Nightlife tour in Bangkok

Posted by Arda on June 10th, 2007 filed in Bangkok, Nightlife Thailand, Central Thailand, Thailand travel

By Pimkarn Kometsopa

Put on one of your sparkly numbers, a pair of killer shoes and jump into the whirlpool of clubs, pubs, bars and other funky (and sleazy) venues in the city that hardly sleeps.

Does one night in Bangkok really make the world your oyster? Most say it does. But a few more nights to explore Bangkok’s nightlife scenes might give you a better picture of thriving Krungthep after dark.

Finding the right places to go, the right crowds to hang out with or the right activities to keep you busy can be a Herculean task for Bangkok nightlife virgins, so here’s the lowdown to help you decide how to spend your time when the sun goes down and when the traffic gets just a little less hectic.

Kick off your evening with fine dining and wining on one of the rooftops overlooking the sparkling Chao Phraya River and the glamorous city. There are a couple of rooftop venues which offer panoramic, oh-my-god-I-can’t-believe-it views of the city.

Try the Sky Bar (Sirocco) on Silom road (tel: +66 2 624 9999) on the 64th floor of Bangkok’s landmark State Tower, or Moon Bar (Vertigo) (tel: +66 2 679 1200) on the 61st floor of Banyan Tree Hotel, on Sathorn road. These venues offer a perfect opportunity to gulp a lungful of not-so-fresh air and dine and wine al fresco while admiring the stars. Guide to bars of Bangkok

The new addition to Bangkok’s rooftop venues, Three Sixty at Millennium Hilton Hotel (tel: +66 2 442 2000), is quite different from its two sisters. This swanky roof top bar boasts a sophisticated, state-of-the-art design on the 31st floor of the hotel and is renowned for its jazz and stunning 360° views, hence the name. The prices of food and drinks at these places might be pricey, but the sweeping views and once-in-a-lifetime experience are definitely worth your every baht.

The longest and probably the most happening road in Bangkok, Sukhumvit is packed with a myriad of pubs, clubs and seedy go-go bars. Love it or hate it, a few notorious, hanky-panky areas are located along this bustling road including Nana Plaza (Sukhumvit Soi 4) and Soi Cowboy (off Sukhumvit Soi 23, also known as Asoke Soi). Here, come-hither go-go girls in diamante bikinis or high-school uniforms master the stage and hypnotise the crowd with their pole dancing skills and other actions beyond imagination.

Sukhumvit is also home to some of Bangkok’s most popular haunts for hearty party-goers. The notable ones include Bed Supperclub on Sukhumvit Soi 11 (tel: +66 2 651 3557), a ritzy club with a divine dining lounge, while Q Bar (tel: +66 2 252-3274), located on the same soi, is a Sex and the City, New York styled bar offering a wide range of cigars from Cuba. The latter is a favourite among locals, expats and tourists.

If international clubs are not exactly your cup of tea, try some of the local venues where you can observe how Thais club and pub, which normally includes lots of singing, dancing awkwardly and drinking until they pass out. Escudo on Sukhumvit Soi 55 (tel: +66 2 381 0866) and Escobar on Sukhumvit Soi 63 (tel: +66 2 711 6565) are where you can rub shoulders with hi-so Thai kids whose Ferrari or Lamborghini is parked right outside the club; smoky-eyed girls in spaghetti tank tops holding daddy’s credit card as well as some random, curious westerners. Bangkok nightlife

Moving closer to the heart of the city, you will find Siam and Silom areas, home to a handful of clubs and dodgy little go-go bars. CM2 (tel: +66 2 209 8888) in the basement of Novotel Siam Square is not exactly a typical hotel bar, so don’t expect a wine bar, classy jazz or black-tie business associates. Live band plays in the main area where the Boom Room shows hip-hop lovers a good time. The crowds here range from hotel guests and middle-aged expats to Asian tourists. The atmosphere is quite eccentric, but it’s fun.

Unless you want to pay for some shady business up in your hotel room after the club closes, avoid making eye contact with the girls who wander around in their skimpy little numbers.

Famous (or infamous, depending on how you look at it) for its go-go bars and night market selling fake stuff and pirate DVDs, Silom Soi 2 (Patpong) is packed with countless sleazy venues where bored-looking, half-naked girls wiggle their bodies around on the stage. Unless you want to be dragged into a seedy, dark bar with freaky shows and a mob of girls trying to reserve a space on your lap, avoid the hustlers who tend to shove a ‘menu’ of ‘shows’ under potential punters noses. And remember, a ‘ping-pong show’ is not a showdown game of table tennis.

A thriving oasis for backpackers, Bangkok nightlife isn’t complete without a visit to the renowned Khao San road. Scattered throughout the area are a number of hip bars and clubs with loud, pumping music. Try Buddy Beer (tel: +66 2 629 4477), a refined, foreign-filled bar with a couple of pool tables; Brick Bar (tel: +66 2 629 4477), famed for its jazz, blues and traditional ska, and Silk Bar (tel: +66 2 281 9981), a contemporary wooden house serving various cocktails and snacks.

For those who are more into slow-going evening activities, there are a few venues providing golden opportunities to soak up Thai cultural treats and the fascinating history of the country. The most famous is Siam Niramit, a majestic 80-minute stage production that recounts stories about Siam. The show is on everyday at 20:00 at the Ratchadda Grand Theatre (tel: +66 2 649 9222).

This outstanding performance with fantastic costumes, formidable lighting and visual effects features inspiring stories about the country’s historical heritage, the spiritual beliefs of Thai people as well as the law of karma and the act of merit making during religious festivals. It’s a striking, one-of-a-kind production not to be missed.

With cultural treats, rooftop dining and wining, clubbing and bar-hopping (dodgy or otherwise), Bangkok is a sanctuary for everyone who’s up for a good time. One night in Bangkok probably makes the world your oyster, but a few more nights will let you explore your hedonistic choices and experience things beyond imagination. Life can’t get more fun than this.
Bangkok for visitors