Bangkok Nightlife Travel Guide

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Nightlife is Bangkok is as wild or as sophisticated as you choose to make it. The authorities have clamped down on the seedier side of Bangkok's nocturnal amusements, with most clubs closing by a respectable 2am, but the party spirit still lives on. Invest in a Bangkok by Night map and explore the night markets, clubs and bars at your leisure. [more]

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Bangkok Bars

If you want to go up in the world in Bangkok, you need to, well, go up. The latest trend is for gravity-defying bars on top of the tallest buildings in town. Top of the heap, so to speak, is the Sky Bar and Distil on the State Building, a mere 63 floors or 275 metres above the city streets. The views from The Sky Bar's circular bar area are amazing, the drinks suitably pricey, and the sheer terror for vertigo sufferers incalculable. The best sunset view is actually from Distil, on the other side of the building, where you can lie back on couches and watch the sun go down with a sundowner...

The lounge bars at Bangkok hotels offer a sophisticated alternative to either the dizzy heights of the Bangkok skyline, or the massed crowds of the city streets. The 87+ Bar at the Conrad Hotel Bangkok offers cocktails and live music for a well-heeled crowd. The Flava Lounge at the Dream Hotel Bangkok offers great cocktails in a very self-conscious boutique hotel environment. If you can talk you way inside, the Met Bar at the Metropolitan is one of the in places to been seen, or you can almost smell the money around you at the My Bar in the Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok.

If you yearn for a pub atmosphere, head for Shenanigan's on Convent Road, just a short stagger from Patpong, or the Bull's Head at Sukhumvit 33. Cheap Charlie's is exactly that, cheap drinks served on the street.

Patpong Bars, Bangkok

Patpong used to be the centre of the sleazy part of town, but just like Soho in London, it's now more trendy than racy. Once you've haggled over the price of a fake Rolex in the night market, you can park yourself on a stool in one of the open-air bars and watch the human wildlife go by. Yes, there are still go-go bars and pole-dancing clubs in Patpong, and some eyebrow-raising 'shows' on Patpong II in particular, but you can still have a good time between Silom Road and Surawong Street and tell your mother about it afterwards. Well, nearly all, anyway...

The Patpong go-go bars and 'ping-pong' shows (no, we are not going to explain, use your imagination) are more for fun than frolics for most Westeners, who watch with knowing amusement, down their expensive drinks and then head out to a nearby dance club.

The Sukhumvit Road area is home to the more hard-line erotic shows, particularly at the Nana Entertainment Plaza and Soi Cowboy area. There are no markets or other tourist distractions here, and it's a strictly adult environment for those with a fascination for ladyboys or an obsession with leather - or both. The Bangkok police often swoop on the foreign visitors who tend to frequent these establishments in the Plaza, as most Thais prefer the more discreet 'massage parlours'.

Soi Cowboy is a short street with around 40 bars, including the famous glass-topped Baccara Bar. Soi Cowboy is more laid back (if you pardon the expression) than Nana Plaza,and was even featured in the film 'Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason'.

Backpacker Bars in Bangkok

Khao San Road is backpacker land, where the music booms all night and the food is cheap and cheerful. What's more there will always be an Aussie or Brit to have a beer with!

Gay Bars, Bangkok

The vibrant gay scene in Bangkok reflects the highly tolerant attitude of the Thais towards sexual preference. You'll find gay bars hotels, cabarets and plenty of fun-lovin' gay clubs - see below.

Casinos in Bangkok

Since gambling is illegal in Thailand, there are no casinos in Bangkok. However, there are illicit gambling scams operating; do not be conned into joining a game, as not only will you be breaking the law, but you are likely to lose all your money as well.

Clubs in Bangkok

The Bed Supperclub still continues to draw the crowds, as this steel and glass restaurant invites guest to recline and eat, before dancing off the calories in the downstairs club. It's not cheap, but you'll often find top Euro DJs at the decks, and plenty of beautiful people on Wednesdays, the ‘models' night.

New to the Bangkok club scene are the trance parties at Concept CM2 club. Inspired by the Koh Phangan full moon parties, these monthly dance fests will keep you on your feet until 2am. Trendy young Thais head for the cd-pumping Royal City Avenue (or RCA), but if it all feels like a school disco to you, head for the more upmarket Premier club on Rama IX. Other disco-divas can head for Capital City in Ratchadaphisek Road, the Peppermint Bistro in Patpong I or Rome Club at Patpong III. Hotel-based clubs are actually quite good, so try Bubbles at the Dusit Thani Hotel or Phuture at the Chao Phraya Park Hotel, Rachadapisek Road.

Gay Clubs in Bangkok, Thailand

The best gay clubs tend to centre around Soi 2 and 4 in the Silom district; Soi 4 is the bar street, where revelers start the evening with a drink in the Telephone Pub or Sphinx. By 11pm, they are heading to the popular dance clubs in Soi 2 to catch the mini cabaret at DJ Station, or join the party at G.O.D, Expresso, or Freeman. If your night is still young at 2am, move on to X Boom on the Surawong Road, where the beat continues until morning.

Katoey shows

In Thailand, to have a katoey, or ladyboy, in the family is a sign of good luck. As far removed from garish drag queens as you can get, these elegant creatures of silk and surgery perform shows that combine glamour, disco and sheer disbelief in equal portions. It is a measure of how integrated the tradition is in Thai society that a popular Thai boxing champion continued to fight in the ring until his/her surgery had reached its final conclusion. The most famous ladyboy cabaret is the Calypso, at the Asia Hotel.

Bangkok nightlife at street level is not for the naive, so be aware of pickpockets, and particularly, con artists. A friendly Thai is a wonderful drinking companion, but an over-friendly Thai who want you to leave the bar and go with him/her to a 'place they know' is probably not. Watch your drinks, your wallet and remember your way home!

Live Music in Bangkok

Jazz fans should head for Bobby's Arms in Patpong, the Witch's Tavern in Sukhumvit 55 and Blue Moon at Gaysorn Plaza, or Saxophone at the Victory Monument. Many Bangkok hotels also offer excellent in-house entertainment; ask your hotel concierge for details. Live music is also on offer with a drink or six at Brown Sugar and Round Midnight in the Soi Sarasin, Soi Lang Suan area, or at bars such as Renoir in the Sukhumvit area. You can experience the unique fusion of Thai modern and folk music at the Tawandang German Brewhouse in Ratchanakharin.