What Historic Bangkok Bars Do We Have Left?

[josephbloggs]

13 hours ago, bartender100 said:

Immortalized in Christopher Moore's book, and yes I was probably right behind you at closing time.

 

To be fair I don't mind popping in there now on quiet nights

 

I read one Christopher G. Moore book and it was so riddled with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors I never bought another one.

[OneMoreFarang]

12 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

I read one Christopher G. Moore book and it was so riddled with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors I never bought another one.

I think when he started writing books a spell checker was an expensive add-on to the word processor. ???? 

 

[Robin]

Thanks for passing an afternoon while in ASQ.

How could we have this thread without mentioning Bernard Trink?  Nite Owl.

He was an integral part of the bar scene, but unfortunately went on past his sell-by date and ended up a rambling old fool.

There was a small book of memories of Patpong, based on Trink's memories.  I had a copy many years, and moves, ago.

Remember the "Siam Lek," anf "Malaysia" coffee shops.  The last resorts for unfined bar girls.

What will result post Covid is anyone's guess, but it will not bee the same.

Covid has allowed the Amart  to settle old scores and kick out some of the dirty farang that were polluting their country, and it will let them clear out most of the bars, so their massage parlours will flourish.

Cjhawala's travel agency in Patpong?  A great place for cheap flights to anywhere

[OneMoreFarang]

23 minutes ago, Robin said:

Thanks for passing an afternoon while in ASQ.

How could we have this thread without mentioning Bernard Trink?  Nite Owl.

He was an integral part of the bar scene, but unfortunately went on past his sell-by date and ended up a rambling old fool.

There was a small book of memories of Patpong, based on Trink's memories.  I had a copy many years, and moves, ago.

Remember the "Siam Lek," anf "Malaysia" coffee shops.  The last resorts for unfined bar girls.

What will result post Covid is anyone's guess, but it will not bee the same.

Covid has allowed the Amart  to settle old scores and kick out some of the dirty farang that were polluting their country, and it will let them clear out most of the bars, so their massage parlours will flourish.

Cjhawala's travel agency in Patpong?  A great place for cheap flights to anywhere

I liked the first part of your comment.

But then when you tell us about the Amart I had to think what you wrote about the sell-by-date and ...

[wordchild]

1 hour ago, Robin said:

Thanks for passing an afternoon while in ASQ.

How could we have this thread without mentioning Bernard Trink?  Nite Owl.

He was an integral part of the bar scene, but unfortunately went on past his sell-by date and ended up a rambling old fool.

There was a small book of memories of Patpong, based on Trink's memories.  I had a copy many years, and moves, ago.

Remember the "Siam Lek," anf "Malaysia" coffee shops.  The last resorts for unfined bar girls.

What will result post Covid is anyone's guess, but it will not bee the same.

Covid has allowed the Amart  to settle old scores and kick out some of the dirty farang that were polluting their country, and it will let them clear out most of the bars, so their massage parlours will flourish.

Cjhawala's travel agency in Patpong?  A great place for cheap flights to anywhere

Chawla, I guess you mean. I think she moved on from the cheap flight market many , many  years ago; turned her focus onto being more of a business and first class specialist for the local Silom/ Sathorn corporate account market.

If you want a cheap deal to Sydney via Bali with a couple of hops along the way , maybe not the place for you, anymore, but if you want a great deal in business or first , for a trip to Europe , nobody was better in Bangkok, my opinion.

I am not sure she will bother rebuilding her business after COVID, she is not short of money and has some valuable properties in the area. The travel business was more of a hobby, in recent years, at least that was always my impression.

[Yellowtail]

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

That is statistically unlikely - but of course not impossible.

I like to think one pandemic in my lifetime should be enough.

 

I'm thinking you're not much younger than me, and I've lived through five or six.

[Yellowtail]

4 hours ago, Salerno said:

 

Statistics have little to do with conspiracy theories 

 

You think covid 19 is a conspiracy theory? 

