Rot Fai Weekend Market

Rot Fai Weekend Market is a hip vintage market found in the outer Chatuchak area of Bangkok. A maze of retro market stalls which bring an Asian twist to nostalgia. Familiar but unfamiliar. Thai advertising art, games and toys, antiques. It gives a vision of a Thai yesteryear different to that of the West. Rot Fai Weekend Market is a great place to pick up unique Thai souvenirs a better alternative to the mass produced junk sold in the popular tourist areas of Bangkok. It also makes a great nightlife option with trendy bars, live music and eateries on site. For full blog on Rot Fai Weekend Market check here.

Rot Fai Weekend Market can be found near the popular Chatuchak Weekend Market (JJ Market). The easiest route is using the Bangkok Subway MRT exiting at Kamphaeng Phet (Exit 3). Cross the busy road then walk left. Follow the steady flow of hipsters en route to Rot Fai Weekend Market. The walk should take no more than 5 minutes.

Opening Hours: 17.00 – 01.00 Saturday and Sunday

Location: Chatuchak Area   –   BTS / MRT: Mo Chit / Kamphaeng Phet   –   Price: Budget

Sukhumvit 11 Nightlife

A favourite with tourists, expats and Bangkok’s trendy middle-class Sukhumvit 11 is central to entertainment and nightlife in the lively Sukhumvit area.

Many of Bangkok’s best clubs are found here including the famous Bed Supperclub, Nest Rooftop Bar (Le Fenix Hotel), Q-Bar and the new favourite Levels (Aloft Hotel). There are occasional organised club crawls with Bangkok’s cool crowd.

Hotels near the action include Aloft Hotel and Le Fenix on Sukhumvit 11. Sukhumvit 15 runs parallel with Citichic Boutique and the trendy Dream Hotel.

The Nana Skytrain station sits on the front of Sukhumvit 11 and is surrounded by hard sell stalls with tourist junk.

Location: Sukhumvit (Central)   –   BTS: Nana (Exit 3)   –   Price: Mid-Priced

Ratchada Soi 4 Complex

Overlooked by tourists and expats the large entertainment complex of Ratchada Soi 4 is the perfect place to party with a youthful Thai crowd. The area brings a mix of genre and nightlife with clubs having free entrance making easy for a pub /club crawl to find your niche.

Live Thai Bands with quirky surroundings at Snop, smoke shisha with hip-hop at Sote or take in a ladyboy Cabaret show at the nearby Hollywood Awards venue. Ratchada Soi 4 opens every night from 9ish. The weekend packs to the rafters. The bigger clubs at Ratchada Soi 4 (Zaleng, Sote) often host event nights with some of Thailand’s famous pop and rock bands.

The Ratchada Soi 4 complex is found a short taxi ride from the central Sukhumvit area or by the convenient Subway (MRT).

Location: Ratchada   –   MRT: Thailand Cultural Centre   –   Taxi: Ratchada Soi 4

Beer Vault

For visiting beer fanatics. At Beer Vault Bangkok you will find all local beer brands on the menu including the hard to find Phuket Beer and the popular Beer Lao (from Laos).

Beer Vault is also popular with the city’s expats with an extensive list of international beers and offerings of Belgian favourites of Hoegaarden and Leffe both sold as draught. The  menu is vast with obscure brews from both Europe, Asia and further afield. If you like beer you must pay a visit to Beer Vault Bangkok.

Free popcorn machine to play with and for rooftop drinks the Ambar Rooftop Bar is in the same building (Four Points Hotel by Sheraton). For further info check their website.

Location: Central Sukhumvit (soi 15)   –   BTS: Nana   –   Taxi: Sukhumvit 15 (Four Points Hotel)

Skytrain Jazz Club

Skytrain Jazz Club is an edgy alternative to Bangkok’s polished rooftop bars. With a location just outside of centre (Victory Monument) this uniquely Thai rooftop bar and restaurant is mostly overlooked by tourism. The food is authentic Thai, no fusion and plenty of heat. Cocktails are good and strong (180baht). Rarely play jazz.

The 5th floor balconies of Skytrain Jazz Club sit alongside the cities skytrain lines with views of passing trains and the nearby Victory Monument station. The graffitied entrance and stairways add to the restaurants urban setting. There is no lift so be prepared to walk.

