editor’s note: Matt has agreed to do some write ups about his trips in other cities and in return I am posting his request for help on his next trip to bkk. Sure - a lot of his questions can be answered by reading the blog but it is always good to let others chime in with their own opinions. That’s what a comment driven blog is for in my opinion. help Matt.
I have visited BKK twice in the last year so I know a little bit about the city and I know some places to go, but I just wanted to know some of the “best” places to go.
Places I have already been:
Hotel: Westin
Restaurants: Koi (Japanese place that is expensive as shit)
Bars: Q-Bar, Bed, Santika, Some rooftop place on Kohsan road (forget the name but it was cool)
Soi Cowboy: Tilac (I think) and 1 other but I can’t remember which.
Massage: 2 small places across the street from the Westin, nothing special
What I am looking for:
Restaurant: Good reasonable food, not too picky, just want to hear 1 or 2 recommendations….also a good place to get Turkish Donner Kebabs
Bars: Good nightlife, like a Bed or Q-Bar I guess, or a “Coyote Bar” which you guys seem to discuss a lot
Soi Cowboy or Nana: Never been to Nana, looking for the best sex shows in town and obviously hot girls(sounds like there is a good one at Suzy Wong but I’m not sure)
Massage: Good place with good looking girls, also I need to try a Soapy and a Ball Massage (they sound good in the posts)
One last question, what is the final word on Gulliver’s? A lot of the posts are contradictory.
I have read a lot of the posts on the site, and I know most of this info is probably in there, but there is so much I feel like I am researching a term paper. I just need a quick cheat sheet since I am visiting for only 2 or 3 days.
I like the kebabs outside Bamboo Bar on Soi 3. Generally he gets going late so it is a good place to stop after partying.
Clubs - I like Bed but have not been to twisted yet but I also like some of the Ekkamai and Thong Lo scene.
Massage - what kind? I saw go Tulip:
http://guide.2thebigmango.com/?p=15
For Soapies - a real soapy try Chao Praya 2.
http://guide.2thebigmango.com/?p=160
For sex shows - honestly? I don’t think there are any real sex shows left except for in the gay go-go bars but maybe someone knows something I don’t. however the suzie wong show is the best substitute.
View all comments by smitty
Matt. Go to Suzie Wong on Cowboy at 10.30 p.m. and you will see the best lesbian show 4-6 girls in Thailand.
If you are into Japanese food, check out Fuji, their Japanese food isexcellent, imho: If you get out of the Skytrain at Siam Square and face the Siam Paragon, the Fuji is in the building left to the Paragon, acroos that square between them.
Gulliver on Sukhumvit Soi 5: Very good Western and Thai food, some good-looking freelancers in the evening hours. But haven’t pulled from there yet. Will research the girl scene there on my next trip in March more extensivly… and post the results here.
If you like Q-Bar or Bed, then “my” places like Spicy or Spice Club might not appeal to you… Maybe pay a visit to Pent Club on Wireless Road? Expensive for a non-member, but very recommendable.
About the rest I can’t comment, sorry.
View all comments by Phoenix
A tourist friend got taken to a sex show recently. Straight Thai male/female show, in some seedy bar above a Thai restaurant. ฿800 cover charge, including free drink, I think. The group were taken there through a bunch of back streets by tuk-tuk from somewhere near Khao San.
So they do still exist, but I don’t have the info on where they are.
For Matt, I’d second (third?) the Wong show, and add Rawhide, if only for the A team, as proof that Thai gogo girls can actually dance - when so inclined.
There are no sex shows at Nana, unless you’re fortunate enough to catch the fabled lesbian show at Playskool, which is the same as at Suzie Wong. It’s on every night at Wong, and once in a blue moon at Playskool, so play it safe.
Some Nana bars have very recently allowed the girls to go (at least) topless, eg. Mandarin, Angelwitch, Carousel. That’s about all you’re going to see though. Shows at Carousel and Angelwitch, but these are more cabaret than sexy.
Tulip also seconded. Soapies, like all these things, depend on the girl rather than the building, but some buildings have more hotties than others. Haven’t tried Chao Praya 2 yet, but I will soon.
Re Gullivers, and indeed everywhere else, it’s important to remember that bars, especially the freelancer bars, run hot and cold on an almost daily basis. Gullivers can be rammed full of 18-21yo hotties on a Tuesday night, then totally empty on the Wednesday.
Personally, to me Gullivers is just one of the many Big Mango substitutes where I now enjoy a beer and a burger and watch the football, while waiting for Mango 2. If there’s a hot girl in there too, great. If not, no worries.
