What Historic Bangkok Bars Do We Have Left?

[dddave]

Just trying to remember all the Sukhumvit "Bar Areas" that have disappeared since I first came in 2002:

 

-Soi Zero: Under the expressway

-Soi-1

-Soi 3, First block & first side soi on left, from Sukhumvit.

-Alley between sois 5 & 7

-Soi-10 (Now Chewit Park/Art Space, closed)

-Clinton Plaza.

-Area between 13 & 15. ( small bar in front with a wagon wheel)

-Soi 12  Ministry of Sound, Insomnia, Some Russian Bar

-Soi 19 corner: Country Road, Upstairs, couple more who's names I forget.

-Asok Corner: B-52, Lolita's, 

-Soi 20, side soi on right: Pelican Bar, Anna Bar(?)

-Soi 22, Queen's Park

-Washington Square

-Soi 33 "Artist Bars"

 

Any I missed??

-

Edited January 4, 2021 by dddave

[2009]

21 minutes ago, dddave said:

Just trying to remember all the Sukhumvit "Bar Areas" that have disappeared since I first came in 2002:

 

-Soi Zero: Under the expressway

-Soi-1

-Alley between sois 5 & 7

-Soi-10 (Now Chewit Park/Art Space, closed)

-Clinton Plaza.

-Area between 13 & 15. ( small bar in front with a wagon wheel)

-Soi 12  Ministry of Sound, Insomnia, Some Russian Bar

-Soi 19 corner: Country Road, Upstairs, couple more who's names I forget.

-Asok Corner: B-52, Lolita's, 

-Soi 20, side soi on right: Pelican Bar, Anna Bar(?)

-Soi 22, Queen's Park

-Washington Square

-Soi 33 "Artist Bars"

 

Any I missed??

-

 

Sad to see so many go. RIP. 

 

I am confused about the Asoke corner part. Can you elaborate?

 

Hasn't Lolita's always been just off Soi 8.

 

And there been more than one B52? Isn't it up Soi 22?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dddave]

7 minutes ago, 2009 said:

 

Sad to see so many go. RIP. 

 

I am confused about the Asoke corner part. Can you elaborate?

 

Hasn't Lolita's always been just off Soi 8.

 

And there been more than one B52? Isn't it up Soi 22?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where CITIBANK complex now stands was a kind of muddy bar area, separate from Soi Cowboy.  B52 and Lolita's had their original bars there along with several others.  Lolita's now on Soi 8 was "Wildcats" at that time: same theme.  B52 moved to soi 22 after development of Citibank began.

EDIT:  Was what is now Lolita's off soi-8 "Wildcats" or "AlleyCats"????  Anybody remember?

Edited January 4, 2021 by dddave

[Hope 2021]

1 hour ago, dddave said:

Where CITIBANK complex now stands was a kind of muddy bar area, separate from Soi Cowboy.  B52 and Lolita's had their original bars there along with several others.  Lolita's now on Soi 8 was "Wildcats" at that time: same theme.  B52 moved to soi 22 after development of Citibank began.

EDIT:  Was what is now Lolita's off soi-8 "Wildcats" or "AlleyCats"????  Anybody remember?

I think that it was Alley Cats. I am sure that B52 developed from Wild Country, certainly some of the girls were the same. The first time I saw it was in Washington Square (WS) close to Taffy's. This was after the side of WS with Silver Dollar and others had been knocked down but there were still some bars open on the other side with access from Soi 22. They then moved to the Queens park bar complex and are now in a small soi off Soi 22.  I think!!!!

[IvorLott]

1 hour ago, dddave said:

Just trying to remember all the Sukhumvit "Bar Areas" that have disappeared since I first came in 2002:

 

-Soi Zero: Under the expressway

-Soi-1

-Soi 3, First block & first side soi on left, from Sukhumvit.

-Alley between sois 5 & 7

-Soi-10 (Now Chewit Park/Art Space, closed)

-Clinton Plaza.

-Area between 13 & 15. ( small bar in front with a wagon wheel)

-Soi 12  Ministry of Sound, Insomnia, Some Russian Bar

-Soi 19 corner: Country Road, Upstairs, couple more who's names I forget.

-Asok Corner: B-52, Lolita's, 

-Soi 20, side soi on right: Pelican Bar, Anna Bar(?)

-Soi 22, Queen's Park

-Washington Square

-Soi 33 "Artist Bars"

 

Any I missed??

