Chidlom - Ploenchit Nightlife

This area's well heeled mix of post-office suits, expat executives and hi-society Thais makes for a nightlife scene that falls firmly in the up-market bracket. Think high-class restaurants and lavish wine bars, with an atmosphere that matches. Don't come here if you're after the sensory bombardment found in the city's more frenetic areas – there is no night market, few street-cart vendors and certainly no dens of sin.

The lack of a buzzing scene is made up for by the odd, tucked-away nightlife nugget. Nearby Sarasin Road has a handful of bars, among them 70's Bar and Brown Sugar, one of Bangkok's top live jazz venues. There are also some fine hotel bars and lounges. The Diplomat Bar at Conrad Bangkok Hotel offers sublime jazz in elegant surrounds (dancing also at 87Plus!), while Syn Bar at Swissotel Nai Lert Hotel serves up intoxicating retro-future stylings and cocktails.

At the northern end of Ratchadamri Road, the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel has both Bar 494 and the well-known Italian restaurant Spasso, which at night morphs into a lively live music venue popular with Bangkok's affluent post-work crowd.

87+

Drawing a posh local crowd and catering to The Conrad's upscale guests, this is a suave spot for sipping on fine cosmopolitans poured by attentive staff while dancing the night away to polished international live bands. DJs also play quality house and commercial hip-hop. Dress code is smart casual. Between 20:00 - 22:00 everyday it's buy-one-get-one-free Happy Hour.

Opening Hours: 21:30 - 02:00
Location: Conrad Hotel, All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Road
BTS: Ploenchit
Tel: +66 (0)2 690 999

Bar @494

This cosy wine and champagne bar with garden ambiance is a great place to take your date. Choose from one of 30 plus wines by-the-glass or perhaps a rare whisky from the 'Whisky Priest'. Browse through Bangkok's widest selection of Cuban cigars at the Divan @494 or settle into a quiet corner for a light meal. The dress code is smart casual.

Opening Hours: 12:00 - 00:00
Location: Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, 494 Ratchadamri Rd, Ratchadamri

Brown Sugar : The JazzBoutique

Since 1985, Brown Sugar has been serving Bangkok's live music fans. Ranked as "one of the best bars of the world" by Newsweek (1997), Brown Sugar has never failed to give everybody a good time! After 26 years of great service, Brown Sugar has now moved from Sarasin Rd. to Phrasumen Rd. - a bigger home. Now called "Brown Sugar : The JazzBoutique" The club is open during the day as a restaurant and coffee house, and at night for nice cold beers with live music 7 days a week. Now with a brand new 200-seater space on its second floor to serve art exhibition, film screening, plays, poetry reading, private events/functions, performances and concerts, and all other art/music events beyond your imagination. The monthly "Brown Sugar Showcase" showcases live performances of International/touring acts every last Fri-Sat of the month at the PlayHouse. Expect great music in the house, upstairs and downstairs!

Opening Hours: 17:00-02:00 (live music from 21:30)
Location: 469 Phrasumen rd. Banglumpoo Bangkok, Thailand.
Tel: +668 9499 1378

Diplomat Bar

This elegant, upscale hotel bar in the heart of Bangkok's embassy district makes the perfect haunt for the passing ambassador, visiting dignitary or aspiring spy. Most evenings, however, it's a high-profile crowd comprised of wealthy businessmen, rich Thais and glitzy couples that fills its sprawling nooks and crannies. Beautifully lit, its soft silk couches, striking round bar and wood interiors make for a very classy cocktail ambiance - cool and contemporary. A jazz singer croons every night except Sundays. The cocktail and wine lists are suitably inspiring.

Opening Hours: 10:00 - 01:00
Location: The Conrad Hotel, 87 Wireless Road, Phatumwan
BTS: Ploenchit
Tel: +66 (0)2 690 9999

Glaz Bar

Housed inside the lobby of Plaza Athenee Hotel on Wireless Road, Glaz Bar is where chic and contemporary take centre stage. The interiors blend deep green marble floors, blue downlights and jet-black shiny surfaces. This is where classy can also be cool. A favourite haunt among the sophisticated, Glaz Bar boasts a creative selection of cocktails, Thai-inspired Tapas and snacks, accompanied by live jazz performances by international artists every night except Sundays.

