Rather go to a restaurant? Here's our pick of the top standalone places for your Sunday brunch.

Colonnade

The deal: B2,700 with a cocktail.

The selection: The standouts are the cheese, charcuterie, homemade pasta, braised ox tail and wagyu prime ribs. But Kerry Hill’s architecture paired with Ed Tuttle‘s interiors ain’t bad either.

Who is it for: Those who have a luxurious brunch in mind—good food and great service.

The Sukhothai Bangkok, Sathorn Rd., 02-344-8888. Brunch on Sun 12-3pm

Europa Brasserie

The deal: From B2,950 with soft drinks.

The selection: Good quality fare, from very fresh seafood to a la minute orders like Australian beef tenderloin Rossini, dover sole with wild rice and lamb chop with black olives, vine tomato and rosemary.

Who is it for: Those who want a quieter brunch chilling by the pool.

Siam Kempinski, Rama 1 Rd., 02-162-9000. Brunch on Sun 12-2pm

Up & Above

The deal: From B2,100 with soft drinks, B2,800 for free-flow cocktails, wines and beers or B3,500 with all drinks (two people get one bottle of Champagne, too). 

The selection: Although they come under the umbrella of a very Japanese hotel, Up & Above serves up a fairly standard international buffet. As is becoming increasingly trendy, there are also mains you can order from the kitchen, including the likes of Maine lobster roasted with hollandaise butter sauce and served with ink pasta and 150-day tenderloin steak.

Who is it for: Those with deep pockets and large appetites, who want it all.

Okura Prestige Hotel, 57 Wireless Rd., 02-687-9000. BTS Phloen Chit. Brunch every Sun 12-3pm

China House

The deal: From B980 with soft drinks. The selection includes a small buffet and an all-you-can-eat a la carte menu.

The selection: Many dishes are prepared a la minute and served at your table, ranging from steamed scallop and minced shrimp dumplings wrapped in spinach wheat dough to Teochew-style steamed crystal dumplings with peanuts. Mains are equally ambitious, with dishes like minced duck in shacha paste wrapped in salted egg and dough and our faves, suckling pig, moo daeng (honey glazed pork slices) and tung po steamed pork belly—totally scrumptious. 

Who is it for: Those who are ready to trade in the variety and casual vibe of a big buffet brunch for some Shanghai chic.

Mandarin Oriental, 48 Oriental Ave., 02-659-9000. Brunch every Sun 11:30am-2:30pm

Glow

The deal: B780 with soft drinks. The selection: Compact buffet line and made-to-order dishes, including selected signatures taken from sister hotels and resorts in the COMO Group around the world. The brunch also boasts hangover cures in the form of cocktails like the Kafé-Maria (tia maria, frangelico and vanilla ice cream, B280).

Who is it for: Those who want something a bit healthier and without all the fuss.

Metropolitan Bangkok, South Sathorn Rd., 02-625-3366. Brunch on Sun 10am-2pm

Tables

The deal: B1,600 with free-flow soft drinks or B1,980 with free-flow wine.

The selection: The concept here is all about chefs sauntering over to your table to add the final touches to your beef Bourguignon, risotto with black truffles or stir-fried scallops with garlic. Key ingredients stay on but recipes rotate, so that means lobster thermidor one week and a lobster salad the next. There is a buffet, with a serious seafood station while desserts have their own room, so that there’s a slight Charlie and the Chocolate Factory effect when you step on in.

The vibe: Tables has this darker, Southern European meets gentlemen’s club vibe that doesn’t exactly feel like a fresh Sunday morning—but it’s definitely elegant.

2/F, Grand Hyatt Erawan, 494 Ploenchit Rd., 02-254-1234. BTS Chit Lom. www.bangkok.grandhyatt.com. Brunch every Sun noon-2:30pm

Trader Vic’s

The deal: B1,650 or B2,585 with free-flow booze.

The selection: Besides the standard options, there are some tasty Thai favorites, due to having the big Thai chef Chumpol Jangprai in the house and an impressively well-stocked walk-in cheese room.

Who is it for: Dates, families and middle-aged couples after some riverside relaxation. 

