Bangkok

Adhere the 13th

A small blues bar. There is always a band playing on the live stage, so visiting this one is an absolute must if you're into blues. But even for those not into it, the intimate atmosphere and tight spaces are an interesting experience for everyone.

18:00-00:00 daily

Amorosa Bar and The Deck

Tourist flock to the rooftop bar Amorosa for its spectacular sunset views of Wat Arun. Get there early, as there are only 20 seats in the house and you can forget a seat after 18:00. The view comes at a price, expect to pay Western rates for alcoholic drinks. Downstairs is The Deck, a restaurant serving Thai and European food, also with a view of the temple. It is recommended to make a reservation if you want to have dinner here.

Amorosa 17:30-01:00 daily, The Deck Mon-Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri-Sun 11:00-23:00·Mains 200-500 baht

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

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

Bangkok Bar

บางกอก บาร์

Bangkok Bar is a popular bar with local Thais. Live performances are given. Thursdays are busy, Fridays and Saturdays very crowded. A Chang beer is 70 baht, but the locals seem to drink bottles of scotch or cocktails.

18:00-01:00 daily

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

Cafe Velodrome

Modern interior. Light and airy. Outdoor seating overlooking the Banglamphu Canal. Great coffee. All day breakfasts. OK food. Free Wi-Fi.

Closed · opens 7 am

Café de Norasingh

Café de Norasingh is a luxurious cafe housed in the royal reception room of the Phaya Thai Palace. It is completely decorated in Viennese style, a setting very popular during the reign of King Rama V in the early twentieth century. This has to be one of the most elegant ways to have a cup of coffee in the city. They also serve small snacks.

Mon-Fri 08:30-19:00, Sat Sun 10:30-19:00

Center Khao Sarn

เซ็นเตอร์ ข้าวสาร

Easily the best spot for people-watching on Khao San Road. It's probably the largest venue, in the middle of the street, with its seats right beside the road; and it's always open. It's a great place to chat, sip a beer and lose track of time. There's also a pool table and simple dishes are served. And if you run out of money, there's an ATM at both sides of the bar.

24 hours

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

Cup C Coffee Creation

Vintage cafe. Good Coffee. Specializes in fresh yogurt. Boring, elevator music.

Closed · opens 9 am

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

Double Dogs Tea Room

Tea lovers rejoice. This hidden gem has the best tea selection of Bangkok. Just picking a tea from the menu shows the wide array of varieties available. First the teas are split by country of origin and then roughly by colour. Picking a Chinese tea seems like an obvious choice, but there are also Japanese, Sri Lankan and Taiwanese varieties available. Ask the staff for a recommendation. It has a wonderfully serene atmosphere with a relaxing tune on the background, a culture shock with the happenings just outside. It is fully air conditioned. Tea packs can be bought for home use. Prices are higher than elsewhere, but that's understandable considering the high quality of the products involved.

Tue-Thu 13:00-21:00, Fri-Sun 13:00-23:00·150-200 baht

Eiah Sae

As always in Yaowarat, this coffee joint does not sell the usual latte or cappuccino. The special treat is Chaozhou coffee, a bittersweet Chinese brew. It's locally famous for its coffee beans, which are roasted and blended following a secret family recipe. This place is over 80 years old and has been in the family for four generations. This place has a real character and still serves as a meeting place for old Chinese businessmen. Its simple wooden chairs, Art Deco purple walls and old paintings on the wall give it a unique retro atmosphere. Besides coffee, you can try their traditional sweet drinks, such as nor kao (a tea and coffee mix) or heng yim (an almond-flavoured drink).

04:00-20:00 daily·50 baht

Ek Teng Phu Ki

เอ็กเต็งผู่กี่

Another one of those lively old joints where locals have heated discussions over a cup of coffee. A noisy atmosphere, but it's all in good fun. Coffee is a must, they also have small snacks to go with it.

05:00-21:30 daily·50-100 baht

Floral Cafe

The cafe features flowers, branches, and fronds at every turn. They serve up homemade coffees, cakes, and frappes that can compete with any of Bangkok's finest.

Open Mon-Sat 10:00-22:00·Cafe latte, 120 baht; very berry brownie, 90 baht; lychee smoothie, 150 baht; pot of tea blends: lavender rose, cherry rose, or minty rose, 90 baht; homemade ice cream in the signature flavors of lavender rose, cherry rose, and minty rose, 100 baht

Foxhole

A hole-in-the-wall family-run cafe. Oozing with character. Small outside and inside seating areas. High quality Thai coffee. Savory pies. Pastries. Excellent all-day breakfasts. Friendly and fast service. Free Wi-Fi. Nondescript elevator music.

Wed-Mon 09:30-17:30

Gecko Bar

A relaxed open air bar on Soi Rambutri. With standard drinks prices and characterful staff, this is a great place to meet other travellers and watch the world go by. Large beer is around 70-80 baht.

Golf Bar

Small bar whose slogan is "Cocktails, very strong. We do not check ID card." One of the cheapest on the road with 50-baht small Chang beers and 200-baht buckets.

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

Jedi

A bright and airy cafe. Views over canal and park beyond. Small number of outdoor seats. Specialty coffee. Excellent desserts. Expensive compared to other cafes in the area.

Daily 08:30-17:30, 18:00-01:00.

Krisa

Small family-run cafe. Cozy and relaxed. Traditional Western-style decor. Close to the Grand Palace. Iced chocolate a specialty. Simple Thai dishes.

10:00-18:00 daily

Like Italy Cafe-Bakery

Small inside and sidewalk seating area. Excellent baked items. Only two items for breakfast. Good coffee

Daily 07:00-17:00

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

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

Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar

While far off from the city center, the 360 degrees views on the top floor remain nothing short of spectacular. Three floors with beautiful lighting and a wide selection of beers and cocktails. This all comes with a price though.

Closed · opens 5 pm

Rub Aroon

รับอรุณ

Professional European-style café. No English signage. Opens directly onto the street with seats on the pavement. Relaxed atmosphere. Simple Thai dishes.

08:00-18:00 daily

Sawasdee House

สวีทตี้ เฮ้าส์

Another people-watching spot, this time along Soi Rambuttri. The tables outside are good for conversation and people-watching, and you can smoke sheesha if you wish. You can also sit inside, but talking is more difficult as the music is very loud. The interior looks nice, with traditional Thai decoration all around. They have plenty of beers and cocktails available, as well as simple Thai dishes to go with them.

24 hours

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

Scarlett Wine Bar

This wine bar on the 37th floor gives an excellent view over the Silom business district. It looks like being in a wine cellar and has a fantastic selection of wines by glass and bottle. Prices are lower than you may expect, there are good bottles for around 1,200 baht. Music is hip and there's a good service. It also functions as a restaurant serving tapas-style small dishes of fusion meals.

18:00-01:00 daily