10 Expat Bars in Bangkok
Living and working in Bangkok as an expat is fun. It’s a big city with a population of over 8 million of which many are foreigners of western countries. Therefore there are always some expat bars in Bangkok around the corner.
Many expats meet after work in one of the many of bars of the city. These are some of the better known expat bars in Bangkok:
1. Cheap Charlies
Located at one of the most popular streets of Bangkok, cheap charlies attracts all kind of expats to Sukhumvit Soi 11. At around 7 pm the bar fills up with expats from all around the world. You will find the traveler who is living on a budget in Bangkok and trying to figure out his life or the business man who stops by after an important meeting. It’s a very diverse bar with many faces.
It was founded in 1982 by charly himself who apparently is still watching over you as a skull is hanging and looking down at the bar. Everybody who wants is welcome to leave his business card on a wall at the back of the bar which today covered by hundreds of cards from all over the world. Prices at this bar are very cheap and start at 60 baht for a chang beer. Mixed drinks cost 70 baht and wine 100 baht. Very reasonable and you will always find somebody to have a chat with.
2. Saxophone Pub
Located at the busy Victory Monument this bar attracts many expats who are into Jazz and live music.
It’s a very relaxed and rustic bar with two stories. Saxophone has a very special vibe which gets your right from the second you enter the pub. Here you will not only find many expats who enjoy their drinks with nice live music, you will also find many locals who move their hips to the rhythm of the music.
Prices are very reasonable and they have a big variety of drinks.
3. Q Bar
Q-Bar is also on Sukhumvit Soi 11. Opened by the same owner who managed the famous Q-Bar in Saigon, Vietnam. It is a very popular expat bar in Bangkok where you will meet many foreigners. It carries the biggest choice of spirits in whole Bangkok. There is nearly nothing that they don’t have and if the case happens that they don’t have a special liqueur in stock they’ll make sure it’s there the next time. The prices are more expensive than at Cheap Charlies and Saxophone but the atmosphere is nice.
It’s at the end of Soi 11 opposite Nest.
4. Wine Connection
Wine Connection opened its new restaurant at the Rain Hill Shopping Complex on Sukhumvit 47. The chick restaurant is popular among expats in the area in thonglor. Surprisingly the prices are very reasonable and the food is delicious.
5. Zaks Wine Pub
Open since March of this year Zaks WinePubr offers exceptional wines at everyday prices. The atmosphere is great at this bar and the PR manager Richard always tried to welcome every guest personally. Zaks is also at Sukhumvit Soi 11 between the German Beerhouse and the Australian Bar.
6. Bed Superclub
It’s regarded as the hottest club in town and definitely worth going at least once while in Bangkok. Prices are extremely expensive but atmosphere is extremely good! Here you will meet many expats dancing to the finest electro beats Bangkok has to offer. The club is separated into two sections, one that is aimed at dinner, drinking and relaxing and another one which is aimed to party and dance!
7. Nest
The little rooftop bar is a nice hangout spot it the end of Sukhumvit Soi 11. It’s opposite Q Bar in the Le Fenix Hotel building. It has nice lounge furniture with sometimes life music and good DJ’s. On Wednesday they always have a special evening where beers and other cocktails are offered at 100 Baht. Nest is a nice place to start the evening and continue the night in one of the clubs blow.
8. The Australian
The Australian is packed with farang (Thai for foreigner) but you won’t only find Australians here, all kind of foreigners come here to enjoy a coopers beer and watch some sports while enjoying a good homemade burger. They normally have a live band which is pretty good! Its always a lot of fun to come here for a couple of stubbies.
9. Viva & Aviv The River
Right at the Chao Phraya River lays this little gem. Prices are relatively high but the place has it’s price. Viva & Aviv is nicely decorated with a big terrace where you can relax on a lazy Sunday or come for a sundowner after work. It’s located behind the river city complex. Take a boat from BTS station Saphan Taksin or go with the Metro to MRT Station Hua Lamphong and ask a taxi or tuk tuk to take you to the River City complex or Royal Ohrid Sheraton.
