Superflow Beach Club
Best for: Laidback house and reggae music during the day; themed parties at night: Monday Lollipop, In Touch with Ibiza Wednesdays, electro house on Fridays and Ibiza-inspired In Bed with Space parties on Saturdays, curated by their rotating resident DJs.
Look around: The Ibiza trance party vibe makes for a refreshing alternative that works just as well for after-work professionals escaping the pretense on Thonglor as it does for fresh-off-the-boat travelers. Hungry? The complex serves up bite-sized Thai-fusion options as well as creatively presented (and surprisingly fiery) tom yum kung fried-rice (B180) and pineapple fried rice (B180).
Our tip: There’s a set of swing-bench tables for those who want to dangle their toes in the sand.
Drink up: Open a bottle of Singha (B100) or order a tower (B660) and enjoy your drink under the restaurant’s beachy thatched–roof bar.
Superflow Beach Club, 9 Khaosan Rd., 086-088-0129.
Best for: Those looking to dance and party hard. This is not the place to quietly sip on a cold one. Be prepared for some of Khao San’s maddest party animals.
Look around: The barebones decor (bare bricks and raw cement) lets the flashing lights and DJ’s thumping tracks do the talking.
Our tip: Don’t make plans. You know you’re headed to the Bar Next Door. But with this crowd, you really can’t tell where you’ll end up.
Drink up: Plenty of Singha beer to get your funky night going (B90 for small bottle).
Bar Next Door, Khaosan Rd., 089-127-1463.
Best for: Delicious Thai-fusion grub with a side order of booze and live music. Expect a hard-partying local crowd—this one's a favorite with office workers and college kids.
Look around: The indoor space offers good views of the live performances (from 10pm-midnight) thanks to a stage in the middle of the room. For a wilder experience, head up to the second floor and join the dancing crowds. If you’re not into live music, take a seat out on the terrace and enjoy the hectic view of the street. The overall vibe is pretty raw—lots of metal screens, brick walls and wooden tables, while LED lights throw out a modern touch.
Our tip: Drank a few too many beers? Don't worry. You can crash in at their boutique hotel right next to the bar.
Drink up: Order a glass of Singha beer fresh from the tap (B119) to go with those juicy barbecue wings.
72/1-5 Soi Rambuttri, Chakrabongse Rd., 081-636-3000.
Bua Sa Ard
Best for: If heavy-bass EDM is not your cup of tea, then you've come to the right place. Lose yourself in familiar pop tunes performed by live bands and a college crowd of hard partiers.
Look around: Unlike those backpacker bars on the main road, this classic drinking spot comes with a high ceiling and open-air space. The use of dimmed lighting perfectly compliments the interior’s pale creamy white walls, creating a laidback setting. It’s also one of the few places in the area where the locals actually outnumber the tourists.
Our tip: Grab a table on the terrace or the bar’s semi-outdoor area, where noise levels still allow for some conversation and light levels let you to take in all the eye candy.
Drink up: Singha is B90 for a small bottle.
Bua Sa Ard, Soi Rambuttri, Khao San Rd., 097-235-7934.
Buddy Beer
Best for: When you’re stumbling out of a riotous party at 3am, famished, yet ready to keep partying. Steer clear of the lousy hostel cafes and 24-hour fast-food chains and go here instead. This all-day and all-night bar and restaurant cooks up comforting Thai dishes and a range of seafood, whether it is a platter of juicy oysters, clams or a whole fish.
Look around: Nestled on a quiet little alley off the hectic Khao San Road, this charming Thai-style teak house is the best way to escape the heaving crowds, annoying peddlers, and ear-splitting music. Sit in the semi-indoor area (note: it’s Instagram-worthy!) or the spacious outdoor balcony with views of the neighboring colonial-style building.
Our tip: Their signature pineapple fried rice is the obligatory choice.
Drink up: A glass of Singha beer (B110) on tap. And do pair it with their fresh water mussels.
