Chiang Mai Gay Entertainment Venues

[gregchambers]

CM seems to have closed down all its gay go-gos, what happened?

[Paagai]

CM seems to have closed down all its gay go-gos, what happened?

Er, I don't think so......... Commercial bars here in CM have remained more or less constant for the last two and a half years - since Adam's closed down. All these bars are what's best described as host bars with a show rather than true go-go. Shows in some are quite raunchy. Best currently, (it changes, and is of course a matter of opinion/preference) is Free Guy, followed by New My Way (Few more lady boy acts), then Circle Pub (very popular with Thais). The old Doi Boys is now called Club Grooves (by Doi Boys), had a brief attempt at being a dance bar but has succumbed to its old ways. I have heard some very bad things about this place recently - AYOR.

Adam's Apple is rumoured to be reopening for Songkran - I'll believe it if and when I see it. The goodwill is long gone and new construction opposite will make access and parking a nightmare.

For an up to date guide to the Chiang Mai scene try radchada dot com and follow the links to the gay guide. One place thats had a big resurgence is Soho who had their re-launch party last night. Apparently it was standing room only with people spilling out onto the sidewalk! The night bazzar by contrast is totally dead, especially the couple of remaining bars at the Peak, the predictions about no "high season" this year certainly seem true.

[llz]

I have just read on a thai webboard (TMM Society) that Free Guy would have closed.

I hope I misunderstood the statement as I liked the boys there a lot ...

[Paagai]

I have just read on a thai webboard (TMM Society) that Free Guy would have closed.

I hope I misunderstood the statement as I liked the boys there a lot ...

News to me......... two nights ago I had a drink with a couple of guys from there, before they went to work, so believe it was business as usual Went to a party there about ten days ago and the place was in full swing; many new handsome "waiters". I think there is a misunderstanding somewhere but will report back if I hear different.

[scorecard]

CM seems to have closed down all its gay go-gos, what happened?

Er, I don't think so......... Commercial bars here in CM have remained more or less constant for the last two and a half years - since Adam's closed down. All these bars are what's best described as host bars with a show rather than true go-go. Shows in some are quite raunchy. Best currently, (it changes, and is of course a matter of opinion/preference) is Free Guy, followed by New My Way (Few more lady boy acts), then Circle Pub (very popular with Thais). The old Doi Boys is now called Club Grooves (by Doi Boys), had a brief attempt at being a dance bar but has succumbed to its old ways. I have heard some very bad things about this place recently - AYOR.

Adam's Apple is rumoured to be reopening for Songkran - I'll believe it if and when I see it. The goodwill is long gone and new construction opposite will make access and parking a nightmare.

For an up to date guide to the Chiang Mai scene try radchada dot com and follow the links to the gay guide. One place thats had a big resurgence is Soho who had their re-launch party last night. Apparently it was standing room only with people spilling out onto the sidewalk! The night bazzar by contrast is totally dead, especially the couple of remaining bars at the Peak, the predictions about no "high season" this year certainly seem true.

Would you please describe SOHO, what type of venue, any show, etc., thanks.

[PeaceBlondie]

Paagai can elaborate, but Soho is a restaurant on Huay Kaew, next to Amazing Sandwich. Not a gogo

[scorecard]

Paagai can elaborate, but Soho is a restaurant on Huay Kaew, next to Amazing Sandwich. Not a gogo

Thanks, is this the place where waiters can be offed and the waiters do a dancing show after kitchen closes???

[Paagai]

Paagai can elaborate, but Soho is a restaurant on Huay Kaew, next to Amazing Sandwich. Not a gogo

Thanks, is this the place where waiters can be offed and the waiters do a dancing show after kitchen closes???

