6ixcret

The house-turned-bar is pretty chill compared to the rest of the busy neighborhood, making it a great spot to hang out after school or after work. Smoking sheesha out on the garden bench in the front yard will surely help you unwind and relax.

• Order this: Sangsom whisky (B366) is most popular here thanks to its value for money but those a little more flush with cash can go for a pint of Hoegaarden or Stella Artois (B266). 11 Ekkamai Soi 6. 084-466-4686, 02-714-1812. Open daily from 5pm-1am. 

Hippie De Bar

It might not have its own live band like most bars around here, but it has a very eclectic selection of indie and 80s tunes as a soundtrack for your night out. While the outdoor space gets super busy with those watching the football on weekends, the two-story wooden house is packed with a random collection of retro knickknacks and vintage furniture, offering great excuses to get up close and personal with the person at the next table.

• Order this: This is a communal place, so buy yourself a tower of local beer (B550-650) or a bottle of whisky and see if the nearby table of cuties wants to share. 46 Khao San Rd., 081-820-2762, 081-438-4738. Open daily 3pm-1am.

Cosmic Café

Good, new Thai-indie bands and occasional inter acts, like recent visitors Cambodian Space Project. And with their newly opened third floor space, Fish, which housed parties brought to you by Bangkok's hipster triad: Dudesweet, Club Soma and Trasher.
• Order this: Order anything more expensive than Sangsom (B250) and you’ll come across as a show-off. Or just get him/her a bottle of beer (B80-120) and crash the third floor party together.  
RCA Block C, Rama 9 Rd., 081-304-6907. Open daily from 7:30pm-2am.

Hyde & Seek

The gentleman’s club decor and the massive bar at the center are conducive to knocking back bourbon-based whiskies. As most people show up to have dinner, it’s going to be difficult to hook up, here—nice prey, though!
• Order this: Hyde & Seek definitely revitalized classic cocktails in Bangkok. Try a simple Mint Julep (bourbon, spearmint, sugar, B295)
Athenee Residence, 65/1 Soi Ruam Rudi, Sukhumvit Rd. 02-168-5152-3. Open daily from 11-1am. 

Est. 33

If a packed space most nights and home brews aren’t enough of a draw, they also play great, indie music.
• Order this: The Est. 33 Sampler (B120), which has three types of in-house brewed beer (including a wild black brew infused with black glutinous rice).
Bldg. E, Crystal Design Center, 1420/1 Praditmanoontham Rd., 02-102-2096. Open daily 11am-midnight

Bed Supperclub

The best electronic music in town, a decor that never gets old and fantastic shows during dinner.
• Order this: Bed Supperclub uses fresh ingredients and their bar staff has plenty of attitude, which is probably why we always end up ordering the same old drinks: apple martini (B280) and Long Island iced tea (B280).
26 Sukhumvit Soi 11. 02-651-3537 Open daily from 7pm-2am.

Mellow

It’s definitely the most happening club for young people in Bangkok right now, thanks to its Korean cafe decor and pretty faces.
• Order this: Cocktails start from B180-250.
1/F, Penny’s Balcony, Thong Lor Soi 16. 02-382-0064. Open daily from 11-1am.

Iron Fairies

The live jazz is awesome, the burger one of Bangkok’s best and the crazy Dickensian factory decor is truly unique—be it in this town or elsewhere.
• Order this: Try the Lychee Martini for B280 or house wines starting from B220 by the glass.
395 Sukhumvit Soi 55. 084-520-2301. Open daily from 6pm-2am.

Wong’s Place

Great tunes, cheap booze and it’s open til very, very late. There’s also a wonderfully seedy, secret club feel about the place, which gives an added thrill to your end of evening drink. That and the chance to dance along to 80s music videos while talking gibberish with a complete stranger, then remembering nothing the next day.
• Order this:  Duh, it’s Wongs. Just grab a bottle of Tiger (B80) and open it yourself.
27/3 Soi Sribamphen, Rama 4 Road. 081-901-0235. Open daily. Hours vary according to the owner’s whim.

WTF

It’s a gorgeous little cafe that looks very European, serves solid cocktails and plays host to good DJs and even literary events like the very popular Bangkok Poetry Night.
• Order this: A Sazerac de Justine (just pronouncing it right will impress anyone), which is a mix of bourbon, Pechaud’s bitter and absinthe. B180 or B220 with premium rye whiskey.
7 Sukhumvit Soi 51. 02-662-6246. Open daily from 6pm-1am.

Hospitality exchange is great for independent wanderers who travel alone to meet new people, learn from new cultures and love to take risks. But in Thailand, there are only 2,000 registered couch surfers, suggesting that we might want something less radical. If you’re not a backpacker and don’t want to sleep on a couch, but don’t want the bland experience of hotel rooms either, consider peer-to-peer vacation rentals.

Websites like AirBnB, Wimdu and Roomorama offer short-term rental apartments and homes around the world. These websites let property owners rent out their rooms without a third-party fee. (They charge travelers booking fees, though.)

Jia En Teo, a Roomorama co-founder, explains, “We serve travelers who have a bit more money to spend so they are looking for nicer places to stay. We offer places where you don’t have to share rooms, to secure your privacy.”

Higher prices also bring in better quality customers, too. And this benefits pad owners who wish to rent out their space. Kevin, one Roomorama member who rents out his apartment says , “It’s good that I can communicate with the guests beforehand, and all payments go through the website so I don’t have to worry. The guests I get are also usually pretty respectful, so it works out well for both parties.”

www.airbnb.com

America’s most popular peer to peer room rental site, with choices ranging from a few bucks to over US$5,000 a night, is now expanding its database to Asia, targeting the Chinese market.

www.wimdu.com

Featuring more than 12,000 accommodations in 50 nations, Wimdu is simply another AirBnB but it’s based in Europe.

www.roomorama.com

Unlike AirBnB and Wimdu where you might need to share a room with the pad’s owner, most of Roomorama’s listings are private spaces where owners do not stay. But it comes with higher price tags. Roomorama claims to have the most choices of rooms in Asia—22,000 properties (and 60,000 worldwide) with a 30% growth monthly.

Read more >> Couch Surfing in Bangkok