Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GAY & LESBIAN BANGKOK
Bangkok is so gay it makes San Francisco look like rural Texas. With out-and-open nightspots and annual pride
events, the city's homosexual community enjoys an unprecedented amount of tolerance considering attitudes in
the rest of the region. It should be mentioned, however, that recent years have seen a sharp rise in HIV and other
STDs among gay men in Bangkok; when in town, be sure to play it safe.
The website
Utopia
(
www.utopia-asia.com
) is an evergreen crash-course in Bangkok's gay scene, while local
listings mags such as BK (
Click here
) can point you in the direction of the bars and clubs that are hot when you're
in town. The
Lesbian Guide to Bangkok
(
www.bangkoklesbian.com
) is the only English-language tracker of the
lesbian scene.
Lower Th Silom is Bangkok's unofficial gaybourhood, and highlights include tiny Soi 2, which is lined with
dance clubs such as
DJ Station
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.dj-station.com
;
8/6-8 Soi 2, Th Silom; ad-
mission from 100B; 10.30pm-3am; Si Lom exit 2, Sala Daeng exit 1) , the busiest and arguably most
famous gay nightclub in Thailand. Virtually next door is Soi 2/1 where bars like
G.O.D
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(Guys on Display; Soi 2/1; admission 280B; 8pm-late; Si Lom exit 2, Sala Daeng
exit 1) are not averse to a little shirtless dancing. A more casual scene is found on Soi 4, home to longstanding
5.30pm-1am; ; Si Lom exit 2, Sala Daeng exit 1) and
Telephone
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.telephonepub.com
; 114/11-13 Soi 4, Th Silom;
6pm-1am;
;
Si Lom exit 2,
Sala Daeng
exit 1) .
Further out of town are a couple smaller gay scenes, including the strip of mostly Thai-frequented bars along
Th Kamphaengphet; 8pm-2am; Kamphaeng Phet exit 1) ; the slightly seedier knot of bars along Soi 8,
Th Ratchada, including the infamous
G-Star
(Soi 8, Th Ratchadaphisek; 8pm-1am; Phra Ram 9 exit 3) ;
and at RCA, the sleek
Castro
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.facebook.com/Castro.rca.bangkok
; Block C,
RCA, off Th Phra Ram IX; 9.30pm-4.30am; Phra Ram 9 exit 3 & taxi) . RCA is also home to Bangkok's
10pm-2am;
Phra Ram 9 exit 3 & taxi) .
Titanium
(
www.titaniumbangkok.com
;
2/30 Soi 22, Th Sukhumvit; 8pm-1am; Phrom Phong exit 6)
Some come to
this slightly cheesy 'ice bar' for the chill and the flavoured vodka, but we come for Uni-
corn, the all-female house band.
LIVE MUSIC
Living Room
LIVE MUSIC
(
0 2649 8888;
www.sheratongrandesukhumvit.com/en/thelivingroom
; Level 1, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, 250 Th
Asok exit 2)
Don't let looks deceive you; every
Sukhumvit;
6pm-midnight;
Sukhumvit exit 3,
