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When you are tired of being molested by semi naked go-go girls, here are a few "normal" places you can go to for a bit of peace and quiet.
As with everything on my website, this isn't a definitive list, but a selection of what I see as the best and well worth your time visiting, several more venues are due to be added, but only after my personal inspection, it's a hard job - but someone has to do it. These places are constantly changing so let me know of any closures etc.

Looking for live music? click HERE to see where bands are playing in Bangkok this week!

....just a few suggestions for Bars and Pubs to visit in Bangkok!

It was only a few years ago, back in 1997, that draught beer was a rare sight, then it began slowly arriving, but very expensive, now in 2007 the prices are the same or lower than the UK!

British Style Pubs

Go to any other Asian capital city and you have a choice of fine British style pubs, in Bangkok you can almost count them on the fingers of your right foot.

Ekamai Skytrain station

Witch's Tavern  Possibly the longest established British Style pub in Bangkok.

Go to Tong Lo BTS Skytrain station and walk up Soi Tong Lo (Tong Lor Sukhumvit Soi 55) to find Witch's Tavern on the right, about half way up, you may want to get a taxi, but it is an easy walk really, apart from crossing the road. You can't miss this detached building in the style of an English Pub, look for the pub sign on a pole in the pavement outside.
Excellent waiter service, fair drink prices, but unusually expensive half pints of draught. Good menu of traditional English dishes at fair prices, last time I went Beef Olives (my favourite!) were 150 Baht.
A little out of the way, but easily reached by skytrain, and well worth the visit.

Wednesday is Lady's Night with free drinks from 18:00 - 23:00, so usually a few "tarts on the pull" hanging about.
Happy hours 17:30 - 21:30 with 30% discount. Good, modestly priced lunch buffet.

Website HERE

The Barbican in the Japanese bar area of Soi Thaniya near Thaniya Plaza (AKA Little Ginza), which runs parallel to Patpong 1 & 2.
This road runs parallel with Patpong 1 & 2, back towards the Traffic Lights and Robinson Department Store on Silom Road. Look for The Barbican about half-way up on the right. Unusual decor, and theme, I am not exactly sure what look they where aiming for.

Draft Guinness, Speckled Hen etc., and large portions of decent food. Happy hour features a lucky dip for plastic eggs with various discount coupons inside, although they now seem to be favouring playing cards. Fun place with decent people and good staff.

 

  

The Bull's Head Sukhumvit Soi33/1  Walk past Villa Supermarket and follow the road round behind the store.

Dating from 1994 and refurbished in 2003 (although it still looks the same to me!).
By the address The Bulls Head would seem to come under the scope of my Soi 33 page, it is in fact further down Sukhumvit towards The Emporium on Soi 33/1, this is the next Soi after 33 and before 35.
British style menu and a peculiar concept in Sunday evening's happy hour, called "Toss The Boss", I'll let you wonder about that one, rubber gloves not required.
A popular haunt of many of the expatriate community, check it out.
Very busy for Sunday lunch. Always good service from the bar staff and waitresses.
If you find it a bit too much cigarette smoke downstairs, the first floor is a smoke free zone.

Possibly the best British pub in Thailand. (Bearing in mind, of course, that Carlsberg claims to be "the best lager in the world"!) Not much like a British pub really though, the landlord is happy and friendly, the beer is good, the friendly service excellent and you don't have to wait five minutes to get served!
I wrote this several years before they were awarded "Best Pub In Bangkok" in 2005.

                   
The Bull's Head is also home to the Punchline Comedy Club, some great comedians from all over the world, and Australia, perform stand-up 5 times per year. I have seen the same acts here that have their own shows on BBC Radio & TV, as well headline comedians and those often featured on TV shows such as Live At Jongleur's etc.
Well worth a visit. A fairly small venue, but that makes for a more intimate atmosphere and more interaction with the audience, so don't heckle and don't sit in the front row unless you want to get picked on! I have already learnt my lesson on both counts on several occasions!
Well worth the money, buy a bucket of beer bottles in ice to keep you going, but don't get caught short and have to leave the room mid-performance, unless you can take a lot of stick!

The Duke Of Wellington  Silom Road  Sala Daeng Skytrain station

New on the scene in 2007. Moderate prices and comfortable seating, just over the road from the madness that is Patpong.
Look for the red Duke Of Wellington sign on the ground floor of the United Centre Building.

