Football rendezvous

Of course you can watch all the World Cup matches at home, but that would be so anti-social, especially when there are all sorts of cool places around town offering good deals on food and drink while you cheer on your team. And now that the curfew is gone, some of these places are able to track the competition well into the wee hours. How about watching a match at 5am over breakfast?

BEER VAULT
The Beer Vault at 4 Points by Sheraton on Sukhumvit Soi 15 is showing a daily match on six LCD screens through July 13. The telecasts come with Bt400 “World Cup Combos” on the side, including Spanish tostadas with an AK Damm, Brazilian baked salmon with Caibeerinha (a Caipirinha mixed with Hoegaarden Ros?e), three kinds of sausages with Erdinger Weissbier and back ribs with Hite Beer. Call (02) 309 3201.
    
25 DEGREES
The 25 Degrees Burgers, Wine & Liquor Bar at Pullman Bangkok Hotel G on Silom Road is viewing the tournament over platters of burgers and fries with Coca Cola in a limited-edition aluminium bottle for Bt450. The joint never closes, so drop in anytime for any game. Call (02) 238 1991.
    
DEE LOUNGE
The Dee Lounge at the Novotel Bangkok Ploenchit Sukhumvit operates 24 hours a day with live matches on a 75-inch LED screen. Get all the front-row action during happy hour from 4 to 6pm or enjoy dinner in the outdoor beer garden with tunes courtesy of resident band CH3. The kitchen is open all night too, to make sure you’re not screaming on an empty stomach. Call (02) 305 6000, extension 1631.
  
ANGELINI
The Angelini Bar at the Shangri-La on the Chao Phraya River is oozing Brazilian vibes throughout the tournament. Its Futbol Fiesta offers free-flowing drinks for Bt800, including Chang Beer, Brazilian caipirinhas, sparkling wine and house wine and soft drinks. The Late Night Power Up Combo (Bt500) is three beers and a bar snack. Call (02) 236 7777.
    
HI-SO
During the 11pm matches until July 5 the beer is Bt150 and comes with endless popcorn at Hi-So at the Sofitel So Bangkok near the Lumpini MRT. Watch the action in the open-air lounge atop the building with the Bangkok skyline all around you. No admission charge. Call (02) 624 0000.

UP & ABOVE
The Up & Above Bar on the 24th floor of the Okura Prestige Bangkok entices footie fans with a selection of thirst-quenching South American cocktails (Bt350) created by sommelier Marc Bittner especially for the World Cup. You can try a Copa do Mundo (Pisco brandy, cherry liqueur, cinnamon syrup and lemon), for example, daily from 1pm to 1am through July 31. Call (02) 687 9000 to book a table.

LEBUA
The jersey-clad staff at lebua’s Caf? Mozu keeps “World Cup Nights” rowdy with live telecasts, savoury snacks and free-flowing beer. For Bt1,500 you get savoury lollipops, popcorn, fries and free-flowing local beer for the whole two-hour match. Beers from the competing countries will also be sold. Call (02) 624 9555.
    
 IMPERIAL LOBBY
 The football breakfast we mentioned is in the lobby lounge of the Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 22. The coffee is fresh and free. The “all-night breakfast” – meaning 11pm to 5am – is Bt100 with a free espresso. Call (02) 261 9000, extension 5009.