Sukhumvit Nightlife: Who’s Keeping It Alive?

[BarBoy]

6 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Whatever happened to the man without any arms and legs? I remember seeing him and being in shock. 

might have gone for a swim one night....

[Albo]

After having nothing to do with Sukhumvit, now retired I'm back to visiting once a week.

 

Cowboy for mongers is absolute dead until 8pm. Tourist throngs all night with the gawkers trebling punters 3:1 easily. It's very scammy with no real functioning gogos outside of Bacara. Beer prices shoot up after 7 in the three places that actually have customers. Country Road definitely taken a step or two down. Oasis now Stumble Inn. Service is mediocre there at best. Dollhouse is the only gogo I've been in and that was a long time ago. Never recovered from covid and upstairs closed. All the gogos have mercenary looking old ladies sitting outside. It all just looks like trouble. Now  three ladyboy bars. I never see anyone in or out , but I leave very early.

 

Soi 4. I don't bother past Day Night/ Stumble. It's just same BS with more potential for scams. Last week o did walk up to 6 over and back out past infamous Sarangjai mansion. Nothing. Lots of women beckoning me in on 4 happy hour beer 90b, but as soon as you decline the lady drink you're sitting absolutely alone in that pub. Never a fan of the beer bars left side just past Nana. Checkers good for a pint or bottle as the Irish pub across the street.

 

A few months back I was out and went into Nana. I'd not been in np for almost 20 years. This probably was September when the women should have been throwing themselves at me. Walking the floors looking for a decent gogo with reality based prices. Not happening. Unattractive, indifferent women. Everyone on their phones. Beer prices were scandalous. Basically, tourist traps. I recall one attractive dancer approach me as soon as I spoke to words of time to her she's spun around and bolted. Finally, I went into one well-known Go-Go ground floor there were two dancers. One was quite middle age with low-hanging utters which were not attractive but interesting. There were more staff including two mamasans than dancers. The reason I went in there as I caught the happy hour beer. I bought a beer, listen to the 50-year-old woman trying grub I drink off of me and then went inside. The two basically weren't dancers at all they were just a country women fkin around on the poles. They would have been good fun to have a chat with but I could just imagine what would going on with the lady drinks. I think we are at a point now where the whole Go-Go scene is collapsing or perhaps has collapsed in BKK. If you're buying it lady drink or even a drink yourself you're just getting yourself into a bit of trouble or at least a spot or bother.

 

Soi 7. The bar sitting directly on 27 have a number of drinks girls and appears mildly lively. There's no foot traffic so there's nothing to really watch going by. You could buy a lady drink and that would probably work out okay and those pubs. The small beer bars in the back side I have a few women each. Nothing is ever compelled me to go in any of the bars in this group. The one thing that is extremely off-putting and I swore I would never drink here is that they charge 10b to use the toilet. There's no way I would ever drink a 120 baht beer to pay another 10 baht to bleed it out.

 

There is an interesting and semi sleazy bar that open next to a sketchy massage joint below the escalator Nana BTS south side. Lots of girls. No idea drinks prices, lady drinks prices etc. they open Before high season they had no one. Now, I see a few tourists in there. It's nothing that locals would be interested in due to the layout of the bar or should I say hole in the wall.

 

7.1 ah  7/1.. always fun to have a look. I usually end up down there way too early to be a judge of it. Mostly very expensive little beer bars and lots of marginal freelancer/hookers

 

Soi 8. This soi continues to bore the hell out of me. Rumors has closed.

 

There are a few places to drink directly on Sukhumvit. Game is probably the best. The rest of them I really wouldn't bother with. This also attracts huge amounts of tourists and the people selling crap in the streets out front are very annoying.

 

Soi 11. No idea what's going on there these days. Someone can fill me in.

 

Finally, anyone knows any fun and friendly day drinking spots I'd be appreciative. Certainly doesn't need to be on Sukhumvit. Really like drinking in open air especially cool season

[steven100]

Thailand =     you made your bed now sleep in it

 

I love it .... I hope they all go broke. 

[SiSePuede419]

I stayed in Nana just so I could get a balcony to smoke weed.  Nice hotel reasonably priced.

But I never went to Nana entertainment plaza.  Don't drink like a fish.

