The Gay Scene in the City of Angels (and Little Devils!)
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The “City of Angels” is the Thai translation of the name “Bangkok” westerners’ use for the city known in Thai as Krung Thep Mahanakhon, or Krung Thep for short. The city of Bangkok is the capital, largest urban area and primary city of Thailand. It is interesting to ask Thai guys you meet where they are from because almost all are so proud to tell you and happy you asked. When from Bangkok most say “Krung Thep” so it is good and less confusing to know they mean Bangkok.
Like its counterpart with the same name, Los Angeles, it is a metrosexual haven and is known for its gay nightlife entertainment venues, fabulous restaurants and service-minded hotels. The areas of Suriwong, Silom, and along Sathorn Road offer the gayest venues and therefore the most popular areas frequented by foreigners who speak English. Everything you need is here within easy walking distance: Lodging, dining, drinking, dancing, spas, and saunas. More about this later, for now, it is good to know a little about the most fascinating city in all of Asia.
Bangkok has a population of approximately 6,355,144 residents while the greater Bangkok area has a population of 11,971,000. Bangkok is the financial hub of international capital and headquarters many multinational firms. This has in turn shifted the country from being a rather homogeneous Thai population to an increasingly vibrant mix of Western, Indian and Chinese people, giving the city a cosmopolitan status. The capital is part of the heavily urbanized triangle of central and eastern Thailand which stretches from Nakhon Ratchasima along Bangkok to the industrialized eastern seaboard. It is the most built-up area in South East Asia.
Due to the influx of both gay tourist and gay foreign residents there is a vibrant gay nightlife. Silom and Suriwong streets run parallel to each other and are considered the main gay area for foreigners. The most popular walks to take to bar hop are Silom’s Soi 4, Soi 2, Soi 2/1 and the infamous Patpong & Male Go Go clubs. All are close to the Sala Daeng BTS Skytrain station and Silom MRT Subway stations.
Silom Soi 4 offers a more relaxed atmosphere with its mix of straight & gay clubs, restaurants and bars, which is great for couples or meeting new friends. Telephone Pub, The Balcony and the more elegant Sphinx all serve food and some welcome the crowds with ‘happy hour’ and monthly promotions. People love to sit on the terraces and people-watch and have conversations all night long.
(Samples of monthly specials offered by the most famous of the Soi 4 Pubs and SPICE! Favorites)
About four minutes from the popular Silom Soi 4 along Silom is Soi 2/1 where tourists, local expats and Thai guys congregate for dinner and drinks @Richard’s Pub & Restaurant and later at G.O.D. nightclub, a large club boasting sexy house beats, big crowds and a lot of eye candy for after hours drinking and dancing.
A two-minute walk from Soi 2/1 is Silom Soi 2. A very popular late night soi and features Asia’s most popular gay disco DJ Station, the place to be for the hip crowd. An entertaining mini cabaret show launches the fun around 23:00 most evenings. The first and second floors are usually dominated by sweaty half-naked men, while the third has a long comfy couch perfect for smooching with your new found friend. Expect to be groped on all floors. Facing DJ Station, Expresso is a place to cool off and re-energize. Disco Disco is another place to let it all hang out, especially when every inch of DJ Station and Expresso is occupied.
In between Silom and Sathorn Road, there are several massage salons. If you want to see the famous sex shows, head over to the next Soi nearby on Suriwong and Patpong (which runs between the two sois) area reveals a naughtier side of things. Suriwong Road is where the most guy go-go bars are located with “special shows” on Soi Duangthawee (formerly Soi Twilight) right up the street from the Tarntawan Place, a great gay friendly hotel. Stop in at Dick’s Café or Maxis Restaurant on Soi Duangthawee for some great Thai or western food before hitting the bars or to view the “street action.” Most bars have shows at 10:30pm and midnight.
Bangkok has a sister city of sorts. Although formerly considered the ugly step-child, the relationship between Bangkok and Pattaya Beach resort, an hour and a half away, continues to grow. Many gays prefer to bounce between the two cities and sometimes venture out to wonderful Chiang Mai to the north or beautiful Phuket and Koh Samui to the south.