-

There used to be a few bars scattered  on Soi 3, most infamously the Bamboo Bar run by 'Maltese John' (or was it Tony? - either way he was a 'character')

The bars in the Nailert building on Soi 5 (above Foodland) though  one or two remain though seemed on my last trip to be more 'pool halls' then bars, or  'fronts' for dodgy African affairs'. 

Soi 7 itself had a few OK bars on it, of which only the Bier Garten remains. 

Ambassador Plaza,  

that small  'indoor' complex on Soi 13,  just past the Miami Hotel where the Trendy Offices are today, had a few bars, Sports Bar- post Clinton plaza, a few others, but none of them any great shakes,

 

''Area between 13 & 15. ( small bar in front with a wagon wheel)''

I think that was the front of Clinton Plaza. Sports bar, then Bill's (Coffee Shop) plus a smattering of beer bars behind. 

 

This makes for depressing reading. so many memories for so many people, at least there is a new complex going up in the Soi 7 area, which will upset the hipsters....

[Disparate Dan]

blimey - unless I've missed it, no-one has mentioned Thermae.The place to be [not to be seen] after hours on Sukhumvit 25 years ago. Like Dante's Inferno, from what little I can remember........

 

Plus The Ship, a pub on soi 23 before Cowboy. Run by the lovely old Pi Gi (aka Miss Piggy).

Edited January 4, 2021 by Disparate Dan

[camble]

Star of Light

[malt25]

3 hours ago, 2009 said:

Great responses, guys! Cheers

 

Let's map out a pub crawl for after the pandemic, eh?

 

Who is up for it?

I started coming to LOS in 2006. Permanent resident since 2013. I live up in the stix. When I occasionally get to BKK usually hang about Soi 11. Being an old fart I'm not all that up for an extended "pub crawl". BUT, would be very interested in joining anyone interested in visiting some of the "older" or "more notable" watering holes. Put me down as a starter.

[saakura]

OMG, this thread seems to have stirred up a lot of nostalgia among the older sexpats!

[IvorLott]

3 minutes ago, saakura said:

OMG, this thread seems to have stirred up a lot of nostalgia among the older sexpats!

And a bit of resentment from bitter old retirees, whose 'wives' no longer allow them to enjoy the scene as they spend their increasingly meagre pensions....

[2009]

1 hour ago, camble said:

Star of Light

 

SOL is still around; they just moved. 

 

Not quite the same grungy, voyeuristic atmosphere, but still...

[2009]

4 hours ago, dddave said:

Just trying to remember all the Sukhumvit "Bar Areas" that have disappeared since I first came in 2002:

 

-Soi Zero: Under the expressway

-Soi-1

-Soi 3, First block & first side soi on left, from Sukhumvit.

-Alley between sois 5 & 7

-Soi-10 (Now Chewit Park/Art Space, closed)

-Clinton Plaza.

-Area between 13 & 15. ( small bar in front with a wagon wheel)

-Soi 12  Ministry of Sound, Insomnia, Some Russian Bar

-Soi 19 corner: Country Road, Upstairs, couple more who's names I forget.

-Asok Corner: B-52, Lolita's, 

-Soi 20, side soi on right: Pelican Bar, Anna Bar(?)

-Soi 22, Queen's Park

-Washington Square

-Soi 33 "Artist Bars"

 

Any I missed??

-

 

Speaking of Soi 22, Buddy's Bar n Grill has lasted a fair number of years (as far as Bangkok bars go, though I notice they are opening a new one (same decor) down on Sukhumvit Road close to Asok on the corner of that little dead-end soi (18/1?) where ShagBar 2, Why Not, and Angels Club were/are.

 

And also those other Soi 22 bars beside Buddy's - Angel Bar, Connection Bar, and Otto Bar - have last pretty well and still preserve the classic Thai beer bar vibes.

 

And then there is Too Easy just round on the little soi which I think has a lot of the old Washington crowd (those who are still with us).

Edited January 4, 2021 by 2009

[seancbk]

On 1/3/2021 at 8:13 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.

 

Cheap Charlies is in On Nut and in a much nicer spot.  

[2009]

On 1/3/2021 at 7:42 PM, IvorLott said:

There are still a few knocking around, but most have been blitzed in the name of 'progress'  mainly for sh*tty poncey 'finger food', ' craft beer'  'hipster/flashpacker' (really!) places, I doubt few bars in Bangkok now, would make those old 'best bars in Asia' lists which were the staple of many an expat/travel/ forum back 'in the day'.

