39 Best Nightlife in Sukhumvit

At first sight, Soi Cowboy looks like a fantasy land of bright pink neon. But fantasies here become real for all those searching for the dark side of Bangkok’s nightlife culture: namely, go-go bars. This red-light district has a more laid-back, carnival-like feel to it than other famous go-go districts such as Patpong or Nana Plaza.

The colourful streetscape is comprised mainly of middle-aged expats, Japanese and western tourists, and of course a lot of sexily dressed girls. There are more than 20 bars lined one next to the other, each following the same formula of a central stage, loud music and scantily clad dancers. Typically, bars here are open from 8pm to 2am.

Octave Rooftop and Lounge is more than a place for watching the sunset or having a romantic meal. Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok waited a long time for its very own rooftop bar, and then finally Octave came along and showed the rest of them how it should really be done.

No rooftop bar in the city has a 360-degree view of Bangkok that matches this, and the top floor of this 3-level venue is among the highest spots in the city for a party. The Octave Rooftop Bar experience starts on the 45th floor of the Marriot Hotel Sukhumvit, a 3-minute walk from Thong Lor Skytrain Station.

Levels Club & Lounge is a venue with 3 distinct party zones housed in one connected space and offers a great alternative to the already rocking nightlife scene on Sukhumvit Soi 11. Combining elements of a terraced bar, classy lounge, and a box-like clubbing room that has one of the best sound systems in the city, Levels covers a lot of musical ground and tries to provide a little something for everyone. 

Occasionally, they charge an entry fee for special events or on nights with international DJs, but it’s free entry most of the time.

Beam Nightclub Bangkok is one of the liveliest dance clubs in the city, bringing underground house and techno music to Bangkok’s bass heads. The music policy is strictly adhering to the ‘cooler’ elements of the dance music scene so don’t expect to hear vocal EDM tracks. The music style you're most likely to hear is minimal and deep tech-house in the bare, dark main room that is more reminiscent of European dance clubs than the glitzy and glamourous style of partying often preferred by Thais. The VOID Acoustics sound system at Beam Club Bangkok is incredibly good, as is the LED laser and light show.

Above Eleven is 32 floors above Bangkok’s premier party street on Sukhumvit Soi 11. It’s a chilled-out Central Park-inspired rooftop bar, set out over 2 floors. As well as coming for a sunset cocktail, you can also experience their unusual Peruvian-Japanese fusion dishes. 

Around 10 minutes walk from the BTS at Nana, Above Eleven bar and restaurant is on the rooftop of Fraser Suites and can be accessed by the entrance at the back of the serviced apartment complex.

Nana Plaza is Bangkok's naughtiness central, located on Sukhumvit Soi 4. Notorious for its racy themed go-go bars, there are 3 storeys of eye-popping activity all focused around a square-shaped central atrium.

Unlike at the better-known Soi Cowboy or Patpong, Nana Plaza is a more ‘adult' scene. That means no families, no markets and few curious tourists. It's still worth a look if you are searching for an exotic visual experience, and a story to talk about when back home, but be prepared to be shocked.

Narz is a nightclub housed inside a glass-fronted mansion with 3 separate rooms to explore and enjoy. It's a late night club that stays open after most others in the city have closed and has a sleek and modern décor that attracts a wide range of clientele.

If you’re arriving before midnight, definitely head upstairs as the other rooms don’t really get going until later. Even so, it's trance music that Narz is most widely known for, with a roster of top-class DJs, a steady stream of guest acts and a crowd consisting of young and mostly Thai revellers, who arrive late and leave as the sun comes up.

Cielo Sky Bar hits the right notes with a great view, affordable prices and plenty of front-row seats for the sunset. With so many rooftops in Bangkok, it’s important to stand out from the crowd, and although it has a slightly out-of-the-way location, it’s worth the trip to see the 180-degree cityscape from the 46th floor.

The easiest way to get to Cielo Sky Bar is to travel to the Phra Khanong BTS Skytrain station and use exit 3. From here, it’s a 5-minute walk to the Luk Condominium building.