Buddy Beer, 265 Khaosan Rd., 02-282-6157.
Best for: This peculiar Irish bar is a long-standing fixture of the Khao San nightlife scene, and it just keeps getting rowdier and rowdier after the other bars’ shutters come down.
Look around: The decor just screams Irish pub despite the many local twists, from the deep-fried appetizers to their choice of music. But the shamrock tradition lives on through their generous use of wood, big screen sports, large pool table, and vast selection of draft beers.
Our tip: After 10pm, head up to the bar area on the second floor to catch their live bands.
Drink up: Will it be a frosted pint of draught lager from Singha (B150) or a full tower (B650)?
Mulligan’s, Buddy Lodge Hotel, Khao San Rd., 081-893-5554.
Street Bites
Don't forget to fuel up during your adventures.
Roti-Mataba
Phra Athit Rd., 02-282-2119. Open Tue-Sun 9am-10pm.
Set in a simple two-story shop-house, Roti-Mataba’s fame has now spread far and wide, which means it’s often packed with students, office workers and night owls hungry for its namesake matabas and a range of curries and roti with different fillings—all made right in front of you in the open kitchen.
NAI NGAo Khao Kruk Kapi
Phra Athit Rd. Open Tue-Sat 8am-2pm.
Just down the road from Roti-Mataba and close to a small cafe called Artist, this little street stall only offers three choices: khao kruk kapi (rice with shrimp paste, sweet pork and mango), khao pad nam prik and kanom jeen souw nam. The khao kruk kapi is, hands down, their premier dish as it blends a variety of tastes and textures complemented by their praiseworthy garlicky, peppery broth.
AESAH RotDee
Tani Rd. Open daily 9am-10pm.
This place is easy to miss. Head down the side alley just past the 7-Eleven on Tani Road, on the other side of Rambutri. Look out for sign in Thai only (non-readers can spot it from the red color and the crescent and star logo). The beef satay, ox tail and chicken biryani are all stellar, but even the humble beef noodle soup is super savory and chock-full with succulent chunks of beef.
Khun Dang Guay Jub Yuan
Phra Athit Rd. Open Mon-Sat 11am-9pm.
The special ingredients brought down from Ubon Ratchathani are cooked along with your choice of different toppings like eggs and mushrooms. Even though portions are small, the gooey soup is just amazing, plus the moo yor is peppery and fragrant thanks to the quality pork meat. Make sure to get a seat on the footpath if you don’t want to get all sweaty inside the steamy shop–house.
10 Songkran Essentials
Flower-printed shirt
It’s all about the floral look, but you’re going to get wet, so make it cheap.
Shorts
Ever tried walking in soaked jeans in 40-degree heat? Not a good idea.
Changdao Flip Flops
Brazil has the Havaianas; we have the Changdao (or elephant flip flops). It’s Songkran: be Thai and be proud. Added bonus: they only cost around B99 and are available at every mom and pop store in town.
Cheap Shades
Things can get pretty wild out on the streets so don’t risk your Yves-Saint Laurent shades and go discount instead—just don’t look at the sun.
Super Soakers
More than a gun, these are the mothers of all squirting machines. Look for a discounted one at Tesco Lotus.
Goggles
OK, you might look like an idiot but at least you won’t get an eye infection when hit with a face full of klong water. Available at vendors on every street corner during Songkran. Don’t forget to bargain!
Waterproof case
Make sure it’s just you that gets wet and not your iPhone 6s or that Apple watch. You can pick up one of these handy waterproof pouches completely free at any of the bars above.
Water bucket
Fill it with water, throw water, repeat. You can fill up your bucket and water gun at available Singha water stations as well.
Water resistant sunscreens
Getting yourself tanned seems like a good idea until your skin gets burnt in Bangkok’s scorching summer.
Wide brimmed fedora
It’s not going to help you escape the heat. It’s all about the look.
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