Curious to know where the office crowd go for a drink after work in CM?

In Bangkok I can think of a dozen places to hang out for a drink after work....... with professional people and office folk going for a beer or a wine or cocktail before heading home.

You know the places I mean....... not the cheapest in town - not full of backpackers or tourists or farang barflies. And not the cutting edge trendy places for the kids either.

More the mid 20's to 40's after work bunch.

Is there even such a demographic in CM ?

there are a lot of farangs drinking after work at Gekko Garden. some work in offices, some are teachers. some nice blokes in there.

^ He means mostly Thai people (office workers), along with expats of the non-Gekko demographic.

Anyway I personally can't think of anything.

Not many office types around in Chiang Mai.. (Foreigners anyway). Thais.. maybe somewhere near Nimman, but that's not an area I visit if it can possibly be avoided.. And *especially* at after-office rush hour.

Personally I do work in an office, but if I go for a drink afterwards then it's typically on Loy Kroh road. But I can't say I ever meet anyone else with an office job. (Nor am I looking for them, of course..)

Edited February 9, 201511 yr by WinnieTheKhwai

I know a bunch of computer programmers who meet up every two weeks or so, but they don't have a regular place. They change the venue almost every time, as far as I know. Usually in the Nimmen area.

The people in the know that speak thai go to the BEST PLACES (ie most beaitiful girls, friendly service, great food) and it is always the CHEAPEST PRICES - make friends with a farang that speaks thai and likes to explore

The now closed Bears Den, which was a riverside bar run by expats from Hong Kong, I think, once ran an add in Citylife promoting the place as a meeting place for people on the way home from the office. To me, it highlighted their lack of understanding of the Chiang Mai expat scene. There are very few big international companies employing expats in their corporate headquarters , paying them well, here in Chiang Mai. So if it's expat office workers you're looking to socialise with, I don't think you'll find any particular area or bars that they go to. I don't know of anywhere, but I would be interested to know if such places exist.

Teachers used to go to John's Place after school, but a lot of the schools got rid of the seasoned teachers to save money. I won't comment on what's changed at JP, because I haven't been in there in a few years, but I would call the reviews "mixed." Anything near Tha Phae Gate seems to be Chinese, Blue-Hairs, or Trashpackers. Very few in white collar work clothes, unless it was for a legal proceeding.

The now closed Bears Den, which was a riverside bar run by expats from Hong Kong, I think, once ran an add in Citylife promoting the place as a meeting place for people on the way home from the office. To me, it highlighted their lack of understanding of the Chiang Mai expat scene. There are very few big international companies employing expats in their corporate headquarters , paying them well, here in Chiang Mai. So if it's expat office workers you're looking to socialise with, I don't think you'll find any particular area or bars that they go to. I don't know of anywhere, but I would be interested to know if such places exist.

Agree with this.. Chiang Mai has plenty of expats, and many of them work, but it doesnt have that MNC office worker crowd like bangkok does..

While not regular I would say the more professional / yuppie / designer / digital etc etc crowd would be House of Beers, beer republic etc.. But not in any way like the bangkok after work crowd.

The people in the know that speak thai go to the BEST PLACES (ie most beaitiful girls, friendly service, great food) and it is always the CHEAPEST PRICES - make friends with a farang that speaks thai and likes to explore

I think the professional crowd, are the very ones not hunting the cheapest prices.. They are the ones with the 250 baht wheat beers and non domestic options not the 199 beer buffet sorts..

In Bangkok there are "The Office" bar on Soi 33. There was also "In Traffic".

It is very useful to drink there, if your wife or girlfriend phones you ranting and raving about where you are.

You can truthfully say "Sorry darling I am still in the Office" or "Sorry darling I am stuck in Traffic!.

Perhaps they have branches in CM too.

Edited February 10, 201511 yr by Estrada

I have never seen anyone like that In Gecko Garden - more the cheap drunken expat crowd.

few places that are trendy and slightly expensive that they could go to are likely mo c mo l top bar maya, kantry terrace,and maybe club café?? even riverside could get a shout.seen partys of farang taking up about 4 tables in blar blar bar,quiet often now,could be more b/d does though????

The people in the know that speak thai go to the BEST PLACES (ie most beaitiful girls, friendly service, great food) and it is always the CHEAPEST PRICES - make friends with a farang that speaks thai and likes to explore

I speak reasonable Thai, yet all these best places, in the company of beautiful girls, friendly service, great food at cheap prices seem to have eluded me. Perhaps I have the wrong attitude or my aftershave is putting them off?

If the OP means for example; similar to in the UK what used to be the pubs of Fleet Street where the journalists used to hang out or the restaurants in Liverpool Street often the social hangouts of the city crowds and so on, the answer is no, nothing like that in Chiang Mai.

My daughter works for a well known Thai bank here in Chiang Mai, if the staff do decide to socialise somewhere after work, it`s usually places not far from where they work mostly in their own cliques. There is no regular haunts where bank workers meet and hang out and guess the same applies to office workers and those of other professions.

HOBS, Nimman. House of Beers.

bit pricey, but elite crowd

Maybe most of them just go home.

The people in the know that speak thai go to the BEST PLACES (ie most beaitiful girls, friendly service, great food) and it is always the CHEAPEST PRICES - make friends with a farang that speaks thai and likes to explore

I speak reasonable Thai, yet all these best places, in the company of beautiful girls, friendly service, great food at cheap prices seem to have eluded me. Perhaps I have the wrong attitude or my aftershave is putting them off?

If the OP means for example; similar to in the UK what used to be the pubs of Fleet Street where the journalists used to hang out or the restaurants in Liverpool Street often the social hangouts of the city crowds and so on, the answer is no, nothing like that in Chiang Mai.