Glow Nightclub in Bangkok is a party venue with a strictly underground dance music policy that's constantly rocking to bass-heavy beats. Anyone wanting the most cutting-edge house music in the city should seek out this dark, loud, diminutive club. Bangkok is rightly regarded as one of the world’s most vibrant party metropolises, with world-class parties, clubs and events taking place on a nightly basis – but Glow offers something a little bit different: a place where your love of music is more important than the label on your back.

Havana Social Bangkok is a cool secret bar inspired by prohibition bars commonly found in pre-revolution Cuba. Think dim lights, classic rum cocktails, exposed beams and crumbling plaster – the 1940s pre-revolution Cuba theme is painstakingly well executed. Bar staff are smartly dressed and coiffured, as are the socialite crowd who were cool enough to find their way to this hidden bar. Located on Sukhumvit Soi 11, Havana Social Bangkok is about 1 km north of the Nana BTS Skytrain Station.

Insanity Nightclub Bangkok is an international-class clubbing venue that rocks to bass-heavy big room EDM, house, open format and hip hop 7 nights a week. This is one of the largest clubs in the city, housed in a single hangar-like room filled with impressive lasers and lighting system, along with seductive podium dancers and a central stage for those who want to let loose on the dance floor.

Nest Rooftop Bar in Bangkok is where you can chill out with cabanas set in sand, oversized daybeds to laze back on and an impressive cocktail list. This top-floor rooftop bar lacks the views of some of Bangkok’s taller rooftop offerings, but the ambience is unique here and offers a great alternative to the busier bars on Soi 11. The music is a mix of soul, funk and chilled beats which helps to keep everything cool and laidback.

Sing Sing Theater is a fantastic bar-cum-club in Bangkok with a creative interior design concept. Paying homage to Far-Eastern aesthetics, it has intricate wrought iron patterns, hundreds of lanterns hanging from the ceiling and plenty of dragon imagery to go with the ‘Muses' (elegant girls dressed in Chinese qipao). There's a big push into concept parties at Sing Sing, too, with themes like Underwater or Carnival being completely immersive experiences and a whole lot of fun.

Sugar Club Bangkok is one of the only genuine hip hop clubs in Sukhumvit, with some of Bangkok’s biggest local talent taking control of the sound system, including the Bangkok Invaders and DJ Toru. Expect a mix of big-room, old-school anthems, and current tunes cut between. A live dance crew pop and lock on the central stage to keep the crowd energised, while the great-value drinks promos keep people sipping on whisky and vodka all night long.

Brew Beers and Ciders in Bangkok has a large stock of beers, ciders and ales. It’s the place for anyone who tires of the predictable Chang, Singha and Tiger which make up Thailand’s usual selection. At Brew, there’s an unbelievable range of draft and bottled beers from microbreweries around the world.

As with other imported non-essentials, imported beers are subjected to heavy taxes, so don’t expect a bargain here – expect to pay around 250 baht a beer and up to 300 baht for stronger or more unusual Belgian abbey beers. Brew is in one of the most fashionable districts in the city, a favourite of rich young Thais and many foreigners yearning for a taste of the world’s best beers.

AmBar Bangkok is located on the 8th floor of the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel on Sukhumvit 15. It doesn’t quite scrape the sky, but what it lacks in stature, it more than makes up with a great range of drinks, food and a chilled-out atmosphere that's far more enjoyable than some of the more famous rooftops in Bangkok.

Add to that the great range of events and deals that always seem to be happening here and you can see why it has become a popular spot for those who usually spend their time on nearby Sukhumvit Soi 11.

Brewski at Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok is the city’s only rooftop craft beer bar. The view over Sukhumvit from 30 floors up is impressive, as is the unique concept of this vintage-inspired venue offering western pub food, a dozen beers and ciders on tap, and an incredible 100 craft brews. Brewski Bangkok is located on the rooftop of the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Bangkok, a 5-minute walk from both the Asok BTS Skytrain station and the Sukhumvit MRT subway station.

