Gay Bangkok: The essential bar and club guide
Club ICK, a go-go getaway.Welcome to Bangkok, Asia’s foremost gay destination that is home to titillating Thai men, luring lady boys and a sizzling nightlife that brings local Thai and farang (foreigner) gays together to drink, dance and play. Thailand's gay-friendly vibe can be felt at countless Bangkok hot spots, from bars and pubs to karaoke rooms and go-go clubs all over the city.
Nocturnal kickoff
The Silom area (Saladaeng BTS station) is the epicentre of gay nightlife, full of sizzle, sensation and sexuality. If you are looking to wine and dine in the gayborhood you have a few options here -- Richard's, Telephone and The Balcony are all great kick-off hot spots for the tired tourist, offering a hearty menu of food, bargain-priced happy hour drinks and best of all, free publications that feature up-to-date information and detailed maps about queer nightlife in Thailand.
Richard's Pub and Restaurant: 60/17 Silom Soi, 2/1 Bangrak, Bangkok; tel: +66 (0) 2234 0459; www.richards-bangkok.com.
Telephone: 14/11 Silom Soi 4, Bangkok; tel: +66 (0) 2234 3279; www.telephonepub.com.
The Balcony: 86-88 Silom Soi 4, Bangkok; tel: +66 (0) 2235 5891; www.balconypub.com.
Time to bust a move
For Western sounds and a guaranteed good time any day of the week, head to DJ station at Silom 2 (one minute from the Sala Daeng BTS), where a cluster of bustling bars will be waiting patiently for your patronage. Entrance to DJ station is 100 baht during the week (this gets you a free drink ticket) and 200 baht on the weekend (two free drink tickets). Most drinks are 100 baht at the bar. DJ Station hosts a popular drag show from 11:30pm followed by dirty dancing. When the clock ticks to 2am the gays go in droves to G.O.D (Guys On Display), the pinnacle of after hours clubs where the party holds strong until about 5am (beside Richard's pub on Soi 2/1). The 300 baht entrance fee gets you two free drink tickets.
G.O.D.: 80/18-21 Siri-Orr Place, Silom 2/1 (small alley between Soi 2 and Soi Thaniya), Sala Daeng, Bangkok; tel: +66 (0) 2632 8033; www.g-o-dbangkok.com.
Fantasy fulfillment
The Saladaeng area is truly where East meets West, but if you are looking to mingle with a myriad crowd of whisky loving gay locals, then fulfill your fantasies in the Or Tor Kor or Ramkhamhaeng areas, two hot spots for local Thai lads to party into the morning any given day of the week. The cluster of bars at Or Tor Kor Avenue on Kamphaeng Phet Road (close to the Chatuchuk Weekend Market) is one of the best kept secrets of gay Bangkok. Young local Thai boys (and their lady friends) come here to dine, dance and romance. This young hot hipster hangout is a safe haven for local guys and gals who seek an alternative to the Silom area where nightlife is mostly marketed to come-and-go tourists. To get there, take the BTS to Mo Chit Station, walk out exit one and head straight until you hit Kamphaeng Phet Road where you will hang a right. Go straight until you see the cluster of clubs on the right hand side.
Unfortunately if you aren't accompanied by a local Thai friend you may find it difficult to mingle here as most people either don't speak English or simply aren't interested in foreign men. Fountain Pub is a great place to start or end the night, drinking and chatting with friends or strangers who are feeling brave (or inebriated) enough to test out their English skills on you.
ICK, another gay locale, attracts young boys from the nearby Ramkhamhaeng University and can be found just off Ramkhamheang road. Wacky drag shows, energetic go-go boys and a busy dance floor make ICK a haven for young learners and curious foreigners. Order a Bacardi Breezer or a Heineken for 120 baht a bottle. Take a taxi to ICK from downtown Bangkok for about 150 baht (takes about 25 minutes). Don't forget to play safe!
Fake Club: Thanon Kamphaeng Phet Rd., Kamphaeng Phet, Bangkok; tel: +66 (0) 8 9479 9262.
ICK: Soi 89/2, The Ramkhamhaeng, Khlong Tan, Khlong Tan; tel: +66 (0) 9119 3635; www.ickbkk.com.
About the author: Kyle Burton is a writer, photographer, English teacher and neo-bon-vivant currently living in South Korea. For more information check out his website www.ketwam.com and blog ketwam.blogspot.com.
Kyle submitted this piece as part of CNNGo's CityPulse section. To find out what other stories we are looking for, go to our CityPulse page.