My daughter works for a well known Thai bank here in Chiang Mai, if the staff do decide to socialise somewhere after work, it`s usually places not far from where they work mostly in their own cliques. There is no regular haunts where bank workers meet and hang out and guess the same applies to office workers and those of other professions.

"I speak reasonable Thai, yet all these best places, in the company of beautiful girls, friendly service, great food at cheap prices seem to have eluded me."

Blar Blar Bar, but for some reason the pretty young waitresses, many of them Rajhaphat U. students, are more chatty with the young Thai men than the old western customers. Quite a puzzle there.

Edited February 10, 201511 yr by heybruce

The people in the know that speak thai go to the BEST PLACES (ie most beaitiful girls, friendly service, great food) and it is always the CHEAPEST PRICES - make friends with a farang that speaks thai and likes to explore

I speak reasonable Thai, yet all these best places, in the company of beautiful girls, friendly service, great food at cheap prices seem to have eluded me. Perhaps I have the wrong attitude or my aftershave is putting them off?

If the OP means for example; similar to in the UK what used to be the pubs of Fleet Street where the journalists used to hang out or the restaurants in Liverpool Street often the social hangouts of the city crowds and so on, the answer is no, nothing like that in Chiang Mai.

My daughter works for a well known Thai bank here in Chiang Mai, if the staff do decide to socialise somewhere after work, it`s usually places not far from where they work mostly in their own cliques. There is no regular haunts where bank workers meet and hang out and guess the same applies to office workers and those of other professions.

"I speak reasonable Thai, yet all these best places, in the company of beautiful girls, friendly service, great food at cheap prices seem to have eluded me."

Blar Blar Bar, but for some reason the pretty young waitresses, many of them Rajhaphat U. students, are more chatty with the young Thai men than the old western customers. Quite a puzzle there.

No puzzle at all...

catch a cab. give a decent tip, ask them.

you'll do well.

make friends with a Thai who speaks English.

Edited February 10, 201511 yr by nithisa78

I have never seen anyone like that In Gecko Garden - more the cheap drunken expat crowd.

I resemble that!

catch a cab. give a decent tip, ask them.

Yes because the tuktuk guys clearly know where the in spots for expat professionals are..

Interesting comments. Thanks to all.

I guess CM is not BKK ... or any big city really.

Once in a while I miss the big city feel. Next time I do... I'll have a look at some of the places mentioned.

Or jump on a plane to Bangkok......

Guys you're missing the point. Read between the lines. He's trying to score women on low wages and does not want to pay bar fines similar to those chasing uni students. If he works in an office the natural thing to do is to tag along. He clearly does not work in an office. As you know Thais of specific demographic tend to go out in groups and stick together. He will stand out like dog's testical sitting alone at a table looking around. "Another cheap farang looking for easy sex". If you know what you're doing you don't need to ask people for advice. Put some effort into it and find out for yourself as most of us have buddy. They'll see through your scam pretty quickly. Lol

Guys you're missing the point. Read between the lines. He's trying to score women on low wages and does not want to pay bar fines similar to those chasing uni students. If he works in an office the natural thing to do is to tag along. He clearly does not work in an office. As you know Thais of specific demographic tend to go out in groups and stick together. He will stand out like dog's testical sitting alone at a table looking around. "Another cheap farang looking for easy sex". If you know what you're doing you don't need to ask people for advice. Put some effort into it and find out for yourself as most of us have buddy. They'll see through your scam pretty quickly. Lol

No..... not everyone is like you. ... I'm a happily married man.

There was nothing between the lines in my post. It said exactly what it said. Nothing more.

catch a cab. give a decent tip, ask them.

you'll do well.

make friends with a Thai who speaks English.

That's how you find places that pay cab drivers a commission to bring customers.

Most "office crowd" Thais don't make enough money to go out drinking after work, they all have debt. And if they do have some extra cash they spend it by taking their co-workers to a short-time hotel.

^^^ yep, as common office work pays between 12-30K per month in CM, I have found many office types (based on clothing and proximity) go for the open air cheap beer and BBQ. places.

Upstairs on the roof of maya,santitam area , JJ market , niman road the beer bottle place opposite Nom mont i have a thai friend that sells insurance always goes out after work most days.

^^^ yep, as common office work pays between 12-30K per month in CM, I have found many office types (based on clothing and proximity) go for the open air cheap beer and BBQ. places.

A lot of TV members like the open air cheap beer and BBQ places, especially if they have cute waitresses and beer pretties.

The people in the know that speak thai go to the BEST PLACES (ie most beaitiful girls, friendly service, great food) and it is always the CHEAPEST PRICES - make friends with a farang that speaks thai and likes to explore

I speak reasonable Thai, yet all these best places, in the company of beautiful girls, friendly service, great food at cheap prices seem to have eluded me. Perhaps I have the wrong attitude or my aftershave is putting them off?

If the OP means for example; similar to in the UK what used to be the pubs of Fleet Street where the journalists used to hang out or the restaurants in Liverpool Street often the social hangouts of the city crowds and so on, the answer is no, nothing like that in Chiang Mai.

My daughter works for a well known Thai bank here in Chiang Mai, if the staff do decide to socialise somewhere after work, it`s usually places not far from where they work mostly in their own cliques. There is no regular haunts where bank workers meet and hang out and guess the same applies to office workers and those of other professions.

"I speak reasonable Thai, yet all these best places, in the company of beautiful girls, friendly service, great food at cheap prices seem to have eluded me."

Blar Blar Bar, but for some reason the pretty young waitresses, many of them Rajhaphat U. students, are more chatty with the young Thai men than the old western customers. Quite a puzzle there.

easy just buy the 300bht jug of cocktails,of the serving wenches,and they will sit with you all night,

Oh dear. Does the wife know you're sniffing around for some action? Lol. Descent married people go home after work.