Staggering distance from O'Reilley's, The Barbican & The Irish X Change.

Worth a look!

  Bobby's Arms

Patpong 2 Road. 25 years in Bangkok celebrated in 2000! This bar is favoured by the "old guard".
Good food, imported Guinness, various canned import beers. British style menu, but not British style service, thank God.

New Branch, lower ground floor at Erawan shopping mall, opposite Gaysorn Plaza and Central World Plaza.
Smaller venue, nicely fitted out with a decent selection of beers. For me, not a place I'd go, due to lack of atmosphere, but in a good area for hotel guests escaping from silly prices.

Chequers Bar

Soi 4 Sukhumvit. Walk past Nana Plaza and the Dynasty Inn hotel, and it is at the end of the block. Not really a pub but run by a Englishman, and it is the "official" Thailand HQ for The Glasgow Rangers Supporters Club, but don't let that put you off!
Kilkenny in cans, plus genuine imported English food, you can even order Marmite on toast. (No kippers or hot chocolate though)

Jool's

Walk on past Chequers in Sukhumvit Soi 4 to find this Bangkok Expatriates favourite hangout.
I first went in 1988, and although usually full of people who know each other, it doesn't take long to become "one of the crowd".
I suggest Jool's is more of a restaurant than a bar, massive portions of familiar food served on the first floor right up until 01.00, or very near. Very good Chilli Con Carne!
For some reason this place seems to attract more than it's fair share of "experts" on anything, take a BS deflector with you.

  The Londoner

Located in the basement of the UBC1 Building on the corner of Sukhumvit 33, The Londoner is styled on a British pub. Fair menu and the usual local beers available plus their own "in house" brewed beer.

Happy hours daily 16:00 - 19:00 2 for one on pub brewed beers, and Wacky Wednesday party when all drinks are served on a two for one basis all night!

Good service, good food, good location, micro brewery, Website.

* Ex Prime Minister Anan Panyarachun seen drinking beer and watching the rugby at least twice in mid 2007, no one seemed to recognise him though...................

The Huntsman Pub  Nana

In the basement area of the Landmark Hotel shopping plaza, between Sukhumvit Soi 4 & Soi 6, easily accessed from outside the hotel.
The Huntsman does have its fair share of girls hanging about, spot them by the one orange juice or coke they have all night, and the extra friendly smile! Usually there is a sound-alike Filipino band playing.
Decent food and fair prices, but nothing special, take a look - you might like it. Good roast Sunday lunch.

The Winking Frog   Nana

British style pub found In Sukhumvit Soi 7.
Happy Hours 2pm - 7pm boasting the cheapest draught Guinness in Bangkok, worth a visit for that alone. British and Thai food at sensible prices.

British Football shown live at weekends.

Now serving John Smith's bitter.

For more info please visit their website HERE

The Black Swan      Asok  

British style pub, it even has a fireplace! Located right under the Asoke skytrain station on the Sheraton side of Sukhumvit.
A good effort in a slightly small location, 2 shop houses, but this is made up for by the standard of the fittings and the good service. Add to this the wider than usual choice of imported beers and it's worth a visit although it's a great pity the UK smoking ban doesn't extend this far.
Website HERE

Robin Hood Pub        Phrom Phong

Opened May 2004 just by Villa Market on the corner of Sukhumvit Soi 33/1 almost opposite The Emporium. It says English Pub on the wall outside.

Quite a good effort, good staff and fair menu at reasonable prices. It's nice to see that the incorrect Union Flags have been removed now, after several complaints, from me, to the management.

There seems to be a promotion on for St. Patrick's day (March 2006), forgive me if I am out of touch, but when I last looked, and English Pub would be about the last place you would find people celebrating St. Patrick's day - you would be more likely to find a pig roast in a mosque!
I hope St. George's day will be equally, if not more prominently, promoted!

Keep an eye on the bar staff, they have a tendency to serve the overspill from the draft beer.

Bully's Pub     Nana/Ploenchit (mid-way between Soi 4 & 2 Sukhumvit)

Bully's is a new venture in 2005, opened on the site of the former Blue Wave, this is in the style of a Britsh Pub.
Inexpensive menu of pub food, with large portions, draught Guinness and Kilkenny. 3 Plasma screens showing sports and 4 pool tables in the rear.
Between Sukhumvit Soi 4 & Soi 2, only staggering distance from Nana Plaza. Worth a look.

