Authentic Brit pubs, hip haunts strictly for cool kids and upscale hotel bars. Sukhumvit truly has it all. Venues include Bully's Bar, Bus Stop, Cheap Charlie's, Flava Lounge, Song Saleung, The Bull's Head, The Dubliner and Witch's Tavern.
Sukhumvit Bars
Bully's Bar
Open: 11:30 - 01:30
Location: Near Nana BTS station, between Sukhumvit Soi 2 & 4
Contact: +66 (0)2 656 4609
Skytrain: Nana
Want to retreat from the heat? Here's the right place, though a bit pricey compared to other bars around the area. If you don't mind the pocket burn, it's a good spot to escape the outside heat for a cool drink. A sports bar type place, Bully's features several TV screens and four pool tables. Their menu offers a good range of meals too, including both popular western and Thai dishes. There are a few pool hostesses floating around but they'll leave you alone unless you are up for a game. Unlike many other places in the area, it's closed up and they have the air-con on all the time. The perfect place to recharge your batteries.
Bus Stop
Open: 17:00 - 01:00
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 4, Just up the road from Nana Plaza
Contact: +66 (0)2 251 9222
Skytrain: Nana
A relatively quiet place on Sukhumvit Soi 4. This semi-open bar and garden is an escape from the blatant sex trade elsewhere on the soi. Although it does have its share of bar girls, they are not very aggressive in their sales techniques and are quite happy just to chat (if buy a drink). Some of the city's hippest and trendiest clubs are found around Sukhumvit Road.
Cheap Charlies
Open: 16:30 - 01:00 except Sunday
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 11
Contact: +66 (0)2 253 4648
Skytrain: Nana
Where in lower Sukhumvit can you drink for a pittance and meet interesting, unsleazy farang? The answer is not some haughty hotel lounge, nor some austere restaurant, but this 20-something Bangkok institution - little more than a wooden shack and a few stools that spill across the street. Every night, a convivial blend of expats and clubbers swarm here to dose up on beers before heading somewhere pricier (at 60 baht a bottle Cheap Charlie's delivers on its name). A definite contender for Bangkok's most bizarre drinking hole, be sure to check out the oddities accumulated over the years - animal skulls, tribal masks and other strange curios (the toilet bares a classic sign: 'no shitting'). Tucked away down a narrow, predominantly residential soi, remember also to be a gent and stand aside for passing cars.
Flava Lounge, Dream Hotel
Location: Dream Hotel, 10 Sukhumvit Soi 15, Klongtoey
Contact: +66 (0)2 254 8500
Skytrain: Nana
Integrated with the Dream Hotel's Flava restaurant, this indulgent bar-cum-lounge was designed to match the all-out surrealism and flair of one of Bangkok's newest boutique hotels. Pulling off the 'cocktail of flavour, theme and services' are warm tonal stripes, plush furnishings, superlative cocktails and the 'Perdomo' Cigar bar-in-bar, serving some of the world's finest for you to puff on.
For Hor Gor Dor
Open: 18:00 - 01:00 (Sunday - Wednesday); 23:00 - 01:00 (Thursday - Saturday)
Location: Sukhumvit 63 Soi 4
Contact: +66 (0)2 391 1326
Skytrain: Ekamai
The name may sound a bit intimidating, but once inside you'll discover a pleasant and mainly white bar and lounge area. Enjoy your drink to the live piano tunes daily from 20:00 - 22:30. Wednesdays have live pop acts.
Song Saleung
Location: 387/23-24 Soi Thonglor 21, Sukhumvit 55
Contact: +66 (0)2 712 9118
What an adventure this unruly live music bar is. After weaving past security and the snazzy al fresco area, we could barely move for the young, affluent throng. Finding a table, and keeping it, was a mission; as was dodging the toes of fellow patrons as we squeezed our way to the toilet or attempted a dance. Persevere though, because you may well be rewarded: girls with a barrage of hot guys wanting to top up your glass; guys, with a flurry of phone-numbers from cute girls wanting help with their English. Just be careful you don't step on anyone's toes!
Zanzibar
Open: 17:30 - 01:00
Location: 139 Sukhumvit 11
Contact: +66 (0)2 651 2700
Skytrain: Nana
Located in the grounds of a converted Thai house, this restaurant has a spacious, softly lit terraced garden, with live jazz in the evenings creating a classy kind of buzz. Lounge out on the comfy couches or shake it on the floor later in the evening. The menu features Italian and Thai dishes - not cheap though.