Is that why they call it Amazing Sandwich ? They sure kept that sideline quiet

Sorry, I shouldn't have assumed everyone new Soho (see: sohochiangmai dot com)! It is a slightly sophisticated bar more than a restaurant, but certainly not a Go-Go bar. Its more of a socialising place for gay people and definitely not a money boy hang out nor off bar or pickup joint, but never say never . You can order food from the nearby Lemon Tree restaurant and I believe they will soon do there own snacks too.

It was quite popular with all the Farang queens from the nearby condos when it first opened, but a change of ownership a couple of years back killed the place. It was recently purchased by a genial American called Scott, who's a great host and has won back the customers. New friendly and attentive staff and re-envigorated decor have completed the transformation.

Clientele is mainly ex-pats with some tourists and several older/proffesional Thai patrons too. Bar tenders are higher class than many places (students and guys with real day jobs) and the atmosphere is conversational and friendly, rather than loud music.

The only place I can think of with offable waiters was the old Golden Ball which has now morphed into Radchada Cafe (Radchada dot com). Radchada is more of a local bar with food rather than pure restaurant; I don't think it does offs. Quieter than Golden Ball it seems to have a few ex pat regulars together with a mix of gay students drinking before Mandalay, and a few Tai Yais from the other go-go bars hanging around. The owner Khun Note, is a veteran of the Chiang Mai scene probably know to many here. Speaks good English and provides some entertainment with his razor sharp tounge. Website also has a good up to date gay guide to Chiang Mai.

For a google map of gay places in Chiang Mai this is also good:

Link to maps.google.com

Is that enough elaboration?

P.S. to avoid confusion "Amazing Sandwich" is not a gay venue but a day time sandwhich shop!

[PeaceBlondie]

Yes, but I have often been offered an unawful, lawful, offable gay sandwich, elsewhere!

[Paagai]

I have just read on a thai webboard (TMM Society) that Free Guy would have closed.

I hope I misunderstood the statement as I liked the boys there a lot ...

News to me......... two nights ago I had a drink with a couple of guys from there, before they went to work, so believe it was business as usual Went to a party there about ten days ago and the place was in full swing; many new handsome "waiters". I think there is a misunderstanding somewhere but will report back if I hear different.

Update: Had some friends visting this weekend so did the obligatory venue tour (my liver is still recovering from the two bottles of JW Black in Mandagay ) Pleased to report Free Guy is very much alive and well, with a good show and lots of big...........[cut!!!!] Their proud boast is no Ladyboys in the show! Well rumours of their demise are definitely untrue.

New My Way has lots of guys but few real cute ones. The chicks with dicks in dirty frocks lip sync routines leave me cold, and as for the two freaks trying to do a real dance number, that was just bizzare. Nearly peed myself laughing they were so bad, and couldn't keep in step if their lives depended on it.

Club Grooves (ex Doi Boys) is off the list these days and didn't have time to sample Circle (Too packed with Thais on a weekend anyway). Soho was busy as ever, Radchada Cafe had quite a few too, mainly Thai (and some cute guys ) with a few ex-pats holding court at the bar. Garden Bar had a few farangs though very few of the usual Shan boys were around. Maybe its too cold (N.B. there's been a cold snap in Northern Thailand last week or so)?

Popped into the Peak for a quick one at MTVee bar. Oh what a mess; they seem to have started ripping some of the bars apart around the couple that are still open, place looks like a bomb site. MTVee had a few customers, Friendship had two and Paradise had some tourist boy/girls playing pool. Didn't try the other bars (behind D2) but heard its gone very underage recently, indeed, you only have to look at what's out in the street. Avoid, or better still Help do something about it!

Oh well, on to better things, Mandalay sure lived up to its Mandagay nickname

[PeaceBlondie]

I heard good review of Free Guy yesterday. I agree with the rest. Also heard that the renovations on Adam's Apple have torn out the dangerous winding stairway, but I agree with the earlier opinion that even AA's slightly tarnished reputation is way in the past, nearly forgotten.

