Bangkok Nightlife: Places and Districts to Go Out in Bangkok

  The Grand Palace at Night

Bangkok is one of the most vibrant cities in the world and offers a nightlife scene that unfurls at breakneck speed. Although new legislation means that bars in Bangkok now close at 2am on the dot, the nightlife in Thailand's hedonistic capital is still fast and furious.

The Patpong district of Thanom Silom (located between Silom and Surawong Road) is a truly unique nightlife experience. The area is packed with go-go clubs featuring ‘katoeys’ (lady boys) strutting their stuff to trashy music in high heels and feather boas.

And, like it or not, sex (in one form or another) is unavoidable in Bangkok. As in Amsterdam, say, the trick is to leave whatever personal feelings you may have and just take it all in for what it is – a central aspect of life in the city.

Aside from all the gaudy neon lights and the sex shows, there are actually plenty of other good bars in the area. Nearby, Soi 4 has a number of jumping little places where a mixed crowd of travelers and locals alike spill noisily out into the street.

Banglamphu is home to the Khao San Road, the infamous backpackers’ playground. Here, (and up into the adjacent Soi Ram Bhuttri) a crowded mass of revelers avail themselves of the cheap food, drinks and genuinely amazing vibe until the early hours.

Elsewhere, there are sleek clubs and bars out to the west on Sukhumvit, while Siam Square has a more student-orientated vibe. Live music venues in the city, meanwhile, are mostly on Sarasin (next to Lamphini Park) and running off it onto Soi Langsuan.

Although Bangkok carries with it a reputation for having a seedy nightlife scene, in recent years it has managed to cast off something of this narrow definition. With its unceasing activity and color, a night out in Bangkok is as entrancing as ever, one way or another.

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