Zest Piano Bar
Open: 07:00 - 02:00
Location: Westin Grande Sukhumvit Hotel, 259 Sukhumvit Road
Contact: +66 (0)2 207 8000
Skytrain: BTS Asok
A hotel piano bar of considerable élan, Zest is great for warm-up cocktails before hitting lower Sukhumvit. A vibrant bar changes colours, svelte waitresses deliver impeccably crafted martinis, and customers drown in plush contemporary furnishings. A piano twinkles soothingly in the background. Cocooned from the chaos outside, a salubrious, sophisticated and, frankly, sane choice.
Sukhumvit Pubs
The Black Swan
Open: 9:00 - 01:00
Location: 326/8-9 Sukhumvit Road, under Asoke skytrain station
Contact: +66 (0)2 229 4542
Skytrain: Asok
Cosy little British-style pub with its own fire place. Wood-panelled walls, great pub grub and wide range of imported beers. It oozes authenticity, right down to the pub sign above the door.
The Bull's Head
Open: 11:30 - 01:00
Location: Sukhumvit 33/1
Contact: +66 (0)2 259 4444
Skytrain: Phrom Pong
A favourite with tourists and expats alike, the 'Bull's Head' offers a genuine taste of Britain right in the heart of Bangkok. Famous for its Sunday lunch, its menu has a solid range of British food alongside a good selection of Thai dishes.
The Dubliner
Open: 22:30 - 01:00
Location: Between Sukhumvit Soi 22 & 24
Contact: +66 (0)2 204 1841-2
Skytrain: Phrom Pong
Has everything you expect to find in a pub, the usual food and drinks, pool table, dart board. Live music Friday 21:00 - 00:30 and Sunday 14:00 - 17:00
The Londoner
Open: 11:00 - 01:00
Location: Sukhumvit 33
Contact: +66 (0)2 261 0238-40
Skytrain: Phrom Pong
Located in the basement of the UBC1 Building on the corner of Sukhumvit 33, The Londoner is styled on a British pub. Fair menu and the usual local beers available plus their own 'in house' brewed beer. Happy hours daily from 16:00 - 19:00 and 23:00 - 01:00. Also features satellite TV and big screen for the important sporting events.
The Robin Hood
Open: 11:00 - 01:00
Location: Sukhumvit 33/1
Skytrain: Phrom Pong
Another popular two-storey pub located opposite of the Emporium. Friendly staff and food is offered at a resaonable price.
The Winking Frog
Open: 9:00 - 01:00
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 7
Contact: +66 (0)2 254 2890
Skytrain: Nana
British pub with a pool table and big screen TV. Serves English breakfast all day and offers a number of imported beers as well as local drafts. Live music every Friday. Happy hour from 14:00 - 19:00.
Huntsman Pub
Open: 11:30 - 02:00. Music from 21:00
Location: Landmark Hotel basement, between Sukhumvit Soi 4 & 6
Skytrain: Nana
Good resident bands plays favourites and when the band isn't playing, the central bar makes a good meeting point. Menu largely good pub grub.
Bourbon Street
Open: 7:00 - 01:00. Music from 20:00
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 22, Washington Square
Contact: +66 (0)2 259 0328-9
Arguably the most well-known American Bar in town, Bournon Street is known for its gumbo and New Orleans/Cajun/Creole food plus live music. Brunch buffet is available.
Witch's Tavern
Open: 11:30 - 02:00
Location: 306/1 Sukhumvit 55 (Soi Tong Lor)
Skytrain: Tong Lor
Contact: +66 (0)2 391 9791
Located within a short walking distance from the BTS station, this upscale pub offers a mix of Thai and Western food, particulary British dishes. Live music every night. Wednesday is Lady's Night with free drinks from 18:00 - 23:00. Happy hours 17:30 - 21:30 with 30% discount.
Gulliver's Traveler's Tavern
Open: 11:00 - 01:00
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 5
Skytrain: Nana
Contact: +66 (0)2 655 5340-2
Lively pub with another branch on Kaosan Road. Popular among expatriates, locals and travellers alike. Casual and laid-back atmosphere. Happy hours from 17:00 - 20:00 and 23:00 - 02:00.
The Chequers Bar
Open: 9:00 - 1:00
Location: 5/11 Sukhumvit Soi 4
Contact: +66 (0)2 255 3993
Skytrain: Nana
Chequers is a small place housed in a two-storey building. Upstairs comprises of a restaurant, while the downstairs area is geared towards people interested in enjoying drinks. When major football matches are screened upstairs, Chequers' upstairs area turns into a very lively spot, packed with lots of cheerful people. Its menu offers excellent traditional British food.
No comments:
Post a Comment