[Sansai Sam]

The person that told you Adam's Apple will re-open at Songkran were misinformed. The building is being converted into two seperate business. Downstairs is a martini style bar called "THE METRO" and it will open at Songkran. Upstairs is being completely renovated also and will reopen in the style of the old Adam but will not be ready by Songkran. The bars are totally different and totally seperate and customers can not go from one to the other without going outside and re-entering through another door. Both bars are owned by an American from Los Angeles and I for one look forward to the opening of both venues.

[Sansai Sam]

...and yes Blondie...the spiral staircase is gone!

[PeaceBlondie]

...and yes Blondie...the spiral staircase is gone!

Hopefully, the underage dancers are also gone, or by now have reached legal age. Or have Thai ID's now.

[Sansai Sam]

.....but I agree with the earlier opinion that even AA's slightly tarnished reputation is way in the past, nearly forgotten.

Guess not so "slightly" or "nearly" enough! Wasn't aware of underage at Adam but if there are none left than no worries...Free Guysand night bazaar have plenty!

[PeaceBlondie]

We have just had a reasonable request from a prim and proper local to tone down our remarks here. I have altered the title and hope we will all behave, Thanks, y'all.

[bungalowbill]

The biggest problem with Free Guy is that they charge more than the other go go bars for drinks....200 baht!!

I think that they will lose customers when apple opens...I hear the drinks will be cheaper than all the other go go bars

[Paagai]

The person that told you Adam's Apple will re-open at Songkran were misinformed.

The new owner did strike me as the type of person who would be often mis-informed

The building is being converted into two seperate business. Downstairs is a martini style bar called "THE METRO" and it will open at Songkran. Upstairs is being completely renovated also and will reopen in the style of the old Adam but will not be ready by Songkran. The bars are totally different and totally seperate and customers can not go from one to the other without going outside and re-entering through another door. Both bars are owned by an American from Los Angeles and I for one look forward to the opening of both venues.

Yes indeed, I believe the reason for keeping them separate, and probably with separate licences, declared owners etc, is so that when the BIB shut down upstairs, downstairs can remain open. In the current politically charged climate in CM upstairs may not stay open too long............

Recruiting good "waiters" maybe a problem too. The CM bars are almost exclusively staffed by Tai Yai and there is a big clampdown on them in CM right now so there may not be many left This is prompted by several factors: the economy and the need to reduce migrant workers, current politics with the reds, the Rohinghas debacle, drugs trafficing from Myanmar, and rising crime attributed to Tai Yai's .

The last is a simple cause and effect that Thai logic doesn't understand. If you take away someone's livelihood by preventing them working and their choices are i) return to the Shan State where their life expectancy may be short, or ii) stay in Thailand and resort to crime to survive. Duh! Of course, two high profile murders attributed to Tai Yai's, first of David Crisp and secondly of a Maejo university student haven't helped.

.....but I agree with the earlier opinion that even AA's slightly tarnished reputation is way in the past, nearly forgotten.

Though there are some of the ex staff still trading on it One in particular pops up from time to time with the line "Hello, I'm Somchai from the ****** show at Adam's" (Details deleted to be prim and proper as per PB's request )They don't get it, three years on "I used to work at Adam's" = "I'm old, past it and desparate". Though I'm reliably informed Somchai's trade mark hasn't shrunk with time

[Paagai]

Guess not so "slightly" or "nearly" enough! Wasn't aware of underage at Adam but if there are none left than no worries...Free Guysand night bazaar have plenty!

Now Ali has gone Dragon King at the Night Bazzar is like the local Kindergarten. And, it's only there because of supply and demand, the demand coming from a small minority who get the rest of us gay folk a lot of bad press. If you know some of the "demand" perpertrators do everyone a favour and

Click here to report them

[PeaceBlondie]

Indeed, the very young teenager who was more than just a flower boy, and others, are to be seen at Dragon King. Also, one night we were there and some idiot was taking snapshots of CUSTOMERS who were just sitting at the bar. We need to give a few gentle hints to the katoey who runs the bar.