Nightlife in Bangkok Old Town is noticeably different from every other district and offers more quality live music than anywhere else. Shunning the more sophisticated vibe of downtown, an easygoing and care-free atmosphere permeates most places in Old Town Bangkok with most of the nightlife taking place on 2 streets: the backpacker haven of Khao San Road, and the student’s perennial favourite strip, Phra Artit Road. 

This list of the best nightlife experiences in Bangkok Old Town is dominated by live music venues offering a range of artists plying their trade every night of the week, although there are also some places to chill out and even a nightclub for those who can’t resist hitting the dancefloor.

  • 1

    Superflow Beach Club Bangkok

    Superflow Beach Club Bangkok
    • Nachtleven

    Superflow Beach Club takes people from the bustling backpacker haunt of Khao San Road, straight into a funky outdoor beach party. The sand-covered floor, day beds and palm tree DJ booth all help to create a surprisingly realistic vibe – you’d never imagine you’re still in Bangkok. 

    You can’t tell from the narrow opening, but this open-air club is a surprisingly large space, which is shaped into a huge ‘L’. Labelled as a day and night club, the team behind Superflow Bangkok have definitely taken inspiration from the beach culture found in places like Ibiza and Bali. It opens midday for Khao San locals who want to do some lounging around, but once the sun sets it gets taken up a notch with live music and DJs.

    Locatie: 9 Khaosan Rd, Talad Yot, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

    Openingstijden: Daily from 11am to 2am

    Telefoonnummer: +66 (0)2 629 1818

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  • 2

    Adhere The 13th Blue Bar

    Adhere The 13th Blue Bar
    • Nachtleven

    Adhere The 13th Blue Bar is a tiny live blues bar that has a charged atmosphere, talented musicians and cheap beers. This is a winning combination that brings locals, expats and backpackers from Khao San Road just 5 minutes’ walk away. The decor of smoke-stained old record sleeves and music memorabilia adds to the authentic feel that this is a place for pure blues music lovers, although from the flowing conversation and collective cheers its clear everyone is welcome.

    There’s no menu to speak of at Adhere the 13th and the musicians start playing sometime around 8pm so you should aim to get here around then if you want a seat. This place is narrow but that helps to create a friendly, fun-loving vibe.

    Locatie: 13 Samsen Rd, Wat Sam Phraya, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

    Openingstijden: Daily from 6pm to midnight

    Telefoonnummer: +66 (0)8 9769 4613

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  • 3

    The Club Khaosan Bangkok

    The Club Khaosan Bangkok
    • Nachtleven

    The Club is one of the only out-and-out nightclubs in Old City Bangkok. It’s a cavernous space which fills up from midnight onwards and plays high-tempo trance and techno tracks to a tourist clientele, although on weekends plenty of Thai teens come to party on, too. 

    There are 2 large bars inside, although most of the interior is open space designed for dancing, with 2 podiums which fill up quickly. Unlike nightclubs in downtown Bangkok, The Club has no dress code, although it’s worth carrying some form of ID as security do sometimes check.

    Locatie: 123 Khaosan Rd, Talad Yot, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

    Openingstijden: Daily from 9pm to 3am

    Telefoonnummer: +66 (0)2 629 1010

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  • 4

    Brick Bar

    Brick Bar
    • Nachtleven

    An extremely popular live music club on Khao San Road, Brick Bar is often missed by first-time visitors to Bangkok as it’s right underneath Buddy Lodge Hotel. Those who do make the effort to find this basement bar are often rewarded with a packed house all singing and dancing along to energetic, fun-loving ska and Thai pop covers from the excellent house band as well as visiting artists from across Thailand.

    Certainly more authentic than other spots on this very foreign-dominated street, Brick Bar is a lot of fun and well worth the entry fee (which often includes a free drink coupon).