[jaiyenyen]

One place I haven't heard mentioned yet was my personal favourite bar, The Den in Suk Soi 12. It was a big place with a square bar in the middle which had a shark tank above it. There were lots of small cosy seating areas which could be made more private by pulling the muslin curtains around. It had a real Gentleman's Club feel to it. Nice clean ST rooms were next door. I had many happy times in there.

[Salerno]

13 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

You think covid 19 is a conspiracy theory? 

 

5 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

What I mean is, once we're done with 19, 20 is right around the corner. A lot of people love it...

 

[Yellowtail]

1 minute ago, Salerno said:

 

 

 

Should I take that as a yes?

[Salerno]

27 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Should I take that as a yes?

 

No, you should take it that what you wrote sounded like, to me at least, you do. If I misinterpreted my apologies.

[Yellowtail]

6 hours ago, Salerno said:

 

No, you should take it that what you wrote sounded like, to me at least, you do. If I misinterpreted my apologies.

 

Apologies accepted 

[HashBrownHarry]

9 hours ago, jaiyenyen said:

One place I haven't heard mentioned yet was my personal favourite bar, The Den in Suk Soi 12. It was a big place with a square bar in the middle which had a shark tank above it. There were lots of small cosy seating areas which could be made more private by pulling the muslin curtains around. It had a real Gentleman's Club feel to it. Nice clean ST rooms were next door. I had many happy times in there.

is this still open?

[actonion]

I have'nt been to Bangkok for ages,     is "Thermae caf'e"  & the "Beer garden" still operating?? in Nana & Asoke areas  pre covid of course?? 

[jaiyenyen]

1 hour ago, HashBrownHarry said:

is this still open?

Unfortunately, The Den closed about 4-5 years ago. I understand that the landlord wanted the land back. It was demolished and something else stands there now.

I think there's still one in Pattaya.

Pattaya seems to have many 'Gentlemens' clubs. I can't work out why they have never been popular in Bangkok.

[OneMoreFarang]

11 hours ago, jaiyenyen said:

One place I haven't heard mentioned yet was my personal favourite bar, The Den in Suk Soi 12. It was a big place with a square bar in the middle which had a shark tank above it. There were lots of small cosy seating areas which could be made more private by pulling the muslin curtains around. It had a real Gentleman's Club feel to it. Nice clean ST rooms were next door. I had many happy times in there.

I knew a sexy small girl called Pim who supposedly worked there. She was the perfect girl until she found a reason to complain. That was LOUD.

[HashBrownHarry]

1 hour ago, jaiyenyen said:

Unfortunately, The Den closed about 4-5 years ago. I understand that the landlord wanted the land back. It was demolished and something else stands there now.

I think there's still one in Pattaya.

Pattaya seems to have many 'Gentlemens' clubs. I can't work out why they have never been popular in Bangkok.

yeah there's one on Soi Pothole in Pattaya, it's not all that tbh IMO.

[saintdomingo]

On 1/10/2021 at 5:17 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

I heard about that. It seems he had another sign for those Arabs: We respect your religion and we won't server you any alcohol. ???? 

The Dogs Bollcxx in Pattaya used to have one.

[saintdomingo]

On 1/4/2021 at 7:22 PM, camble said:

Star of Light

Behave yourself.

Or take it on and re-open it.

[saintdomingo]

On 1/5/2021 at 11:41 AM, jeffbkk1 said:

One long gone bar on PP2 that I used to frequent for the live music as much as the beer was the "Executive Lounge," which was owned by the same group as the "Patpong Cafe" and the "Crystal Palace" further down the Soi. Also, surprised that no one has mentioned "The New Cowboy Bar" on Soi 22, as one of the old time haunts that are still around - I think? Also, "Moonshine" has moved from QPP to just off of Soi 7 in a new beer bar "plaza" that's still expanding.

New Cowboy Bar has changed hands. I have been having the occasional drink there the last few months. Still a lovely bar but still (in my experience) not many customers. 

Crystal Palace still seems to be going, not sure about the Patpong Cafe.

I think the museum has gone.

[saintdomingo]

On 1/5/2021 at 5:02 PM, Nout said:

Jools same owner? The big fella? I doubt it very much. Didn't know they had relocated just thought they closed down

Current owner Matt, formerly Big Dave's Best customers.

