Arcadia 

Photo: Arcadia / Facebook

With 80s vibes and games, Arcadia Barcade is fast becoming an institution for the Phra Khanong crowd. With arcade machines handmade by owner Todd Ruiz of Coconuts Bangkok, drop a coin and get to Tekken-ing or head to the face-to-face machine for co-op and competition. If you prefer to game soused, visit the beer fridge for a few craft brews, including Batsquatch (B260) and Ther Mojito Cider (B160). One of the more creative venues to come out of the Covid pandemic, if you don’t like booze, the bar has some Kratom Kola (B180) and the roof's smoking lounge is newly 4/20 friendly.  

1112, 24 Soi Sukhumvit Plus, Open Tue-Sun 5pm-late. 064-949-9744

Brownstone

Photo: Hard Boy live at Custard Studio / BK Magazine

You’d be hard pressed to find an all-round better hang in On Nut, if not the city. The space is cool and unpretentious. The music is reliably impressive. It’s as cheap as could be—B100 buys you two Singha or Leo cans, and if you're super fancy, a Beer Lao is B100. Also, well, there’s a lot of Bob Marley hanging around, if you catch our drift. The adjacent Custard Studio more or less ensures you’ll find some sort of tunes to enjoy while you’re around. 

1395 On Nut Rd, Open daily 1pm-late, 085-483-7675

Cielo Sky Bar & Restaurant

Fly up to the 46th floor of the Skywalk Condominium for the only sky-high rooftop bar you’re likely to find in Phra Khanong—a great spot for a date or just to feel a little hi-so. With 360-degree views of Bangkok for sunset, the signature cocktails range from B400 to B360. On the pricey side, a Beer Lao will set you  back B200, and a bottle of white goes for B2,200. 

Sky Walk Residences, Sukhumvit 69-71 Rd. Open daily 5pm-12am, 0-2348-9100

Cheap Charlie’s

Photo: Cheap Charlie's / Facebook

Some of us are old enough to remember when Cheap Charlie’s was in Nana—of all places. People were sceptical at first but nowadays it’s hard to imagine a night out in On Nut without stopping by Cheap Charlie’s for an affordable beer and a sweaty conversation. Serving basic cocktails, shots, and Beer Lao for B90, Cheap Charlie’s has stayed true to its name. But, the storefront company has definitely improved, so don’t forget to grab a bite from Easy Burger while you’re there.  

12/2 Sukhumvit 50 Aly. Open daily 5pm-late, 087-096-8444

Goja

Goja is an art cafe that can party. A pack of regularly roving DJs play in Goja’s well-lit space off of Phra Khanong BTS, set in a renovated old shophouse. The space might be a little small but the party loves to spill into the street. And, hey, it’s not just about the music. A G&T will set you back just B180, or if you want to go hard, a bottle of Suntory is B1,000. The Japanese aesthetics come with katsu curry (B180) and a cold ramen (B180).

5/2 Sukhumvit 71 Soi Pridi Banomyong 3, Open Mon-Sat 5pm-midnight, Sun 11:30-midnight. 080-849-7790

Something Wicked

Few bars in Bangkok go this hard on a theme, but here you can get your cocktails made on a ouija board, listen to faux frogs and swampy blues on the porch, and laze with bedazzled skulls under the gaze of Baron Samedi. Welcome to Bangkok’s only voodoo-inspired cocktail bar. Go behind the blood-red door on this On Nut soi to find the cocktails—or “potions”—going for B200 to 350. Visitors to this new On Nut voodoo sanctum sanctorum can expect a cheerful atmosphere and a staff gothed out to the nines.

621 On Nut 10 Alley, Khwaeng Suan Luang, Open Wed-Sun 7pm-late, 02-103-1574

PJ O'Brien's Bistro

Photo: Chili Beef Nachos at PJ O'Brien's / Facebook

There had to be an Irish pub on this list and it was always going to be PJ O’Brien’s. If you’re hailing from the Commonwealth don’t miss their cod/haddock fish and chips (B299) or the pie dinner (B299),which also buys you a local beer or glass of wine. On tap, you’ll find the usual suspects, as well as Fresh Haze, Fresh Squeezed, and Punk IPA (B100 half/190 pint). Sure, it’s a good spot to catch the games and the fights, but there’s also a lot else going on at PJ’s, including live music and comedy. 

1108, 46-47 Sukhumvit Rd,. Open daily 11am-late. 082-163-3382

The Wine Market

Just a stone’s throw from Cheap Charlie’s, this is an increasingly popular hang for those who want an affordable bottle of wine with their On Nut bar crawl. There’s limited indoor seating with snacks, but there’s plenty of space outside to sip your vino. Bottles start at around B590 for a bottle of Chilean Familia Correa Lisoni and B690 for an Italian Pietrame Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. 

12 Sukhumvit 50 Aly, Open daily 5pm-late, 082-833-5522

W Market

Photo: W District sculpture / Phoebe Storm

This little market is a one-stop shop, and there’s very little like it on this side of the city—anymore. The open-air food court features market stalls, boozeries, and restaurants that vary wildly, and they put on a lot of international fare: Indian, Italian, smoked meat, kebabs, Mexican. The chances that you eat or drink from one place in W Market are slim to none. If you’re there to party, the staff can set you up with the ubiquitous towers of beer or you can opt for better brews from nearby stall pubs. Though Hoppy Hours is no more, as you enter you can find cheap bottles of wine from Tinto Tapas and Wine Shop. A lot of nights begin and end at W District if you can handle the heat.

1599 Sukhumvit Rd, Open daily 4pm-midnight