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To this day, Thailand is seen as something of a backpacking Mecca, and any respected budget traveller en route to Australia or the rest of South-East Asia stops in Bangkok. As a result of this, the Thai capital is a good place to party. The streets here are lined with karaoke bars, discotheques and other places to burn the midnight oil. The best place to sample them, without question, is the world-famous Khao San Road – the backpacker capital of the world.

Away from Sukhumvit, the area where the KSR can be found, Silom is another party area. Here you will also find some excellent pubs and bars with a constant buzz about the place.

For up to date listings about what’s going on during your stay, get your hands on a copy of Metro Magazine which is available in most book shops. Other good sources of entertainment information are the Bangkok Post and The Nation which provide daily listings of events and performances taking place around the city.

Entertainments in Bangkok

• Twilo

  70 Patpong Soi 1, Silom, Bangkok, Thailand

  Amidst the massage parlours, go-go bars and flying ping pong balls on Patpong 1, Twilo uses live music as its main form of entertainment. Here Thai musicians play to those in the area for Patpong's night market.
  
  Open daily from 9.30am-3am.

• O'Reilly's Irish Pub & Restaurant

  62/1-4 Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok, Thailand

  Well they’ve built them in every other part of the world, so why not Bangkok. With traditional Irish food, music and décor, but welcoming nationalities from all over, this is a good place to go to eat, drink and be merry and generally have a ‘bit of craic’.

• Cafe Bongo

  44 Convent Road, Silom, Bangkok, Thailand

  Built on the 59th floor of a four star hotel, with spectacular views of the city, Café Bongo may not seem like the ideal backpacker hang out. But, the fact that drinks are two for one between 5.00 and 7.00pm nightly should encourage you to drop in for one or two.

• Witch's Tavern

  306/1 Sukhumvit 55, Bangkok, Thailand

  One of the many traditional British bars in the city, this one proves more popular than most thanks to live music every weekend. Also serves excellent food at a reasonable price.

• Sphinx Bar & Restaurant

  100 Silom Soi 4, Silom Road, Bangkok, Thailand

  Despite being referred to as the city’s first gay by its owners, Sphinx welcomes both a gay and straight clientele and is one of the most popular bars on this street. And that’s saying something as there are quite a few. Also has a terrace where you can soak up the atmosphere of the street.

• Tawandang German Brewery

  462/61 Rama III Road, Yannawa, Bangkok, Thailand

  A relatively new addition to the Bangkok pub scene, this place packs them in every night. With live music and a huge selection of international beers and microbrews, you won’t be disappointed.

• Calypso Cabaret

  Asia Hotel, 296 Phayathai Road, Bangkok, Thailand

  For a very different night out this is one you don’t want to miss. Featuring over fifty performers, the majority of whom are dressed in drag, it’s an excellent mix of singing, dancing and comedy. The place even has its very own version of the Spice Girls known as the Spice Gays. Well, we did tell you it was different.

• Q Bar

  Soi 11, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok, Thailand

  A relatively recent addition to the Bangkok night scene, the Q Bar attracts a lot of posers. Despite this, the large terrace upstairs, the music and the varied selection of beers and cocktails does attract visitors of the less slick variety.

• The Saxophone

  3/8 Victory Monument, Phrayathai Road, Bangkok, Thailand

  Consisting of two floors, with a pool table and a pretty relaxed atmosphere on the first and live music ranging from blues to rock with a livelier bar on the second floor. Offers the perfect blend for any thirsty traveller.

• Tapas Room

  114/117 Silom Soi 4, Silom Road, Bangkok, Thailand

  As the name probably suggests, this a Spanish theme bar with a relaxed atmosphere and excellent food and drink from the native land. Also has a number of tables outside where you can just sit back and watch Bangkok go by.

• CM2

  Novotel, Siam Square, Bangkok, Thailand

  One of ten different entertainment centers in the same venue, CM2 offers its clientele a dance floor where you can boogie to the sounds of either a live band or DJ depending on the night. Or if you’re so inclined, you can treat people to your very own talents in the karaoke bar.

• Lucifer

  Patpong 1, Silom Road, Bangkok, Thailand

  One of Bangkok’s most popular discos, Lucifer appeals largely to hard core techno fans but it also houses a really nice restaurant where the music is a little less loud and the atmosphere is too.

• Gazebo

  44 Th Jakrapong (rooftop), Banglamphu, Bangkok, Thailand

  Just around the corner from Gulliver's Travelers, Gazebo opens later than most places in Banglamphu. It's also the area's only Moroccan-style bar as here you can puff on shisha pipes while listening to DJs or live music.
  
  Open nightly from 8pm-late.