[saintdomingo]

On 1/6/2021 at 2:06 PM, GrandPapillon said:

Did anyone mentioned "Woodstock" back in the late 90s in Nana? great place for drinks and food

Great little place, easy, relaxed, nice bar atmosphere. Then they went to Ekamai and started a "minimalist" place with the same name and zero else going for it.

[saintdomingo]

On 1/8/2021 at 10:47 AM, Laughing Gravy said:

Great pub and had many a good day/night there.

 

The Barbican around the corner of Oriellys was a decent place.

I first  arrived in 97 and was in Bobby's a few times, decent enough place and people. Not the same heavy drinkers and everything else lads that were in Jools at that time but alright.

Only went in the Barbican once and didn't really take to it. O'Reillys was fine for it's happy hour but not really for the likes of us.

[OneMoreFarang]

17 minutes ago, saintdomingo said:

Great little place, easy, relaxed, nice bar atmosphere. Then they went to Ekamai and started a "minimalist" place with the same name and zero else going for it.

I saw the Woodstock entrance all the time when I visited G-Spot next door. I don't think I ever went inside. 😉

[proton]

Woodstock was the meet up place for the Nanaplaza.com crowd on Friday nights

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, saintdomingo said:

Great little place, easy, relaxed, nice bar atmosphere. Then they went to Ekamai and started a "minimalist" place with the same name and zero else going for it.

Nitpicking but it was Thonglor, not Ekamai. Thonglor soi 13 which runs from Thonglor to Soi 49.

Agree it didn't have a lot going for it although they did spend some money on the interior. 

[saintdomingo]

Well there you go, could have sworn it was Ekamai. Possibly getting it confused with Bourbon St.

Only went there the once, shame they moved it was a nice little bar.

[ADog]

On 1/3/2021 at 1:13 PM, moe666 said:

I guess what you would call old bars are all gone, Cheap Charlies, Check-In, And the old favorite Golden Beer Bar at Nana Hotel. Hilaries is still around but new and not improved. The string of Bars under the express way have been gone for a while and the Saxophone Bar Victory Monument. O well the beat goes on.

Golden Bar used to be my favourite circa 2003, went there for months and never set foot into Nana Plaza, wasn't until my birthday that the girls from there took me in and I realised it was full of agogo bars, best place for people watching on earth back then ... Seem to remember it being 50/60bht a beer when it was 70bht ish to the pound.

 

Crime against humanity when they turned it into a Hooters, and put the price of beer up to 150bht and the pound down to 45/50 baht.

[FruitPudding]

On 1/5/2021 at 4:23 AM, bangkok19 said:

The early 80's saw me frequenting THE BAARN (next door to BLUE JEAN) in Patpong 1.. they were a few doors before the Madrid and now unfortunately long gone.  The very first bar I visited was the KEY NOTE BAR (next door to original Kings Castle). Walk down Patpong and turn left into Suriwong and there was LUCY'S TIGER DEN.

Turn the other direction on Suriwong Rd and walk past PP1 and PP2 and there was the LA CHERIE MASSAGE PARLOUR. It had escalators to get upstairs to it, you could have a beer and sit next to the glass and stare at all the (well endowed) girls applying make-up (no mobile phones back then to play with).

Halfway down PP2 there is a tiny outdoor bar at the start of the alleyway that runs past the covered bars, it's now VINAI'S BAR BEER (sans) but used to be CLEO'S BAR BEER (sans)...  it used to have Bangkok's oldest barmaid.

Walk past Foodland and way down on the left is CROWN ROYALE..  in the 80's it used to be frequented by "Embassy types" who'd had lunch at the MADRID then walked the small Soi past the old SUPERSTAR BEERGARDEN to the CROWN ROYALE for afternoon drinks.

Next to the Crown Royale was THE RIFIFI BAR owned by Mickey.. he would also sit up the back right hand corner of the bar to greet you. RIFIFI later became ELECTRIC BLUE and now (I think) it's a Steak joint.

