Thailand is a heaven for Gays (Bisexual), as the country is one of the most tolerant in cultures. You may find a lot of gays or lesbians through the capital city, Bangkok.
Thailand has a thriving gay and lesbian bar scene, which attracts tourists from all over the world. Many cities are providing the gays area, such as Hatyai, Pattaya, Phuket. In Bangkok, the gay bars are concentrated along Silom Soi 2 and Soi 4, with Soi 2 being considered ‘more gay’. Slightly seedier bars can be found off Surawong Road, along Soi Anuman Rachathon and Soi Tawan. Other bars can be found sprinkled along Sukhumvit, especially Soi 23, and Tanao Road in the Banglumpoo area. All of these bars cater to males only.
The Most famous Gays district in Bangkok, no doubt is Silom Soi 2. Silem Boy 2 is a short lane off Silom crammed with bars and restaurants that caters exclusively to the gay community. Soi 2 is widely considered to be ‘more gay’ than nearby Soi 4. The bars get hot and sweaty on Friday and Saturday nights and it’s hard to move, let alone dance to the trendy underground sounds. Men wandering into these bars at the weekend can expect to be groped from all quarters.
Silom has the most to see, with three Soi’s offering some great gay venues. Silom Soi 2, featuring the famous DJ Station and other pubs, is very popular with the Thai community, making that Soi the most popular Soi on Silom. A two minute walk from there is Silom Soi 2/1, where @Richard’s Pub & Restaurant (Thai & western food) and G.O.D nightclub (after hours dancing) is located. About 4 minutes from there is Silom Soi 4, with Sphinx Restaurant, Balcony Pub, and Telephone Pub; all of them have good food.
In between Silom and Sathorn Road, there are several massage shops to stop in at to have a great massage and relax. On Soi Sala Daeng, you can have a great dinner at Fab Cuisine and next door is a new gay guest house, Baan Sala Daeng. For some fine dining check out Coyote Restaurant and Eat Me Restaurant on Soi Convent. Down a-ways on Naratiwat is the OmYim Lodge for a nice, reasonably-priced guesthouse.
And a trip to gay and lesbian Bangkok would not be complete without an encounter with a “ladyboy” (Katoey in Thai). The majority of ladyboys are “she-males” who are unable to pay for a full sex change operation, and so are exploiting their comfort with being with either men or women. They often do not comply to the generally subservient nature of Thai women, and can be fairly feisty, but they are also renowned for taking good care of their health.
Here is some of Thailand Bangkok Gays Bars and Pubs :
@Richard’s
60/17 Silom Rd
Phone: (0) 81907-5560
Website: www.richards-bangkok.com
Email: info@richards-bangkok.com
» member discounts
Located in the small sub-soi between Thania and Soi 2, next to Freeman, where the Mix used to be, now (Jan 2006) owned by the eponymous ex-Telephone owner Richard and associates. Friendly, relaxed atmosphere, 70′s music at a volume you can talk over, good food and drinks at reasonable prices. An interesting alternative to the Soi 4 bars.
Balcony
86-88 Silom Soi 4
Phone: (0) 2235 – 5891
Website: http://www.balconypub.com
Email: info@balconypub.com
» member discounts
An open-fronted (but air-conditioned) bar with popular terrace. Lots of seating around the bar, plus tables inside and outside to watch the passing parade. Friendly relaxed atmosphere with the cheapest food and drinks in the soi. Lots of fun things always going on – is the “fun” pub on the soi. Upstairs has a mini-karaoke and small Internet cafe. Open from 6:00 till 02:00 daily, with Happy Hour from 6:00 till 8:00 every day, and a mystery late happy hour as well.
Balls, the sports bar
Duangthawee Plaza, Soi Pratoochai, Surawong Road
Phone: (0) 2637 – 0078
Website: www.moana.co.th/balls
Located at the Rama 4 Rd end of the soi, open-air beer bar from the owners of Dick’s Cafe just down the soi. Features big-screen TV (51″) for watching the latest sports shows, well priced drinks and food is avaiable from the Dick’s menu, and of course the friendly service you would expect from this group! Happy hours from 5:00 PM till 7:00 PM weekdays, open from 5:00 PM weekdays, 1:00 PM weekends.
