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Music Venues
Bangkok has literally hundreds of live music venues
serving up everything from rock and pop to jazz, blues, Latin and folk.
So, whatever genre you're into, you're bound to find something to suit.
You'll also see that against some venues we have put our 'knife and
fork' icon. This indicates that the place offers a decent food menu,
as opposed to simply pub grub.
For additional information on who's playing where and when, check out
our weekly Gig
Guide
Ad Makers Pub & Restaurant
51/1 Soi Lang Suan.
Tel: 02-652 1069.
Open: 5pm-1am. Music from 8pm.
Credit cards accepted.
This is a very popular locals' hang out that also attracts a good following
of expats. The outside suggests a more elegant venue than the beer hall-style
operation within. There is a good bar, but that seems to be ignored
in favour of the many bare wooden tables around the various areas.
The food comes from an extensive menu which is predominantly Thai, although
there are a few farang dishes, including a pig hock, on offer.
Ad Makers is clearly a place to chill-out and there are plenty of private
bottles of JW Black behind the bar as testament to the regulars' preferences.
The music is normally provided by one of the better Bangkok bands playing
good covers with a strong rock bias.
See Baronbonk article
Ad Makers
Allamanda Coffee Shop
Maruay Garden Hotel,
Pahonyothin Soi 40 & 42,
Bangkok 10310.
Tel: 02-561 0510.
Open: 24 hours. Music from 7pm.
Credit cards accepted.
Bamboo Bar
The Oriental Hotel,
Oriental Lane.
Tel: 02-659 9000.
Open: 11am-2am. Music from 10pm.
Credit cards accepted.
A well-established venue for great jazz, with guest singers from America
supported by some of the best musicians in town. And, of course, the
reputation of the world renowned Oriental Hotel.
Bamboo Beer Bar
Sukhumvit Soi 3.
Tel: 02-253 2462.
Open: 10am-2am. Music from 9pm.
Primarily a spacious pool room but also has live music from The Fox,
Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Good simple food and girls on tap.
A popular rendezvous place before heading for the flesh pots.
Ban Kwanreuan Pub & Restaurant
81 Soi Ari,
Pahonyothin Soi 7.
Tel: 02-278 5118.
A Thai favourite with a relaxing atmosphere and tasty Thai dishes on
offer. Acoustic duos and live bands nightly. Friendly and affordable.
Bar Bu Ree
59 Sukhumvit 63,
Wattana,
Bangkok 10110.
Tel: 02-392 4976/8.
Open: 5pm-2am.
Credit cards accepted.
This is a modern, spacious wine bar-cum-restaurant with a predominantly
Thai and Japanese clientele. The menu reflects this, with lots of sushi
and Thai options, though you will find a small selection of western
dishes, including pastas and salads. If you don't want to eat, the sweeping
bar is a good place to enjoy a drink or two, or you can sit outside
in the attractive garden area, complete with fountains. The live music
features up to three bands a night playing everything from gentle background
music to sizzling samba.
Barbican, The
Soi Thaniya,
Silom.
Tel: 02-234 3590.
Open: 11.30am-2am.
Credit cards accepted.
A trendy bar in Bangkok's Little Ginza district. Has a good menu with
restaurants upstairs and in the mezzanine basement. Has occasional live
music though you're more likely to hear a DJ most nights. A cool stop
for those in the know.
Barley Castle Pub & Restaurant
105/2 Thonglor Soi 5.
Tel: 02-390 2646.
Pop and jazz every night from decent cover artistes from the Philippines.
Cosy bar/restaurant designed for couples with good food and attentive
service. Impressive but small venue with a moderately priced European
menu.
Baron, The
Narai Hotel,
Silom Road.
Tel: 02-233 3350.
Open: 11am-1am. Music from 6pm.
Credit cards accepted.
A popular Silom gig and frequented after office hours when the latest
Filipino cover band performs more of the same.
Bourbon Street
Sukhumvit Soi 22,
Washington Square.
Tel: 02-259 0328.
Open: 7am-1am. Music from 8pm.
