The word sanuk, meaning fun, is a fundamental precept of the Thai character, and in many ways it is what keeps the pulse of Bangkok beating 24 hours a day. For Thais, sanuk can be had in a variety of entertaining ways – whether it be sipping a leisurely sunset cocktail at a stunning riverside bar, getting down to the latest DJ-spun dance beats at one of the city’s mega-hip nightclubs, or enjoying the dulcet tones of a top international singer at an intimate lounge bar, there is never a typical night out in this vibrant and happening metropolis.

As Bangkok proudly struts into the new millennium, its entertainment scene is more chic and cosmopolitan than those found in many of the world’s most fashionable cities. Bangkok’s top nightspots are incredibly stylish in both décor and clientele. Many are nestled in wonderfully unique locales like the rooftop of a brand new skyscraper, such as wine and cigar bar Distil with its breathtaking panoramas, or within the lush grounds of a stunning boutique hotel, as with Zuk Bar at The Sukhothai.

Dining and entertainment often meld together as fabulous restaurants like Bed Supperclub feature DJs and art performances, in a gleaming white, futuristic pod where as the name suggests, you are fed on beds. Face Bar, meanwhile, is a sumptuous throwback of Asian heritage set among ponds and palm trees. Whatever arouses, Bangkok beckons….Read more

Talented, home-grown DJs and renowned international mixmasters spin a diverse range of dance beats at some of Asia’s best club nights. Head to ultra-trendy lounge bars like Sukhumvit Road’s Q-Bar, or the suave and slick Met Bar at the Metropolitan hotel, and gyrate to cutting-edge dance beats from New York, London and Ibiza.

Bangkok’s hotel lobby lounges, too, have become much more than places to relax before checking in. Many have become popular in-spots for city residents – sophisticated venues featuring some of the best entertainers in town. Diplomat Bar at the elegant Conrad hotel has a constant line up of the capital’s best crooners, while other high-end hotels feature talented live artists from abroad who dazzle their audiences with jazz, R&B, hip-hop and Latin.

Many of the capital’s liveliest bars and clubs are centred on the downtown districts around Silom, Sathorn, and Sukhumvit roads. Silom Soi 4 is a narrow lane of pumping dance music and trendy chill-out bars that attracts a wide array of youthful hipsters, while Soi Convent, located opposite, is a busy tree-lined avenue with bars and restaurants catering to various tastes.

Outside the main entertainment trails, many of Bangkok’s hottest nightspots can be found along popular suburban sidestreets such as Soi Tong Lor and Ekkamai. In particular, urban poseurs revel in Tong Lor’s design-oriented shopping and entertainment enclave, H1. The impressive, modern mall is a first for Bangkok, boasting boutique entertainment outlets, including the artsy Chi bar. Immortalised in the hit movie The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the famous traveller’s strip of Khao San Road is a fun and lively neighbourhood that even the wealthiest visitor will enjoy.

If you prefer your leisure with a traditional twist, there are several lavishly costumed classical-dance and drama performances offered as all-inclusive dining packages at atmospheric local venues. Another cultural dining experience can be found aboard the candlelit comfort of the Marriott Riverside hotel’s Manhora, a converted, teakwood rice barge. Marvel at the capital’s historic landmarks with a gentle cruise along the ‘River of Kings’. As you return to land, the most difficult decision you have to make is which of Bangkok’s many pulsating bars and clubs to head to next. Enjoy!