But I did meet one bloke at the hotel as I went to pick up some things at 7.

He stayed there 4 times.

He's definitely enjoying the "night life".

For me, I'd rather stay at a hotel near Phaya Thai station.

Closer to the airport.  Better for business people who fly international for business, like me.

But my preferred hotel was full.  

Ciao, bambinos. 🐣

[RetiredNavy71]

On 11/28/2024 at 8:47 PM, 123Stodg said:

I don’t know about you lot, but since Covid ended, I’ve noticed a massive shift in the type of crowd now haunting Sukhumvit’s nightlife. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that without a few key groups propping it up, the whole scene might collapse faster than a plastic patio chair under a heavy bloke.

 

When I first landed here decades ago, Sukhumvit was the go-to spot for Western expats and tourists: Aussies, Yanks, Brits, Germans, and the odd Scandinavian sweating their way through the heat. They were the backbone of the nightlife, packing out Soi 4 and Soi 11 like clockwork. It was a good giggle. These days? I’d estimate they’re barely 20% of the crowd. The other 80%? A melting pot of Indians, Arabs, Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese punters.

 

And here’s the kicker: Indians alone probably make up two-thirds of the crowd on certain sois. Walk down Nana or Soi 11 now, and it’s a completely different vibe. What started as a playground tailored for Western tastes has shifted into something distinctly Asian-centric. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just fascinating to watch how the balance of power (and wallets) has changed. Are we watching Sukhumvit morph into something new and sustainable, or is it just clinging to whichever crowd happens to have the deepest pockets right now? Throw in the explosion of weed shops over the last few years, and it’s like stepping into a completely different universe.

 

So what happens if even one of these major financial pillars, say the Indians or Arabs, stops showing up? Does the whole thing come crashing down? Let’s be real: Sukhumvit’s nightlife already feels like it’s teetering on a fragile dynamic. With sky-high prices and waning appeal for many of the old crowd, it just doesn’t have the same draw anymore. Sure, the bars, clubs, and streets still buzz, but would it all go belly-up if those propping it up decided to take their wallets elsewhere?

 

What’s your take? Have you noticed the shift? And where do you think the nightlife would end up if some of these groups suddenly disappeared?

Well the last time I partied in Soi Cowboy and Pattaya for that matter was 1992, the year before I retired from the US Navy.  I can relate to how things were back in the day but I'm eager to see and find out how much things have really changed.  Great article by the way and thanks again 

[NoshowJones]

On 11/29/2024 at 3:12 PM, saintdomingo said:

Are the Indians spending money.?

Or any of the others

?

The straw industry must be doing well.

[mstevens]

Nana Plaza was crazy busy this week. Someone once told me the Nana area was owned by Indians. True or not, I do not know. But what I do know is that there are more Indians than farangs in Nana these days. And more Chinese and Japanese than farangs. The vibe is so different today. Still fun, but different.

[saakura]

On 11/29/2024 at 3:12 PM, saintdomingo said:

Are the Indians spending money.?

Or any of the others

?

And more importantly, are they marrying  them?

[DonniePeverley]

On 12/1/2024 at 4:51 AM, NoshowJones said:

The straw industry must be doing well.

 

 

It's changed these days. 

 

Now it's about haggling. They work in packs, and try to get the best possible discount for their entertainment. 

[mokwit]

6 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

 

It's changed these days. 

 

Now it's about haggling. They work in packs, and try to get the best possible discount for their entertainment. 

They do that in 7-11. Nothing more annoying than having one of them in front of you doing the "My friend tell me there is special deal"

[PingRoundTheWorld]

On 11/29/2024 at 5:05 AM, ChaiyaTH said:

I started going to the Thai venues where they apparently can still offer you a gogo with the same alcohol for a fraction of the price, so clearly it is not 'inflation'.

Interesting. Can you give an example of such a venue? I like the occassional gogo but the prices have gone up drastically. I also used to go to soi 11 on a daily basis pre-Covid - it was always more expensive but these days the prices are even higher and so not worth it with the type of crowd that shows up. I just moved to more falang friendly venues, zero interest in soi 11 in it's current form. It was good while it lasted.

[PingRoundTheWorld]

On 11/30/2024 at 2:49 AM, RSD1 said:

Considering how much Thai women tend to dislike Indian men, it’s likely that many have left the game entirely. As a result, those who remain are likely the ones more willing to engage with Indian men.

