BANGKOK
Nung-Len CLUB
(Map p 92 ; http://www.nunglen.net; 217 Soi 63/Ekamai; ad-
mission free; BTS Ekkamai & access by taxi) Young,
loud and Thai, Nung-Len (literally ‘sit and
chill’) is a ridiculously popular sardine tin of
live music and uni students on popular Th
Ekamai. Make sure you get in before 10pm
or you won’t get in at all.Bed Supperclub CLUB
(Map p 92 ; http://www.bedsupperclub.com; 26 Soi 11, Th Su-
khumvit; admission from 600B; BTS Nana) This il-
luminated tube has been a literal highlight of
the Bangkok club scene for a good while now.
Arrive early to squeeze in dinner (p 124 ), or if
you’ve only got dancing on your mind, come
on Tuesday for the popular hip-hop nights.Q Bar CLUB
(Map p 92 ; http://www.qbarbangkok.com; 34 Soi 11, Th
Sukhumvit; admission from 700B; BTS Nana) The
club that introduced Bangkok to the lounge
scene in 1999 is still alive and writhing. This
darkened industrial space sees a revolving
cast of somebodies, nobodies and working
girls. Various theme nights fi ll the weekly
calendar.Club Culture CLUB
(Map p 60 ; http://www.club-culture-bkk.com; admission
from 200B; off Th Ratchadamnoen Klang; klorng taxi
Tha Phan Fah) Housed in a seemingly aban-
doned four-storey building, Club Culture
is the quirkiest member of Bangkok’s club
scene. Opening dates and times can dependon events, so check the website to see what’s
going on. Traditional Arts Performances
As Thailand’s cultural repository, Bangkok
off ers an array of dance and theatre per-
formances. For background information
about these ancient traditions, see p 734 and
p 736.Chalermkrung Royal
Theatre TRADITIONAL PERFORMANCE
(Sala Chalerm Krung; Map p 76 ; %0 2222 0434;
http://www.salachalermkrung.com; cnr Th Charoen Krung
& Th Triphet; tickets 800-1200B; hshowtime
7.30pm; river ferry Tha Saphan Phut) In a Thai art
deco building at the edge of the Chinatown-
Phahurat district, this theatre provides a
striking venue for kŏhn (masked dance-dra-
ma based on stories from the Ramakian,
the Thai version of the Ramayana). When
it opened in 1933, the royally funded Chal-
ermkrung was the largest and most modern
theatre in Asia. Today, kŏhn performances
are held every Thursday and Friday and
last about two hours plus intermission. The
theatre requests that patrons dress respect-
fully, which means no shorts, tank tops or
sandals.Aksra Theatre PUPPET SHOW
(Map 60 ; %0 2677 8888, ext 5730; http://www.aksratheatre.
com; 3rd fl , King Power Complex, 8/1 Th Rang Nam;
tickets 400-600B; hshows 7.30-8.30pm Mon-Wed,CINEMA STRATEGYGoing to the movies is a big deal in Bangkok. Every mall has its own theatre and it’s
unlikely that any other city in the world has anything like EGV’s Gold Class, a ticket that
grants you entry into a cinema with fewer than 50 seats, and where you’re plied with
blankets, pillows, foot-warming stockings and, of course, a valet food-and-drink service.
There’s also Major Cineplex’s Emperor Class seat, which for the price of a sticky stool
back home entitles you to a sofa-like love seat designed for couples. And if you fi nd
Paragon Cineplex’s 16 screens and 5000 seats a bit plebeian, you can always apply for
Enigma, a members-only theatre.
For something a bit more intimate, try the old-skool stand-alone theatres at Siam Sq,
including Scala (Map p 86 ; %0 2251 2861; Siam Sq, Soi 1, Th Phra Ram I; BTS Siam) and Lido
(Map p 86 ; %0 2252 6498; Siam Sq, Th Phra Ram I; BTS Siam), or for something artsier, RCA’s
House (Map p 92 ; %0 2641 5177; http://www.houserama.com; UMG Bldg, Royal City Ave, near Th Petch-
aburi; MRT Phra Ram 9 & access by taxi) or Bangkok’s foreign cultural centres; for contact
details of the latter, see p 144.
Nearly all movies in Thailand off er screenings with English subtitles – visit Movie
Seer (www.movieseer.com) for show times. All fi lms are preceded by the Thai royal an-
them and everyone is expected to stand respectfully for its duration. And despite the
heat and humidity on the streets, keep in mind that all of Bangkok’s movie theatres
pump the air-con with such vigour that a jumper is an absolute necessity – unless you’re
going Gold Class, that is.