    Locatie: Buddy Shopping Plaza, Talad Yot, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

    Openingstijden: Sunday–Friday from 7pm to 2am, Saturday from 7pm to midnight

    Telefoonnummer: +66 (0)2 629 4556

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    foto door VasenkaPhotography (CC BY 2.0) bewerkt

  • 5

    Jazz Happens

    Jazz Happens
    • Nachtleven

    Jazz Happens is a simple live music joint that was established by a group of lecturers from the nearby Silapakorn University. It was meant to provide their students with a place to play and listen to quality jazz music in a nurturing environment. This down-to-earth bar offers a more personal experience than the other jazz clubs scattered around Bangkok. 

    The bar opens from around 7pm but it starts to get busy around 10pm when the band is in full swing. A menu of Thai food and bar snacks is available but most people are content with a cold beer to accompany the rhythmic live jazz.

    Locatie: 62 Phra Athit Rd, Chana Songkhram, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

    Openingstijden: Friday–Wednesday from 5pm to midnight (closed on Thursdays)

    Telefoonnummer: +66 (0)2 282 9934

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    foto door Andrij Bulba (CC BY 2.0) bewerkt

  • 6

    Bombay Blues

    Bombay Blues
    • Nachtleven

    Bombay Blues is a fun bar in Bangkok Old Town that’s housed in a bright red building with Indian motifs. It’s where you can try some delicious Indian curry then kick back for the night and enjoy playing a few board games and listen to the resident DJ play some Bollywood tracks.

    The vibe at Bombay Blues is friendly and relaxed, especially on the second floor open-air terrace where shisha pipes are common and where conversation flows easily.

    Locatie: Soi Rong Mai, Chao Fa Rd, Chana Songkhram, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

    Openingstijden: Daily from 5pm to 2am

    Telefoonnummer: +66 (0)95 520 1515

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  • 7

    Brown Sugar

    • Nachtleven

    Brown Sugar has over 20 years of experience of bringing top quality jazz to Bangkok’s live music aficionados. It moved to the Old City in the early 2010s. Despite the change of location, it has kept the same dimly lit, sophisticated American jazz feel and expert performers playing classic jazz which moves onto more jazz-pop, funk, soul and R&B later into the night.

    Dubbed ‘The Jazz Boutique’, Brown Sugar is open every night of the week except Mondays. There are drinks promotions if you arrive before 9pm when you can enjoy buy-1-get-1-free deals on a range of beers and a small taster menu featuring pork satays, German-style pork knuckles and smoked salmon.

    Locatie: 469 Phra Sumen Rd, Bowonniwet, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

    Openingstijden: Tuesday–Sunday from 5pm to 1am (closed on Mondays)

    Telefoonnummer: +66 (0)8 9499 1378

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  • 8

    Phranakorn Bar & Gallery

    • Nachtleven

    Phranakorn Bar is an arty hideaway popular with students and very in-the-know foreigners. It’s a 4-storey shophouse with a bar on the ground floor, an art gallery and studio, and a rooftop bar on the top floor. Drinks are priced for the student market and the vibe is young, creative and cool. 

    A popular spot is a breezy rooftop, dimly lit under candlelight – even though there’s no view. Located down a small alley a short walk from Khao San Road, Phranakorn Bar fits the bill as a treasured secret you can recommend to all your friends when you return home.

    Locatie: 58/2 Ratchadamnoen Rd, Wat Bowonniwet, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

    Openingstijden: Daily from 10am to midnight

    Telefoonnummer: +66 (0)2 622 0282

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  • 9

    Swing Bar Bangkok

    • Nachtleven

    The Swing Bar at ChingCha Bangkok Hostel is a casual 5th-floor rooftop bar with fantastic views. The name was inspired by the Giant Swing, the famous landmark of Bangkok Old Town, which you can see directly below the bar. 

    ChingCha Bangkok Hostel and Swing Bar were designed to blend in with the authentic Thai atmosphere in the neighbourhood, and it’s located in the heart of the Bangkok, within walking distance from several attractions such as the Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha, Khaosan Road including several piers to enjoy travelling by boat along the Chao Phraya River.

    Locatie: 88/4-89 Siripong Road, Samranrat, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200 Thailand

    Openingstijden: Daily from 5pm to midnight

    Telefoonnummer: +66 (0)63 231 2017

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