The Bartender Who Learnt Confidence One Conversation at a Time
As evening settles over Oriental Residence Bangkok, the atmosphere at Oriental Bar begins to shift almost imperceptibly.
Lighting softens. Conversations slow. Glassware catches reflections from the city beyond the windows. Guests arrive looking for different things: a moment of quiet after work, an elegant cocktail before dinner, or simply the comfort of sitting somewhere that feels calm amid Bangkok’s constant movement.
Behind the bar, Beer or Watcharee Saendee, notices all of it.
At 29 years old, she has become one of the familiar faces of Oriental Bar, known not only for her cocktails but for the ease with which she connects with guests from around the world.
But her path into bartending was not immediate.
Before joining Oriental Residence Bangkok, Beer worked in hotel restaurants as a waitress while quietly hoping for an opportunity behind the bar. Although she had long been interested in bartending, she was initially told she lacked the experience required.
Rather than feeling discouraged, she treated it as motivation.
After finishing her shifts, she spent additional hours learning from senior bartenders, studying techniques, spirits and cocktail preparation whenever she had the chance. Even during university, she had already been drawn to flair bartending and the energy of guest interaction.
“What I loved most was being able to speak with people,” she says. “Not only serving drinks, but understanding guests and creating an experience for them.”
The greater challenge, however, was language.
When Beer first moved to Bangkok, speaking English with international guests felt intimidating. But instead of avoiding those conversations, she actively searched for opportunities to practise, gradually building confidence through real interactions with the foreign guests and travellers she met along the way.
She never hesitated to introduce herself first.
“Hi, my name is Beer. How are you doing today?” she would say with a smile, often turning complete strangers into conversation partners for the evening.
Little by little, those simple conversations became the foundation of the confidence she carries behind the bar today.
“I realised that the only way to improve was to keep speaking,” she says.
Over time, those conversations became natural.
Today, much of her role extends beyond cocktail preparation alone. Guests regularly sit at the bar asking not simply what to drink, but what she personally recommends based on their mood, preferences or even the kind of evening they have had.
For Beer, bartending is deeply personal.
“A cocktail should match how someone feels,” she explains. “Some guests want something refreshing and light. Others want something stronger or more comforting. You learn to read people.”
That instinct has shaped several of Oriental Bar’s signature cocktails, many of which she helped create herself.
One of the most popular, “Reggae”, uses a clarification technique that transforms coconut milk into a crystal clear cocktail while preserving its rich tropical character. Another signature, “Disco”, was inspired by the vibrant atmosphere and energy associated with music and nightlife.
For Beer, creating cocktails always begins with emotion first and ingredients second.
Even now, she continues learning constantly, studying flavour pairings, observing bartenders whenever she travels and refining the details of service that guests may not consciously notice, but always remember.
It is perhaps this combination of curiosity and warmth that keeps guests returning.
Some now call ahead specifically asking whether she is working that evening before visiting the bar.
One day, Beer hopes to open a business of her own combining food, drinks and hospitality. But for now, Oriental Bar remains where she continues to grow, one conversation at a time.
And in many ways, that quiet sense of connection has become her signature as much as any cocktail she creates.
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Story: Sue Rattanamahattana • Photography: Poonsawat Sudtama
ABOUT HEARTMADE
Created to celebrate the 60th anniversary of ONYX Hospitality Group, Heartmade is a series of heartfelt stories inspired by the people who make every stay memorable, from dedicated team members to cherished guests across Amari, OZO, Shama, Oriental Residence, as well as our spa and dining brands.
Through personal memories, meaningful connections, and moments of genuine care, the series celebrates the warmth and spirit of hospitality that have brought people together for six decades. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from the Heartmade series.