In keeping with Midnight Hour's longstanding policy of updating Night Entertainment Area maps, this month we will be providing a new, somewhat automated map of the Nana Entertainment Plaza, or just "Nana Plaza". We probably should have done so before this time, however, since the 'reorganization' of Nana Plaza, there have been a number of new lessees and a number of Nitespot name-changes. It appears that the turmoil is subsiding somewhat, so we felt this might be the opportune time to publish an updated map.
All 3 floors viewable. Floor level changes every 5 seconds.
Note that at the time of map update (01 August 2015) the ground floor Lucky Luke's and the 2nd level A Fairy Bar were still in the throes of renovations. However, it is with some assurance that we have included them on this map. Lucky Luke's is estimated to reopen on or about 5 August 2015, and the A Fairy Bar is estimated to open newly on 8 August 2015.
Time permitting, the remainder of the expat Night Entertainment Area maps for Bangkok will be updated in upcoming issues this year.
The Suzie Smile. This pic circa 2006 at her Suzie Bar in Sukhumvit 1 Plaza. Her first bar, Suzie & Crazy Bar was in Clinton Plaza, followed by her Suzie Bar in Sukhumvit Square, and then at least one bar in Cowboy Annex (Asoke Corner). Then came the aforementioned Suzie Bar at Sukhumvit 1 Plaza. And most recently - at the Soi 6 entrance to Soi Nana. All of Suzie's bars were a success, however, fate played a heavy hand in the locations she chose....
What is the lowdown on Soi 7, where the Beer Garden is? I read the blogs and they say they are redeveloping that area and will tear down all the bars in the alleyway going to Soi 5, and that they may tear down the Beer Garden and even the Club 99. I will be in Bangkok in November, and hope to visit these bars, so it would be great if you could let me know in advance. Keep up the good work, always a good read.
Regard,
K.K.
Greetings, K.K.,
As of a couple of days ago, there were exactly 3 venues left in the alleyway between Soi 5 and Soi 7, all located at the Soi 5 entrance. All the others had been demolished, and the debris was clogging the passageway.
As for the Bier Garten (Soi 7 Beer Garden) and Check Inn 99 (your Club 99), there are only rumors, and rumors are even less dependable than your last tirak. Months earlier, there was, as it worked out, a substantive rumor that the Bier Garten would close - after the death of the original owner. But (so the story goes) it was taken over by the son, and remains open. This is, however, no guarantee as to it's fate in the near term. Likewise, rumor rules on the Check Inn 99's fate. The rumor of it's demise may (or may not) stem from the fact that the premises of the katoey beer bar in the alleyway (which also called itself Check Inn 99) has been torn down. We have learned from harsh foot-in-mouth experience not to publish rumors, except to state that these word-of-mouth scenarios aren't worth the paper they are written on. We will wait for the dust to settle, and do a resurvey of the Soi 5 / Soi 7 area - which will likely be early next year.
We can answer virtually any (reasonable) question on
the Expat Night Entertainment Scene in Bangkok - be it Historical or
very recent. Send us an e-mail and we will do our best to answer you soonest.
A For-The-Archives pic of the Rose Bar, one of the Patpongs' oral services bars. It has been there since the '80's. Note next door the long-defunct Supergirls "upstairs bar", and the now ancient 'chopper' hanging from it's parapet.
The Top Light Bar has popped back up out of it's crypt after an almost 3-month closure. Welcome them back to the nightbeat.
- File photo
PATPONG 2
Below is a list of bars on The Ramp which closed for 2 or more days at month's end for the religious holiday. In that closures at this location have been quite frequent (and all too permanent), we will revisit The Ramp next time around to see which ones have reopened, and get back atcha.
Spanish Eyes 9501 Studio Bar Swing Club Rig-1 Pub The World
The normally glitzy, Vegas-like Rio was in near total darkness the other night when we passed by. No explanatory sign on the door....no scuttlebutt. All the other 'Iranian bars' were pumping.... Curious. We'll keep an ear to the ground and get back atcha.
After being in labour for several months, the NEP finally gave birth to the Jail Birdz. And it was worth the wait - this new A Go-Go could very likely revitalize the 3rd Floor. Great neon, great lighting, great interior (hopefully "theme bars" are on their way back in....). Welcome them to the machine.
NANA PLAZA
The 2nd floor Straps is living, breathing proof that you don't have to have a superbar that is 2 or 3 shophouses wide - all you have to do is do it right. So, continue to 'do what you do, do right', ladies....
NANA PLAZA
Rainbow 4 has put up some startling new neon. Not that they really needed to - they have remained one of the more well-visited A Go-Go bars in the NEP. Popular with both Asians and farang. Let the rock continue to rock.
NANA PLAZA
Angel Witch has also hung out some new neon, but, somehow it doesn't look quite right.... They might want to have the manufacturer come back and look at the lighting within - the sign potentially could be quite striking. May they persevere.
NANA PLAZA
The sign (or, so go the tom-toms) says it all : A Fairy Bar. They will be having their soft opening on 8 August, if they have their way, and if the workmen continue to come to work..... We will be coming around on next month's survey for some more pics....
