Soi 33 Sukhumvit
In stark contrast to the youthful exuberance of the Ratchada Rd entertainment areas, Sukhumvit Soi 33 is the firm favourite of the visiting businessman looking to meet attractive young, and sometimes not so young Thai hostesses.
It all started about 20 years ago, when about three shop houses were converted into cocktail bars for the discerning gentleman having a night out on the town, and not necessarily with his wife and family.
Because of the nature of the clientele, Soi 33 is actually busier on weekdays than it is on Friday and Saturday when most patrons are out of town, playing golf or at home with the very same people they are trying to avoid when they visit the cocktail bars.
Many of the bars belong to the same owner who has a deep interest in the fine arts and has named his outlets after famous impressionist painters such as Vincent Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Monet, and Gauguin. Carrying on the artistic tradition, other clubs include Dali and Goya Club.
They are all quite similar, both outside, where the best of the goods may be on display wearing evening gowns and high-heeled shoes, and inside where seating and décor can best be described as being somewhere between Chinese Kitsch and Jewish Renaissance. The ambience of the clubs is supposed to be sophisticated and relaxed, but of course it doesn’t always work out like that!
The price of drinks and other items is of course higher than in a go-go bar or pub disco because everything is dressed up that little bit more and service is to match. A bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label that might only cost Bt1,200 in Hollywood Awards on Ratchadapisek Rd would be priced at up to Bt3,800 in Soi 33.
Rather different to the cocktail bars, but in the same area, are three relatively new establishments that may be of interest. Newest of the bunch is Mojo’s, where they have live bands, pool, good food, sensibly priced drinks, coyote dancing and a lively mixed crows.
Right opposite Mojo’s is The Office, which promotes itself as a sports bar. Just around the corner is Lookie Lookie Bar, a lively cosy place that attracts a predominantly expatriate crowd looking for fun at a sensible price.
The closing time in the Soi 33 zone is 1.0am, but quite a lot of bars stay open until 2.am if enough customers are still spending money.
To get to Soi 33 by public transport take the Skytrain (BTS) to Phrom Pong station (E5) and use Exit 1 before walking about 200 metres to Soi 33. The nearest MRT underground staion is Sukhumvit, and is about 2 kilometres away.