Legend

Irish Style Pubs  all with draft Guinness & Kilkenny

The 3 main Irish Pubs in Bangkok are Molly Malone's  [formerly Delaney's and later Shenanigans & The Irish X Change] on Convent Road, O'Riley's on Silom Road, and The Dubliner at Washington Square, Sukhumvit Soi 22.

Molly Malone's

Refurbished in August 2007 and re-opened on 1st September 2007, with yet another name.
In Convent Road just off Silom Road. Draft Guinness and draft Kilkenny, import duty used to make these imported beers very expensive but now the price has come right down, a refreshing change.
The food is served in large portions and is very good, try the Humungous Burger.
From Silom Road, opposite Patpong, look for Boots The Chemist and the Philips shop, Convent Road is between them - walk up about 500 Metres. (This is also a good spot to pick up a taxi and avoid the dreaded parked taxis on Silom who want to charge you exorbitant prices without using their meters).

Good buffet lunch at sensible prices, curry buffet on Fridays, get in at 12 noon to avoid all the "Hooray Henrys", (some still with red braces) probably operating dodgy investment schemes from local offices.

The original Irish pub, and still the best!

Sample lovely barmaid (upstairs)

Formerly Delaney's, Shenanigans, and The Irish X Change

O'Reilley's

Traditional Irish style pub. You'll find it on the Patpong side of Silom, right at the steps to Sala Daeng BTS skytrain station and on the corner of Soi Thaniya.
Good menu, various live bands in the evenings.

Website Here

  The Dubliner    

Opened in 2000 on Sukhumvit Road between Soi 24 & Soi 22, at the entrance to Washington Square.
Same theme as the others, but why do we have to go up 2 flights of stairs to use the toilet? A difficult task when you are on the wrong side of 5 pints of Killkenny!!
Enthusiastic staff, good menu.

Hanrahans Sukhumvit Soi 4

Opened mid December 2006 in a purpose built building, Hanrahans is set to do good business in Sukhumvit Soi 4, hopefully raising the standard a little!

Well fitted out with a better than usual selection of draught beers from modern dispensing equipment that is commonplace elsewhere, but a bit out of the ordinary here in Bangkok.

A good selection of bottled beers also, as well as large bottles of Bulmer's Cider, a rare sight in Bangkok, but good news for me as I am a shareholder!

Large screen TVs for sporting events.

A welcome effort in an Asian capital that seems to suffer from a lack of pubs of this type, well worth a visit.

Finnegan's Irish pub & Restaurant located in Sukhumvit Soi 4, opposite the Raja Hotel.
Website HERE

Jameson's   At The Holiday Inn Hotel, Silom Road

Opened late 2007 and they have made an excellent job on the decor, but it's a bit out of the way being at the top end of Silom Road, at the Holiday Inn, after the Skytrain track turns sharp left. Worth a look if you are up that end of town, or need a change.

Plenty of interior shots, and a location map, on their website HERE

American Style Bars

  Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street is just about the most well known American Bar, attentive staff, and massive portions of food as well as decent economy hotel rooms!
Sunday "brunch" buffet is good value. Located in Sukhumvit Soi 22/Washington Square.
Most taxi drivers will know where Washington Square is, named after the old Washington "movie" Theatre. (Sadly this cinema has now been commandeered by a bunch of transvestites for a cabaret show called Mambo, lowering the tone of the area.)
There are several other bars around the square, Larry's Dive Shop, Prince of Wales, Texas Lone Star, Happy Pub, and Taffy's Hairy Pie Club! etc., unfortunately, the area is only keeping it's head above water by the high standards set by Bourbon Street, most of the other bars in Washington Square, seem to cater for geriatric Americans.

  Larry's Dive Bar

Bar & Grill is close by Washington Square, in Sukhumvit Soi 22. It features the only "beach" in Bangkok.
They organise diving trips on a daily basis and there is an adjoining dive equipment shop.
There is a sign in the window that says "Warm Beer, Lousy Food, Slow Service, and Cold Women" or words to that effect!
A "proper" bar, and not bad when you have had your fill of being fondled by go-go girls trying to fleece you for "ladies drinks".