Many have left the game, many have moved to Pattaya, and younger ones go directly to Pattaya and Phuket so no one to replace the ones who quit or move. Basically Bangkok clubs are now a mixture of wannabe hiso, old freelancers who haven't given up yet, and foreign pros (Vietnamese, Africans, Russians, etc). Not much interesting anymore. I still go visit BKK occassionally to see friends, but generally moved to Pattaya which is a lot more fun.

 

Speaking of Pattaya and Indians, on any night you'll see groups of Indian tourists going to their hotel with 1-2 fat chicks to share between a few guys. I've never seen them take a girl I would consider attractive. I'm not sure if they just like fat women, or these are the only women who target them because they have no chance competing with the hotter ones who target falang and Asians, or if these women are just willing to get paid a little extra to go with multiple men. An Indian guy once told me and 4 friends hired a girl for a bachelors party, each had a round with her, went out to party leaving her in the hotel then came back for another round in the morning and she left. They each paid her 1000 so she got 5000 total which I guess for a less attractive woman in Pattaya would be impossible to get.

 

They don't bother me too much in Pattaya since they tend to stick to their clubs and the girls in those clubs, but in Bangkok they are definitely a prime cause for soi 11's decline. Falang stopped coming, and with that women who liked them stopped coming. Everybody loses. Except the Indians, maybe.

 

 

[jippytum]

Indians and Nigerians

[spidermike007]

I've noticed the same thing, a lot more Indians a lot more Arabs than before, and at the high-end massage shops almost exclusively Japanese and Koreans, with just a small smattering of Chinese. Hardly any westerners at all. 

[RSD1]

1 hour ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Many have left the game, many have moved to Pattaya, and younger ones go directly to Pattaya and Phuket so no one to replace the ones who quit or move. Basically Bangkok clubs are now a mixture of wannabe hiso, old freelancers who haven't given up yet, and foreign pros (Vietnamese, Africans, Russians, etc). Not much interesting anymore.

The majority of the better looking younger ones (who can create attractive photos) no longer work in bars. They are all on Thai dating sites hooking the guys who have more money by pretending to be single women looking for a foreign partner. The ones still working in the conventional P4P nightlife areas are generally lower on the food chain. That goes both for Bangkok and Pattaya. That's the way it's gone now. It is what it is. 

[Thingamabob]

First arrived in Thailand in 1962 aged 21. Nana Plaza was a relatively late development, and never had the amazing atmosphere of Patpong in the mid 70s to the mid 80s, when the original Queens Castle was in full swing on Patpong 1. I suspect there will always be some sort of nightlife on Sukhumvit/Nana and Patpong but it takes Europeans an Americans interacting with Thai girls, enjoying drinks, music and a lot of laughs, to create the fun ambience which is sadly lacking these days.

[AgMech Cowboy]

The expats from the petroleum industry are 'mostly' gone. That includes all the many, many contractors and subcontractors employees associated with them.  That's my first guess.

[nana kid]

There is Pre Covid Nana            and Post Covid Nana                                     Once the Entry doors were opened to everyone

Everyone came                    and brougt their National Habits with them

[Seppius]

You can't blame the venues for putting prices up, a bar owner friend of mine told me 20 years ago, prices would end up like Hong Kong for the nightlife.

 

Rents and wagers have soared and still going up

[mokwit]

23 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Falang stopped coming, and with that women who liked them stopped coming. Everybody loses. Except the Indians, maybe.

Bangladeshis mostly, especially the ones in big all male groups. A Farang woman described it as "Like a gang r@pe waiting to happen", so that's another demographic that might be coming less. The more farang, more upmarket upmarket venues/hotels seem a little out of place with the street level demographics.

 

The Ambassador is opening a night club, I can already guess that the demographic will be big gangs of Bangladeshi men and a handful of those local "ladies" who have no other market.

[RSD1]

5 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Bangladeshis mostly, especially the ones in big all male groups. A Farang woman described it as "Like a gang r@pe waiting to happen", so that's another demographic that might be coming less. The more farang, more upmarket upmarket venues/hotels seem a little out of place with the street level demographics.