Remember everyone’s different, and everyone has different tastes. Except me and Smitty. We have exactly the same taste. This is occasionally awkward.
Above all, enjoy!
View all comments by TAFKABBB
i’ve seen loads of sex shows over the years, but nowadays with the advent of digital cameras and various software packages, it’s much more fun to make your own.
View all comments by bo
Couple of restaurants:
Charlie’s Kitchen on Soi Nana, next to the Dynasty Hotel. Cheap-ish, good, clean, convenient. No big deal but nice.
I forget what it’s called, but the restaurant right at the top of the Emporium, next to the Design Centre, is very high-so, beautiful, and only a baht or so more expensive than Charlie’s. The Food Hall at Emporium is great, too, not the expensive gourmet part, but the dirt-cheap and delicious self-serve off down one side, looking over the park. Plenty nice Thai chicks to watch, too! Both these places are a bargain, and a bit of a hidden secret.
Romantic night out: take your girl to Anna’s Garden on Thong Lo. Fabulous. And there’s a great club in the back, too.
View all comments by Pants Elk
The grub @ Emporium is really nice, I had a great proper curry from there, you can see them cooking everything up, and all the chefs were Indian which always helps
@ Elk, where abouts in Thong Lo is this Annas Garden place? Im taking my GF for a romantic meal when i get back next month. Was thinking of either Vertigo or Sirocco - Ive drank there but never eaten there and heard the food isnt much cop?!?!?
Agree with smitty, theres loads of great kebab places down soi 3, and theres also one at bottom of soi 7 aswell if im not wrong, although that may of gone.
Anyone here ever eaten at a ‘thai royal cuisine’ restaurant or can recommend any?
View all comments by Penfold
P.S. and before you mention my GF is not a LB……… sadly not every1s perfect
View all comments by Penfold
It’s called Anna Garden and it’s near the Sukhumvit end of Thonglor, just near Thonglor soi 3. Def recommended with a laid back jungle restaurant outside and cool bar / club inside - nonetheless it’s popular with models, actresses etc, so to avoid embarassing yourself and everyone else best not to turn up there wearing beach shit or hand in hand with a cheap whore!
View all comments by anonzo
Thanks for the heads up ill be leaving my sweat soaked beer singha vest, chino shorts and sandals at home and avoid shouting sweet nothings in broken english to my buck toothed issan bar hound for the night.
Any update on the advice @ Banyan or Scirocco?
View all comments by Penfold
I think Vetigo and Scirocco are both overated. The views are good but the food is overpriced. You’re paying for the view not the food at these places.
View all comments by bkk22
Some suggestions:
- Bars (before 2am): CM2 Siam/Novotel (Freelancer Disco in the Novotel building/Siam, taxis know it), Bed Supperclub (Suk Soi 11), Slims and many other clubs on RCA
- Bars (after 2am): Spice Club and Spicy
- Restaurants: The Grill Tokyo (Siam Paragon great sushi. Fuji is good but this is better), Bed Supperclub (Suk Soi 11, make reservations), Le Opera (53 Sukhumvit Soi 39, Tel.258-5606)
- Soi Cowboy: Suzie Wong (lesbian show around 10:45 every night). Shark bar for the best looking. Catcus. Baccara (2nd floor).
- Nana: Rainbows 1 through 4
- Massage: Poseidon (model’s club on 3rd floor) and Tulip
Hostess Clubs: The Pent, Sopranos and Forte Again
View all comments by pmmp
Penfold, It’s called Anna Garden and it’s near the Sukhumvit end of - what’s that you say? He did?
View all comments by Pants Elk
@BKK22 i heard a lot of mixed reports about the food, I know the beer is about 350baht a bottle which i have no qualms in paying because of the surrounding/view, but the food has to stand up if your paying top baht
Any other suggestions for swish places to eat?
View all comments by Penfold
Calderazzo on Soi Lang Suan has good Italian and the restaurant has a great 3 level layout.
Bai Yun at the Banyan Tree is just below Vertigo but is inside. Chinese food with great views. Cheaper than Vertigo but still a bit pricey. Ask for a table by the window.
View all comments by bkk22
Welcome to the farangspends2much . com.
“Gulliver on Sukhumvit Soi 5: Very good Western and Thai food” = now I’ve heard everything. Whoever wrote this needs to get out more often.
If you get a chance go to the food court on the 6th floor of Ploenchit Center; THAT’S good Thai food.