All I can think of , off the top of my head,  are Chequers, the Bier Garten, Sexy Nite (Nana) Superstar (Patpong) the Huntsman, even Gulliver's (Soi 5 Suk, or KSrd), Morning /Night and Stumble Inn (Nana), which feel like 'new' bars to me, are approaching 'vintage' status,  

 

I know, right.

 

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a farang pub lunch as much as anyone, but it just ain't fun sitting in a boring American, Irish, or British themed pub when I could be in a beer bar with at least some charm and character...warts n all!

 

I like to feel like I am in Thailand when I am having a beer and I just don't get that sitting in a pub designed in the image of one "back home."

 

What really interests me - hence this thread - is the really old ones that won't be around much longer (and covid has almost certainly accelerated that in many cases).

 

As much as I am enjoying watching Bangkok developing, it is selling its soul to the devil and becoming just like anywhere in the West.

[bangon04]

3 hours ago, Disparate Dan said:

blimey - unless I've missed it, no-one has mentioned Thermae.The place to be [not to be seen] after hours on Sukhumvit 25 years ago. Like Dante's Inferno, from what little I can remember........

 

Plus The Ship, a pub on soi 23 before Cowboy. Run by the lovely old Pi Gi (aka Miss Piggy).

Thermae moved to basement under Ruamchit Plaza hotel Soi13/15 and as far as I know it is still there

[joecoolfrog]

5 hours ago, 2009 said:

 

Speaking of Soi 22, Buddy's Bar n Grill has lasted a fair number of years (as far as Bangkok bars go, though I notice they are opening a new one (same decor) down on Sukhumvit Road close to Asok on the corner of that little dead-end soi (18/1?) where ShagBar 2, Why Not, and Angels Club were/are.

 

And also those other Soi 22 bars beside Buddy's - Angel Bar, Connection Bar, and Otto Bar - have last pretty well and still preserve the classic Thai beer bar vibes.

 

And then there is Too Easy just round on the little soi which I think has a lot of the old Washington crowd (those who are still with us).

Too Easy replaced the original Easy bar which was next to Taffys on the square. Consequently many of the original customers simply crossed the road.

[GrandPapillon]

Cheap Charlie Soi OnNUT

[GrandPapillon]

7 hours ago, camble said:

Star of Light

awesome place ????

[bangkok19]

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.  

        

[Dave Miller]

Cheap Charlies -at new location

Saxphone

Wongs Place 

Jacks Bar 

[OneMoreFarang]

11 hours ago, Disparate Dan said:

blimey - unless I've missed it, no-one has mentioned Thermae.The place to be [not to be seen] after hours on Sukhumvit 25 years ago. Like Dante's Inferno, from what little I can remember........

 

Plus The Ship, a pub on soi 23 before Cowboy. Run by the lovely old Pi Gi (aka Miss Piggy).

In 1995 I read on the Internet NewsGroups (anybody remembers them?) a description about Thermae. It was similar to this:

Basically you can't compare Thermae to anything. But if you want to compare it think about that bar in Star Wars were Luke Skywalker meets Han Solo.

 

[OneMoreFarang]

14 hours ago, dddave said:

Just trying to remember all the Sukhumvit "Bar Areas" that have disappeared since I first came in 2002:

 

-Soi Zero: Under the expressway

-Soi-1

-Soi 3, First block & first side soi on left, from Sukhumvit.

-Alley between sois 5 & 7

-Soi-10 (Now Chewit Park/Art Space, closed)

-Clinton Plaza.

-Area between 13 & 15. ( small bar in front with a wagon wheel)

-Soi 12  Ministry of Sound, Insomnia, Some Russian Bar

-Soi 19 corner: Country Road, Upstairs, couple more who's names I forget.

-Asok Corner: B-52, Lolita's, 

-Soi 20, side soi on right: Pelican Bar, Anna Bar(?)

-Soi 22, Queen's Park

-Washington Square

-Soi 33 "Artist Bars"

 

Any I missed??

-

That's an impressive summary.

I just read your list again and I remember I visited all those place.

 

I also remember the bars before it became Chuvit Park. I live in a high rise building from where I could see that area. One day I look out of the window and I think: Something is different today. Search, look, Oh!, no bars anymore.