Anantara Riverside, 257 Charoennakorn Rd., 02-476-0022. Brunch on Sun 11:30am-3pm

Four Seasons

The deal: B3,473 with free-flow brooze and soft drinks

The selection: Dishes drawn from Shintaro, Madison, Biscotti and Spice Market.

Who is it for: Due to the top-drawer restaurants, you can expect serious foodies, well-moneyed families and expats.

155 Rajadamri Rd., 02-126-8866. Brunch on Sun11:30am-3pm

Sunday Jazz Brunch

The deal: B2,200 or B3,090 with free-flow beers, wine and cocktails.

The selection: International selections ranging from seafood to sushi and Indian curries. 

Who is it for: Those who don’t mind a long buffet line with jazz music as a background. 

Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, 250 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-649-8888. Brunch on Sun 12-3pm 

Rather go to a hotel brunch? Here's our pick of the best all-you-can-eat buffets for your Sunday.

Crepes & Co.

Despite having to move to a new venue last year, this restaurant retained its colonial allure by taking up residence in a charming white house on Langsuan. Great service and a nice garden only add to the appeal. When it comes to the food, in addition to the array of sweet and savory crepes (B140-B555), the frequent Greek and Moroccan promotions keep things interesting.

59/4 Langsuan Soi 1, 02-652-0208. Open Mon-Sat 9am-11pm; Sun 8am-11pm

Smith 

With its focus on local produce, emphasizing nose-totail-eating, Smith’s brunch menu covers a fair bit of ground: pork rillette, eggs benedict served with pork belly, haggis and blood sausage, as well as pasta dishes. It’s particularly homey fare and fantastic for the price (B950). Top up your Sunday with some free-flow booze (B485) as you kick back in the achingly fashionable industrial chic setting.

1/8 Sukhumvit Soi 49, 02-261-0515-6. Brunch on Sat-Sun 11am-3pm

Gastro 1/6

The outdoor cafe at the RMA Institute is not only an idyllic, overgrown hangout but also a great place to get a straight-up brunch the way you may have had it on Sunday mornings in New York. A special treat is the Spanish tortilla with Iberico ham, a fluffy, creamy baked omelet topped with thin slices of salty, chewy ham. We also love how they handle their poached eggs: fat and fluffy on the outside and just starting to thicken on the inside. Sample them in their priceybut-good poached eggs with asparagus and truffle oil (B320).

RMA Institute, 238 Soi Sai Namthip 2, Sukhumvit Soi 22. Open daily Tue-Sun 10am-3pm 

Chu

Chu’s Chef Chirayu na Ranong has just expanded the popular café’s original venue while sticking to the same fuss-free casual tone of old. The menu, too, has been expanded. While most of our favorites remain—from the French toast (B250) to the rich brownies (B65-70) and succulent hot chocolate (made with 58% pure cacao, B120)—there are also some new dishes, like scrambled eggs with cherry tomato salsa and Joe Sloane’s chorizo (B250) . And the great thing is the place welcomes breakfast lovers all day, every day.

2/F, Exchange Tower, 388 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-663-4554. BTS Asoke. Open daily 8am-7pm (subject to change)

Hyde & Seek

This boozy nighttime hangout famed for its cocktails and big dinners also does brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, bringing their playful and  calorieunconscious formula to traditional egg dishes. They do classics like eggs benedict, except their version comes with lobster hollandaise sauce and caramelized bacon (B250). Also exciting is the brioche French toast (B240), which comes with thick cut bacon (another rarity) and proper maple syrup. (The difference from honey is pretty earth-shattering.) We also love that they do carafes of breakfast booze like sangria (B200) and bellinis (B380). 

1/F, Athenee Residence, Soi Ruam Rudee, 02-168-5152. Serves breakfast Sat 11am-6pm; Sun 11-1am 

Chesa

Located in a standalone house at the end of a quiet, leafy alley, Chesa isn’t particularly fancy but it is homey, rustic and warm, with the chef and manager making regular appearances. The deal, B1,350, is for the all-you-can-eat a la carte menu (B1,980 with free-flow wines and bloody marys) and you can sample many dishes thanks to the tapas-sized servings they bring to your table. Make sure to try the capuns dumpling (dried meat with lettuce) and raclette.

