Nightlife in Bangkok

Nightlife in Bangkok

1. DrinkSilom

   Bamboo Bar

   Jazz lovers will want to stop by the Oriental's famous bar, which is surprisingly small and intimate, for classy colonial surroundings, live music and a Cuban cigar. Dress code applies: no shorts, sleeveless shirts, slippers or sandals.

   Fri Sat 11:00-02:00, Sun-Thu 11:00-01:00

2. DrinkSilom

   Banana Bar On 4

   This is more of a groovy club than a Spanish snack joint, with two stylishly decorated floors and a peoplewatching terrace. The music is house with a Latin twist. It is popular among hip straight people, and sometimes even local celebrities can be seen.

   20:00-02:00 daily·100 baht

3. DrinkKhao San Road

   Brick Bar

   Brick Bar is an underground ska and reggae bar with live music performances. Its interior is in an old-fashioned Western style. It is very popular with the locals, and extremely crowded in weekends. Known to check IDs.

   20:00-01:00 daily·Entry 150 baht

4. DrinkPratunam

   Co-Co Walk

   โค-โค วอล์ค

   This is basically an outdoor covered compound with a dozen bars, pubs and live music performances. Some of the better bars include Sawaree Terrace, Co-Co Beach, 69, The Tube and Chilling House Cafe. It is mostly popular among Thai university students. In the middle of it all is a large Korean-style BBQ that offers "all-you-can-eat" for 99 baht.

   Daily 18:00-01:00

5. DrinkSilom

   DJ Station

   The most famous gay nightclub in Bangkok and busy almost every night, with ladyboy show, disco, dance performance. Jam-packed on weekends, do not enter if you're even slightly claustrophobic. Most drinks are around 100-200 baht (be careful with spirits, the bartenders don't measure anything and tend to over-pour, sometimes badly), or buy a bottle of spirits from 1,000 baht up and get free mixers. Spread over three levels, the ground floor has a big dancefloor, the second floor attracts "moneyboys" and their admirers (but these are not the majority), and the third floor is the place to escape if you can't move (if you can get there).

   21:00-02:00 daily·Entry fee 400 baht including 2 drinks

6. EatSilom

   Eat Me Restaurant

   ร้านอาหาร อีทมี

   A bed supper club with a slick modern design. Their menu is eclectic with fusion dishes. They also have an extensive wine list, which comes at a price.

   Daily 15:00-01:00·1,500 baht

7. DrinkKhao San Road

   Hippie de Bar

   Psychedelic interior with mismatched furniture, but not really hippie style. Outside is a nice place to chill with a beer or cocktail. It's a bit off the main street, so no noise from there, but the reggae and tropical music are a bit too loud for a casual conversation.

   11:00-01:00 daily

8. DoSiam Square

   I.Sawan Residential Spa & Club

   The luxury you'd expect at a five-star hotel, at five-star prices. Most of their treatments take at least three hours, but are famed as among the best of Thailand.

   2,600-3,200 baht/hr

9. DrinkKhao San Road

   Molly Bar

   There's a really relaxed vibe in this colonial-style bar. In the evening, there is a band playing in the corner. Don't expect a quality band, but the live music does give this bar its laid-back feel. It spills out onto the road with plenty of seating outside, so it is a nice alternative for people-watching. And there's a lot to see, as a diverse group of customers attend, including locals.

   13:00-01:00 daily

10. DrinkKhao San Road

    Mulligans

    มัลลิแกน ไอริชบาร์

    Opened in 2009, this Irish pub has a daily promotion between 20:00 and 02:00, when a large beer or a cocktail sets you back 110 baht. The area downstairs is relaxed, and right beside the road, so a great place for talking and people-spotting. There is no music downstairs, but the atmosphere is still good as soft music comes from the other side of the street. Upstairs is a large Irish pub. There are often live performances there or you can just play the arcades.

    24 hours

11. DoSiam Square

    Royal Bangkok Sports Club

    ราชกรีฑาสโมสร

    This is a venue for horse races under royal patronage. Races are held every two weeks on Sunday.

    Every two weeks on Sun 12:30-18:00·50-100 baht

12. DrinkPratunam

    Saxophone Pub

    แซ็กโซโฟน ผับ

    One of the best pubs to catch live playing jazz and blues bands. The interior is beautifully decorated with old guitars and cymbals. Even while it's crowded, the atmosphere is cosy. It is very much focused on experiencing the music, as the public sits and stands in a semicircle around the band. Don't come here for the food, as it is not great and overpriced. Beers and cocktails (the latter served in a saxophone glass) are also more expensive than elsewhere in Bangkok.

    Daily 18:00-02:00

13. DrinkSilom

    Sky Bar Bangkok

    Riverview Rooftop Bar

    The world's tallest rooftop bar/restaurant, a few metres higher up than Vertigo — but due to its slightly off-centre location, the views are arguably not quite as stunning. It's a complex of a number of expensive restaurants, including the Mediterranean-flavoured Sirocco, but the cheapest option for just a drink is the outdoor Sky Bar, which has a jazz band most nights. Prices are steep with a beer at 300+ baht and cocktails 450+ baht.

    18:00-01:00 daily

14. DrinkThonburi

    Taling Bar

    ตลิ่งบาร์

    This is a simple chill-out bar and restaurant with views of the Chao Phraya River. At night, the Grand Palace is beautifully lit. It has been rebuilt with a much larger surface area. You can have a beer, cocktail or a dinner at this place before heading for Khao San Road. Apart from a great view, it is a good way to get a taste of Thonburi's local nightlife. Free fried peanuts are offered, and live music starts at 20:30 every night. You can also have dinner in the evening.

