Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [125]
Bars tend to segregate into foreigner and Thai factions, but you can always reverse that trend. Here are a few popular options:
Buddy Bar (Map; Th Khao San; river ferry Tha Phra Athit) Spotless colonial-themed bar for when only air-conditioning will do.
Center Khao San (Map; Th Khao San; river ferry Tha Phra Athit) One of many front-row views of the human parade on Th Khao San; the upstairs bar hosts late-night bands.
Molly Bar (Map; Th Rambutri; river ferry Tha Phra Athit) Packed on weekends for Thai local bands; more mellow on weekdays with outdoor seating.
Roof Bar (Map; Th Khao San; river ferry Tha Phra Athit) Although the live acoustic soundtrack is hit and miss, the views are solid from this elevated pub.
Susie Pub (Map; 108/5-9 alley, btwn Th Khao San & Th Rambutri; river ferry Tha Phra Athit) Thai pop and pool tables.
Silom, Sathon & Riverside
Sirocco Sky Bar (Map; 0 2624 9555; The Dome, 1055 Th Silom; Skytrain Saphan Taksin) Bangkok seems to be one of the only places in the world where nobody minds if you slap a bar on top of a skyscraper. Enjoy this liberty while it lasts, and preferably with one of Sky Bar’s tasty drink creations. But be sure to dress the part; shorts and sandal wearers have to stay at ground level.
Moon Bar at Vertigo (Map; 0 2679 1200; Banyan Tree Hotel, 21/100 Th Sathon Tai; Metro Lumphini) Also precariously perched on top of a skyscraper, Moon Bar offers a slightly different bird’s-eye view of Bangkok. Things can get a bit crowded here come sunset, so be sure to show up a bit early to get the best seats.
Vino di Zanotti (Map; 0 2636 3366; 41 Soi Yommarat; Skytrain Sala Daeng, Metro Silom) A branch of the nearby Italian restaurant of the same name, Vino keeps it casual with live music, a huge wine list and lots of delicious nibbles.
Barbican Bar (Map; 0 2234 3590; 9/4-5 Soi Thaniya, Th Silom; Skytrain Sala Daeng, Metro Silom) Surrounded by massage parlours with teenage prom queens cat-calling at Japanese businessmen, this is a straight-laced yuppie bar where office crews come for some happy-hour drinks and stay until closing time.
Coyote on Convent (Map; 0 2631 2325; 1/2 Th Convent, Th Silom; 11am-1am; Skytrain Sala Daeng, Metro Silom) Forget the overpriced Tex-Mex cuisine; the real reason to visit Coyote is for its 75+ varieties of margaritas. On Wednesdays from 6pm to 8pm and Saturdays from 10pm to midnight, the icy drinks are distributed free to all women who pass through the door.
Molly Malone’s (Map; 0 2266 7160; 1/5-6 Th Convent, Th Silom; 11-1am; Skytrain Sala Daeng, Metro Silom) A recent makeover has this longstanding local leaning perilously towards Irish kitsch, but it still pulls a fun crowd and the service is friendly and fast.
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OUT ALL NIGHT
With most pubs and dance clubs closing around 1am, One Night in Bangkok is not quite what it used to be. Thankfully, there are a few places around town that have gained sufficient ‘permission’ to stay open until the morning hours.
Off Soi Ngam Duphli, Wong’s Place (Map; 27/3 Soi Sri Bumphen, Th Phra Ram IV; 8pm until late; Metro Lumphini), a longstanding backpacker bar, is so late-night, it’s best not to show up before midnight. Vaguely Middle-Eastern–themed Gazebo (Map; 0 2629 0705; 3rd fl, 44 Th Chakraphong; 7pm-late; river ferry Tha Phra Athit) represents the posh side of Th Khao San. This bar’s elevated setting appears to lend it some leniency with the city’s strict closing times.
If you can manage to find it, the ‘unique’ location under a tollway also seems to protect Rain Dogs (Map; 0 817206 989; 16 Soi Phrya Phiren, off Soi Sawan Sawat, off Th Phra Ram IV; 7pm-late; Metro Khlong Toei) from late-night scrutiny by the Men in Brown. Also following the canine theme, Scratch Dog (Map; 0 2262 1234; Windsor Suites Hotel, 8-10 Soi 20, Th Sukhumvit; 8pm-late; Skytrain Asoke,