Run by the team behind the dearly-missed Cosmic Café, Moose is not nearly as gig-focused, but does see DJs spinning eclectic sets daily. The soundtrack covers all bases from Britpop, 60s-80s rock and electro-pop to fresh new indie bands you haven’t heard before. The terrace makes for a frightfully hip place to shoot the breeze along with spicy Thai-inter fusion dishes and simple but tasty cocktails. Make sure you drop by for their daily 5-8pm happy hour deal for buy-one-get-one-free cocktails.

 

This longstanding Ekkamai spot is just the place for an afterwork drink. The soundtrack mirrors the retro record covers that line the walls and owner’s love of power-pop and early-90s rock with just a sprinkling of jazz—it’s all guaranteed to have you busily clicking away at your Shazam while you pass around that bottle of Sang Som.

 

Not content with unearthing mo lam and luk thung gems with his Paradise Bangkok nights, DJ Maft Sai’s bar pairs global grooves with quality ya dong. Named after his radio podcasts-turned-record-label, the venue’s focus is unsurprisingly on nightly adventurous DJ sets and live music. We dig the stylish clientele, the after-hours vibe and, the star of the place, the specially designed custom tube sound system that pumps out everything from psychedelic Persian rock to Swahili jazz.

 

This retro furniture shop-slash-bar has hosted many a vinyl-focused music event. But on a normal night, it remains one of our favorite places for a soundtrack of oldies jazz and rock, even if it’s often drowned out by the drunken chatter. The owner Aman “Boy” Tatuho has an anything-goes approach to the playlist that rather matches the décor. Drop by at 4pm-8pm daily for halfprice beers, plus their burgers, which a few Thonglorites rate as some of the best around.

 

This dive bar could not be more different from the high-rise luxury condos and former-It-spot restaurants that surround it. Your best bet is to order a bottle. Go ghetto with 300ml of Sang Som for a measly B260––enough to see you through the evening without opening your wallet again. A soundtrack that remains firmly stuck on 90s Britpop might not suit everyone, but guarantees some good drunken singalongs.

On top of daily cover bands (every Wednesday it’s the Fab Four) and special guest DJs, this laidback rooftop bar packs an ever-rewarding playlist of indie pop/rock, dream pop and electro. It’s decked out in a slightly industrial style, with bare cement and steel as well as long wooden tables and gentlemanly leather sofas. The spacious outdoor terrace used to be great for shisha. Check out our Guide to drinking and pre-gaming at The Opus Thonglor.