  Henry J Bean's American Bar & Grill.

There are 2 of these in Bangkok and one in Pattaya, at the last count. Well run with ultra enthusiastic staff and decent American food (or is that a contradiction in terms?).
In Bangkok they are located in AMARI HOTELS at the Amari Airport Hotel and the Amari Watergate on Petchaburi Road almost opposite Pantip Plaza.
Beware of the "Staff Dance" I can't explain it, you need to see it yourself!
Two Happy Hours - 17.30 - 19.00 & 23.00 - Midnight, 2 for 1 on draft beer!

I am not sure if the branch in the Amari Airport Hotel is still there now Don Muang has closed, if anyone knows, please let me know.

Henry J's at The Amari Watergate is a good place for New Year's Eve, as you are just far enough away from the almost 1 million people thronging outside Central World Plaza, but you can still see the fireworks from the Amari's patio.
You can be a cheat like me, avoid the New Year entrance fee by going into the hotel reception, down the steps to the toilets, and into Henry J's by the back door, walk purposefully in, and the staff assume you have just come back from the toilet! We all know that all us falangs look alike anyway.

  Tokyo Joe's    Phrom Phong

I'm not sure if this is strictly an "American Style Bar" but it is a good place for live music with many guest appearances by visiting artists.
Easy to get to by Skytrain, get off at Phrom Phong, exit towards The Emporium, and walk up Soi 24 about 400 Metres, you'll find it on the right, almost opposite The Ariston Hotel, in a small group of buildings just off the Soi. Map and details on their website HERE

Hard Rock Café

In the heart of Siam Square, not far from the Sky train Siam Station.
Not my choice, but now you know where it is if you want vastly overpriced drinks and food, with overpriced T shirts and other silly merchandise.

The Hard Rock chain was purchased by a tribe of native American Indians in 2006.

Other Notable Bars

Gulliver's now has 2 locations, the original in Khao San Road is a bit scruffy (or at least it was last time I ventured into back-packer land). The newest branch is in Sukhumvit Soi 5, almost opposite the Foodland supermarket.
A smart and well maintained building with waiter and waitress service, limited menu available, but quite sensible prices.
A decent bar, plenty of TVs for sporting events, but a bit too heavy on pool tables for my liking, as pointed sticks and alcohol don't always mix.
Groups of girls here have NOT usually come in just for a drink, plenty of freelancers floating around.

If you see an old American car floating about in the air, you are in the right place!

Opposite The Amari Hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 5, and above Foodland supermarket, is The Rooftop Garden Bar.

A good place to watch those sporting events on the plasma and projector televisions.
Run by the only Thai Cockney I have ever met, Mr. Kob. "orwite mate"!
Usually a good place for a late drink as the police don't seem to know it's there.

   Flyers

Find Flyers located on the corner of Sukhumvit Road and Sukhumvit Soi 22.
A great location, but a lack lustre bar full of pool tables. I walk past here almost every day and have only been in twice.
Not very well maintained, dirty windows, and a waste of a prime location. They could do so much better. Replacing the cracked glass in one of the front windows would be a start.......................hint.

In A Class of their Own!

  Cheap Charlie's

This needs to be seen to be believed! (Like a lot of things in Thailand, but this is more so!)
TO FIND IT  Go up Sukhumvit Soi 11 past Zanzibar Restaurant, and take the next left, after about 400-500 yards. There it is, Cheap Charlie's Bar, all constructed on the outside wall of a building and your seats are in the road.
You have to see it to believe it. Run by Mr.Satit, as the name implies, in Cheap Charlie's the drinks are cheap and unusually in Thailand, you pay when you order. Look for the sign by the toilet!

Log Home/Cabin Ekamai station

This used to be called The Log Cabin, but now the sign says "Log Home". Go to Tong Lo BTS Skytrain station and walk up Soi Tong Lo (Tong Lor Sukhumvit Soi 55) to find The Log Home on the right, past Witch's Tavern.
You can't miss it, it's a massive complex of bars and restaurants all made out of huge logs. As well as the bar area, there are several restaurants including steak and Japanese.
This is on the site of Mercedes Benz Tong Lor, the booming car dealer that was also the site of the auctions of "The Formerly Rich" after the currency crisis of the mid 1990's. They still have a showroom next door, but now occupy a far smaller plot.