5 Sukhumvit Soi 20, 02-261-6650. www.chesaswiss.com. Brunch every Sun 11am-3pm 

Rocket

One of the new breed of chill café-cum-brunch spots popping up all over town, Rocket certainly fits the bill with its charming location down a quiet but up-and-coming soi, its preponderance of wood and a simple menu of salads, sandwiches, soup, fresh baked pastries and quality coffee. The focus here is squarely on artisanal products and brunchstyle dishes. Salads include the beetroot, with goat cheese and rocket (B165), while sandwiches cover simple but tasty combinations like salami-cheese on homemade focaccia (B175) and gravlax on Danish rye (B175). There are also lighter breakfast options, from omelettes (B120) and eggs benedict (B185) to house made granola served with yoghurt (B110).

149 Sathorn Tai Soi 12, 02-635-0404. www.rocketcoffeebar.com. Open Tue-Sun 7am-7pm

Café Tartine

We tend to visit Café Tartine for their French sandwiches made with great crusty baguettes and simple but high quality ingredients. As if we need any further excuse to visit, their weekend brunch provides it. Expect classics like eggs benedict (B220) and crepes (B160-180), while you simply must end your meal with the chocolate pumpkin tart (B100)—delicious.

Athenee Residence, Soi Ruam Rudee, 02-168-5464. BTS Phloen Chit. Open daily 8am-8pm

Garden of Dream

Located on the top floor of Opposite Mess Hall, Garden of Dream is a welcome spot in which to brunch, with its bare cement meets tropical garden kind of ambience. It’s a long way up the stairs, but once you’re there, you can relax for hours by their plentiful windows while chowing on dishes like scrambled eggs with smoked salmon (B195). Heartier options include macaroni and cheese with bacon (B300) and mushroom risotto topped with baked ribs (B250).

4/F, Opposite, Sukhumvit Soi 51, 02-662-5057. Open Mon-Tue, Thu-Sat 5-10pm; Sun 11am-8pm 

Roast

It’s well known that Roast whips up excellent artisanal coffee, which they roast by themselves at their new home, Coffee Roasting, and even distribute to many other cafés. But what makes them even more popular are their breakfast dishes including standard but succulent items from waffle and strawberries (B240) and eggs benedict (B240). They also have a pairing menu for coffee and dessert—order a cup of Brazil French press coffee served with a brownie (B550 for two). 

Seenspace, Thonglor Soi 13, 02-185-2865. www.roastbkk.com. Open Mon-Thu 10am-11pm; Fri-Sat 9am-11pm; Sun 9am-10pm.

Simple

With its warm brick and redwood interior, this newly opened organic grocers-slash-café-slash-restaurant claims to offer up the best produce sourced from local farmers. That means you can expect everything from brown rice and pure coconut oil to freshlybaked pain au chocolat (B75) and frittata (Italian omelet, B250). As for brunch, your options span eggs benedict (B260) to homemade granola with yoghurt and seasonal fruits (B180). The welcoming staff will also give you the lowdown on what goes into their products, where they come from, how they are made and what’s good on the menu. 

235/5 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-662-2510. Open Tue-Fri 9am-8pm; Sat-Sun 7am-8pm.

Napa on 26

Napa tends to attract either groups planning on maxing out on the free-flow, or savvy couples who realize that this is a sit-down brunch experience that’s pretty close to a fine-dining one. Besides the small buffet line (which has an excellent choice of French cheeses), the mains, served at your table, are actually where Napa shines. These range from a light pan-seared sea bass on capsicum and coriander sauce to the comforting braised lamb shank with mushrooms and mashed potatoes. The pleasurable experience comes with a plesant price tag of B950 or B1,500 with free-flow wines or B2,500 with a premium wine selection.