BAS Living Room
Silom Soi 4
Phone: (0) 2632 – 6982
Website: http://www.bas-4.com/main.html
New (Feb 2009) small intimate bar located opposite Sphinx. Friendly service, relxing atmosphere, drinks, cocktails, snacks, Wi-Fi, magazines, open from 6:00 PM till 2:00 AM
Club 4
114/10 Silom Soi 4
Phone: (0) 2632 – 8013
Small bar, located just next to Telephone, where Den used to be, has terrace and inside bar, usually fairly quiet, mixed trendy crowd.
Club Cafe
Silom Soi 2
Phone: (0) 86978 – 5221
Downstairst next to DJ Station, upmarket club/cafe similar to Expresso, somewhere to relax away form the intensity of DJ and some of the other bars in the soi – including Expresso late most busy nites!
Dick’s Cafe Bangkok
Duangthawee Plaza, 894/7-8 Soi Pratoochai, Suriwong Rd
Phone: (0) 2637 – 0078
Website: http://www.dickscafe.com/bangkok/
Email: dickscafe@dickscafe.com
Popular stylish, classy bar in the heart of the Suriwong and Patpong scene, a very relaxing and pleasant place for lunch or a drink or something to eat before or after hitting the surrounding go-go bars! Open from midday till 1:00 AM.
Expresso
Silom Soi 2
Upmarket coffeeshop/bar located opposite DJ Station, popular place to unwind between dances. Open till late. Won the Metro award for best gay bar in 2001.
Happen
8/14 Silom Soi 2
Funky, high tech bar with dance music and karaoke, relaxed fun place for a drink before (or as a break while) hitting the disco. Friendly staff, open from 8:00 PM till late, usually busy after 11:00 particularly weekends.
JJ Park
Silom Soi 2
Phone: (0) 2233 – 3247
Bar with live music, both Thai and western and other entertainment – gets a lot of the disco crowd because it is in Soi 2, and is usually crowded late on the weekends.
Lounge 4
Silom Soi 4
Located just the other side of the Tiger Terrace from its sister venue Club 4 and attracting a similar crowd. Also has tables on the terrace opposite.
Maxis Bar & Restaurant
38/1-2 Duangthawee Plaza, Soi Pratoochai, Suriwong Rd
Phone: (0) 2266 – 4225 Fax: (0) 2266 – 4226
Website: http://www.maxisbar.com/
Email: MaxisBar@gmail.com
New (April 2008) bar and restaurant located right in the middle of the go-go bars off Suriwong Rd. Has outdoor terrace, downstairs bar and upstairs dining room. Open 10:00 AM till 2:00 PM.
Sphinx Restaurant and Pub
100 Silom Soi 4
Phone: (0) 2234 – 7249
Website: www.sphinxpub.com/
Email: info@sphinxpub.com
» member discounts
Upmarket bar and thai restaurant with Egyptian theme decor, great atmosphere, excellent Thai and western food, good range of wines, beers and spirits. Open from 6:00 PM till 2:00 AM every day. A comfortable, relaxing place for a drink at the bar or a meal. Lots of regular patrons, and usually gets a good crowd late on the weekends. Service always good from the friendly staff – the best place to eat and in the soi!
Telephone Pub, Restaurant & Karaoke
Silom Soi 4
Phone: (0) 2234 – 3279
Website: www.telephonepub.com
» member discounts
Probably the oldest and most famous gay bar and restaurant in Bangkok, with extensive Thai and western menu. Open from 8:00 till 02:00 every day. Always popular with locals, expats and visitors – the cruisiest bar in town, but learn to spot the frelancers! Now (June 2007) has a new karaoke lounge on the 3rd floor.
Some photos and pictures of Bangkok Gays location at Silom Soi 2 and Silom Soi 4
Silom Soi 2, featuring the famous DJ Station and other pubs, is very popular with the Thai community, making that Soi the most popular Soi on Silom.
Pubs in Silom Soi 2, Bangkok, just a stone’s throw from the Saladaeng BTS Station. All taxi drivers know this area.
Soi 4 also has many other non-gay music bars, but the mixed atmosphere is very friendly.
Thailand Gays is more accepted in the society.
The majority of ladyboys are “she-males” who are unable to pay for a full sex change operation, and so are exploiting their comfort with being with either men or women.
Watch Bangkok Gay Club at DJ Station Video here