 

The Ambassador is opening a night club, I can already guess that the demographic will be big gangs of Bangladeshi men and a handful of those local "ladies" who have no other market.

That whole Soi 11 nightlife scene has sh*thole written all over it these days. The only thing worthwhile on the whole Soi is Soho Pizza way down at the end. 
 

Back in the day there was never a street scene on the Soi there itself. You had Q Bar, Bed Supper Club, and a few others, and that was it. Now the street is lined with girls and boys trying to hook. And all the Africans calling you bro and trying to start conversation when you walk by. Street bars and the like. It's completely down market. The Ambassador opening a new night club will just be another added Indian trash hangout. 

[mokwit]

15 minutes ago, RSD1 said:

Back in the day there was never a street scene on the Soi there itself. You had Q Bar, Bed Supper Club, and a few others, and that was it. Now the street is lined with girls and boys trying to hook. And all the Africans calling you bro and trying to start conversation when you walk by. Street bars and the like. It's completely down market. The Ambassador opening a new night club will just be another added Indian trash hangout. 

The reaction of many, is WTF I didn't sign up for a third world tour - thought I was coming to Thailand. Can't imagine the hotels on the soi get much in the way of rebookings.

[RSD1]

1 minute ago, mokwit said:

The reaction of many, is WTF I didn't sign up for a third world tour - thought I was coming to Thailand. Can't imagine the hotels on the soi get much in the way of rebookings.

Agreed, the noise. And the whole grotty night scene. Must really put people off. There used to be a few good restaurants in the Soi too back in the day. Now it's just fast food garbage and expensive and pretentious watering holes. 

[Upnotover]

25 minutes ago, RSD1 said:

The Ambassador opening a new night club will just be another added Indian trash hangout. 

Climax?  I went there 6 months ago, shortly after it re-opened (or is there another one coming?) If I remember there was a cover charge, that could keep the trash away.  It was actually quite pleasant with good music and certainly not any overwhelming Indian influence or crowd.   

[mokwit]

3 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Climax?  I went there 6 months ago, shortly after it re-opened (or is there another one coming?) If I remember there was a cover charge, that could keep the trash away.  It was actually quite pleasant with good music and certainly not any overwhelming Indian influence or crowd.   

New one at street level, taking over the space where the lounge used to be.

[RSD1]

5 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Climax?  I went there 6 months ago, shortly after it re-opened (or is there another one coming?) If I remember there was a cover charge, that could keep the trash away.  It was actually quite pleasant with good music and certainly not any overwhelming Indian influence or crowd.   

I was in Climax way back in the day. Loud, dark, and everyone was very trashed from what I recall. The word "pleasant" never came to mind. 

[mokwit]

12 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Climax?  I went there 6 months ago, shortly after it re-opened (or is there another one coming?) If I remember there was a cover charge, that could keep the trash away.  It was actually quite pleasant with good music and certainly not any overwhelming Indian influence or crowd.   

You didn't feel you were partying in an underground garage?

 

Years ago it was the Leo Club, a venue for middle aged Thai women to meet young men.

[DualSportBiker]

On 11/29/2024 at 12:21 PM, mokwit said:

oh man, you should have been here in the nineties [insert decade prior]

 

Seems to me it all stopped on a dime in 2005.

I watched the opening night(s) at Lollipop when there were still restaurants, a pharmacy and a Lebanese restaurant in Nana. I agree with you, it was all pretty off by the early naughties. 

 

Don't go to any of my old hangouts any more. Too old, too bored with it, my mates have left or died, have changed my tastes and stopped drinking... 

[JimTripper]

On 11/30/2024 at 6:02 PM, Albo said:

Lots of women beckoning me in on 4 happy hour beer 90b, but as soon as you decline the lady drink you're sitting absolutely alone in that pub.

Having a girl sit with me without a lady drink anywhere has been gone for decades Mr. Leather.

[DonniePeverley]

On 12/3/2024 at 2:54 AM, mokwit said:

They do that in 7-11. Nothing more annoying than having one of them in front of you doing the "My friend tell me there is special deal"

 

 

I feel for Thai ladies. Economically they could wait the day out and try to 'earn' two customers, or she could do a massive 6-7 Indians in one go for marginally less - but it's better than nothing.

 

Just horrific