2/F, Nihonmachi, 115 Sukhumvit Soi 26. 02-258-2622. www.napaon26.com. Brunch every Sun 11:30am-2pm 

Brooklyn Baker

Perhaps more than anywhere, we feel really welcome here thanks to the friendly staff. Seat yourself in the relaxing small garden and nosh on comforting fare like egg rothko (egg-stuffed cheese toast with bacon, sausage and salsa, B240), buttermilk pancakes (B220) and French toast (B215). Order some coffee (from B50), Twist juice (B100) or strawberry lassi (B100) and settle in for the long-haul. 

51/7 Soi Polo (between Soi 2 and 3), Wireless Rd., 081-855-7090. Open daily Mon-Sun 10am-7pm

Tribeca Restobar

The new Tribeca, owned by siblings Rishi and Shareen Arora, dishes out American-influenced cuisine with an all-day brunch focus in a fancy New York-inspired setting. Tribeca’s food is to the point—as egg-y and bacon-y as it can get. Climb up themini-spiral staircase to a more relaxed mezzanine benches, which in turn leads onto a small outdoor terrace hidden at the back of the restaurant before ordering up the pancakes with sous-vide poached eggs, maple glazed pork belly and Hollandaise sauce (B195), carbonara with confit belly (B295), tiger prawn with tagliatelle (B380) and huevos rancheros (chorizo rice, chili con carne, guacamole, tortilla and eggs, B220). Top it all off with the all-you-can-drink mimosas, bellinis and bloody marys at B499.

Nihonmura Mall, Thonglor Soi 13, 02-712-9209. Open Tue-Sun 9am-midnight

Sep 10, 8pm. A Single Man (USA, 2009): Directed by former Gucci designer, Tom Ford; the story of George who finds it difficult to carry on with his life following his boyfriend’s sudden death.

Sep 11, 8pm. Blancanieves (Spain, 2012): A black and white silent film set in the 1920s; in a twist on the Snow White fairytale, a female bullfighter must deal with her troupe of dwarfs and an evil stepmother.

Sep 12, 8pm. I Am Love (Italy, 2009): A tragic love story set in Milan at the turn of the millennium that follows the fall of a wealthy family at the hands of a passionate love affair. Featuring costumes designed by renowned Belgian designer Raf Simons.

Sep 13, 8pm. L’Amour Fou (France, 2010): Documentary about the relationship between one of fashion’s greatest names, Yves Saint-Laurent, and his partner, Pierre Bergé.

Sep 14, 2pm. Face (Taiwan-France, 2009): Directed by Ming-liang Tsai, who travels to the Louvre in Paris to shoot a film that explores the myth of Salomé.

Sep 14, 5pm. Color Me Love (China, 2010): A small-town girl lands a job in a leading fashion magazine as an entry level editor but must deal with a spiteful boss and the ups and downs of a love affair with a painter.

Sep 14, 7.30pm. Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky (France, 2009): A film depicting two creative giants in an intense love affair during the year the signature Chanel No.5 was released.

Sep 15, 3pm. Heartbeats (Canada, 2010): Two friends, a gay man and a straight woman, fall for the same man, putting their friendship on the line.

Sep 15, 8pm. Farewell My Queen (France, 2010): Set in the final days before the French Revolution, this film portrays the special relationship between Queen Marie Antoinette and one of her ladies-in-waiting.

1980s

The Palace

(corner of Viphavi Rangsit)

“Names like Diana, The Bubble and The Flamingo flourished during the turn of the decade (70s-80s). This was the very last leg of the elegant era as these were probably the last batch of discotheques located on hotel premises—Diana at The Oriental, Bubble at the Dusit Thani and The Flamingo at The Ambassador. You knew the drill, you had to be decked out, not only to be seen, but to be allowed in. DJs and live local bands took turns, Rick James’ “Super Freak” blasting, the seating (armchairs and sofas) comfortable, and the waitresses—in long side-slit burgundy dresses. If memory serves correctly, Diana was the first in Thailand to employ laser lights. Dancing still took place on the dance floor. Bangkok nightlife was courteous and dashing. Then came The Palace in the early 80s, when everything changed. Discotheques or clubs became independent of the hospitality business and so the grace and charm and style and taste disappeared.”
–Pahd Pasiigon, author

Nasa

(Ratchada)

Back before the new age restrictions were imposed by the government, the majority of clubbers were aged under 20. But NASA was designed to provide late-night entertainment for the 20-something crowd. The venue’s design took its cues from the space race to which it owed its name: a huge hangar complete with smoke machines, flashing lights and a sound system blasting dance hits. It was capable of packing in some 4,000 partiers a night.