Opening Hours: 11:00 - 02:00 (live music 09:00 - 01:00)
Location: Plaza Athenee Hotel on Wireless Road
MRT: Ploenchit

Spasso

The longest running hotel-disco in Bangkok continues to draw in the crowds, both during the week and on weekends. This is in large part due to the live band that is happy to serenade Spasso-goers with energetic performances of classic tunes and rock out till the early hours. There is no live music on Sunday so we advise a Saturday night to get the real ‘Spasso experience”.

Opening Hours: Live music begins from 22:00-02:00
Location: Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, 494 Ratchadamri Rd, Ratchadamri
BTS: Chidlom
Tel: +66 2 254 1234

Syn Bar

With its retro-future feel, Syn Bar is a perfect spot for those craving impressive faux-club style and sexy dance-beats. The white lights blinking through carpets, suspended bubble pod-chairs and space-age DJ booth, all ooze hi-tech appeal. The Swedish head-bartender conjures up heady Asian-inspired cocktails like Mangosteen Martini and Wasabi Mary. DJ's play an upbeat blend of house, funky house and soul house every night from 21:00 onwards. Happy hour is between 17:00 - 21:00, Mon-Fri.

Opening Hours: 10:00 - 01:00
Location: Nai Lert Park Swissotel, 2 Wireless Road, Pathumwan
BTS: Ploenchit
Tel: +66 2 253 0123

Siam and Ploenchit areas are better known for their extensive lineup of restaurants and shopping malls. Clubbing doesn't come to mind when it comes to nightlife in this part of town. But if you happened to be in the area, or would rather not wander far off from your hotel, then Siam Square is probably your best bet.

Concept CM2

More entertainment complex than club, this stylish modern basement beneath the Novotel Siam Square Hotel pulls in an eclectic mix of tourists and girls every night of the week. The sprawling main room is focussed around a stage, with a dance-floor and many raised tables and stools fringing it.

Here the all-singing, all-dancing All Star Band plays the latest R&B, hip-hop, dance, pop and rock hits (Thursday through to Tuesday). In between their energising sets, DJ's Bom, Kriss and Ex serve up similarly commercial sounds, pumping the latest house and dance tracks while also working up a frenzy with promo competitions and crowd-rousing banter. They also fly in international DJ's for special guest appearances (check our Club Nights section for weekly events schedule).

Those preferring to bump and grind can do so in the suitably moody Boom Room. Adjoining the main room, the latest hip-hop and R&B tracks are spun here. There's also a rather sexy looking new adjoining venue Bar@Siam, offering sleek, comfy furnishings alongside sports TVs, pool tables, air hockey, international food and pinball machines. There's an extensive drinks menu offered throughout, with cocktails, wines, spirits, beers, even champagne available. Service throughout is quick and friendly with bars at each end and plenty of table waiters roaming the floor.

Opening Hours: 21:00 - 02:00
Location: Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, Siam Square
BTS: Siam
Tel: +66 (0)2 209 8888

Party House One – Siam at Siam Design Hotel

This well-rounded club in Siam at Siam Design Hotel has got all the elements for a blasting good time. Polished concrete floors, exposed beams and sleek, glass bar form the backdrop, while live gigs and theme nights spice up the fun. Sink into a comfortable leather sofa or a funky designer chair and lose yourself to the rhythm of chill, dance, retro, jazz, reggae, or disco, depending on the evening. The kitchen serves up finger-licking good grilled Australian lamb chops, burgers, steaks and a selection of Thai and multinational finger food. Drinks focus around but not limited to cocktails, wines and beers.

Opening Hours: 18:00-22:00
Location: Ground Floor, Siam at Siam Design Hotel, Rama I Road
BTS: National Stadium
Tel: +66 (0)2 217 3000