10. Hyde & Seek
Located next close to the BTS station of Phlon Chit, this is one of the central hotspots of Bangkok. Cocktails are expensive but delicious and the interior, a mix of gentleman’s club with modern sophistication, is already worth a visit. This is a great expat bar in bangkok to start with expensive drinks and good cigars before going out to the clubs of the city. It’s located next to the Plaza Athenee.
There are some good guides about Bangkok some of these bars are included in the following guides:
- Bangkok (City Guide)
- The Rough Guide to Bangkok (Rough Guides)
- Top 10 Bangkok (EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE)
- Bangkok (City Travel Guide)
- Lonely Planet Thailand (Country Travel Guide)
Have you been to Bangkok and visited any of the bars mentioned before? Did you like them?
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I do not know what an expat is although I think the Q Bar or Cheap Charlie’s sounds like bars maybe worth going too.
Hey Nick,
thanks for you comment! Here is the extracted definition from Wikipedia
“An expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person’s upbringing.”
So…what’s the difference between emigrant and expat?
Next time I’m in BKK I know where I’m going!
You will love them
I missed getting to Bed when I was in BKK…next time!
Raymond @ Man On The Lam recently posted..Travel Photo (and Poll) of the Week: Child on a Leash
Have you been to all the others?
Nah…I’ve only been to about half of ‘em!
Raymond @ Man On The Lam recently posted..The Holy Grail of Hokey: Inside The Holy Land Experience (Part Two)
Hehe..when I go to BKK I always stay in Sukhumvit…much better area than Khao San Rd I think!
So true, I have only been to Kaoh San Road four times in 6 months… you can’t go there too often! Sometimes I feel sorry for all the people who don’t know better!
Love this!! I will need to print this out and bring it with me to BKK for when I bop down there!
No need for printing it out. I will show you around
I’m sure all the in-person research you had to do for this post was such a hardship, huh?
Christy @ Technosyncratic recently posted..Angkor Wat in Photos
I would be all about the wine bars!
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Foto of the Week from … Buenos Aires: Heaven and Hell
God I feel so lame. I tend to stay away from most clubs and try to find little hole in the wall pubs or local watering holes.
Erica recently posted..Tattoos: Permanent Reminders of our Latin American Adventure
I know they’re not strickly “expaty” or “bars”, but I’m a big fan of the VW booze vans parked along Soi 11. That’s where I’ll be found weekend after next…
The street bars are amazing… I always went to Smile 11… It’s a little tuk tuk converted to a bar… The owners Zero and Gung are amazing people!
Sebastian…
thanx for ur recomends….where is smile 11? soi number and main thanon (major road) that it intersects or bts stop is always helpful……thanx..
Hi,
Smile 11 is at sukhumvit 11 just before the Old German Beerhouse on the left side of the street! It’s a converted Tuk Tuk! To get there get off at BTS station Nana!
I love the Hyde & Seek even more for the food than for the drinks
I’ve put them on my list of places to visit. Will have to check out at least one of them.
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I tried a new bar last night: SPOT ON BEACH BAR & LOUNGE
it is located in Thonglor soi 10 in the middle of all the action.
Really liked the place, it is very cozy and relax, ideal after a busy day.
Finally a bar with a consistent and interesting concept.
Great cocktails, solid choices of food and the prices are very reasonable for the area!
I highly recommend you to try it!
You can get more info on their facebook page
Wicked! Got about 8 hours to kill after getting into Bangkok next Friday night before a flight @6am down south on Saturday – thanks for sewing up that gap for me Sebastian; Sukhumvit 11 it is~!
I’m glad I was of service Ry. If you happen to stap at Smile 11 – Street bar say hi to Zero and Nung from Sebastian
Enjoy!
Will for sure man (if they’re there selling their wares). I’ve just been for a stroll on Google maps and look forward to the actual meander soon enough~!
Sounds like you like Sukhumvit Soi 11 area for bars, would you recommend any hotels or hostels around there?
Alissa recently posted..Bike Tour of Bangkok
Nest is one of my favourites. But we just recently discover Moon Bar at Vertigo in the Banyan Tree. 61 floors up. Unbeatable views of Bangkok at Night.
jmayel & sacha recently posted..Cocktails and Canapes above the Bangkok City Streets