The Comedy Club Bangkok is a dedicated English-language comedy venue, which is a reason to cheer for fans and performers of standup, improv and other forms of live comedy. Currently, performances are scheduled for Friday nights only, but the intention is to grow naturally while fostering a community of standup comedy fans as well as nurturing would-be performers.

A delightful place to chill out and chat the evening away with friends, HOBS features an extensive list of local and imported beers, plenty of which are Belgian, as well as a good selection of tasty western and Thai food.

The interior sports a back-lit stained-glass wall, reminiscent of a medieval church. There’s also an outdoor deck out front, with a large-screen LCD display for live sports and international news. Although HOBS has no live music, it’s got a stylishly laid-back ambience that proves popular among Bangkok’s well-cultured crowd.

Hooters Bangkok is part of what is probably the most popular bar franchise in the world. This Bangkok branch on Sukhumvit Soi 15 is located in the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel and stays true to the original vision of fun and flirty Hooter’s girls behind the bar, live sports on the big-screen TVs and huge portions of American dishes on the menu, particularly the ‘world-famous chicken wings’ in a wide range of flavours.

The layout of the bar is typical of an American sports bar with a mixture of high stools and tables. There's a small upstairs area for private parties. Everywhere you look is the classic Hooters colour scheme of white on orange, not least on the girls’ uniforms. The girls all speak great English and are as chatty as they can be when not pouring drinks or performing their dance routine. The group dance is scheduled every 30 minutes.

J Bar & Café Bangkok is a classic neighbourhood bar on Sukhumvit Road, where foreigners and Thais mix freely. Drinks are cheap and the food menu is a mix of Thai and western dishes. Everything is made inhouse and the bar also allows you to bring in Japanese food or pizza from the neighbouring restaurants if you fancy something different, which is a testament to the easy-going nature of the owners.

The Living Room at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit hosts a top-notch jazz band or musician every night. Alongside the jazz talent, you can enjoy great wines, cocktails and champagnes in a relaxed, cosy atmosphere. On Sundays, The Living Room hosts a 'Jazzy Brunch Buffet' between 11.30am and 3pm. 

Long Table resides on the 25th floor of Column Tower, offering panoramic views of Sukhumvit. Visitors often share a meal at its namesake table, which seats around 70 people. Even on a weeknight, the outdoor terrace is buzzing with people who want to make the most of the famous Bangkok sunsets and Long Table's attractive drinks offers.

Rib Room & Bar Steakhouse occupies the 31st floor of The Landmark Bangkok. This elegant dining venue has floor-to-ceiling windows and décor in vermilion, black, and dark wood, setting the scene for a sultry evening. The open kitchen serves up juicy steaks – Australian grain-fed, Matsusaka, Wagyu grilled to taste – to be paired with a bottle of vintage red from the cellar.

Sky on 20 is a stylish rooftop bar at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 Hotel. It offers guests stunning views across the city, along with an excellent selection of wines, beers and cocktails. The open-air rooftop space has calming décor, including fairy light-wrapped trees and comfortable sofas as well as a retractable roof in case it rains. A popular place for sunset-watching or Friday night drinks, Sky on 20 has the right amount of buzz for a relaxing evening in downtown Bangkok.

Tenderloins is a contemporary bar and steakhouse in Sukhumvit. Popular with the after-work crowd and sports fans, the venue specialises in imported steaks, wine and a variety of beers. TVs showcase the latest matches, attracting sports fans who prefer a more intimate setting.

Vanilla Sky Rooftop Bar Bangkok offers the perfect spot for citywide views from Sukhumvit’s Phrom Phong area. Located on the 36th floor of Compass Skyview Hotel, the view is a genuine 360-degree vista, with the bustle of Sukhumvit Road and Benjasiri Park on one side and the Riverside and Sathorn on the other. Vanilla Sky's drinks list includes classic cocktails, several interesting gin and tonic concoctions, as well as a couple of beers by the bottle.

Zest Bar & Terrace at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit offers views of downtown Bangkok and Sukhumvit Road with its floor-to-ceiling windows. This vibrant bar delivers impeccably-crafted martinis to its clients, who often rest on its plush contemporary furnishings. Smoking is allowed on the terrace.