Patpong Nightlife

Bangkok’s famous red light district is now a big tourist attraction by name, with a below average night market selling tourist tat and full of bar scams. It has now been superseded by the much more relaxed and scam free Soi Cowboy area in Sukhumvit, which is also right next to the Terminal 21 shopping mall (if you fancy combining the two). That said if you read though this article you should be equipped to have a good time in Patpong. Let’s start with what to watch out for… Some show bars will try to get you into a ‘pussy show’ with all sorts of offers. Even if you do agree a no obligation to buy anything, many will still try to charge you an astronomical bill for drinks you didn’t have, ending in you having to argue your way out (this may not go your way). If you want to see a ‘pussy show’, always agree on the deal before you go in. Avoid the guys coming up to you with a list of entertaining features, stick to bars on the ground floor which should be free entry as long as you each buy a drink. If ‘complementary’ shots are put on the table, don’t drink them unless you want to pay for them, and get out of there quick. The Go-Go bars can provide entertainment without all the hassle. They usually have many girls/ladyboys dancing on stages and some even have Muay Thai boxing matches (not at the same time!). They are pretty distinguishable by the large amounts of neon outside, are on the ground floor and also operate a one drink minimum policy. Prices are usually 120-150B for a beer and the bill should be left at your table with each round of drinks. The best and one of the biggest Go-Go bars in the area is Bada Bing Go-Go Bar on Patpong Soi 2. Set over two floors and every night has 20+ girls in skimpy outfits dancing on the stages in this funky lit bar. Besides the laidback atmosphere the real deal breaker is it’s free to get in and drinks prices are reasonable, 140B gets you a beer and its open until 3am. Other reasonable Go-Go bar options are Safari, Silver Star, The High Bar and Kiss, with King Castle being the top ladyboy bar. The Go-Go Bar system is you can ask a girl sit and talk to you for the price of a drink. If you wish for her to stay chatting, you have to buy her another. In the decent places, the drink price should be the same as yours. Just in case you were wondering, yes the girls are usually available to hire for more than dancing, and this is negotiated with the girl/bar, but if you want to know more you will have to look it up. Opening times: Most bars are open from 4:00pm – 2:00am Address: Thanon Patpong 1, Silom Getting Here - Metro: Si Lom exit 2 then a 2 min walk Subway: Sala Daeng exit 1 then a 2 min walk.