. It is whether anyone is enforcing them.

Bottom Line: If you go out in Bangkok, look for the exits when you walk in. Not because Bangkok is unsafe. Because the system that is supposed to guarantee fire safety has now failed three times in four years, and until the enforcement matches the regulations, your awareness is your own best protection.

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The original Sarnies sits on Charoen Krung Soi 44 in Bang Rak, inside a beautiful old shophouse that has become one of the most recognized cafe spaces in the city. Where the Sukhumvit branch (which we featured in June) leans Japanese-inspired, the Charoen Krung original is pure Australian-Asian fusion in an industrial-chic setting with exposed brick, high ceilings and the kind of character that only an old Charoen Krung building can deliver. The Tom Yum Eggs Benedict is the dish that put this location on the map, blending Thai heat with brunch comfort in a way that should not work but absolutely does. The Fry Up, the Smashed Hass Avocado and the Shakshuka cover the brunch fundamentals. The Longan Espresso Tonic and the Orange Mocha cover the coffee adventurers. "Beautiful old-house cafe with a cozy, laid-back vibe. Great coffee, lovely latte art, and a space full of character," one reviewer wrote.

The 4.5-star rating across 3,710 Google reviews at this volume is not a fluke. It reflects years of consistency across brunch, coffee and atmosphere. On a Wednesday when the city is processing difficult news and you want a quiet room with a good cup and a plate that reminds you why Bangkok is still one of the best cities in the world to wake up in, the original Sarnies is the right place to be.

TIP: The Tom Yum Eggs Benedict and the Longan Espresso Tonic are the signature pairing. Reserve via Chope if going after 10AM on weekends.

📍 101, 103 Charoen Krung 44 Alley, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
📞 065 816 1655
🕐 Open daily, closes 10PM
⭐ 4.5 stars (3,710 Google reviews)
💰 ฿200-600 per person
🌐 linktr.ee/sarnies.group.

Always check opening times before heading out.

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Have a good Wednesday, and see you tomorrow morning.

— Patrick