1990s

Narcissus

(Sukhumvit 23)

“Back in my day, the name Narcissus was synonymous with extravagance. Not only was the place heavily inspired by classic Roman architecture—very rare in Bangkok—but their light and sound systems were top of the line. We would usually party somewhere like Deeper first and then head to Narcissus to continue through to 6am in the morning. It was not only partiers like us who would head there from Deeper—the DJs would hop venues, too. ”
– Jakkapat Wongsopa, owner of 2W Café & Hostel Phuket

Taurus

(Sukhumvit Soi 26)

“Located on Sukhumvit Soi 26, to me Taurus was like an old version of Bed Supperclub. The bar consisted of three zones—a live band doing jazz (the diva Maleewan Jemina was the resident singer), a restaurant and a club zone in the middle where DJs spun dance tunes not really like the electro of today. It’s always funny when people complain about expensive drinks today, as when you look back to Taurus’s era, it cost you B3,000 to open a bottle of whiskey with a group of five people maximum. Mixers were B100, too, which is very expensive.”
–Nathan Patcharinsak, freelancer

Rome Club

(Silom Soi 4)

“In 1992, my dad sent me to Bangkok to get in touch with our Thai roots (on my mother’s side) and after enjoying Bangkok’s favorite pastime during the day, shopping, me and my sisters found ourselves at Silom Soi 4 almost every other night. The jam-packed streets and clubs were interspersed with other luk kruengs as well, some of which remain our friends to this day. There seemed to be no age limit and we often met wild 15 year olds. I wish we could reconnect with some of these old friends today. One of my favorite places was Rome Club. It was located at the end of the soi and was always busy from weekday to weekend and had the best music for dancing. As I love to dance, I found myself dragging my sister or any friends onto the stage while videos played behind us on the wall.”
–Katherina Leili Dreith, consult at Omroom

Deeper

(Silom Soi 4)

“Deeper was one of the first clubs for underground raves. It was a very important spot to be seen for the raving subculture and till today a lot of us who partied there still remain great friends. I’m proud to say I witnessed and was a part of the Thai rave scene’s first generation after a group of my friends came back from the US. They brought raving back with them and it continues to grow now.”
–Yung San, PR at Long Table

Lucifer’s

(Soi Patpong)

“The popular Lucifer statue in the front would welcome you to the hell-like decor inside: a cave-like club where everything looked melted by hellish fire. It was one of the first clubs (opened in 1998) to play techno trance and close late (5am).”
–Jeffrey Columbres, manager of Bash
 

1999

Song Salueng 

(Thonglor Soi 21)

“It opened in the early 2000s under the name Escudo, but changed a few years later to Song Saleung. Escudo then became a pure hip-hop club a little further down the street. Few places on Thong Lor and Bangkok have ever been so popular. Even on a Monday night, you had to get there before 10pm to get a table. On weekends, just forget about it! The parade of eye candy was outstanding night after night. Never seen anything better throughout the whole of Asia. One of the little princesses used to party there with her friends on the second floor, always followed by a bunch of pumped-up bodyguards. A night to remember was Black Label’s wild Christmas party in 2007. After renovations, when it was closed for almost a year, the crowd never really came back. Funky had taken over.”
–Johan Hammar, project coordinator

Club  Culture

(Phaya Thai Road)

“Club Culture was epic. The owner came up with the idea of doing a uni night every Wednesday, allowing students to host their own parties. This was the beginning of the indie-rock/underground scene. At a time when every place seemed to be about trance and hip hop, Club Culture was the only venue offering diversity and it spawned many party collectives like Dudesweet, Club Soma and Happy Alone. On top of that, the owner started bringing in international DJs and launched the Culture One International Dance Music Festival. Café Democ and Club Culture were quite similar, with Café Democ set in a unique and charming location around the corner of Ratchadamnoen Road.”
– Som Tum, co-founder of the Goodcat collective