Credit cards accepted.
The di facto headquarters of the American community in Bangkok, this
restaurant does the best gumbo and New Orleans/Cajun/Creole cusine in
Asia! Oh yeah, and it has live music Thursday to Saturday from 8pm.
Well worth a visit for the food and service.
Brew Pavilion
1053/1 Ratchdapisek Road.
Tel: 02-642 2002.
Open: 6pm-2am. Music from 7pm.
Credit cards accepted.
A purpose-built brew pub, or should I say brew arena, that is confusingly
sponsored by Chivas Regal whisky. With a predominantly local clientele
the food is, not unsurprisingly, Thai although there are a few international
dishes on the menu. I had the pig hock, which was unfortunately deep-fried
but not too bad when washed down with a few litres of the in-house brew.
The music varies from night to night with many local stars performing
here regularly.
Brown Sugar
Soi Sarasin,
Lumpini.
Tel: 02-250 1826.
Open: 5pm-2am. Music from 9.30pm
Credit cards accepted
A fabled jazz gig that's known around the world in the music business.
In need of a little care and attention but serves up excellent jazz
music from some fine musicians. Lito Jazz Band and Mefar Big Band are
the current residents. Small and intimate, it has hosted a number of
international artists. Food and service, however, are poor.
Brunswick, The
SNC Tower, 33 Sukhumvit Soi 4,
Nana Tai, Klongtoy,
Bangkok 10110.
Tel: 02-255 5044.
Predominantly a pool hall, and a good one at that, which has recently
started hosting live music on Friday nights. Current band is Chang Noi
who knock out awful versions of rock 'n' roll favourites.
Cat House
Nana Plaza,
Sukhumvit Soi 4,
Bangkok 10110 .
A popular beer bar within Nana Plaza that has recently introduced nightly
live music. The three-piece house band play good renditions of a wide
range of songs and welcome (decent) singers to join them. Owned by a
friendly American guy called Doug, this is a relaxed, air-con bar that's
ideally placed for those who like to see what's going on in the plaza.
Charcoal Grey
888/22-24 Ploenchit Road.
Tel: 02-253 6766.
Open: 5pm-1am. Music from 8.20pm.
Credit cards accepted.
Dark wood features in this friendly little after-work bar that runs
late and gets very busy on Fridays and Saturdays. The Charcoal Grey
trio are a good unit with an impressive range of music. I was surprised
to hear a guitar band do Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. Simple, mainly Thai
menu, on offer.
Check Inn 99
97 Sukhumvit Road (between soi 5 and soi 7),
Nana.
Tel: 02-252 6706.
Open: 5pm-1.30am. Music from 8.45pm.
Credit cards accepted.
Restaurant/bar with nightly live music (9pm-1.30am) from the resident
house band. Not a bad place to sit with your girlfriend, but far from
being a 'happening' place.
Cheers Pub
Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza.
Tel: 02-238 4300.
Open: 11am-1pm & 5pm-2am. Music from 8pm.
Credit cards accepted.
Cozy pub which appeals to office executives looking to relax with friends
over a bite to eat. Current band is High Energy who play Monday to Saturday
from 8pm, with Donna Michelle taking over on Sundays. Good music to
get the feet tapping and the girlfriends humming along.
City Lounge
Siam City Hotel,
Phayathai Road.
Tel: 02-247 0123.
Open: 7am-12.30am. Music from 9.30pm.
Credit cards accepted.
Thai cover band play pop, rock and jazz standards from 9pm, Monday to
Sunday. Regular venue for mini concerts and classical recitals organised
by hotel owner Kamala Sukosol, who often stars herself.
Coliseum
Soi Thonglor,
906 Sukhumvit,
Klongtey,
Bangkok 10110.
Tel: 02-713 5000.
Open: 5.30pm-2am. Music from 7pm.
Credit cards accepted.
