Bangkok | Living the life in here

Bangkok retains its title as one of the best nightlife cities in the world. As dusk falls and the evening draws in, the city comes to life. From the wild to the relaxed, it is a city renowned for its nightlife, and with good reason. From the smooth jazz bars to the relaxing, suave lounges, or vibrant and lively nightclubs, Bangkok can provide for all.

As the sun goes down, Bangkok opens its eyes to transform into the liveliest capital in South-East Asia. An electrifying atmosphere pervades the city as it comes to life in an explosion of lights, music and dance. Add to that its carefree vibe, a dose of madness, and insane party culture, and voila – you have the craziest nightlife in all of Thailand.

Bangkok is a sensory overload even for the most hardcore party animals. It’s not all action, though – there are plenty of amazing cultural experiences to be had in the night. But choosing where to go and what to do can be overwhelming when there are a million things to do and when everything seems tempting. Unfortunately, the night is short.

To help you decide, we’ve created a comprehensive guide on nightlife in Bangkok. Needless to say, memorable nights come free with it.

Khao San Road

Known as the centre of the backpacking universe, Khao San Road is where globetrotting youngsters come for cheap stays, cheap eats and, of course, cheap booze. It has an anything-goes vibe to it, where every night people guzzle bucket loads of booze and dance right in the middle of the street.

The street food here is pretty awesome, too.

The Club is the place where the young and hip go to show off their slick moves. Throughout the night, you will be grooving to the pulsating music, with cool lighting, laser beams and special smoke effects adding to the feel.

Thailand’s gift to the world is its cuisine and Khao San Road is one of the best places to experience it. You can get amazing Pad Thai for as little as Rs 70/US$ 1 and delectable milk cakes (rotis) for Rs 20/ US$ 0.3.

For starters, it’s not the type you’re thinking of – Khao San Road provides outrageously good Thai massages right on the street. It’s a cool way to enjoy the vibe of the place while saying goodbye to sore muscles.

Sukhumvit

Sukhumvit is like a Disneyland for party lovers, with something to suit every mood and taste. The nightlife here includes anything from glamorous rooftop bars and thundering clubs to flashy beer bars and seedy hangouts. It also hosts the world-famous red-light districts of Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza.

Check out the clubs and bars featured in The Hangover Part II movie at Soi Cowboy.

No rooftop bar in the city has a 360-degree view of Bangkok that matches the one from here. Octave has a laidback lounge-like feel to it, making it ideal for a fancy dinner.

The famous red-light district is bathed in pink neon lights coming from a hundred different go-go bars on the street. The procedure is fairly easy: buy a drink for yourself, and if a pretty lady sits next to you, buy her one, too.

The inspiration for Iron Fairies came from a fairytale book the owner wrote himself, and it’s achieved cult status in Bangkok ever since. This is a magical bar designed like an ironsmith’s shop, with small winged creatures at every corner giving it its name.

It’s a great place to enjoy some signature cocktails, while enjoying soothing jazz music.

If you’re in the mood for something visually exotic, Nana Plaza is the place for you. Labelled as the world’s greatest adult entertainment complex, it houses open-air beer bars, go-go bars and tantalising ladyboy shows.

Thailand’s Wall Street by day, Silom’s a trendy area that morphs into a playground for hardcore revellers at night. The nightlife is bustling and diverse, spanning dazzling rooftop venues and stylish bars to Bangkok’s original prostitution den, Patpong Road.

Those who want to party in style in flashy clubs and stylish hangouts, or those who simply want to stroll along Patpong.

Designed like a Spanish villa, Tapas Room could give any club in Europe a run for its money, as it plays the best Latino house music in all of Bangkok. So, put on your dance shoes, grab a cocktail in hand, and dance to the catchy music.

The Lebua Sky Bar is the most popular rooftop bars in all of Bangkok. Located on the 64th floor, it’s the world’s highest open-air bar and the shooting location of the movie, The Hangover. The stylish patrons who visit this bar come for its elegant ambiance, jazz sessions, and panoramic views of the Bangkok skyline.

Patpong is one of the world’s most famous red-light areas, a place where Thailand’s infamous go-go bar culture started. True to its name, the street is lined with neon-lit strip clubs, featuring raunchy shows and pole dances.

RCA (Royal City Avenue)

RCA is the epicentre of the clubbing scene in Bangkok, with some of the best dance floors in the city. This is where you groove to international DJs, talented local artists, and live musicians, all in one night.

Dancing the night away at Route 66 is almost a rite of passage for party animals. It has achieved legendary status, courtesy of its wild parties and music that caters to everyone. Turn up any night of the week and you will have a kickass party.

Onyx is the first club in Bangkok to follow the big-room style of clubbing that’s so popular in Europe. With a capacity of 2,000 and the world’s best DJs rocking it, dancing here is a one-of-its-kind experience. Dry-ice cannons, confetti bombs, and laser show all add to the excitement.

Asiatique Riverfront

Nightlife by the Asiatique Riverfront is in stark contrast to the noisy scene in Silom or Sukhumvit. The action here is restricted to swanky rooftop bars and charming bars facing the river. The area is one of the best places to indulge in cultural experiences like night markets, cabaret shows, and Muay Thai matches.

Chinatown

This is the place for a culinary adventure, with some of the best street food in town. There are hundreds of stalls right on the pavement, selling the most lip-smacking Thai food. Don’t expect silverware and tablecloth, though – you eat where you get a place to stand. And yet, this place is packed all days.

Come nightfall, the main street in Chinatown transforms into a paradise for foodies, with the roads lined with stalls selling the tastiest Thai dishes you can find. From tasty fruits and delicious ice-creams to fresh seafood, you get everything here.