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Nightlife Much of Bangkok’s nightlife is concentrated in the two red light districts of Bangkok – Patpong (between Silom and Surawong Roads) and Soi Cowboy (Sukhumvit), named after the first bar that opened here called the Cowboy Bar. Bangkok’s sex industry is as blatant and booming as ever. However, in addition to the numerous sex clubs and massage parlours, there are many excellent cocktail bars and restaurants and, at night, the area is always thronging with people. Most venues are open all day and late into the night, although bars and clubs are supposed to close at 0200. Sometimes, there is an admission fee but this usually includes one or two drinks. The dress code is very relaxed, although a few of the nightclubs do enforce smarter dress. As in any city, nightlife venues come and go and news of the latest hotspots can be found in the city’s listings magazine, Bangkok Metro (website: www.bkkmetro.com). Bars: The Bull’s Head, Sukhumvit 33/1, is popular with many ex-pat residents of Bangkok. It is a British-style pub, with regular quiz and theme nights. Irish pubs are popular in most cities in the world and the busy Dubliner Irish Pub on Sukhumvit (Washington Square) is no exception. A stylish watering hole is The Barbican on Soi Thaniya, Silom Road, with a good selection of drinks and good food. The attractively named Skunk, Ekamai Soi 10, Sukhumvit Soi 63, draws a regular crowd and has interesting decor, such as car parts on the walls. Casinos: Gambling is illegal in Thailand. Clubs: Six years after it opened its doors, Concept CM2, a huge disco and bar in the basement of the Novotel Hotel on Siam Square, continues to be very popular, in particular on Thursday, its retro night. The amazing light and sound system and ostentatious Art Deco-style interior of Narcissus, 112 Sukhumvit Soi 23, attracts the smart set keen on house, trance and techno. Ministry of Sound, 2 Sukhumvit Soi 12, has regular guest slots with internationally known DJs. The hangout for trendy locals and ex-pats is the Q Bar, 34 Sukhumvit Soi 11, which also imports top international DJs. Both clubs offer a range of music from house to hip hop. Live music: Ad-Makers, 51 Soi Lang Suan (off Ploenchit), has live bands that play folk, pop and hard rock and the crowd often sing along. Saxophone Pub, 3/8 Victory Monument, Phayathai Road, has great acoustics, a lively atmosphere and a variety of live music including funk, jazz, blues and ska. Top-quality live bands frequent La Lunar, Sukhumvit Soi 26, which has a multi-screen video system and impressive lights and lasers. The Bamboo Bar in the upmarket Oriental Hotel is an intimate, refined club with an excellent reputation for its guest jazz bands. Radio City, Patpong Soi 1, is a great live music venue with bands playing old rock music. |
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