See also: Bangkok's best jazz bars / All the biggest concerts and festivals coming up in and around Bangkok

Jazz, Blues & Soul

Adhere 13th 

Just around the corner from backpacker-central Khao San Road, this live blues and jazz institution packs out every night. Indoors can only seat about 20, so you might find yourself perched outdoors, Singha beer in hand, listening to the loud and energetic music being belted out to a crowd of old-time expats and self-styled local blues-men.

13 Samsen Rd., 089-769-4613. Open daily 6pm-midnight

Brown Sugar 

Open since 1985 and relocated from Langsuan Road to Phra Sumen a couple of years ago, Brown Sugar still features the same list of Western comfort food and classic cocktails, while the stage is reserved for local jazz talents like Tissue Paper and June & Mother Funky.

469 Phra Sumen Rd., 081-805-7759. Open Tue-Sun 5pm-1am

FooJohn

This old shop-house will transport you to a retro Hong Kong diner like something out of In the Mood for Love—think warm lighting, carefully positioned mirrors, vintage mosaic tiles. Downstairs you'll find a hip bistro serving cold cuts and crepes alongside wine. A prohibition era-themed cocktail bar sits upstairs, where French spirits are spotlighted in classic cocktails based on The Savoy Cocktail Book (first published back in 1930). Throughout the week (except Sundays), they showcase a steady stream of live music, ranging from folk to jazz.

831 Charoenkrung Soi 31, 085-527-3511. Open Wed-Sun 7pm-midnight

Jazz Happens

This little jazz boutique owned by Nu Vudthivichai, one of Thailand’s most prominent pianists, showcases the skills of a wide range of performers, from contestants on The Voice to students and graduates of Silpakorn Jazz Faculty.

Phra Athit Rd., 02-282-9934. Open Fri-Wed 7pm-1am

Maggie Choo’s

The people behind this stunning Silom basement bar are starting to get more involved in the Bangkok underground music scene. That means regular jazz, and the bar has been hosting a few names from the Bangkok indie scene lately. The space, as ever, is something to behold, evoking the decadence of opium or gambling dens.

U/F, Hotel Novotel Bangkok Fenix, Silom Rd., 091-772-2144. Open daily 7:30pm-2am

Saxophone 

This 30-something-year-old brick-walled jazz bar feels like a safe haven from Bangkok’s ever-changing scene. Located mere steps from the commuter bustle of Victory Monument, the city’s old jazz and reggae hands (Koh Mr. Saxman, T-Bone) enrapture audiences at very close quarters, accompanied by a new brigade of scene stealers.

3/8 Phaya Thai Rd., 02-246-5472. Open daily 6pm-2am.

Smalls 

The absinthe-swilling, retro-styled Suan Phlu venue of David Jacobson, the founder of Q Bar, hosts regular Wednesday jazz nights featuring local talents like The Pong Nakornchai Quartet and Snappertown. 

186/3 Suanphlu Soi 1, 081-819-6808. Open Wed-Mon 7pm-2am

Black Cabin

This tucked-away, moodily lit underground music venue offers a steady stream of live music almost every day of the week. True to its name, a cabin-like vibe is conjured by neon red lighting and taxidermy animals, with a leafy outdoor area to boot. Here, the partner-owners from Loy Shy music bar in Ratchathewi promise live bands covering genres as diverse as  jazz, soul, blues experimental live music and electro, along with vinyl-heavy DJ sets.  

33/1 Rama 4 Rd., 061-515-6989. Open Tue-Sun 5:30pm-1am

De Commune

An abandoned room in Thonglor’s Liberty Plaza building roars to life with the sound of underground music, from indie and reggae to d’n’b and psytrance. With its raw industrial design, black walls and red neon lights, this is a proper live music venue that combines a stage for bands, a DJ desk, a quality (loud!) sound system, and a friendly crowd to guarantee a good night. Plus, the drinks are a steal. 

1/F, Liberty Plaza, Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 088-419-7380. Open Wed-Sat 5pm-2am; Sun 5pm-midnight

Fatty’s Bar & Diner

There’s a real sense of community at this Rama 9 dive bar. Fatty’s is a major supporter of Bangkok's independent music scene, hosting regular gigs from up-and-comers during events like the notoriously raucous annual Fatty’s Fest. Bring your preferred choice of instrument along every Tuesday night for their popular open-mic event. The kitchen has a real way with all-American junk food, too.

598/66 Asoke Din Daeng Rd., 081-438 7221, 02-245-2965. Open Tue-Sun 11am-midnight

Jam

Nestled down a residential alley off Sathorn Road, this compact bar-slash-gallery is the setting for all sorts of esoteric sounds, from drum ‘n’ bass DJs to live dub and indie-rock. On weekends, the crowd often spills out onto the road, with the party continuing long after the shutters come down.

41 Charoen Rat Soi 1, 083-5451-833

NOMA (Now Our Mother’s Angry)

This bar/live music project from a group that includes Kawee Soontornwan of Medium Rare gig organizer (who brought in FKJ, Shura and Alt-J to name a few) breathes new life into the old home of Cosmic Cafe (RIP) on RCA. What you get is a raw and ramshackle vibe in which to get drunk and dance to indie sounds both local and international (they’re a bit obsessed with David Bowie, for starters).

RCA Block C, 21/66 Rama 9 Rd., 080-939-7899. Open Wed-Sun 6:30pm-2am; Mon 6:30pm-2am

Speakerbox

Our favorite live music bar at Ratchada’s Train Market has recently found a new home in Thonglor after having to leave their old location. Even though they’ve just reopened, they have been pumping out talent nonstop, like Temp, Fwends and Kunst. 

Studio Lam

A huge soundsystem pumps out everything from molam to Ethio-jazz and Afro-beat onto a miniscule dancefloor bustling with a similarly ethno-diverse crowd lit on ya dong. Live sounds might come courtesy of Toomturn Molam Group, Yaan or the globe-trotting Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band, whose contemporary spin on Thai funk music is breathing new life into the genre.

Sukhumvit Soi 51, 02-261-6661. Open Tue-Sun 6pm-2am

Tep Bar

This self-proclaimed "Thai culture bar" is not your average live music venue. Its soundtrack is all about classic central luk thung music. The band here highlights ra nad (wooden xylophone), sor au (alto fiddle) and ja kae (similar to a lap guitar)—the kind of sounds you hear in traditional khon plays, only performed in an updated style. 

Room 69-71, Soi Nana (Chinatown), 098-467-2944. Open daily 6pm-1am

Baan Puen

Baan Puen lives up to its name, which literally translates to "a friend's house," by offering a folksy, toned-down alternative to Ekkamai's hi-so clubs. Expect to hear lots of Thai and international covers—plus originals—performed acoustically, along with jazz, blues and more alternative sounds.

3/F, Ekamai Mall, Ekkamai Soi 10, 061-824-1747. Open daily 6pm-1am

Wine Bibber Sangria

After 15 years in Thonglor, Wine Bibber Sangria now calls Ekkamai home. A far cry from its dingy original incarnation, this sleek, multi-floored bar sits somewhere between the much-missed Sonic Ekkamai and Grease (Sukhumvit Soi 49). The roster sees some 15 bands—residents and oneoffs—perform monthly. Daily happy hours, potent sake shots and an LED dance floor make for one fun night out. 

Ekkamai Soi 2, 02-714-0709. Open daily 6pm-2am