Sukhumvit's nightlife is exciting, ever-evolving, cosmopolitan and can be reduced to three main hedonistic pursuits: drinking, dancing and debauchery.
Drinking
Along it, and its many adjoining sois, are countless pubs and bars, many of them very popular with expats and tourists. Most are either American-style bars or European watering holes, with the selection of draught beers and foods on sale usually reflecting the adopted theme (and more often than not the nationality of the owner).
They usually close between midnight and 01:00, and many have live music and pool tables. See our Bangkok Pubs and Bars section for details. The perfect prelude to a big night out, many hotels here have upscale bars perfect for warm-up cocktails. These include the Westin Grande, Dream and Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit.
Dancing
Clubbers flock to Sukhumvit's sois. Hip beats, architectural flair and good-looking international crowds converge at clubs like Bed Supperclub (Soi 11), Q Bar (Soi 11) and Glow among others. To match the world-class venue design they often fly in top DJ'ing talent.
Those eager to see how the fresh-faced Thai nouveau riche like to get down, should head a little further out to the voguish sois of Thonglor (Soi 55) and Ekkamai (Soi 63). These neighborhoods have seen a severe outbreak of hip in recent years, with clubs and bars like Santika, Escobar and Ice jumping every night to hip-hop and Thai hits.
Click here for a comprehensive listing of Sukhumvit's Clubs
Debauchery
Sukhumvit is also notorious for being home to more than its fair share of girls, but not the kind you'd rush home to meet mother (do we need to spell it out?). Nana Plaza (Soi 4) is a tatty three-floor sex-mall filled with go-go bars and girls, ladyboys and the odd midget. Neon-lit lane, Soi Cowboy (off Soi 21, BTS Asok), is similar but a little more laid-back.
On top of the pole-sliding antics of the go-go bars, Sukhumvit is also home to many beer-bars, like Soi 4's Big Dogs and Hilary Bar II. These rather rundown looking establishments, typically contain little more than a pool table, a gaggle of girls, and an arsenal of cheap alcohol. Like Soi 4, Soi 22 is home to a staggering amount of them, while Soi 33 has many upscale hostess lounges staffed by girls dressed in long flowing ballgowns. However, the end game is still the same. Massage parlours and the odd after-hours joint can also be found scattered around Sukhumvit.
Learn more about Sukhumvit: Where to Stay, List of Sukhumvit Hotels, What to See and Do, Shopping, Where to Eat, Getting Around
Learn More about Nightlife Areas: Siam Square, Chidlom-Ploenchit, Ratchada and RCA, Khao San Road, Silom |
