12 Best Nightlife Experiences in Silom

Maggie Choo’s on Silom Road captivates the imagination like few other bars in Bangkok. Located in the basement of Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom Hotel, this breathtaking 1930s Cantonese-inspired space certainly isn’t your ordinary hotel drinking spot.

Maggie Choo’s is easy on the eye from all angles: vintage touches like green lamps and plush sofas are impressive, while models lounge about on the piano, above the bar itself, or rock back and forth on swings at the entrance. The venue used to be the bank vault of the East India Company, and you can explore one of the private booths which are set inside the vaults. Drinks go hand in hand with the stylish setting – for the best, try the HMS Leviathan (honey, bourbon, vermouth and lemon).

Sky Bar at the Lebua State Tower was a firm Bangkok nightlife favourite well before the boys in The Hangover Part II got there in 2011. The bar is packed almost every night with tourists eager to get a bird’s-eye view of the city, as well as that all-important photo in front of Lebua’s iconic domed structure.

Despite the crowds, Lebua’s Sky Bar is still up there with some of the best rooftop bars in the world. Sitting pretty at 63 storeys, the views over Bangkok and the nearby Chao Phraya River are quite breathtaking. Alongside that stunning golden dome (which you’re sure to recognise from the movie), Sky Bar has a luxurious list of exotic cocktails, imported wines and beers. 

Patpong Road in Silom is famous for its nightly walking street-style market, but even more (in)famous for its numerous go-go bars. Be prepared to be shocked if you choose to explore this side of Bangkok's nightlife – it's more extreme than even your wildest expectations!

Besides its go-go bars, the Patpong area does boast plenty of better-behaved venues, where you can find pool tables, cheap drinks, friendly service and food.

The stunning HI-SO Rooftop Bar at SO Sofitel Bangkok offers superb views over Lumpini Park, a sumptuous menu of international cuisine and an altogether sophisticated vibe.

As the name suggests, HI-SO appeals firmly to Bangkok’s more affluent crowd (they even have a VIP terrace above that costs an extra 500 baht), and the food and drinks prices further reinforce this fact. However, for a unique view of the lush greenery of Lumpini Park, as well as a stylish place to see and be seen, HI-SO is a firm favourite of ours.

DJ Station, the epicentre of Bangkok’s gay community, and can be found on Silom Soi 2, one of the capital’s pinkest streets. This huge nightclub – almost bordering super-club status with its multiple floors, rooms and bars – draws in the masses on late weekends, when things get particularly hot, sweaty and crowded.

The club usually puts on a drag show early on, with men in dresses miming to classic ballads. The dance floor fills as the night progresses with relentless techno and house, keeping the place pumping into the early hours. Note that ID is mandatory to enter DJ Station. 

Patpong is bursting full of naughty go-go bars, and Bada Bing on Soi 2 is probably the best of the bunch. So what makes it stand out from the rest? Firstly, their honest and transparent drinks prices (with no ‘extra’ charges) means that you can relax knowing that you’re not going to get ripped off.

Bada Bing Go-Go Bar has plenty of seating options around the stage area and in a more private area at the back. The place usually gets quite busy from around 10pm, so you won’t feel quite so conspicuous or like you're the centre of attention.

Silom's Sois 2 and 4 are packed with gay bars and clubs, as well as the odd massage shop and male sauna. Despite being Bangkok’s pinkest streets and attracting a mostly gay crowd, Soi 4 draws in a more diverse clientele, from couples on dates to groups of tourists and even the odd family! The smaller and narrower Soi 2 offers a slightly more intense atmosphere. 

Another draw to these 2 streets is that many of the bars boast some of the cheapest drinks you’ll find in this part of town, with happy hours running every night (usually from 5pm to 9pm).

Soi Thaniya is well-known for its collection of gentleman’s lounges, go-go bars and massage parlours targeting the Japanese market. It's similar to the adjacent Patpong Road, but without a night market, higher prices, and most signs in Japanese. Most of the bars here require a short elevator journey up, creating an air of mystery as to what lies inside.i

Away from its seedy side, Soi Thaniya does have a couple of excellent Japanese restaurants, Thai street food vendors, and a couple of more laidback bars.

Distil is a rooftop cocktail bar and lounge marrying innovative cocktails with a seriously awe-inspiring view from the 64th floor of lebua at State Tower Hotel. It has an indoor seating area of comfy sofas, a circular bar, and an outdoor cigar terrace.

This is a sophisticated place where guests can expect to sample fine rarities that few Bangkok bars can boast: exclusive wines, cigars, whiskies, and resident DJs playing jazzy lounge house. There is a smart casual dress code at Distil Cocktail Bar and guests must be over 20 years of age.

Met Bar at COMO Metropolitan Bangkok is a lounge-style bar with deep chairs and dark-wine walls. It's not often busy unless there's an event taking place. Lighting is soft and moody. Mixologists create bespoke martinis while headlining DJs spin worldwide lounge tunes. Drinks start from around 200 baht and there's no cover charge. Met Bar Bangkok is at its busiest and best when hosting an international act or one-off event.

Muzik Café is a casual live music joint in Silom that showcases performances from talented bands throughout the week. You can expect singalong cover songs from the likes of Guns N' Roses and Oasis at this semi-open-air venue. Live music starts around 9pm and goes on till late. A great atmosphere in the heart of Patpong's girly bar district, make this an ideal place to start your rounds.

Vesper Bangkok, named after James Bonds’ famous martini, is a fancy cocktail bar and Italian restaurant in Silom. It offers a rather nice respite from the hectic scenes unfolding along Soi Convent, which is just a few steps away. The bare brick, marble and dark wood combination feel suitably suave, but it’s the dedication to detail at this retro-chic venue will impress even the most serious of cocktail connoisseurs.