As chosen by Thailand Tatler
readers, the top 150 restaurants
in Bangkok, plus over 60 selected
establishments in Chiang Mai,
Prachuab Khirikhan, Chonburi,
Phuket, Surat Thani.

BAR & CLUB

87+

ADDRESS: CONRAD HOTEL, All SEASONS PLACE, 87 WIRELESS RD
OPEN: 9:30PM-2AM
CONTACT: 0-2690-9999

The posh, upscale night club is named after its address, 87 Wireless road, and it draws an upscale crowd. The DJs stir Bangkok’s creme de la creme with hip hop and house music. There’s a dress code at 87+ and that is, of course, smart casual. With an international vibe, the place does not only cater to hotel guests, but also local business people and expats. Every day between 8pm and 10pm, there’s a buy-one-get-one-free happy hour. The staff is trained to serve even the most demanding patron so one can expect quality service. A nice place to end an evening out.

The Barbican

ADDRESS: 9/4-5 SOI THANIYA, SILOM RD
OPEN: 11:30Am-2AM MONDAY-SATURDAY; 11:30AM-MIDNIGHT SUNDAY
CONTACT: 0-2234-3590

Huge bars, television sets and a jukebox reveal The Barbican’s sports pub style. The first floor is where the action of the night is and where most of the dancing takes place as the night gets fired up. The second floor houses a European-style restaurant. Whenever there is a major sporting event, The Barbican is one of the first places most Bangkokians think of. The imported beers are good and at a great price while the tapas offerings are awesome. Excellent for a company outing where expats and locals can mingle. Saladaeng BTS station is the closest public transportation stop to Soi Thaniya, while Silom MRT station makes access easy by underground.

Buddy Beer Bar

ADDRESS: BUDDY LODGE COMPLEX, 265 KHAOSARN RD
OPEN: 24 HOURS
CONTACT: 0-2629-4477

A restaurant by day and bar by night, this establishment may well be the most famous establishment on Khaosarn road. The strip started as a locale for backpackers but has now upgraded itself into a hip and happening venue. The place is open 24 hours a day, which means service is available at all hours. Packed from morning to night with locals and tourists, Buddy Beer Bar offers a colonial-style retreat from the heat outside. Pool tables and television sets complete the experience. Prices are relatively cheap and the vibrant crowd represents the global society the road has to offer.

Club Culture

ADDRESS: SRI AYUTTHAYA RD, PHAYATHAI
OPEN: 8PM-2AM
CONTACT: 0-89497-8422

Under the same management as the Astra Club, Club Culture is the place for trance/house music addicts. Nestled on quiet Sri Ayutthaya Road, it is the only club of its kind in the area. The team has kept all the original fittings in what was once a theatre. The traditional decor clashes with the latest electronic music fashioned by DJs like Ken Ishii, Chicks on Speed and local organiser/band Dude Sweet. The dance floor is spacious and groovy while the sofas provide a refuge for tired dancers. Prices are at the high end, yet not too expensive for the college crowd that dominates the scene along with expats. The closest BTS station is Phayathai; although there is a car park, space is limited.

Escudo

ADDRESS: 4TH & 5TH FLS, DUCHESS PLAZA, SUKHUMVIT SOI 55 (THONGLOR)
OPEN: 8PM-2AM
CONTACT: 0-2185-2865-6

Escudo, a long-time Bangkok favourite, recently reopened with a brand-new look but offering the same concept: hip- hop fun in style. The new interactive bar provides entertainment while waiting for the alcohol to kick in. The lights at each table are movement sensitive and light up your drinks wherever you place them. The DJ moves the crowd with the latest hip- hop sound in the main area by sexy professional dancers. The upstairs is still dominated by house music and the friendly, helpful staff of the old escudo provides familiar faces.

Gazebo

ADDRESS: 44 CHAKRAPONGSE RD
OPEN: 8PM-LATE
CONTACT: 0-2629-0705

Hippie de Bar

ADDRESS: 46 KHAOSARND RD
OPEN: 11AM-1AM
CONTACT: 08-1820-3762

This funky bar is the chill-out place for the artsy and creative souls of Bangkok. Bar-hoppers will find a myriad of unique individuals hanging out here with music of all sorts playing during the different hours of the night. The interior is cosy and very homey since the bar is located in a converted old, wooden house. It has now expanded into the building next door but still maintains the same distinct ambience. Cheap and uplifting, Hippie de Bar is a dream venue for the more laid-back night crawler. A restaurant by day, diners can enjoy the food before switching on to funky music later at night.