View all comments by Jack Dawson
TAFKABBB beat me to it, so I’ll second him… if you’re going to Suzie Wong’s at 10:30, start at Rawhide around 9. They have put in a series of shows (a la Angelwitch). There are three girls (Paa, Ple and Kung) who do a very very sexy, high energy, totally nude show three times per night (around 9, 11 & 1). All three have beautiful faces, perfect bodies and the ability to do the splits upside down while sliding down a brass pole. I”m planning to ask them all to marry me and move into one big house together as soon as high season ends, so you better get in quick.
View all comments by werewolf
Penfold: for ’swish’ you can consider ‘Spring & Summer’ on (I think) Sukhumvit Soi 39.
View all comments by werewolf
And for unmissable sights, Matt, the Hooker’s Exodus, NEP at closing time (whenever that happens to be, about 1-2pm, and later). Get yourself a place at the rail of Big Dogs on the corner, mind your back when the shutters come down, grab a cheap beer from a street seller, and watch the show.
View all comments by Pants Elk
The Nana closing time is like ‘the road to wembley’ truly a sight to be seen. I always liked to grab a seat in big dogs or lucky lukes around 5-6pm to watch the hookers slowly file in to work - weird to see them praying to buddha before going about there slutty deeds.
OR…. grab a seat at a beer bar by Rainbow on the ground floor and try and count how many times the same girl gets ST’ed in the space of a football game (1 girl 3 times - 3 japs)
@ WW can you elaborate on this ’spring & summer’ place? I want sumthing swish and modern, price isnt really a factor
View all comments by Penfold
Clubs - As PMMP Suggested Bed Club has some cool nights, they have a hip-hop and House night but be advised it also has a gay night (thursday?), RCA Area has some good places.
BJ Bar - Lolitas Soi 8 (its a type of massage
)
Food - Paragon, Siam Center, There are so many places to eat in BKK, i would even explore past this list there is so many places to eat.
GL
View all comments by GoodLife
Kebobs - A tasteful 50 baht chunk of bread and meat (chicken or beef) to coat your stomach before and/or after drinking. Can buy them on Sukhumvit Soi 5 just outside Foodland, Soi 3 near Sukhumvit, and as Smitty mentioned, outside the Bamboo Bar on Soi 3 late into the night. You can also get some good pizza slices just outside the Bamboo.
Speaking of the Bamboo Bar on Soi 3, a nice sleazy place to hang out until early morning hours (usually close around 4 am). Not for everyone’s tastes, as male customers include Arabs, South Asians, and Thais along with the farangs, and many of the women sport the large asses/tits preferred by many middle eastern clients. But the bar is high energy, and interesting to observe the competitive ‘killer pool’ games that go on all night. And I’ve had some good pulls there.
I haven’t gone lately as the Bamboo recently started collecting a 100 baht cover charge from male customers. I don’t mind paying this nominal cover, but I hate putting any money into the grubby fingers of the fat, arrogant, shaved-head slob manning the door.
PMMP - Cactus was a well-kept secret until about a year ago. Most guys entering for the 1st time do a quick U-turn after glancing at the small, spartan interior, and some of the chunky farmgirls included in the lineup. However, those with lower aesthetic standards (such as myself) have mined some gold in this bar, and appreciate the ladies not being as ladydrink-predatory as most gogo bars. This is one bar where I actually can actually chat (and play) with a dancer for a few minutes before offering her a drink.
Baccara ranks up there with AW and Rainbow 4 as bars known for having great lineups, but providing customers with poor value for money, with their predatory LD practices and ladies known for providing uninspired ST performances and demanding top fees. A couple of fun girls working upstairs, but uncomfortable going there now with you-know-who working there.
BTW, great job on the guide. Trying to recall the name (starts with an ‘E’) of the all-night Thai disco I went to on Sukhumvit Soi 103 (Udomsuk) a couple of nights ago. Too far out for your guide, but an alternative for those who find themselves out in Bang Na late at night looking to extend their night.
View all comments by dj
wow, thanks for all the replies. that is more than enough info.
one note, on the sex show i didn’t mean actually live sex, just something like Suzy Wong’s. However, I haven’t been to Suzy Wong’s, only read about it and I don’t know what other good “shows” are out there.
thanks again, i will hit as many spots as I can on my visit and come back with my own comments.
