BANGKOK
BANGKOKDRINKINGBANGKOKDRINKINGtaken a true visionary to transform this
characterless multilevel building into a
warm, fun destination for a night out. Stu-
dents and arty types make Phranakorn Bar
a home away from hovel with eclectic decor
and changing gallery exhibits.
Bars tend to segregate into foreigner and
Thai factions, but you can always reverse
that trend. Here are a few popular options:
Center Khao San BAR
(Map p 60 ; Th Khao San; h24hr; river ferry Tha
Phra Athit) One of many front-row views of
the human parade on Th Khao San. The
upstairs bar hosts late-night bands.
Mulligans BAR
(Map p 60 ; 1st fl, Buddy Lodge, 265 Th Khao San;
h3pm-4am; river ferry Tha Phra Athit; a) Irish/
colonial-themed bar for when only air-con
will do.
Molly Bar BAR
(Map p 60 ; Th Rambutri; h8pm-1am; river ferry
Tha Phra Athit) Packed on weekends for live
music; it’s more mellow on weekdays with
outdoor seating.
Roof Bar BAR
(Map p 60 ; Th Khao San; h5pm-midnight;
river ferry Tha Phra Athit) Although the live
acoustic soundtrack is hit and miss, the
views of Th Khao San are solid from this
elevated pub.
SILOM & SATHON
Barbican Bar BAR
(Map p 82 ; 9/4-5 Soi Thaniya, Th Silom; h4pm-1am;
BTS Sala Daeng, MRT Si Lom; a) Surrounded by
massage parlours with teenage prom queens
cat-calling at Japanese businessmen, this is
a straight-laced yuppie bar where offi ce
crews come for some happy-hour drinks and
stay until closing time.Coyote on Convent BAR
(Map p 82 ; 1/2 Th Convent, Th Silom; h11am-mid-
night; BTS Sala Daeng, MRT Si Lom; a) Forget the
overpriced Tex-Mex cuisine; the real reason
to visit Coyote is for its 75-plus varieties of
margaritas. On Wednesdays from 6pm to
8pm and Saturdays from 10pm to midnight,
the icy drinks are distributed free to all
women who pass through the door.Molly Malone’s IRISH BAR
(Map p 82 ; 1/5-6 Th Convent, Th Silom; h11am-1am;
BTS Sala Daeng, MRT Si Lom; a) A recent makeo-
ver has this longstanding local leaning peril-
ously towards Irish kitsch, but it still pulls
a fun crowd and the service is friendly and
fast.SIAM SQUARE & PRATUNAM
Co-Co Walk BAR, LIVE MUSIC
(Map p 86 ; 87/70 Th Phayathai; h6pm-1am; BTS Rat-
chathewi) This covered compound is a smor-
gasbord of pubs, bars and live music popu-
lar with Thai university students. The Tube
left its heart in London, and is heavy on the
Brit Pop, Chilling House Café features ThaiOUT ALL NIGHTWith most pubs and dance clubs closing around 1am, One Night in Bangkok is not quite
what it used to be. Thankfully, there are a few places around town that have gained suf-
fi cient ‘permission’ to stay open until the morning hours.
Off Soi Ngam Duphli, Wong’s Place (Map p 90 ; 27/3 Soi Si Bamphen, Th Phra Ram IV;
h8pm-late; MRT Lumphini; a), a longstanding backpacker bar, is so late-night, it’s best not
to show up before midnight.
Vaguely Middle Eastern-themed Gazebo (Map p 60 ; 3rd fl , 44 Th Chakraphong; river ferry
Tha Phra Athit) represents the posh side of the Th Khao San area. This bar’s elevated set-
ting appears to lend it some leniency with the city’s strict closing times.
On Th Sukhumvit, Club Insomnia (Map p 92 ; Soi 12, Th Sukhumvit; admission 200B;
h8pm-late; BTS Asok, MRT Sukhumvit) and Scratch Dog (Map p 92 ; %0 2262 1234; Windsor
Suites Hotel, 8-10 Soi 20, Th Sukhumvit; h8pm-late; BTS Asok, MRT Sukhumvit) employ a Top
40 hip-hop and R&B soundtrack to propel partiers into the morning hours.
For something a bit edgier, ask your friendly taxi driver to escort you to any of the
following: Shock 39, Spicy, Spice Club, Boss or Bossy. These creatively named
late-night clubs are all located in central Bangkok and stay open until well past sunrise.
We’d tell you a bit more about them and put them on our maps, but our experience and
research suggest that these clubs exist in an alternate late-night reality that only Bang-
kok taxi drivers can navigate...