2001

Ministry of Sound

(Sukhumvit Soi 12)

“Ministry of Sound was absolutely massive. The second floor was VIP and you could look down on the dance floor. They came into Thailand with this ‘We invented clubbing, we know what we’re doing’ attitude, ignoring the locals. Huge dancefloor, no tables on it—completely alien for Thais. No one used the dancefloor except when huge DJs like Paul Oakenfold or DJ the Housecat came in. The huge events were fantastic.  I saw Oakenfold, this very famous DJ, and he was just standing on stage with his hands in the air. A press-play DJ—none of his equipment looked like it was plugged in. He was signing autographs, hugging girls, not really DJing. It was ridiculous. The place lasted one year and one month. It’s a massage parlor now.”

– Matt Hammond, marketing and PR director at Q Bar

2002

Café Democ

(corner of Democracy Monument, now moved to Silom Plaza Building)

“Deeper on Silom Soi 4 was the very first place that got me into electronic music—it was the first rave bar in Bangkok where no one cared about social status, just came to have fun. Then there was Café Democ in 1999. The original Café Democ was really genuine, from the venue’s charming old architecture to its everything-goes music policy taking in hip hop, drum n’ bass and trance. People simply came for the music—I think no one creates such a vibe anymore.”
– Mongkorn Timkul, aka DJ Dragon

Social Order Kicks Off:  
As part of his Social Order campaign, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra orders the creation of three “entertainment zones.” In these zones, drinking and dancing is only allowed until 2 am: roughly Silom, Sukhumvit, and Ratchada. Outside of these zones, dancing is illegal and closing times are 1 am. The implementation of his rules would take a couple more years, with things getting really strict by the mid-2000s.

Bed Supperclub

Long-standing nightclub and restaurant Bed Supperclub will close its doors August 31, 2013, after operating for nearly 11 years. The iconic venue was famous for its bold architecture (a kind of cylinder on stilts), its constant efforts to bring in big name DJs and edgy artistic performances which took place during dinner while guests reclined on white beds.

After the club’s lease expired, the landlord did allow it to stay “until further notice.” But given the uncertainty of the situation, Bed Supperclub was unwilling to perform the renovations it felt the club needed to stay competitive, renovations creative director Sanya Souvanna Phouma says would have amounted to a B30 million investment. Meanwhile, new openings such as Above Eleven, Levels and extensions to Q Bar, made Bed Supperclub appear increasingly static.
“I’m very, very sad,” says Sanya about closing. “But honestly, Soi 11 has changed. The experience isn’t nice. You have to walk past guys drinking out of vans to get here. When we moved in, the soi was all houses with gardens. There was nothing except Q Bar. Even if we contributed to changing the soi, it’s just not what we’re about anymore.”

Divided into two sections, one purely used as a nightclub, the other hosting dinners and performances, Bed Supperclub is a totally unique proposition, one with no real equivalent in Bangkok. Recently, diners sprawled on the club’s massive bed-like sofas were treated to an intimate concert where Gene Kasidit sang in furs, flirtatiously worked the crowd with a gin tonic in hand, and ultimately collapsed for her finale in a red couch that had been set in the middle of the room.
“I don’t think there’s a single greatest moment for me,” says Sanya. “There are so many. The Laurent Garnier set where he turned all the lights on full-blast for 10 minutes, and everyone had their hands in the air the whole time. Billy Cobham, one of the greatest jazz artists for me. And there was this dinner where we had performance artists take all the leftovers, mix them in a giant vat, and make these perfectly packaged little samples for people to take back home. One diner was so offended, he asked for a refund.”

Bed Supperclub would have turned 11 years old six days after its Aug 31 farewell party. “We’re proud of having put Bangkok on the map in terms of clubbing, food and culture. We want to maintain the brand and our DNA and hold on to that for the next one,” Sanya says. (More about Sanya in his First Person interview, page 37)
 

2003

Age Restrictions: The Ministry of Interior imposes new age restrictions for attendees at clubs, from 18 to over 20 years old.