    16:00-00:00 daily

15. DrinkKhao San Road

    The Club

    One of the better clubs on Khao San Road, and you can't miss it, as it has a huge purple neon sign. It is an Ibiza-style club that basically consists of one large room in Italian style. It might feel a bit overdone and pretentious for Western crowds, but Thai locals flock to this place in large numbers. Music styles played are house, electro, techno and trance.

    11:00-03:00 daily·Free entry

16. DrinkThonburi

    Three Sixty Lounge

    A lounge bar that offers spectacular 360 degrees views of the city and the Chao Phraya River. Usually there is a live jazz band playing. Cocktails cost 250 baht, which is a bit cheaper than in upscale venues in similar areas. Smoking is permitted in dedicated areas.

    17:00-01:00 daily

17. EatSilom Not mapped

    Bonita Cafe and Social Club

    An old American-style café with a vegan menu. They also have some raw, gluten-free and sugar-free dishes, and shakes for drinks. Portions are a bit small for the price, but made with fresh ingredients. It is run by friendly owners, in a homey atmosphere, and is already regarded as one of the better vegan restaurants in the area. It's also a social club for gathering. Free Wi-Fi.

    Wed-Mon 09:30-21:30, closed Tue

18. DrinkSiam Square Not mapped

    Brown Sugar

    This place is known as one of Bangkok's better live jazz bars. The food and drinks are passable, but the people come here for the atmosphere, which is lively and relaxed. The interior is really chic, but expect to pay for it. Be careful to check the bill as the waiters are known to mess around with it.

    Mon-Fri 11:00-14:00, 17:00-01:00, Sat-Sun 17:00-01:00

19. DrinkRatchadaphisek Not mapped

    Fake Club The Next Gen

    Gay bar with live music, pumping base, scintillating lights, that kind of thing.

    Daily, 20:00-02:00·Free

20. EatSiam Square Not mapped

    FoodLoft

    This chic dining venue with a hip and trendy black, metallic and red colour theme is large and popular among Central's visitors. This is one of the most upmarket food courts, and could even be described as a culinary experience on its own: eight cooking islands represent quality restaurants that serve different cuisines, including Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Italian, Malay and Vietnamese (dessert is also represented by one island). It is fairly expensive with most dishes close to 100 baht. Dinnertime at Fridays and Saturdays have live music. You receive a 1,000 baht voucher on entry and pay for what you've used on exiting.

    10:00-22:00 daily·150 baht

21. DrinkPhahonyothin Not mapped

    Lesla

    Lesla is a growing community of lesbians in Bangkok that organises events to meet each other. Every Saturday night, a weekly get-together is held in the Chit Chat Club in the Lat Phrao neighbourhood.

    Sat, 19:00-01:00·150 baht

22. DrinkSukhumvit Not mapped

    Narz

    นาร์ท

    Catering mostly to moneyed Thais, this funky dance club is most reminiscent of the clubs in Ibiza. There is a whole lot going on with on-stage-performances, shiny disco balls and light shows. It is one of Bangkok's top clubbing spots, and a place to see and be seen, especially if you're into trance or house music. It is renowned DJ Paul Oakenfold's venue of choice. Narz is also known for staying open far later than most other places that close at 02:00.

    19:00-late daily·500 baht

23. DrinkRatchadaphisek Not mapped

    Overtone Music Cave

    Instead of a general nightclub, all the chairs here are aimed towards the stage, so visitors actually listen and watch the bands perform. The focus is not on drinking, but on listening; usually with jazz, rock, or blues bands. A Singha or Corona costs 100 baht, a cocktail costs around 150 baht.

    Wed-Sun 17:00-02:00·Free

24. DrinkRatchadaphisek Not mapped

    Route66 Club

    One of the largest and most well-known clubs on RCA. It is terribly crowded with young, trendy Thais, especially on weekends. There are different wings, each having a different music genre or live band. All this is combined with beautiful light effects and animations on the walls and ceiling..

    20:30-02:00 daily

25. DoDusit Not mapped

    Royal Turf Club of Thailand

    ราชตฤณมัยสมาคม

    This is a venue for horse races under royal patronage. Races are held every two weeks on Sunday.

    Every two weeks on Sun, 12:30-18:00·50-100 baht

26. DoRatchadaphisek Not mapped

    Sub Zero Ice Skate Club

    Just skate around or take lessons. At night, this turns into a swanky club complete with strobe lights, live DJs, and bars made from ice. Just don't forget to bring jackets.

    11:00-17:00, 17:30-01:00 daily

27. Eat Not mapped

    Wan Fah

    These 2-hr dinner cruises include a set meal of farang-friendly Thai food and seafood, live music and Thai classical dancing. Departure from River City.

    Departure 19:00 daily·1,000 baht

28. EatThonburi Not mapped

    Yok Yor Marina and Restaurant

    ร้านอาหาร ยกยอ มารีน่า

    You can sit at the open air terrace along the Chao Phraya River or inside with air-conditioning and live music. On the menu is seafood, including oysters, fish and shellfish. Most of the visitors are local Thais, at it is at the Thonburi bank, but more and more foreigners seem to get to know it. The only downside is the karaoke machine and loud TV, sometimes used by locals ruining the atmosphere.

    11:00-00:00 daily·400 baht

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Bangkok (CC BY-SA 4.0).