Wednesday, 18 May 2011

Bangkok Nightlife

After the sun goes down, Bangkok get its second breath. The heavy traffic subsides and the mad rush is over.
The city is full of night time pleasures, and all areas can be reached by tuk tuk or taxi or for even cheaper travel the BTS ( Skytrain ) or MRT ( Underground system ). So be prepared for a great night out!
There are five major areas these being:-

1. Chidlom - Ploenchit  -  This area's well heeled mix of office suits, ex pat executives and high society Thais makes for a nightlife scene that falls into the upmarket bracket. Think high class restaurants and lavish wine bars with great atmospheres, there are no markets or dens of sin here. 

2. Silom  -  Thailand's 'Wall Street' is by day a place of financial institutions, law firms and multinational corporations. However at night Silom slips out of its suit, transforming into a bustling shopping street and night market, selling such things as bootleg DVDs, trinkets, T shirts and fake watches. These are set next to raucous streets namely red light district Patpong, Soi ( Street ) 2 and Soi 4. 

3. Sukhumvit  -  The nightlife here is exciting, ever evolving, cosmopolitan and can be reduced to three main pursuits: drinking, dancing and debauchery. There are countless pubs and bars most of which are American or European styled, with pool tables and draught beers on sale. They usually close about 1.00am. The hot spots are in Nana Plaza which has Thai style bars and go-go bars mostly set in a three story complex of raucous activity all focused around a square-shaped central atrium.


4. Khao San Road  -  This area takes off at night, neon lights burst into life, music begins blasting out from street side sound systems, while the masses start mapping out the long, alcohol-soaked night lying in front of them. There are no shortage of choices to the upscale 'Silk Bar' and 'Cinnamon', to the quiet tranquility of the back-alley 'Hippie de Bar', or the crude charms of a kerb-side cocktail shack complete with plastic stools and ghetto blaster there is something to suit every mood , taste, budget and cleanliness. Some of the thrifty even opt to purchase beers from the local 7/11's and drink in the street, hobo style.


5. Radchadapisek  -  Young party goers, or those looking to recapture their misspent youth, should head for Royal City Avenue more commonly known as RCA, this long road is one of the few government-designated nightlife zones. Which means they are legally allowed to open until 2.00am. It is busy everyday but especially at weekends when it is full of well dressed young things in their late teens and early 20s and also backpackers bored with Khao San Road scene, there is Hip Hop, R'n'B, House and Trance. Some of the clubs are so packed you can hardly move. There is also a girls-only bar called 'Zeta' catering for the blossoming lesbian scene. 

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