Hu’u

ADDRESS: THE ASCOTT, 187 SOUTH SATHORN RD
OPEN: 11AM-1AM
CONTACT: 08-9497-8422

Hu’u bar is decorated in a modish Bali style with Thai silk sofas and dark wood floors. The drink list extends beyond 150 choices of cocktails and the music played here ranges from jazz to chillout sounds. Perfect for a romantic night out or a business warmdown session, Hu’u offers one of Bangkok’s most sophisticated venues for night-time entertainment. It point for a long night of bar hopping as the tone is soft and relaxing. Hu’u also has an impressive restaurant on the mezzanine floor which has a variety of international cuisines on the menu. The nearest BTS station is Chong Nonsi.

The Londoner

ADDRESS: BASEMENT, UBC1 BUILDING, SUKHUMVIT SOI 33
OPEN: 11AM-1AM
CONTACT: 0-2261-0238-9

A typical British pub along Sukhumvit in downtown Bangkok, The Londoner has been providing a back-home experience for expat Brits for years. Decorated in an authentic manner, the place gives a genuine pub feel as soon as you walk through the doors. Football and rugby matches are the usual crowd puller, but special deals like a ladies’ night and daily happy hour from 4pm to 7pm and good incentives to stop and sup. Fresh, in-house brewed beer is a further draw. Phrom Phong station is the stop for anyone going by the BTS skytrain.

Met Bar

ADDRESS: THE METROPOLITAN HOTEL, 27 SOUTH SATHORN RD
OPEN: 5PM-1AM
CONTACT: 0-2625-3333

Dark decor and deep chairs add to the met’s sophisticated style. The crowd usually consists of Bangkok’s business types and high society. Lounge electronic music is the sound of this establishment, while the soft lighting allows for both chill-out crowds and dancers alike. Drinks are at hotel prices and there is no cover charge. Bar staff is and unique met Bar concoctions are really worth a try. It is themed to be like its sister establishment in London, and guests can expect a similar cosmopolitan vibe.

Parking Toys

ADDRESS: 17/22 SOI MAYALARP, RAMINDRA RD
OPEN: 7PM-2AM
CONTACT: 0-2907-2228

Decorated in its own special style and offering unique music, this little pub more than deserves a place among Bangkok’s top bars and pubs list. The band members that play at Parking toys are a mixture of hippies and musical prodigies. One performer, a taxi driver by profession, enchants with his supple guitar virtuosity and unique style while the band Mahajumroen shocks the crowd electronic music like daft Punk and Fatboy Slim, using a mixture of live instruments and a single turntable. The decor is like a messy house stuck in the 70s, yet exudes a very comfortable feel. Drinks are cheap and the food can beat that at some high- end restaurants.

Prop Bar RCA

ADDRESS: RCA, ACROSS FROM TOPS SUPERMARKET
OPEN: 8PM-2AM
CONTACT: 0-2203-0699

Unique among the clubs and pubs of RCA, Prop Bar draws a special crowd of loyal patrons. age, profession and style vary indiscriminately but the glue which holds the crowd together is everybody’s love of the place. The bands interact with the guests and anyone can walk up to the stage area and jam with the music groups. The owners mingle among the crowd and many friendships and relationships have been formed here. Ska music and the hippest rock songs can be enjoyed at a lower price than at neighbouring establishments. The unique retro/homey decor brings a feeling of relaxed fun to those who enter.

Santika

ADDRESS: 235/11 SUKHUMVIT SOI 63 (EKAMAI)
OPEN: 8PM-2:30AM
CONTACT: 0-2711-5886

Decorated to resemble a gothic chapel, Santika holds a top position in the Ekamai/ Thonglor nightlife scene for its organised parties. Top gigs like FHM parties, global DJ events and more can be experienced here, while on normal nights, live Thai music is king. Hip hop plays during band intervals and the crowd is sexy and laid-back. On event nights Santika can become even to hold everyone; when the place is less full, it’s still lively and everybody has room to dance to their fullest. Highly recommended, Santika is not to be missed and the creative marketing team keeps coming up with the most tempting events and promotions like last year’s super-successful Santika on the Beach.

Saxophone

ADDRESS: PHAYATHAI RD, NEAR VICTORY MONUMENT
OPEN: 6PM-2AM
CONTACT: 0-2248-2100

Relaxed and rustic, Saxophone has a vibe unlike any other pub in Bangkok. A long-time favourite of expatriates and locals alike, this jazzy establishment has been a hip hang-out for jazz, ska, blues and rock lovers for around a decade. Saxophone is also a favourite venue for top Thai musicians such as T-Bone, and every time they play, the place is packed with fans of all ages. There is no cover charge and the prices are very reasonable. To get to Saxophone, take the BTS skytrain to the victory monument station.