The SUPERSTAR BEERGARDEN was in the small Soi that had SUPERSTAR on the corner. About 8 stools along a Bar where we'd watch a video (VHS) afternoons during Happy Hour...  It was 25 Baht a glass of Draft Amarit (takeaway cup available).  Head towards Silom Rd and there was the SAFARI and THIGH Bars...  back the other way was the GRAND PRIX Bar, one of the first bars in the Soi.

 

Venture to the Sukhumvit area ..  Soi Zero (already mentioned) was a group of bars under the Freeway..  a railway line crossed Sukhumvit adjacent...  I only ever saw 1 train crossover Sukhumvit Rd.  Soi Zero itself was bloody noisy from the traffic, and you'd get soot and grit stuck to your sweat.  Great atmosphere if you're half deaf and don't sweat!

The original THERMAE was on Sukhumvit near the Margarita Storm corner. It's now a small office block with 7-11 and ATM.

Much has been written about the old Thermae...  it's rear neighbour, THE MIAMI HOTEL is still running. 

 

I fear I'm slightly off-topic mentioning many of the Bars that have gone.

 

Down on the corner of Soi 19 where Robinson and the Westin Hotel are used to be the COCK'N BULL COCKTAIL LOUNGE. It was upstairs (right about where The Westin's fountain is at the moment).  Further down Soi 19 was the JOY BAR BEER BARBER SHOP.

Then further down the Soi (before the Honey Hotel) was the EYE Q BAR.

Back up the Soi near the corner was the old COUNTRY ROAD, Buffalo, the long haired guitarist played a mean guitar.

Walk further along Sukhumvit past the old VOLVO dealership (now Terminal 21 taxi rank)...  cross Asoke then down to the SHELL garage and turn left..  in the 90's, early, they demolished the bldgs behind the Shell in Soi 23 and gradually many Bars started opening up in there.  I remember the well endowed Noi, who originally worked in Joe's Bar in Cowboy opened a bar there. She'd have inbuilt radar and would drag you in before you were in line-of-sight.  When the bars were all gotten rid of for a new construction, Noi bought an enclosed pick-up truck and would park on 23 (near where Bradmans is today) and she'd sell grog, and you'd sit in the back of the pick-up and chat and drink.  

Back across the road (opposite Bradman's) were the SHIP INN and THE OFFSHORE BAR. The Offshore bar was renowned for having the most comfortable bar stools in Bangkok. What was originally the Offshore's office next door later became the infamous FISH AND CHIP SHOP.  Down the corner was the OLD DUTCH, and opposite (on 23) used to be the old BIERGARDEN.  An outdoor drinking area surrounded by lush greenery. Very popular in its day.

 

Further down Sukhumvit (directly opp Soi 22) was the SKWEEZE INN, a very small bar.

Opposite...  up 22 on the cnr of WASHINGTON was DENNY'S CORNER BAR, originally the bar's surface you were leaning on wasn't quite level and your beer bottle/glass would slide toward you.

I spent a lot of time in WASHINGTON SQUARE, great bars like SILVER DOLLAR aka BOBBY TOOM'S, THE TEXAN and THE PRINCE OF WALES near TAFFY'S.   Also in the small (dead end) Soi Starlight was MR DAENGS BAR...  it had an outdoor 'pisser' where you could look up at the QUEENS PARK HOTEL, and their guests could look down at you!   The 27 HOTEL was at the end of Soi Starlight. 

Further down 22 opposite LIBERTY PLACE apartments was HANKS BAR.  Hank was an Air America Chopper pilot in LAOS and had all his memorabilia plastered all over the walls. Black Andy was the chef..  he was a fixture at the old TEXAN LONE STAR, then later THE MOONSHINE in the QPP.

 

Of course most of these Bars are dead and buried but you could perhaps hire a mini bus and do a tour to the "sites" of these old Bars.  The sites and their stories would surprise many.  

        

 

Are there any bars that still have the old-school vibe?

[josephbloggs]

13 minutes ago, FruitPudding said:

 

Are there any bars that still have the old-school vibe?

The Robin Hood is musty and full of crusty old farangs if that is what you mean?