That was about 7am and I know the bars were still there at 1am. What I learned from that is that Thais can be very efficient if they want to be. The demolition team flattened that whole area within hours. And they erected a big concrete wall around it, and they posted security (I think I remember soldiers) around it. All done in a few hours in the middle of the night. Now that was impressive.

Later on that day I had a coffee in Délifrance in front of Clinton Plaza opposite from the demolished bars. Obviously that was no bar but I still miss it.

 

And from your list: Ministry of Sound in Soi 12 was also very impressive. Until some official decided to set the closing time to 2am (for all Bangkok, not just that place).

[ericthai]

41 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

That's an impressive summary.

I just read your list again and I remember I visited all those place.

 

I also remember the bars before it became Chuvit Park. I live in a high rise building from where I could see that area. One day I look out of the window and I think: Something is different today. Search, look, Oh!, no bars anymore.

That was about 7am and I know the bars were still there at 1am. What I learned from that is that Thais can be very efficient if they want to be. The demolition team flattened that whole area within hours. And they erected a big concrete wall around it, and they posted security (I think I remember soldiers) around it. All done in a few hours in the middle of the night. Now that was impressive.

Later on that day I had a coffee in Délifrance in front of Clinton Plaza opposite from the demolished bars. Obviously that was no bar but I still miss it.

 

And from your list: Ministry of Sound in Soi 12 was also very impressive. Until some official decided to set the closing time to 2am (for all Bangkok, not just that place).

I recall that! I went to work that morning and noticed all the bars were gone. The owner of the land tried to evict all the bars, but the owners of the bars wouldn't move.  After they closed that night the owner of the land brought in the dozers leveled the place. Their were some law suits but I never heard more about it. 

[luckyluke]

20 minutes ago, ericthai said:

I recall that! I went to work that morning and noticed all the bars were gone. The owner of the land tried to evict all the bars, but the owners of the bars wouldn't move.  After they closed that night the owner of the land brought in the dozers leveled the place. Their were some law suits but I never heard more about it. 

Mr. Chuwit got a 2 year prison sentence, don't think he did the 2 years, it seems he received a kind of pardon, when promised to make a park of the area, and not rent/sold it for business purpose.

My wife, who had a beauty salon there, was compensated with a few thousand baths, via the Lumpini police station.

[Stargeezr]

I always liked Gullivers  as it was located walking distance from the Nana Plaza.

  I would stay at Dynasty or the Nana Hotel and spend some time at the plaza then

head to Gullivers for dinner, Great food and atmosphere. and a few times would 

head back to the hotel skipping Nana and getting a good nights sleep.  Ohhh

Memories, pre Covid.

   Geezer

[RAZZELL]

What was the name of the bar area where the Sofitel now stands on Sukhumvit, next to the Ruamchitt Plaza?

 

[ExpatOilWorker]

3 minutes ago, RAZZELL said:

What was the name of the bar area where the Sofitel now stands on Sukhumvit, next to the Ruamchitt Plaza?

 

Clinton Plaza, named after the naughty president.

Dollhouse was there but also a bar named the Whitehouse. 

There we a nice place called Tivoli, with live music and a cute Philippine lead singer at the entry. She had real talent and later sang for a few years at the Hard Rock Cafe at Siam Square. 

[charmonman]

17 hours ago, marin said:

Wong's Place, Soi Ngarm Du Pli.  Been there since the 70's.

Pretty sure Wongs opened in late 1987, I asked the owner one night a few years ago and that’s what he said. Also I was staying in the Malaysia Hotel in mid-late 1987 which is literally a stones throw from Wongs and do not remember it from that time.

[ChipButty]

I used to go Hard Rock a few times I think same owners in KL and Singapore, what was that nightclub called in the Novatel? 

[charmonman]

5 hours ago, 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.  

        

That’s a great roundup of the great old bars. To Patpong I would add the Limelight, Peppermint Bistro, and Goldfingers all very close to one another and all luggage shops now probably. On Patpong 2 there was Mikes Place down a long corridor next to Foodland I think. A bit of a weird atmosphere like something out of a David Lynch movie. Also Bobby’s Arms Pub up in the car park.

Also on Patpong 2, the Tavern ( or is it the Taavern?) I think it’s still there, barely.

 

Your post has brought back some memories. It would not surprise me if I sat next to you at the Bar at the Superstar Coffee shop watching movies. I used to eat there 3 times a week back in 90/91.