Location: Rangnam Road (Phaya Thai Road corner)   –   BTS: Victory Monument   –   Price: Mid-Priced

Al Majlis Moroccan Tearoom

- Relocated to Asoke -

The relaxed and ambient Moroccan styled restaurant of Al Majlis is the perfect getaway from the busy streets of Asoke and Sukhumvit.

Under draped ceilings and flickering lanterns the central tea room is ideal for lounging around, nibbling on Moroccan couscous and Tangine. If looking for a more lively experience step out to the courtyards for a shisha pipe and some serious cocktails. For more info check their website.

Note: Al Majlis premises has moved from Ekamai to the more convenient Asoke Road (Oct ’12).

Location: Sukhumvit Soi 21 (soi Julin beside Q House)   –   BTS: Asoke   –   Price: Luxury

Sirocco and Sky Bar at Lebua

Sirocco and Sky Bar at Lebua is the world’s highest Al Fresco restaurant found on the 63rd floor of Bangkok’s State Tower building,  With some of the best views of the city and the Chao Phraya River the experience alone is becoming one of Bangkok’s top attractions featuring on many visitors’ ‘must do’ list.

As expected prices are high but the experience is unmatched. If you can’t afford to dine at Sirocco you can call in at Sky Bar to enjoy a cocktail with unforgettable views.

Sirocco and Sky Bar are found at the luxury Lebua Hotel. For reservations phone 0-2624-9555 or through their website.

Location: Silom (Lebua at State Tower)   –   BTS: Saphan Thaksin   –   Price: Luxury

Bed Supperclub

The concept, design and crowd of Bed Supperclub have made this cutting edge entertainment venue the coolest place to be in Bangkok.

Boasting state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems and regular sets from big name international DJ’s, the legendary  nightlife of Bed Supperclub is a must for the young and trendy party-goer.

The colourful futuristic tube of Bed Supperclub is found at the far end of Sukhumvit 11 Bangkok’s coolest street for nightlife and entertainment. For further info and events check their website.

Location: Central Sukhumvit (Soi 11)   –   BTS: Nana   –   Price: Mid-Priced

Royal City Avenue RCA

Royal City Avenue (RCA for short) is a designated entertainment zone lined with bars and nightclubs of different genres, all within a short walk of each other. With Royal City Avenue RCA you are guaranteed to find an exciting local crowd every night of the week and there is no worry of walking into an empty nightclub. Many bars don’t charge entrance fees so feel free to crawl around and find a bar which suits best.

The 2 most popular clubs in Royal City Avenue RCA are the student hangout of Route 66 and directly next door the more sophisticated and slightly more expensive Slim / Flix. Both these clubs have 3 zones; a hip-hop zone, house music zone and live Thai band music zone. Our recommendation is the live music zone where local Thai bands and artists perform some catchy Thai tunes.

Royal City Avenue is not near any of the central Skytrain or Subway route but isn’t far from centre. A 100 baht taxi ride finds RCA from most central area. Leaving the area expect taxis to ask a fixed charge.

Location: Royal City Avenue RCA   –   BTS / MRT: None   –   Price: Budget / Mid-Priced

Wine Connection Deli and Bistro

Wine Connection Bangkok goes against the grain of Bangkok’s over-priced wine bars by bringing an affordable, non-pretentious wine list and a youthful, white-collar crowd. Add in the generous selection of European treats and Draught Beer Selection and we’re onto a winner.

Note: Wine in Thailand is often double the price of wine in Europe. This includes New World wines. In many places red wine is served chilled so if you want room temperature it is safe to ask. With already overpriced wines and the pretentious stigma attached to Bangkok’s Wine Bars it is sometimes hard to walk away from the experience satisfied. Wine Connection Bangkok is one of the few exceptions.

For more info check the website. Wine Connection Bangkok locations include:

K Village: Central Sukhumvit (soi 26)   –   BTS: Phrom Phong

Rain Hill: Outer Sukhumvit (soi 47) Rain Hill   –   BTS: Thong Lor

Mille Malle: Central Sukhumvit (soi 20)   –   BTS/MRT: Asoke / Sukhumvit   –   Price: Budget