Giant beer hall on five levels with seating for around 1,000. A vast
stage is the setting for very classy musical shows complete with MTV-style
dance routines and polished cover bands doing the latest boy band stuff
and pop/rock covers. Decent Thai food menu and cheap beer make this
a great place for a party. Check out the replica Mount Rushmore and,
on the opposite wall, an equivalent featuring famous Thais!
Concept CM2
Novotel Bangkok,
Siam Square Soi 6.
Tel: 02-255 6888.
Open: 9.30pm-1.45am. Music from 10pm.
Credit cards accepted.
Several entertainment venues in a large basement setting with live international
cover bands every night: currently Big Noise six nights. The place also
has restaurants, a wine bar and disco. There is a cover charge of Bt100,
redeemable against your first (expensive) drink.
Country Road II
Sukhumvit Soi 19.
Tel: 02-258 4341.
Open: 6pm-2am. Music from 7.30pm.
Right in the heart of the city with live music, food, pool and girls.
The resident band, Buffalo, is a genuine relic from the Vietnam War
R&R days and word their set has barely changed since they first
started playing together in the 60s! They play from 7.30pm-11pm, with
'new stars' PTK taking over for the rest of the night.
Crazy Asia
1/1 Convent Road,
Silom, Bangruck,
Bangkok 10500.
Tel: 02-266 7162.
Open: 11.30am-2am. Music from 7pm.
Credit cards accepted.
Culture Club
15 Ekamai Soi 4, Sukhumvit Soi 63
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel: 02-391 1326
Open: 6pm-2am. Music from 9pm.
Dallas Pub
412/1, Siam Square Soi 6.
Tel: 02-255 3276.
Open: 6pm-2am. Music from 9.30pm.
One of only a handful of watering holes in Siam Square, tucked away
in first floor premises on soi 6, opposite the Novotel. Live music comes
from a number of bands playing pop and rock covers, who are competent
enough but nothing special. Decent range of Thai food available though
and the beer is very cheap. Good place to start before moving on to
Hard Rock or Concept.
Debut Café
Lakeside,
Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
Tel: 02-229 3399.
Open: 11am-1am. Music from 8.30pm.
Credit cards accepted.
This hangar, for want of a better word, is owned and operated by Thailand's
premier record label, Grammy. Has live music every night, 8pm-midnight,
but closes at 1am. Grammy artistes oblige and ITV shows the main gig
live on air every Sunday at 9.30pm. By the way, if purple is not your
favourite colour, go elsewhere. Bands seem to vary according to who
is available on the night.
Dicken's Pub
Ambassador Hotel,
Sukhumvit Road.
Tel: 02-254 0444.
Open: 7pm-2am. Music from 8.30pm.
Credit cards accepted.
A sad retreat on Sukhumvit with Filiipino and Thai cover bands recyling
all the favourites and murdering some new ones. Expensive for what you
get. Current residents are The Melody and The Selection, the former
being particularly painful!
Dubliner Irish Pub
Washington Square,
Suhkumvit 22.
Tel: 02-204 1843.
Open: 10.30am-1am. Music from 10pm.
Great British and Irish food at this theme pub located at the entrance
to Washington Square, between Soi 22 and Soi 24. Guinness, Kilkenny
and other draught beers appeal to the almost exclusively expat crowd.
Live music on Fridays.
Fabb Italian Restaurant and Jazz Cafe
Mercury Tower,
540 Ploenchit Road.
Tel: 02-658 6200/9.
Open: 11.30am-1 am. Music from 8 pm.
Credit cards accepted.
As the name would suggest, this is a place for jazz fans. The house
band is a class act, combining a subtle swing sound with good vocals
at a decibel count that allows conversation. Fabb's décor is
clean and modern with a hint of art deco in the high ceiling and round
cornice over the stage. The food from a good Italian menu is excellent,
professionally served and, like the music, has a touch of class.
Article
by Baronbonk featuring Fabb
Forte
Sukhumvit Soi 24,
Phrom Phong,
Bangkok 10110.
Tel: 02-661 0346/7.
Very popular with the local in-crowd, this is a well-run party place
for those who like to have fun. Feel free to hop along and join in,
but get there early if you want a seat.
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