View all comments by Bule Gila
Penfold: On further reflection Spring & Summer might not be what you’re looking for. It’s trendy but maybe more casual than what you are probably looking for.
here’s a 2 year old review from the Nation newspaper:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/weekend/20051209/index.php?news=column_19373197.html
I also picked up this brief description from a Yahoo URL (can’t get past the spam-bust with two URLs in one post):
Spring & Summer are sister concerns, located in two renovated archaic buildings on Sukhumvit Street. They are actually as different as chalk and cheese, but together welcome you to an enthralling Thai dining experience along with some divine chocolate desserts. Spring is the dining spot, with its romantic and chic decor, while Summer is the chocolate bar spread across the lawn. Spring serves some delectable dishes like Namprik Makam Fried Rice, and Spicy Mango Salad With Deep Fried Salmon, but Summer is not far behind; it seduces you with mouth-watering desserts that sport whacky names like “Better Than Sex”!
Other details
Admission charge: No
Atmosphere: Romantic
Average cost: 800
Booking advisable: No
Category: Asian/Pacific, Atmosphere
Cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, Amex
Cuisine type: Thai
Disabled access: No
Home delivery: No
Takeaway available: No
Top pick: No
View all comments by werewolf
Restaurant: Thai House 2, upstairs from Foodland, Sukhumvit Soi 5.
Bars/Clubs: 808 (RCA)
Soi Cowboy: Baccara. The music is pretty good (Electronica) and some of the girls are really into their dancing. Rawhide I can also recommend. Been to Suzie Wong three times and always missed the lesbian show. The drinks are more expensive at Suzie Wong’s than many of the other places, so that is a thumbs down from me.
Massage: …
Gulliver’s? Okay to play some pool there and to watch the football. The food, IMHO, is pretty awful and overpriced.
View all comments by rick
@ WW Cheers for the review although dunno if it sounds my kinda think, i managed to find snippets of anna garden on google and it looks pretty cool and modern which is kinda what im after
I heard the food in BED is pretentious and way overpriced as i was thinking of giving that a whirl, although doubt i will now
Spoilt for choice in BKK i guess when it comes to grub
I heard zanottis in sala daeng is pretty flash, any recommendations around the Chao Praya river?
Theres a bar-fine in it for you
View all comments by Penfold
Dear Matt,
I too have been to BKK many times and I stay quite a long time each visit - but I am still learning and unsure of some things despite that and reading many many posts - here are my recommendations for some of your requests.
Important Things First: Turkish kebabs - go to the MBK shopping centre - (National Stadium BTS) then go up to the cheap voucher eating place at the top (alllow 15 minutes of escalator fun to get up there) and suprisingly enough there is a middle eastern stall with some excellent kebabs - served by a giant sweating middle-eastern man - can’t recommend his stall highly enough and of course it is very good value.
Massage (ball) - many many people swear by Tulip and when I am back there I will definately try it - but I have visited Akane Fashion Massage near Chitlom BTS many times and always had a great time - one advantage being is that the costs are all up front for a good time with a happy ending so no negotiation is needed - comforting for a newbie or old-hand alike.
Good Luck
View all comments by doctorbond
penfold: True enough Bed is expensive but the food itself is excellent and the environement is top notch. Multiple courses of inventive and tasty fusion served to you by some very hot service girls all while you are chilling on the comfy beds. Last time I was there they had this soul singer belt out some quality songs as well. Pretentious? Maybe, but been there a few times and it always impresses me and my guests. When you are done eating you can then mozy over to one of the hottest clubs in the city. Not a bad setup imho.
View all comments by pmmp
The expense isnt the issue, as long as its good VFM. I have no qualms paying 300 baht a beer if the surroundings are lush, as end of the day, a beer is a beer, however if your paying top dollar for grub that doesnt stand up to the price then it smacks a bit of a rip off.
Like anywhere u go people have good and bad experiences, guess ill have to try first hand
I was planning on getting a jalapeno burger, nachos and a bellyful of san mig light @ a quaint bar on the 2nd floor of nana, but the fcukers went and closed it down
View all comments by Penfold
p - ouch
View all comments by smitty
If I have been in town, & need a little escape, I will jump on the Skytrain down to Saphan Thaksin, always a good view on the skytrain!
Then jump on the Millenium Hilton ferry across the river. I always like a free ride! When you get off the ferry there is a little Thai Restaurant to the left called “Be My Guest” Very cheap & away from the hustle & bustle. You can make your night more expensive by then popping into the Millenium Hilton, & going up to the 360 degree sky bar. Fantastic views over the city, & a “Lost in Translation” experience. Just don’t try to get in with your “I love Pattaya LB’s” T-shirt on.
Regarding Nana, just go in to the plaza, find the escalator on the right, go up, turn right again, & you will be confonted by a closed door. Sorry, you missed out on the best bar in BKK!
View all comments by AUK