Lopburi
Party with the locals at this venue in the centre of town. There's cheap whiskey and live Thai 'country' music nightly (starting around 9pm) plus you can…
Must-see nightlife in Thailand
Bangkok
Shelve any notion of tapas or sangria here. Dating back to 1969, Bangkok's oldest bar is all about hippie kitsch and Vietnam War–era intrigue. It's also…
Chumphon
An agreeable hangout for expat English teachers and passing travellers, the Farang Bar is an easy place to while away a few hours over a drink. The menu…
Lopburi
This kitsch, toy-themed cafe opposite the national museum serves a colourful range of drinks (mint milk, mango smoothie, cappuccino) and sweets (waffles…
Chumphon
This bar across from the train station has an island vibe and hosts a lot of travellers. There's a pool table, moo·ay tai (Thai boxing) ring, Thai and…
Phuket
One of the few late-night spots in mellow Rawai, the Laguna club gets busy on weekend nights, attracting a mixed crowd of Thais, foreigners and bar girls…
Thanon Sukhumvit
Scratch Dog is as cheesy as the name and the bulldog-as-DJ logo suggest, but it manages to pull a (relatively) mixed crowd and is probably the least dodgy…
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai's Irish pub offers the standard Emerald Isle package: draught Guinness, familiar pub grub, Thursday quiz nights, and international sports on…
Pattaya
The rather grand neocolonial facade and mini Statue of Liberty belie the fairly standard sports bar inside this beach-road spot. Decent beer and service,…
Kanchanaburi
'Drink! Drunk! Dance!' urges the sign above Sugar Member, and punters happily comply. This is a classic Kanchanaburi backpacker bar, with a vague reggae…
Chiang Mai
It's hard to go more than a few blocks in Chiang Mai without stumbling across an air-conditioned Wawee Coffee branch. This is Starbucks-style coffee…
Siam Square, Pratunam, Phloen Chit & Ratchathewi
As the name suggests, Mixx draws a relatively wide swath of Bangkok's partiers, from newly arrived backpackers to hardened working girls, making it the…
Northern Thailand
This isn't a bar, but a cafe on the ground floor of a traditional wooden house in the heart of Phrae's most historic neighbourhood. It makes a good…
Krabi Town
This bar with a large outside area at Pak-Up Hostel keeps the island bar tradition alive on the mainland, with beer pong and open-mic nights. Happy hour…
Satun Province
On's is a bar, a restaurant and a guesthouse all rolled into one. This is where you'll find Satun's tiny foreign community, and any fa·ràng (Westerners),…
Ko Lanta
The cute courtyard at this little cafe makes a pleasant setting to sample a selection of Thai craft beers. There's also a small selection of imported…
Ko Lanta
Few may come to Lanta looking for a pub, but if you were, this friendly expat favourite has all the quiz nights, sports screens, pool competitions and…
Railay
Part climbing school, part cafe, this driftwood-clad place sources beans from sustainable farms in Chiang Rai and serves some of the peninsula's best…
Thanon Sukhumvit
Young, loud and Thai, Nung-Len (literally ‘sit and chill’) is a ridiculously popular den of live music and uni students on buzzy Th Ekamai. Get there…
Northern Thailand
This cool and bright cafe with an outdoor terrace makes for a good retreat from the heat. There's coffee, tea, smoothies and juices, as well as rice and…
Northeastern Thailand
One of a few low-key lakeside bars on this stretch that are popular among expats for an evening beer. Also does food, but you're better off eating…
Lopburi
This is a good place to sit and relax with green tea, Ovaltine, longan juice and French fries. There are three floors of gallery and studio space with…
Ko Lanta
Here you can sip passable cocktails and sample middling Thai cuisine beneath massive trees and thatched pagodas or in a bamboo chair sunk into the sand…
Tak Province
Um Phang's only genuine bar is also a barber shop and a tattoo parlour. If you don't need a haircut or new ink, sit out front with a beer or cocktail and…
Banglamphu
Descend the stairs to this long-standing, perpetually packed, Th Khao San disco. The DJs are probably not going to win international acclaim, but that's…
Northern Bangkok
The open-air lawn of this hostel functions as a fun, informal bar, while Paper Butter & the Burger, an on-site burger cart, is its restaurant.
Hat Patong
Founded by pioneering LGBT-bar owner Khun Daeng, Phuket's original gay nightspot – going strong since 1994 – puts on sparkling, quality cabaret shows…
Chiang Khong
The most lively of the bars on Chiang Khong's main drag, Rin has a pool table, live sport on TV and, if you really want it, karaoke. There's also a menu…
Ko Chang
With live music, DJs, buckets of vodka and a cracking light show, Himmel competes with (or complements) legendary Ting Tong across the street.
Thanon Sukhumvit
Like a small clubbing neighbourhood, Narz consists of three vast zones boasting an equal variety of music. It’s largely a local scene, but the odd guest…
Udon Thani
Not all juice is created equal, and this shop on the basement floor of Central Plaza proves it. Most of the fruit and veggies are organic and you can…
Bangkok
Formerly known as Guys on Display, this three-storey club is not averse to a little shirtless dancing. Open late, this is where to go after the other…
Kanchanaburi Province
Refreshing coffee spot with mix-and-match furniture. Besides the usual cakes, coffees and fruity Italian sodas, there's premium Doi Chang coffee from…
Thanon Sukhumvit
Come 1am, when most Soi 11 bars are beginning to close up, folks begin to file into this popular hotel nightclub. See the website for guest DJs and other…
Phitsanulok
A biker bar as perceived through Thai lens – which means it's a heck of a lot friendlier. There's gentle live music most nights and a menu of Thai-style…
Thanon Sukhumvit
This late-night staple is not the most sophisticated place in town, but beyond 2am the options are few. It's about 500m up Soi 11, walking north from Th…
Banglamphu
After what must be at least a decade (or three?), the open-air patio at Gecko Bar remains a fun and frugal place to gawk at other patrons and passers-by.
Ubon Ratchathani
U-Bar has long remained at the top of the heap for the college crowd, partly because the best bands from Bangkok usually play here when they visit Ubon.
Ko Samet
On the beach, this is a good spot for after-dark beach-gazing, with a fun crowd and strong cocktails. During the day it does acceptable coffee and food.
Thanon Sukhumvit
Demo combines blasting beats and a NYC warehouse vibe. Fridays and Saturdays see a 400B entrance fee for foreigners, and ID is necessary to gain entry.
