BANGKOK
hits played by live acoustic guitar and a few
pool tables, and 69 sets the pace with cover
bands playing Western rock staples and cur-
rent hits.Hyde & Seek BAR
(Map p 86 ; ground fl , Athenee Residence, 65/1 Soi
Ruam Rudi; h11am-1am; BTS Phloen Chit; a) The
tasty and comforting English-inspired bar
snacks and meals have earned Hyde & Seek
the right to call itself a ‘gastro bar’, but we
reckon the real reasons to come here are ar-
guably Bangkok’s most well-stocked bar and
some of the city’s best cocktails.To-Sit RESTAURANT-BAR
(Map p 86 ; Soi 3, Siam Sq, Th Phra Ram 1; h6pm-
midnight; BTS Siam; a) To-Sit epitomises eve-
rything a Thai university student could wish
for on a night out: sappy Thai music and
cheap, spicy eats.SUKHUMVIT
WTF GALLERY, BAR
(Map p 92 ; http://www.wtfbangkok.com; 7 Soi 51, Th Su-
khumvit; h6pm-1am Tue-Sun; BTS Thong Lo; a)
No, not that WTF; Wonderful Thai Friend-
ship combines a cozy bar and an art gallery
in one attractive package. Throw in some
of Bangkok’s best cocktails and some deli-
cious Spanish-infl uenced bar snacks, and
you won’t need another destination for the
evening.Bangkok Bar BAR
(Map p 92 ; Soi Ekamai 2, Soi 63/Ekamai, Th Su-
khumvit; h8pm-1am; BTS Ekkamai; a) Bounce
with Thai indie kids at this fun, but aston-
ishingly uncreatively named bar. There’s live
music, and the eats are strong enough to
make Bangkok Bar a dinner destination in
itself. And we double-dog dare you to walk
a straight line after two Mad Dogs, the infa-
mous house drink.GAY & LESBIAN BANGKOKBangkok is so gay it makes San Francisco look like rural Texas. With out-and-open
nightspots and annual pride events, the city’s homosexual community enjoys an unprec-
edented amount of tolerance considering attitudes in the rest of the region. It should
be mentioned, however, that recent years have seen a sharp rise in HIV and other STDs
among gay men in Bangkok; when in town, be sure to play it safe.
Utopia (www.utopia-asia.com) is an online resource for the Southeast Asian gay com-
munity, listing Bangkok entertainment venues, news and views, and providing travel
services. Dreaded Ned (www.dreadedned.com) and Fridae (www.fridae.com) also have up
to date listings and events. The Lesbian Guide to Bangkok (www.bangkoklesbian.com)
is the only English-language tracker of the lesbian scene.
Gay women and men are well advised to visit Bangkok in mid-November, when the
city’s small but fun Pride Festival (www.bangkokpride.org) is in full swing. Dinners, cruis-
es, clubbing and contests are the order of the week.
Bed Supperclub (see p 134 ) hosts the hugely popular ‘Confi dential Sundays’, and
other posh locales often play host to weekend-long ‘circuit parties’. Visit G Circuit (www.
gcircuit.com) to fi nd out when and where the next one is.
Soi 2 on Th Silom is lined with dance clubs, such as DJ Station (Map p 82 ; 8/6-8 Soi 2,
Th Silom; h8pm-late; BTS Sala Daeng, MRT Si Lom), where the crowd is a mix of Thai gup-
pies (gay professionals), money boys and a few Westerners. Just half a soi over is G.O.D.
(Guys on Display; Map p 82 ; Soi 2/1, Th Silom; cover 280B; h8pm-late; BTS Sala Daeng, MRT Si
Lom), which as the name suggests is not averse to a little shirtless dancing. Traipse on
over to Soi 4 to fi nd the old-timer conversation bars, such as Balcony (Map p 82 ; http://www.
balconypub.com; 86-88 Soi 4, Th Silom; h5.30pm-1am; BTS Sala Daeng, MRT Si Lom) and Tel-
ephone (Map p 82 ; 114/11-13 Soi 4, Th Silom; h5pm-1am; BTS Sala Daeng, MRT Si Lom).
Further out of town is a more local scene, where a little Thai will make you feel more
welcome. Several of the bars along Th Kamphaeng Phet, including Fake Club (Map
p 118 ; Th Kamphaeng Phet, Chatuchak; h9pm-2am; BTS Mo Chit, MRT Kamphaeng Phet) and el
Ninyo (Map p 118 ; Th Kamphaeng Phet, Chatuchak; h9pm-2am; BTS Mo Chit, MRT Kamphaeng
Phet), are popular on weekends for loud and lushy behaviour.
Zeta (29/67 Royal City Ave/RCA, off Phra Ram IX; admission 100B; h8pm-2am; MRT Phra
Ram 9 & access by taxi) is an easy-going club for the girls with a nightly band doing Thai
and Western covers.