Entertainment in Thailand
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A
Tuba
Used-furniture shop by day, Italian restaurant-slash-bar by night; oddly enough, this business formula is not entirely unheard of in Bangkok. Pull up a leatherette lounge and take the plunge and buy a whole bottle for once. And don’t miss the delicious chicken wings.
reviewed
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B
Samui Shamrock
More classic than chic, Samui Shamrock is a good-times pub where house bands belt out dated cover tunes that inspire the tipsy crowd to sing along. At some point in the night you’ll hear ‘Hotel California’, the ultimate foreigner tribute song.
reviewed
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Lotus Bar
Lotus is the de facto late-night hang-out spot along the northern end of Sairee. Muscular fire twirlers toss around flaming batons, and the drinks are so large there should be a lifeguard on duty.
reviewed
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C
Brown Sugar
Plant yourself in a corner of this cosy, mazelike pub, and bump to Zao-za-dung, the nine-piece house band. The tables are so close that you can't help but make new friends.
reviewed
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D
Patravadi Theatre
Patravadi is Bangkok’s sole modern-dance venue. The dance-troupe performance is a blend of traditional Thai dance and modern choreography, music and costume. The theatre is also ground zero for the Bangkok International Fringe Festival, held in January and February.
reviewed
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E
Seduction
One of Patong’s most popular dance halls comes courtesy of a Finnish club impresario. Known for buying up Helsinki’s best clubs, he opened this one in 2006 and has since attracted international party people dancing to well-known global DJs. Design, lighting and sound system are all top shelf. The club opens before midnight, but the party doesn’t start rocking till the wee small hours.
reviewed
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F
Saxophone Pub & Restaurant
Saxophone is still Bangkok’s premier live-music venue – a dark, intimate space where you can pull up a chair just a few metres away from the band and see their every bead of sweat. If you like some mystique in your musicians, watch the blues, jazz, reggae or rock from the balcony.
reviewed
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G
Slim/Flix
Ideal for the indecisive raver, this immense three-in-one complex dominating one end of RCA features chilled house on one side (Flix), while the other (Slim) does the hip-hop/R&B soundtrack found across much of the city. Oh, and there’s a restaurant thrown in there somewhere as well. Despite its size, this place is positively packed on weekends.
reviewed
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H
Rock Pub
With posters of Iron Maiden as interior design, and black jeans and long hair as the dress code, this cavelike live-music bar is Thailand’s unofficial Embassy of Heavy Metal.
reviewed
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I
Parking Toys
Essentially a rambling shed stuffed with vintage furniture, Parking Toys is also one of Bangkok’s best venues for live music, and hosts an eclectic revolving cast of fun bands ranging in genre from acoustic/classical ensembles to electro-funk jam acts.
To get here, take a taxi heading north from BTS Mo Chit and tell the driver to take you to the Kaset intersection and turn right on Th Kaset-Navamin. Upon passing the second stop light on this road, look for the small Heineken sign on your left.
reviewed
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J
Bar Solo
A sign of things to come, Bar Solo has future-fitted Chaweng's outdoor beer halls into an urban setting with sleek cubist decor and a cocktail list that doesn't scream holiday hayseed. The evening drink specials lure in the front-loaders preparing for a late, late night at the dance clubs on Soi Solo and Soi Green Mango.
reviewed
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K
Libernard Cafe
Often credited for introducing Chiang Mai to cafe culture is the unassuming Libernard Cafe, run by Pong who roasts her own beans daily, making different adjustments based on the day’s climate conditions. She makes a smooth latte, hardly needing to be spiked with sugar.
reviewed
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L
Pub
In an old Tudor-style cottage set well off the road, this venerable Chiang Mai institution semi-successfully calls up the atmosphere of an English country pub. The Friday-evening happy hour assembles all the old expats who claim to have arrived in the city on the back of elephants. Ice-cold Tiger beer on tap. It's a couple of hundred metres past Th Nimmanhaemin on the west side of Th Huay Kaew.
reviewed
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M
Tropical Murphy's
A popular fa·ràng (foreigner) joint, Tropical Murphy's dishes out steak-and-kidney pie, fish and chips, lamb chops and Irish stew (mains 50B to 300B). Come night-time, the live music kicks on and this place turns into the most popular Irish bar on Samui (yes, there are a few).
reviewed
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N
Ship Inn
Only steps away from Soi Cowboy but a world away in ambience, Ship Inn provides a mature embrace for a quiet drinking crowd. The mock-Tudor bar is as well stocked as a ship captain’s quarters, and the music is gracefully at conversational volume.
reviewed
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O
Bed Supperclub
Resembling an illuminated tube, Bed has basked in the Bangkok nightlife limelight for nearly a decade now, but has yet to lose any of its futuristic charm. Arrive at a decent hour to squeeze in dinner – or if you’ve only got dancing on your mind, come on Tuesday for the hugely popular hip-hop night.
reviewed
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P
Koi
The bar of this trendy sushi restaurant is packed with models posing as if real life were a photo shoot. The convergence of so much eye candy is no accident, Koi lures in card-carrying models with freebies, creating a spectacle in its own right.
reviewed
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Q
UN Irish Pub
A two-storey bar and restaurant, and stalwart on the Chiang Mai traveller scene, this is an old favourite for its Thursday quiz night and boozy nights. There's Guinness on tap, a beer garden and TV screens – sporting events are popular, especially rugby and football games.
reviewed
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R
Blues Factory
This is Pattaya's best venue for no-nonsense live music.
reviewed
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S
Banana Disco
If you're after a more sophisticated nightclub experience, this is your ticket. A corny Aztec theme prevails, but at least you can dance without skidding around in puddles of beer.
reviewed
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Mellow Mountain
Also called 'Mushy Mountain' (you'll know why when you get there), this trippy hang-out sits at the northern edge of Hat Rin Nok delivering stellar views of the shenanigans below.
reviewed
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T
North Gate Jazz Co-Op
This tight little jazz club packs in more musicians, both local and foreign, than patrons, especially for its Tuesday open-mic night.
reviewed
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U
Skunk Bar
Plays excellent, scratchy roots reggae on a turntable and has one of the liveliest vibes around.
reviewed
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V
Lumphini Park
Ðà·grôr pick-up games are played commonly in the Lumphini Park.
reviewed
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W
Archers
Come to this chilled-out restaurant-bar for the cold beer and the people-watching – not the food. It's a good spot to knock back a couple in the afternoon with the newspaper and maybe your laptop (free wi-fi). Popular with expats and travellers.
reviewed