Santika

(Ekkamai)

Santika was another club that was really hot and full seven days a week. The club focused on hip-hop with what some described as a Thai version of Eminem performing each night. After completing some major renovations, however, Santika seemed to lose its aura. It became a hangout for freelancers, tourists and guys who went there with their mia noi. The club came to a tragic end when a fire on New Year’s Day 2009 killed 60 people.

2004

Closing Hours:  The Ministry of Interior begins the year by enforcing Thaksin’s new closing hours for venues. Places registered as restaurants must close no later than midnight, while clubs have one additional hour, up to 1am.

Kluen Sak

(Lang Suan)

“It was cute and charming because it was a small place where everyone who partied there easily got to know one another. These friendships have stuck with me to this day. I remember going there after class, arriving before the owners and going home after them too. I got to know all the waiters and would even have an after-party meal with them. You just can’t find that atmosphere these days. The first version of Kluen Sak, on Sukhumvit Soi 24, was not a gay bar as it later turned out to be when it moved to Lang Suan.”
– Thanonrat Panthongprasert, business owner

2006s

Astra

(RCA, it became 808, then LED)

“I would often play at Astra, which had a similar vibe to Café Democ. It’s not that it wasn’t good, but with a bigger space, you never quite got the same vibe. It was great when a big international DJ came to perform, but normal nights could be very quiet.”
– Mongkorn Timkul aka DJ Dragon

2008

Smoking Ban: The Ministry of Public Heath Thailand officially bans smoking indoors at all clubs and restaurants. Venues with outdoor sections must designate smoking and non-smoking zones.

Rain Dogs

(Soi Phraya Phiren)

“Unironically ramshackle, life-threateningly chic, Rain Dogs was an unlikely bar in an unlikely location. Set in a random cul-de-sac adjacent to a highway, Rain Dogs was essentially where mo lam monthly shindig Paradise Bangkok began to take shape (back when they were still handing out a shot of ya dong to confused punters). This was where the bartender let you whip up your own drinks (only because he didn’t know how to make anything other than vodka and soda), and Maft Sai was DJing near a dried-up swamp filled with vicious mosquitos. It was where Bangkok’s crème de la crème of freaks and misfits could truly call home.”
– Chanun Poomsawai, freelance writer

Curve, Jet and Sode Samo

(Ekkamai)

“I was working as a freelance marketer at Hype Bar (now Ice Bar) on Thonglor, but I would sneak away to chill around at Sode Samo most of the time. The place was epic. So many memories. A lot of it was down to the vibe of the old house. It may have been the first in the area to be turned into a club. It was like drinking at your friend’s place where you didn’t need to get all dressed up—and you could be as crazy as you want!”
–Kannathakorn Rattanawenawatee, digital planner

After Nung Len revived the live music scene in the area, a number of other similar venues sprung up. Curve quickly became the place to go for live gigs from rock luminaries like Nuvo and J-Jetrin, while Jet Bar (now Sonic Ekkamai) hosted its own resident bands. Sode Samo had perhaps the most character, transforming an old house into a club (not a chill bar like others) with a focus on retro tunes. It was very hot there for a few years in the mid-2000s. The techno room to the left after the entrance was for a while Bangkok’s best in the genre, even though they had to close at 2am, customary around Ekkamai/Thongor.

Still standing

70s Bar

(12 years)

“My friends and I usually hung out at 70s bar in Langsuan, long before it turned into a gay bar. It was hot and happening at that time, back in 2004. We went since it was not so popular­—then the place was exploding. Tables needed to be booked a week in advance, which was unusual back then. The bar was a small two-story place without much in the way of decor but it attracted lots of people with its good selection of 70s music and great crowd of young professionals. They had both live bands and DJs. There was nothing fancy about the drinks, every table would just have Black Label, which you would offer to any new friends you made that night—that’s how we increased our circle of friends so rapidly! Other places sprung up in the area, too, since 70s Bar couldn’t handle the crowd.”
– Vanviva Bhumibhanit, civil servant

Nung Len and Escobar

(8 years)

