dddave 3,700 Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 (edited) Just trying to remember all the Sukhumvit "Bar Areas" that have disappeared since I first came in 2002: -Soi Zero: Under the expressway -Soi-1 -Soi 3, First block & first side soi on left, from Sukhumvit. -Alley between sois 5 & 7 -Soi-10 (Now Chewit Park/Art Space, closed) -Clinton Plaza. -Area between 13 & 15. ( small bar in front with a wagon wheel) -Soi 12 Ministry of Sound, Insomnia, Some Russian Bar -Soi 19 corner: Country Road, Upstairs, couple more who's names I forget. -Asok Corner: B-52, Lolita's, -Soi 20, side soi on right: Pelican Bar, Anna Bar(?) -Soi 22, Queen's Park -Washington Square -Soi 33 "Artist Bars" Any I missed?? - Edited January 4 by dddave 1 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites
2009 205 Posted January 4 Author Share Posted January 4 21 minutes ago, dddave said: Just trying to remember all the Sukhumvit "Bar Areas" that have disappeared since I first came in 2002: -Soi Zero: Under the expressway -Soi-1 -Alley between sois 5 & 7 -Soi-10 (Now Chewit Park/Art Space, closed) -Clinton Plaza. -Area between 13 & 15. ( small bar in front with a wagon wheel) -Soi 12 Ministry of Sound, Insomnia, Some Russian Bar -Soi 19 corner: Country Road, Upstairs, couple more who's names I forget. -Asok Corner: B-52, Lolita's, -Soi 20, side soi on right: Pelican Bar, Anna Bar(?) -Soi 22, Queen's Park -Washington Square -Soi 33 "Artist Bars" Any I missed?? - Sad to see so many go. RIP. I am confused about the Asoke corner part. Can you elaborate? Hasn't Lolita's always been just off Soi 8. And there been more than one B52? Isn't it up Soi 22? Link to post Share on other sites
dddave 3,700 Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 (edited) 7 minutes ago, 2009 said: Sad to see so many go. RIP. I am confused about the Asoke corner part. Can you elaborate? Hasn't Lolita's always been just off Soi 8. And there been more than one B52? Isn't it up Soi 22? Where CITIBANK complex now stands was a kind of muddy bar area, separate from Soi Cowboy. B52 and Lolita's had their original bars there along with several others. Lolita's now on Soi 8 was "Wildcats" at that time: same theme. B52 moved to soi 22 after development of Citibank began. EDIT: Was what is now Lolita's off soi-8 "Wildcats" or "AlleyCats"???? Anybody remember? Edited January 4 by dddave 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Hope 2021 8 Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 1 hour ago, dddave said: Where CITIBANK complex now stands was a kind of muddy bar area, separate from Soi Cowboy. B52 and Lolita's had their original bars there along with several others. Lolita's now on Soi 8 was "Wildcats" at that time: same theme. B52 moved to soi 22 after development of Citibank began. EDIT: Was what is now Lolita's off soi-8 "Wildcats" or "AlleyCats"???? Anybody remember? I think that it was Alley Cats. I am sure that B52 developed from Wild Country, certainly some of the girls were the same. The first time I saw it was in Washington Square (WS) close to Taffy's. This was after the side of WS with Silver Dollar and others had been knocked down but there were still some bars open on the other side with access from Soi 22. They then moved to the Queens park bar complex and are now in a small soi off Soi 22. I think!!!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post IvorLott 376 Posted January 4 Popular Post Share Posted January 4 1 hour ago, dddave said: Just trying to remember all the Sukhumvit "Bar Areas" that have disappeared since I first came in 2002: -Soi Zero: Under the expressway -Soi-1 -Soi 3, First block & first side soi on left, from Sukhumvit. -Alley between sois 5 & 7 -Soi-10 (Now Chewit Park/Art Space, closed) -Clinton Plaza. -Area between 13 & 15. ( small bar in front with a wagon wheel) -Soi 12 Ministry of Sound, Insomnia, Some Russian Bar -Soi 19 corner: Country Road, Upstairs, couple more who's names I forget. -Asok Corner: B-52, Lolita's, -Soi 20, side soi on right: Pelican Bar, Anna Bar(?) -Soi 22, Queen's Park -Washington Square -Soi 33 "Artist Bars" Any I missed?? - There used to be a few bars scattered on Soi 3, most infamously the Bamboo Bar run by 'Maltese John' (or was it Tony? - either way he was a 'character') The bars in the Nailert building on Soi 5 (above Foodland) though one or two remain though seemed on my last trip to be more 'pool halls' then bars, or 'fronts' for dodgy African affairs'. Soi 7 itself had a few OK bars on it, of which only the Bier Garten remains. Ambassador Plaza, that small 'indoor' complex on Soi 13, just past the Miami Hotel where the Trendy Offices are today, had a few bars, Sports Bar- post Clinton plaza, a few others, but none of them any great shakes, ''Area between 13 & 15. ( small bar in front with a wagon wheel)'' I think that was the front of Clinton Plaza. Sports bar, then Bill's (Coffee Shop) plus a smattering of beer bars behind. This makes for depressing reading. so many memories for so many people, at least there is a new complex going up in the Soi 7 area, which will upset the hipsters.... 4 Link to post Share on other sites
Disparate Dan 113 Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 (edited) blimey - unless I've missed it, no-one has mentioned Thermae.The place to be [not to be seen] after hours on Sukhumvit 25 years ago. Like Dante's Inferno, from what little I can remember........ Plus The Ship, a pub on soi 23 before Cowboy. Run by the lovely old Pi Gi (aka Miss Piggy). Edited January 4 by Disparate Dan 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post camble 2,293 Posted January 4 Popular Post Share Posted January 4 Star of Light 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites
malt25 2,510 Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 3 hours ago, 2009 said: Great responses, guys! Cheers Let's map out a pub crawl for after the pandemic, eh? Who is up for it? I started coming to LOS in 2006. Permanent resident since 2013. I live up in the stix. When I occasionally get to BKK usually hang about Soi 11. Being an old fart I'm not all that up for an extended "pub crawl". BUT, would be very interested in joining anyone interested in visiting some of the "older" or "more notable" watering holes. Put me down as a starter. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
saakura 4,796 Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 OMG, this thread seems to have stirred up a lot of nostalgia among the older sexpats! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post IvorLott 376 Posted January 4 Popular Post Share Posted January 4 3 minutes ago, saakura said: OMG, this thread seems to have stirred up a lot of nostalgia among the older sexpats! And a bit of resentment from bitter old retirees, whose 'wives' no longer allow them to enjoy the scene as they spend their increasingly meagre pensions.... 1 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post 2009 205 Posted January 4 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 4 1 hour ago, camble said: Star of Light SOL is still around; they just moved. Not quite the same grungy, voyeuristic atmosphere, but still... 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
2009 205 Posted January 4 Author Share Posted January 4 (edited) 4 hours ago, dddave said: Just trying to remember all the Sukhumvit "Bar Areas" that have disappeared since I first came in 2002: -Soi Zero: Under the expressway -Soi-1 -Soi 3, First block & first side soi on left, from Sukhumvit. -Alley between sois 5 & 7 -Soi-10 (Now Chewit Park/Art Space, closed) -Clinton Plaza. -Area between 13 & 15. ( small bar in front with a wagon wheel) -Soi 12 Ministry of Sound, Insomnia, Some Russian Bar -Soi 19 corner: Country Road, Upstairs, couple more who's names I forget. -Asok Corner: B-52, Lolita's, -Soi 20, side soi on right: Pelican Bar, Anna Bar(?) -Soi 22, Queen's Park -Washington Square -Soi 33 "Artist Bars" Any I missed?? - Speaking of Soi 22, Buddy's Bar n Grill has lasted a fair number of years (as far as Bangkok bars go, though I notice they are opening a new one (same decor) down on Sukhumvit Road close to Asok on the corner of that little dead-end soi (18/1?) where ShagBar 2, Why Not, and Angels Club were/are. And also those other Soi 22 bars beside Buddy's - Angel Bar, Connection Bar, and Otto Bar - have last pretty well and still preserve the classic Thai beer bar vibes. And then there is Too Easy just round on the little soi which I think has a lot of the old Washington crowd (those who are still with us). Edited January 4 by 2009 Link to post Share on other sites
seancbk 2,793 Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 On 1/3/2021 at 8:13 PM, moe666 said: I guess what you would call old bars are all gone, Cheap Charlies, Check-In, And the old favorite Golden Beer Bar at Nana Hotel. Hilaries is still around but new and not improved. The string of Bars under the express way have been gone for a while and the Saxophone Bar Victory Monument. O well the beat goes on. Cheap Charlies is in On Nut and in a much nicer spot. Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post 2009 205 Posted January 4 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 4 On 1/3/2021 at 7:42 PM, IvorLott said: There are still a few knocking around, but most have been blitzed in the name of 'progress' mainly for sh*tty poncey 'finger food', ' craft beer' 'hipster/flashpacker' (really!) places, I doubt few bars in Bangkok now, would make those old 'best bars in Asia' lists which were the staple of many an expat/travel/ forum back 'in the day'. All I can think of , off the top of my head, are Chequers, the Bier Garten, Sexy Nite (Nana) Superstar (Patpong) the Huntsman, even Gulliver's (Soi 5 Suk, or KSrd), Morning /Night and Stumble Inn (Nana), which feel like 'new' bars to me, are approaching 'vintage' status, I know, right. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a farang pub lunch as much as anyone, but it just ain't fun sitting in a boring American, Irish, or British themed pub when I could be in a beer bar with at least some charm and character...warts n all! I like to feel like I am in Thailand when I am having a beer and I just don't get that sitting in a pub designed in the image of one "back home." What really interests me - hence this thread - is the really old ones that won't be around much longer (and covid has almost certainly accelerated that in many cases). As much as I am enjoying watching Bangkok developing, it is selling its soul to the devil and becoming just like anywhere in the West. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites
bangon04 1,969 Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 3 hours ago, Disparate Dan said: blimey - unless I've missed it, no-one has mentioned Thermae.The place to be [not to be seen] after hours on Sukhumvit 25 years ago. Like Dante's Inferno, from what little I can remember........ Plus The Ship, a pub on soi 23 before Cowboy. Run by the lovely old Pi Gi (aka Miss Piggy). Thermae moved to basement under Ruamchit Plaza hotel Soi13/15 and as far as I know it is still there 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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