Not a usual haunt of us "farangs", but a decent fun place to visit for a change, and the Witch's Tavern is just within staggering distance on the same side of the road back towards Sukhumvit.

Big John's World
Thonglor Soi 9 (Sukhumvit Soi 55) Website HERE.

Ratchadapisek (say Ratcha-Daa for taxi)

Pump-Up Pub  Thailand Cultural Centre

On the site of the former Brew Pavilion is Pump-Up Pub in Ratchadapisek Road, dead easy to get to, right at the MRT subway station the same side of the road as Tesco/Lotus, walk to the back of the car park, well signposted.
There is free entry and live bands every night, good for a change of scene.
Enthusiastic service with staff seemingly outnumbering customers at least 2:1! A big cavernous place with 45 gallon oil drums converted into tables, and the odd petrol pump around.
Predominantly Thai, but I am always made to feel very welcome.
Metal detectors on the door, so don't go if you have a plate in your head.

Also from the same subway station you can visit loads of bars and clubs in Ratchada Soi 4, on the opposite side of the road from the Pump Up Pub, look for these signs:-

 

These are almost 100% Thai bars and clubs, but you will be made most welcome, they are also a good place for a drink for any ladies who feel threatened by the male dominated bars in the usual locations.
Most places have live music, and the usual drink seems to be Scotch whisky by the bottle with free mixers, although beer is available as well.
My favourite is Snop, arrive early at weekends to get a good table. Better than average band.

Hotel Night Clubs

You need deep pockets for these places, although I do go from time to time. Drinks are usually 3 to 4 times more than elsewhere, but they usually have semi decent to quite good bands.

They are all good places to take your wife or girlfriend (if you have been silly enough to bring her with you that is!).

BARSU

  The Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit has Barsu club, formerly Rivas.

This is located on the ground floor of the hotel and is a fairly popular venue. International bands do a short residency here, and they are usually of reasonable quality.

Food and snacks available.

SPAZZO'S

A very popular place, found in the basement of The Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel on Rajdamiri Road, at the junction of Ploenchit Rd and virtually opposite Gaysorn Plaza.
A trendy place with good bands and Italian theme, prices are a bit on the high side, and the girls think they're a bit special for some reason, especially as some of them were dancing round a shiny pole only an hour or so before!

Usually a quite decent international band in residence.

Smart dress is required in both Barsu & Spazzo.

Moon Bar Vertigo

Well worth a visit to see Bangkok by night, located on the top of the Banyan Tree Hotel in South Sathorn Road, not far from the Immigration Dept.

A Panoramic view of the city with telescopes provided.
Theme is Jazz. Open from 17:00 until 01:00 weather permitting!

Take a look, bring a camera. A lot less scary than going up Baiyoke Tower 2!

For the non mathematical amongst us, that is C M Squared, located in the basement of the Novotel Siam Square (get it?)
This popular disco/night club has a "Ladies Night" on a Monday, so expect more spare females than usual.
Well know "pick-up" joint and the past haunt of Soviet tarts that haven't yet been deported.

Website HERE

Hu'u (Pronounced Who)

Located within the Ascott Hotel on South Sathorn Road.

More up-market than the usual in Bangkok, this modern nightclub/restaurant has an extensive wine list of over 70 wines and champagnes.

If you are conducting a business transaction, this may well be the kind of place to sign the deal in and impress your Thai counterparts.

Bed Supperclub  Sukhumvit Soi 11

A very trendy club with excellent dining and the latest music with visiting DJs.
All white interior and housed in a sort of tube!, as per the picture, so hard to mistake when venturing up Sukhumvit Soi 11.
A bit expensive by Thai standards, but that tends to keep the undesirables out. Worth a look.
Check the website HERE

The Q Bar was new to Bangkok in December 1999 from Saigon. A different kind of place that doesn't really fall into any category, worth a look but pricey. Full of trendy locals, and a few expatriate's children who think they are!
TO FIND IT  Go up Sukhumvit Soi 11 past Zanzibar and Cheap Charlie's, at the top of the road, take a left and there it is on the corner opposite.
The DJ favoured "Gangsta Rap" music the last time I was there.

Some of the Q Bar hostesses, no, that's not their real hair!