Bangkok After Dark

This is Bangkok’s busiest nightlife strip, along Sukhumvit Road and the sois either side. Soi 11 is the main going-out street, with rooftops, clubs and pubs side by side. Around Nana Plaza (Soi 4) and Soi Cowboy the bars are adult-oriented, while Phrom Phong, two BTS stops east of Asok, is calmer, with British and Irish pubs and the big malls.

It’s the easiest base for a first trip: the Skytrain runs right along it, and most nights out are a short walk from your hotel. Nearly every pub and rooftop here serves food too, so dinner and drinks are easy.

Best for: A first night out in Bangkok, pubs and sport, rooftops, and meeting people. It’s also the main adult-nightlife area, so check the hotel tags if you want to stay away from that.

Thonglor is where Bangkok goes out when it wants something a bit smarter. Hidden cocktail bars, small jazz rooms and live-music venues are spread along Thonglor road (Soi 55), with big clubs further up and around Ekkamai.

The crowd is a mix of young Thais and expats, and it feels more local than Nana. The road is long, so a quick motorbike taxi between bars is normal. Most bars here serve good food, and many are known for it.

Best for: Couples, cocktail lovers and anyone who wants a smarter, more local night out, with jazz, live music and great food.

Silom is home to Bangkok’s famous sky bars, from Lebua’s Sky Bar to the top of the Mahanakhon tower, plus the riverside hotel bars along the Chao Phraya. Down at street level is the Patpong night market, with adult bars along the same streets.

Silom Soi 2 and Soi 4 are the heart of Bangkok’s LGBTQ+ nightlife. It’s a great area for couples and a smart night out, and the BTS and MRT both stop here.

Best for: Couples and a dressy night out at the famous sky bars, LGBTQ+ nightlife on Soi 2 and Soi 4, and the Patpong night market.

Chinatown is a different kind of night out. Start on Yaowarat Road, where the neon signs come on and the street food stalls take over the pavements: seafood, noodles and desserts until late.

Then walk to Soi Nana (not the same as Nana on Sukhumvit), a small lane of old shophouses turned into some of Bangkok’s best little cocktail bars. It’s busy and crowded, so keep your bag in front of you.

Best for: Food lovers, couples and anyone who wants something different: street food first, then tiny cocktail bars in old shophouses.

Khao San Road is Bangkok’s famous backpacker strip: open-front bars, music on every corner, street food and a big party crowd most nights.

Just behind it, Rambuttri Road is calmer, with bars and restaurants under the trees, and Phra Athit by the river is quieter again. There’s no train here, so it’s a taxi or river boat from the rest of the city.

Best for: Backpackers, friends and solo travellers on a budget. Loud, cheap and very easy to meet people.