NANA PLAZA
The Lucky Luke's bar beer has been closed for renovations for the last several weeks. Renovations are nearing completion, and we can look for it to reopen within the week. Several of your favorite hostesses have been transferred to nearby bars (same owner).
The G Terminal was in a stew of paint smells, varnish fumes and solvents when we passed by the other night. Renovations should be complete, and they should be reopening right about... now. Located upstairs in the front annex building in the Rajah Hotel compound.
The Sphinx has completed their interior renovations - all systems 'Go'. (Last month we noted only the outside verandah was open). Let the good times roll....
The Siam Breeze Massage & Spa is the reincarnation of the Po Thai Massage (as one might glean from their new sign). May they continue to slip 'n slide. Located in Soi Starlight.
SOI 22 - (Sukhumvit)
Massage Parlor Blues 'MORE RAIN, LESS CUSTOMER'
Soi 22's masseuses wait curbside for customers. The Soi has, at any given time, two dozen massage parlors, more or less, depending on which venues are closing down and which new venues are coming on line. The recent rains, as welcome as they were for Thailand, were keeping customers off the streets in droves.
SOI 22 - (Sukhumvit)
Gone, but not gone, the Bit Style Massage has come back to life, and it's business / pleasure as usual....
SOI 22 - (Sukhumvit)
Bear Hug Momiya Massage is actually the reincarnation of the Momiya Jasmine Massage. May they always have a chin choke in their corner.
SOI 22 - (Sukhumvit)
The Soft Sense Massage & Spa has either closed, or it is only open daytime. Either way, we shall scratch it from the rolls, as it is no longer a Nightlife attraction.... Located in Soi Lemongrass (just past the now-closed Imperial Queen's Park Hotel.
The Velvet (Christie's) was "lights out" when we passed by at the end of the month (as with most of the Nitespots on Soi Dead Artists due to the Buddhist holiday). However, in recent days, we have seen a lot of activity there, and the Velvet neon has been switched on more often than not. We expect to see it fully reopened in the very near future. We shall advise next round.
The recently opened The District have put the finishing touches on their renovations (see our coverage last month). Seen below are the old entrances to Q up (left) and The Vault Speakeasy Club (right). It's other two areas (not shown) are immediately adjacent to the Q up, and were the Azura Loungebar and the rear part of the old Q Bar respectively. Whole lotta shakin' goin' on....
SOI AMBASSADOR - SOI 11
The Crave has got their neon nailed back up - now that the decorative repainting has been completed. Status quo ante, as they keep on keeping on. Located in the Aloft Hotel.
Hot Male Beer Garden has taken over the reins of the Balls The Sports Bar, which closed a couple of months ago. Welcome to the Big Uphill.
SOI TWILIGHT
The long-standing unnamed bar beer located beside the now defunct Zeus was closed when we soldiered by. However it looks like they are performing a few minor upgrades and will be reopening soon. We will confirm next month....
Bangkok Eyes goes back in time to
see
Who was new - And who was through
in the Expat Night Entertainment world.
How many of these old 'oases'
do you remember ?
Patpong I
* No
changes that month / year.
Patpong 2
* The Rififi Bar A Go-Go reopened. (In the "We Don't Make Mistrakes Department", last month we noted, incorrectly, that the Rififi had closed for good.... in truth, it was to last for some years after that date, eventually closing February 2004). This real estate is now home to Club Electric Blue.
Soi Cowboy
* No changes that month / year.
Nana Plaza
* Play Skool the opened on the ground floor in the previous Mon Cherie digs. Play Skool is still at this location.
*Bubble Gum reopened on the ground floor after being closed for 4 months. It was located in the right half of what is now Suckers.
* Up on the second floor, the once-popular Madisons Pub closed. It was located on the premises of what was, up until recently, the original Candy Land. There is no Nitespot at that location currently.
Soi Katoey(Silom Soi 4)
* No changes that month / year.
Buckskin Joe Village(~ August 1988 - 9
August 2006)
(Also known -originally- as Tobacco Road or Soi Rot Fai or,
'The Tracks', and later as Machim [Thai] and Soi Zero)
Graffiti
Is you is, or is you ain't? AND WHO DECIDES WHAT IS WHAT?
Chris Brown, singer and entertainer, has a brand new home in Beverly Hills, California. He also has a lot of flashy parties and a few flashy cars. He has also taken to spray-painting grotesque faces on his own home. And the neighbors, who don't mind the loud parties, do mind the 'loud' characters spray painted on his home. They call it 'graffiti'. But is it graffiti? Some neighbors disagree, saying he can do whatever he wants to his own property - in the name of "art" - or not in the name of "art". But isn't graffiti defined as "unauthorized markings on property"? There is a fine line of distinction in the minds of many, but not the Beverly Hills police, who say he has violated an ordinance against "excessive signage". But then again, who decides what is "excessive" and what is not? The ordinance itself does not define that.... Well, the battle wages on, without a clear winner in sight - and Chris Brown still has a well-bombed home.....
PATPONG I 
TOP
August's Nightlife News 
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