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Nightlife Streets
Khaosan Road
Khaosan Road has in recent years become popular among local people, especially artists and art students. The road hosts a number of pubs and bars, where people of many nationalities meet and discuss their travels. Khaosan and the streets nearby are also Bangkok's center of dancing, partying and splashing water during Thai New Year (Songkarn festival) on April 13 to April 15.
It is one of Bangkok's most vibrant streets, host to people from around the world. One Thai writer described the road as "a short road that has the longest dream in the world." The street certainly attracts some bizarre characters. Any visit to Bangkok is incomplete without a people-watching beer on Khaosan Road, an experience that could only be compared to a visit to a zoo.
Patpong
Patpong is an entertainment district in Bangkok, Thailand, catering mainly, though not exclusively, to foreign tourists and expatriates. While Patpong is internationally known as a red light district at the heart of Bangkok's sex industry, the city in fact has numerous red-light districts that are far more popular with Thai men. A busy night market aimed at tourists is also located in Patpong.
Patpong consists of two parallel side streets running between Silom Road and Surawong Road and one side street running from the opposite side of Surawong. Patpong is within walking distance of the Sky Train's Sala Daeng Station, and Bangkok Metro's Si Lom Station.
Patpong 1 is the main street with many bars of various kinds. Patpong 2 also has many similar bars. Next to these lies Soi Jaruwan, sometimes referred to as Patpong 3 but best known as Silom Soi 4 or Soi Katoey (means Gay). It has long catered to gay men, whilst nearby Soi Thaniya has expensive bars with Thai hostesses that cater almost exclusively to Japanesemen.
Silom Soi 2
The center of Bangkok's gay scene is without doubt Silom Soi 2, a short lane off Silom crammed with bars and restaurants that caters exclusively to the gay community.
Soi 2 is widely considered to be 'more gay' than nearby Soi 4. The bars get hot and sweaty on Friday and Saturday nights and it's hard to move, let alone dance to the trendy underground sounds. Men wandering into these bars at the weekend can expect to be groped from all quarters.
Hot spots along this strip are the ever-popular DJ Station, a disco with drag shows and dancing guys, as well as JJ Park and Your Place. For slightly tamer, more 'hetero' entertainment, head along to Soi 4.
Soi 2 is just a stone's throw from the Saladaeng BTS Station. All taxi drivers know this area.
Silom Soi 4
Silom Soi 4 is among Bangkok's hottest nightspots, with several bars, discos and restaurants crammed into the 100-meter long lane. Although definitely a 'gay' area, couples and women will not feel uncomfortable in the crowded bars along this strip.
The soi is also the center for the city's club scene and attracts a dedicated crowd of trendy 'in' people. Many of the bars and discos specialize in underground sounds straight from the clubs of London and New York.
Telephone, Sphinx and the Balcony are the hottest venues right now. Also popular are the Icon Club and Pharaoh's. Nearby Soi 2 is generally 'more gay' while nearby Patpong and Thaniya cater to hetero men only (Thaniya attracting a predominantly Japanese clientele).
Narrow Soi 4 is easily missed unless you are looking for it. The soi is directly opposite Convent Road and right below the Saladaeng BTS Station on Silom
Soi Cowboy
Soi Cowboy is where you find the Bangkok regulars, expatriates, residents and the rare tourist that found it by accident. Hassle free, rip-off free, most bars are run by happy people with rarely any aggravation. This small Soi runs between Sukhumvit 23 & 21 (Asoke).
Sit outside a bar and watch the action in the street, or go from bar to bar. I give my assessment of each establishment's attractions or otherwise, in alphabetical order below. This is my opinion and I say what I see, no favours, no free beers etc., all done in complete secrecy and totally unbiased.
In these troubled times, Soi Cowboy seems to be as safe a venue as there is, always a presence from the local Tong Lor Police, and recent policy has banned the parking of all vehicles in the road during opening hours.
Since 2000 many of the bars on the street have seen refurbishment, this has turned Soi Cowboy from a dingy dirty street of badly maintained bars into more of a major league player, the prices are more reasonable than both Patpong and Nana Plaza.
Royal City Avenue (RCA) Although it has lost some of its glitz and glamour in recent years, RCA remains a popular haunt for local youngsters. Both sides of this bow-shaped road are filled with cafes and bars whose names seem to change by the month. One place that has endure RCA's various transformations and maintains its original concept to this day is Brown Sugar, which offers inexpensive Thai food and live musical entertainment. RCA bowling alley at southern end of the street has also managed to retain it popularity over the years.
Nana
Nana, which includes Sukhumvit Soi (side streets) No. 3 to 19, is perhaps best known for the four-storey entertainment plaza near the mouth of Soi 4. Further down the Soi is a number of small restaurants and British-style pubs. Other busy night venues can be found in Soi 5, 7, 8 and 10.
While many are simple bars serving food and drinks, a growing number now have full-sized pool tables. All along the main road are international restaurants, bars and all kinds of shops. A favorite among drinkers and lovers of pub grub is the Huntsman Pub in the Landmark Hotel.
Also on Sukhumvit itself, next to Soi 13, is Clinton Plaza, a former office block transformed into an entertainment centre, with bars like the Living Room offering live music. On the opposite side of Sukhumvit is Sukhumvit is a new open market, with shops selling handicrafts, paintings and antiques, along with restaurants and foot massage parlors.
