BANGKOK
BANGKOKENTERTAINMENTBANGKOKENTERTAINMENTBamboo Bar HOTEL LOUNGE, JAZZ
(Map p 80 ; %0 2236 0400; Oriental Hotel, 48 Soi
40/Oriental, Th Charoen Krung; h11am-1am; river
ferry Tha Oriental; a) The Oriental’s Bam-
boo Bar is famous for its live lounge jazz,
which holds court inside a colonial-era
cabin of lazy fans, broad-leafed palms and
rattan decor.
Fat Gut’z LIVE MUSIC
(Map p 92 ; http://www.fatgutz.com; 264 Soi 12, Soi 55/
Thong Lor, Th Sukhumvit; h6pm-2am; BTS Thong
Lo; a) This closet-sized ‘saloon’ combines
live music and, er, fish and chips. Despite
(or perhaps thanks to) the odd whiff of
chip oil, the odd combo works. Live blues
every night from 9pm to midnight.
Rock Pub PUB, LIVE MUSIC
(Map p 86 ; http://www.therockpub-bangkok.com;
93/26-28 Th Phayathai; h9.30pm-2am; BTS
Ratchathewi; a) If you thought the days of
heavy metal were long gone, step back in
time at this cave-like pub where posters of
Iron Maiden pass for interior design and
black jeans and long hair are the unof-
ficial dress code.
Dance Clubs
Bangkok’s discos are largely fl y-by-night
outfi ts, and that really fun club you found
on your last trip two years ago is most likely
history today. To fi nd out what is going on,
check Dude Sweet (www.dudesweet.org), or-
ganisers of hugely popular monthly parties,
and Bangkok Recorder (www.bangkokrecord
er.com) for rotating theme nights and visiting
celeb DJs.
Other sources of info. include listings mag
BK (http://bk.asia-city.com/nightlife), or if you’re
partial to the Th Sukhumvit scene, http://www.
thonglor-ekamai.com has a good rundown
of the area’s clubs.
Cover charges for clubs and discos range
from 100B to 600B and usually include a
drink. Don’t even think about showing up
before 11pm, and always bring ID. Most
clubs close at 2am. For places that open late,
see p 129.
RCA DANCE CLUBS
(Royal City Avenue; off Th Phra Ram IX; MRT Phra
Ram 9 & access by taxi) RCA is well and truly
Club Alley. Formerly a bastion of the teen
scene, this Vegas-like strip has fi nally grad-
uated from high school and hosts partiers
of every age. Worthwhile destinations in-
clude 808 Club (www.808bangkok.com; admis-
sion from 300B), Flix/Slim, Route 66 (www.
route66club.com; admission free) and Cosmic
Café (admission free).Tapas Room DANCE CLUB
(Map p 82 ; http://www.tapasroom.net; 114/17-18 Soi 4, Th
Silom; admission 100B; BTS Sala Daeng, MRT Si
Lom) You won’t fi nd food here, but the name
is an accurate indicator of the Spanish/Mo-
roccan-inspired vibe of this multilevel den.
Come from Wednesday to Saturday when
the combination of DJs and live percussion
brings the body count to critical level.Ekamai Soi 5 CLUB
(Map p 92 ; cnr Soi Ekamai 5 & Soi 63/Ekamai, Th
Sukhumvit; BTS Ekkamai & access by taxi) This
open-air entertainment zone is the destina-
tion of choice for Bangkok’s young and beau-
tiful – for the moment at least. Demo (ad-
mission free), with blasting beats and a NYC
warehouse vibe, is the epitome of the Alpha
Club, while Funky Villa (admission free), with
its outdoor seating and Top 40 soundtrack,
boasts more of a chill-out vibe. Also acces-
sible via Soi Thong Lor 10.Glow CLUB
(Map p 92 ; http://www.glowbkk.com; 96/4-5 Soi 23, Th
Sukhumvit; admission from 200B; BTS Asok, MRT
Sukhumvit) Glow is a small venue with a big
reputation. Boasting a huge variety of vod-
kas and a recently upgraded sound system,
the tunes range from hip-hop to electronica
and just about everything in between.GÀ·TEU·I CABARETWatching men dressed as women
perform tacky show tunes has, not
surprisingly, become the latest ‘must-
do’ fi xture on the Bangkok tourist
circuit. Both Calypso Cabaret (Map
p 86 ; %0 2653 3960; http://www.calypsocabaret.
com; Asia Hotel, 296 Th Phayathai; tickets
1200B; hshow times 8.15pm & 9.45pm;
BTS Ratchathewi) and Mambo Cabaret
(%0 2294 7381; http://www.mambocabaret.com;
59/28 Yannawa Tat Mai; tickets 800-1000B;
hshow times 7.15pm, 8.30pm & 10pm;
BTS Chong Nonsi & access by taxi) host
choreographed stage shows featuring
Broadway high kicks and lip-synched
pop tunes by the most well-endowed
dudes you’ll fi nd anywhere. Mambo is
located near Phra Ram III, in far south-
ern Bangkok.