The BEST Places To Stay in Bangkok for Nightlife (2023)

Bangkok is a sprawling metropolis that comes alive at night with countless pubs, speakeasies, and clubs.  Whatever your mood, each district in Bangkok has its unique vibe attracting partygoers from around the city.  

Are you planning your next bar-hopping nightlife getaway to Bangkok? It can be a daunting task because of the sheer amount of nightlife entertainment on offer. This guide breaks down the best Bangkok nightlife areas to stay at with recommended hotels, bars, and clubs to help you plan your next adventure in the city that never sleeps.

Best places for nightlife:

Independence Bar in Bangkok

Thonglor

Thonglor is situated off Sukhumvit Road between Ekkami and Phrom Phong. It’s a trendy upscale neighborhood with plenty of choices for food, massage parlors, and beauty salons but when the sun goes down Thonglor turns into a lively entertainment district with its many pubs, swanky bars, and clubs.

A popular nightlife destination for locals and ex-pats looking to let loose on the weekends. Thonglor nightlife spots are dotted along the main road with the most lively nightlife areas in the district being Thonglor 17 and Thonglor 10.

Bar hopping is ideal in Thonglor because venues are close together, pavements are walkable (not the norm in Bangkok), and the main entertainment areas are a 20-minute walk from the BTS.

#FindTheLockerRoom

Speakeasy which is hidden within an actual locker room that serves specialty cocktails but only has occupancy for 35 people.

Vibe: Exclusive

Rabbit Hole

Classy craft cocktail bar in a nonbranded three-story building fitted with a plush interior and balconies overlooking the downstairs bar and DJ booth.

Vibe: Classy 

THE COMMONS

Modern eco-friendly community space with a mix of outdoor and indoor seating with plenty of choices for beers and wines. The main bar has a wide selection of beers from around the globe including Belgium Trappist.

Vibe: Chill and socialize

Beer Belly

Located within 72 Courtyard, Beer Belly offers a wide selection of beers, and live sports streaming, including a pool and pingpong table.

Vibe: Sports bar

Beam

Designed by the internationally acclaimed design studio Pentagram, Beam is a popular club in 72 Courtyard.  The club consists of a small bar on the bottom floor and a larger underground-themed club on the top floor with impressive sound, lighting, smoke machines, and lasers.

Music: Hip hop but some techno nights

Babyface Bangkok

Located on Ekkamai Road is EDM superclub Babyface which hosts both international and local dance DJs. Inside it’s an EDM clubber’s dream with an excellent sound system and VJ lighting setup.

Music: EDM

Thonglor nightlife map

Thonglor is one of the best areas to stay if you’re interested in parting with local Bangkokians. It’s also centrally located so during the day it’s easy to transit around the city via Bangkok’s mass transit system.

Asia Today Bar in Chinatown – “This bar is better than Teens of Thailand”

Chinatown (Soi Nana)

Soi Nana in Chinatown is known for some of the best cocktail bars in the city. The walking street with its unique historical Chinatown architecture comes alive at night with spanky bars and live music.  It’s a perfect nightlife spot if you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of central Bangkok and venture around lively alleys sampling the local cocktail scene.

Not to be confused with the controversial Soi Nana off Sukhumvit. Soi Nana in Chinatown is a unique nightlife experience with plenty of accommodation nearby to make the perfect nightlife getaway package.  It’s an excellent location if you want to avoid the Sukhumvit area and stay in a more traditional Asian setting.

Asia Today bar

Featured on the Netflix show Midnight Asia, Asia Today is a cozy honey-infused Thai cocktail bar with a giant shark wall hanging hidden in a small alleyway in Soi Nana.

Vibe: Hipster

TEP BAR – Cultural Bar of Thailand

Experience herbal cocktails, and local cuisine while listening to Thai traditional music at TEP BAR. 

Vibe: Traditional

Teens of Thailand

Teens of Thailand
Teens of Thailand

Famous Gin bar found hidden behind traditional wooden double doors in Soi Nana. Inside you’ll find a tiny bar with a concrete underground Berlin vibe serving Thai herbal Gin infused cocktails.

Vibe: Homely

Ba hao

Chinese-inspired bar and restaurant with red neon light throughout providing the perfect Asian speakeasy feel.

Vibe: Chinatown

Asia Today Bar – Cocktails

Khao San Road

Khao San road is located close to the Chao Phraya River and Democracy Monument northwest of Bangkok.  It’s globally known as a top nightlife destination, especially for backpackers.  Locals have started to venture to Khao San more frequently to sample the international lively party atmosphere and cheaper drinks.

The walking street of Khao San is dotted with massage parlors, tattooists, hostels, bars, and plenty of sights to leave you with a lasting impression of Bangkok’s nightlife. If crowds of tourists and local sellers fighting for your attention are not your thing then avoid Khao San and try another less crowded district like Thonglor.

You’ll find some of the best hostels in the city around Khao San with budgets to meet every traveler.

Ku Bar

A hidden cocktail bar found in a secret location in a derelict building in The Old Town Area serving various herb-based cocktails, equipped with a DJ vinyl booth on weekends.

Vibe: Underground speakeasy

Molly Bar

Live music and sports bar located directly on Ram Buttri Raod a few minute’s walk from Khao San.

Vibe: Live music pub

Mulligans Irish Bar

Popular Irish bar found directly on Khao San Road great location to start the night off or if you need a good pint.

Vibe: Pub

There Bar & Cafe

Cafe during the day, beer garden at night. There Bar & Cafe is tucked away from the hustle of Khao San fitted with outdoor seating surrounded by greenery.

Vibe: Beer garden

Sathorn

The business district of Sathorn is located in the south of the city close to Lumphini Park (the biggest park in Bangkok) just off Rama IV road.  It’s home to Bangkok’s luxury hotels, fine dining experiences, and fancy sky bars to watch the sunset go down.

Come 6 pm when business hours come to a close, bars and restaurants start to fill up with Sathorn residents and tourists soaking up the downtown atmosphere. Sathorn with its wide selection of bars is a great location for travelers looking for an upscale luxury nightlife experience.

Maggie Choo’s

Super prestigious Chinese-themed speakeasy with cabaret dancers located inside Novotel Bangkok on Silom Road.

Vibe: Chinese

Smalls

Located on Suan Phlu is Smalls a retro live jazz bar serving special cocktails as well as delicious pizzas.

Vibe: Jazz

Jam

Berlin-styled underground bar and cafe serving western dishes located within walking distance from BTS Surasak.

Vibe: Underground

Le Café des Stagiaires

French-styled cafe bar serving food, wines, and beer from around Europe with outdoor Parisian-style seating.

Vibe: French

Looking over other nighttime activities? check out my other article on the best things to do in Bangkok at night.

Summary

The Bangkok nightlife scene has something for every taste with its countless underground speakeasies, luxury cocktail bars, and superclubs.

The adventures type? Stay in and around Khao San and let your senses go into overdrive with the sights and sounds of the backpacker scene.

Want a quiet drink to wind down after visiting the local attractions? Find a hotel near Thonglor or Sathorn districts and sample the local cocktail scene.

Avoid the city altogether and stay in Chinatown to experience a more traditional Asian nightlife vibe.

Whatever your vibe Bangkok has you covered.

Looking for nightlife activities in Bangkok? Check my other articles:

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