Slim

ADDRESS: RCA, RAMA IX ENTRANCE
OPEN: 8PM-2AM
CONTACT: 0-2203-0377-8

The beauty of Slim lies in its three distinct zones, each playing one type of music throughout the night without interruption or change in mood. The first features the cream of Thai pop songs, and bands thrill the crowds with the latest hits. In the second, and most popular, one can find Bangkok’s hottest grooving to hip-hop music all night long. The third zone, Flix, is where the electronic music lovers hang out. There is also a VIP area where members get their own private seats and a dancing area on a raised platform. It’s like visiting three bars at one stop.

Song Saleung

ADDRESS: 387/23-24 SOI THONGLOR 21, SUKHUMVIT SOI 55
OPEN: 8PM-2AM CONTACT: 0-2271-9118

One of Bangkok’s most popular live band pubs, Song Saleung is the place to hang out if you love thai live bands, cute girls and desperate guys. Song Saleung is located on one and a half floors, yet it is quite difficult to find a dancing space or a table even on weekdays, so reservations are highly recommended. Cheap drinks may have something to do with this. Live bands take turns on stage while the latest hip-hop music keeps the crowd moving as the bands set up. Young Thais dominate the scene and expats rarely visit. Song Saleung continues to draw loyal patrons who frequent it every week and the list of top bars and pubs in Bangkok would not be complete without it.

Syn Bar

ADDRESS: NAILERT PARK, 2 WIRELESS RD
OPEN: 10PM-1AM
CONTACT: 0-2253-0123

Mixing a retro design with a super-modern ambience makes Syn Bar one of the most attractive in town. The furniture and the Dj booth together give the place a sexy, futuristic feel with suspended cocoon chairs hanging above the carpet sparkling from star lights above. The music policy here is mainly house and the DJ provides plenty of funky sounds that will raise the entertainment value above the norm. If you are looking for a place to enjoy unique cocktails and cool beats, head to Syn Bar. A good place to people watch as well.

V9

ADDRESS: SOFITEL SILOM,188 SILOM RD
OPNE: 5PM-2AM
CONTACT: 0-2238-1991

It can be said that v9 has the most commanding view of any club in Bangkok. Sitting on the 37th floor of Sofitel Silom hotel, it boasts not only a spectacular view of downtown Bangkok, but a polished and chic interior as well. V9 is both a top- class restaurant and a wine lounge, and its selection is sure to impress even the pickiest of wine connoisseurs, and as such tends to draw a more mature crowd than some of the competition. The music is not too loud and the ambience is stylishly carefree. The closest BTS skytrain stop is at Chong Nonsi.

Wine Bridge Plus

ADDRESS: LANGSUAN BALCONY,99/15-16 LANGSUAN RD
OPEN: 8PM-4AM
CONTACT: 0-2251-7767

Wine Bridge Plus, which has recently undergone a facelift, needs no advertising, but deserves to be on this list as it is always packed from Monday to Sunday with Bangkok’s elite. People flock from all over for their partying pleasure. The band plays chill-out music plus some oldies to suit all age ranges that frequent the establishment. A wall full of bottles ensures you will get the best wines in and other alcoholic beverages are also available, and interesting menus provide apposite accompaniment. Although the bar is situated right in downtown Langsuan road, the prices are not as expensive as one might think. For a fine night out sipping wine or even a full-on birthday bash, Wine Bridge Plus will surely.

Zeta Bar

ADDRESS: MILLENNIUM HILTON,123 CHAROEN NAKORN RD
OPEN: 5PM-2AM
CONTACT: 0-2442-2000

Zeta Bar has reached Bangkok and is definitely as hip as its counterparts in Sydney, London and Kuala Lumpur. located at the millennium Hilton, this posh hangout draws a crowd consisting of Bangkok’s trendiest. Red walls, red lighting and red furnishing represent the heated fun guests will have. The music ranges from chill-out sessions from 5pm music of all sorts from hip hop and funk to the latest pop songs helps the pace to pick up later in the night. The sleek design coupled with a variety of music will suit all tastes. You can get to Zeta Bar via the BTS by getting off at Saphan Taksin station and taking the hotel’s shuttle boat service, or by boat from any pier.

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