“In Thonglor-Ekkamai, Song Salueng led the live band movement, which saw more and more imitators pop up—however, it was a generally short life cycle. Nung Len and Escobar, which exist to this day, arrived as Song Salueng was in decline, quickly becoming the top venues for Thonglor-Ekkamai party people. At Nung Len, the daily live bands would draw a packed crowd on weekdays and weekends alike. Then Escobar arrived, taking in spillover from Nung Len, but with more of a focus on hip hop and electro rather than cover bands.”
– Wanitsada Kumnungkit,  guest service supervisor

DJ Station

(20 years)

“Actually, I only really became addicted to Silom Soi 2 these past couple of years, but have heard about how great the place was for basically all my life. I think the reason Silom soi 2 is so popular and has been so for so long is it’s the only Soi filled entirely with gay bars meaning you can go barhopping as if they were all owned by the same owner. Silom Soi 2 is also where the saying gay gam poo [muscled gay] was invented and we always say yak kin poo tong pai soi 2 [go to soi 2 if you need some crab].”
– Achirawut Techawong, Business Owner

Q Bar

(13 years)

“I had a Q Bar in Saigon and the government threw me out of the country. I guess they weren’t happy an American had a club in the national theater. They never let me back in, so I eventually decided to open a Q Bar here. I had a friend, Andrew Clark, who was in advertising who helped me. I’d looked at Singapore and Hong Kong but way back then Bangkok only had beer gardens, hotel bars, go-go bars and hiso Thai bars. People didn’t know much about alcohol and music. We did like the music at Tapas, but we didn’t like how small it was and the drinks. So we decided to do our own club and really train the staff about alcohol. We were excited to make it look like a club in New York. We wanted people to focus on the inside. We had the most vodkas—no one else had that—and DJs. I have so many great memories, it was great having Ice T there, who hung out in the bar for a week. I even had my wedding reception at Q Bar.”
– David Jacobson, Q Bar founder & partner

1.) Gerolsteiner B79/750 ml (Germany) (BK Pick)

Level of Fizziness:
Gerolsteiner tastes pretty awesome. Nicely balanced, the fizz isn’t overpowering and there’s a pleasant balance of minerals. It could go very well with whisky, too.
Verdict: Goes best with meals.

2.) San Benedetto B66/500 ml (Italy)

Level of Fizziness:
Quite a light and clean fizz and a more neutral taste than others. Some might think it a bit bland, but it’s still quite refreshing. Pretty good for wining and dining.
Verdict: Almost.

3.) Valdimeti B32/500 ml (Italy)

Level of Fizziness:
Smells and tastes like a soda bottle has been left opened in a refrigerator for months. Strangely acidic.
Verdict: Stale soda.

4.) Voss B85/375ml (Norway)

Level of Fizziness: H
Yeah, the bottle’s pretty stylish, but it can’t make up for its gently bubbling, medicinal-tasting contents.
Verdict: Like taking some aspirin.

5.) Badoit B56/330 ml (France)

Level of Fizziness:
Flat-tasting with no real flavor to speak of. It’s neither refreshing nor lively.
Verdict: Needs more personality.

6.) Apollinaris B51/330 ml (Germany)

Level of Fizziness:
Quite sweet and powerful at first, with the largest bubbles of the lot, but this doesn’t last long, as it leaves an unpleasant aftertaste.
Verdict: Sweet and weak.

7.) Perrier B52/330ml (France) (runner up)

Level of Fizziness:
Nicely crisp and soda-like. Being super fizzy, it’s the kind of drink that could actually clean your palate if you’re eating something greasy. We also love its neutral flavor—perfect for when you’re really thirsty and works well with a slice of lemon (or a splash of Sangsom).
Verdict: Total refreshment.

8.) Mont Fleur B45/300 ml (Thailand) (yuck!)

Level of Fizziness:
We have to admit we didn’t feel entirely comfortable drinking this one due to the metallic smell upon opening. The taste isn’t any better, either—it’s as if there’s a high concentration of iron in it.  
Verdict: Better to stay dry.

9.) San Pellegrino B49/500 ml (Italy)

Level of Fizziness:
This famous brand has an unobtrusive, neutral flavor and aroma that makes it a pretty good companion for a meal. Thirst-quenching, too.
Verdict: Nice and clean.