Thinking an update on Trendy Plaza was long overdue (our last visit was in August 2008), the Midnight Hour headed down, camera in hand, to Sukhumvit Soi 13 for another look-see. Well, we didn't know how 'overdue' our visit was - it is no longer just about Trendy Plaza (now preferring 'The Trendy'), it seems there are a number of other Nitespots to condend with....
Breakers, also relocated (from it's Sukhumvit digs), is now off and running at their new location - the Sukhumvit end of The Trendy.
SOI 13 SUKHUMVIT
And while there have been a few new (and changed-over) Nitespots in The Trendy, the big surprise was in what we will call, for lack of any other distinguishing name, "Ambassador Alley". Ambassador Alley has 9 Nitespots and a number of other venues in a two storey configuration leading from Soi 13 on in to the rear of the Ambassador Hotel (see map).
The near future looks good for Soi 13, as the Ambassador Hotel building (under construction at the top of Soi 13 for way too many years, now) is nearing what looks like "completion". When this comes about, we can look for a further surge in Nitespots near the top of Soi 13, just as recently happened at Soi 22 on the completion of the new Holiday Inn.
The Sportsman, recently relocated into the far end of The Trendy from the now defunct Washington Square, has hit the deck running. If you're looking for one of the better sports bars, you've just found it....
SOI 13 SUKHUMVIT
Midnight Hour will definitely have to up our frequency of visits to Soi 13, as we suspect that shortly after the completion of adjacent construction on the Soi, the upsurge of Night Entertainment Venues could very quickly precipitate it's becoming a stand-alone Night Entertainment Area.
Door Art Of The Month
Award
The Silk Spa has hit it right. The exterior, the interior - definitely an enticing facade. Our vote for the Door Art Of The Month this month.
SOI 13 SUKHUMVIT
Below are additional pics of a few of the venues currently to be found on Soi 13.
Pam Massage, located in the Miami Hotel, facing onto Soi 13 is one of the old timers - and still going strong.
SOI 13 SUKHUMVIT
"Ambassador Alley" - a two-tier row of shops, most of which are massage parlors. If you were to follow it from the Soi 13 side to the end, and do a dog-leg to the left, you would end up at the rear of the Foodland Supermarket located in the Ambassador Hotel - and of course, more massage parlors (see our map of Soi 11, Soi Ambassador).
SOI 13 SUKHUMVIT
Lan Po Massage, one of the oldest remaining Nitespots on Soi 13. An accredited nuat paan boran massage parlor. Worth the visit for those looking for a serious massage.
SOI 13 SUKHUMVIT
The Trend Salon, one of the two upstairs spa's on Ambassador Alley. The gamut of services.
SOI 13 SUKHUMVIT
Wondergirl Massage is the largest of the 'ambiguous' massage parlors on Ambassador Alley - taking up four loc. Located all the way down on the left.
SOI 13 SUKHUMVIT
The Hat Thong Thai Massage & Spa is located at the far end of The Trendy.
SOI 13 SUKHUMVIT
Nitelife's History
...KEEPS SNEAKING UP AND BITING
US ON THE ASS
Pizza in 1976 ? ...THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE ONLY PLACE IN TOWN
- Copyright Jondalar
Yet another great shot of the Door Dwarf from the Jondalar archives.. .................We're not worthy.... We're not worthy.....
Your website is very helpful. I am from Pakistan I first visited Bangkok in April 2013 (in Songkran) and was denied entry in many bars in Nana Plaza like Lollipop, Rainbow 3 and one more. I was actually embarrassed but luckily I was allowed entry in Pretty Lady.
I again visited in November, and was allowed entry in Lollipop.
I read on different forums that Indians/ Pakistanis are not allowed because they do not order drinks. I want to know that can you list A Go-Go bars esp in Nana Plaza that allow entry to Pakistanis/ Indians without any problem ?
Thanks,
R. U.
Greetings, R. U.,
While there are legitimate reasons for bars refusing service to individuals, nationality and race certainly are not among them. Your question, unfortunately, cannot be answered directly, as more than one of the individual bars in Nana Plaza regrettably do discriminate against certain nationalities and races. However, it is very discretionary, in that on any given night a bar may permit entry, and the next night not. These prejudicial practices are most abhorrent, and we have written about this in the past in an attempt to expose these practices. See our article,
We can answer virtually any (reasonable) question on the Expat Night Entertainment Scene in
Bangkok - be it Historical or very recent. Send us an e-mail and
we will do our best to answer you soonest.
Are the months of rioting, then Martial Law, then a military coup d'etat affecting business on Patpong 1? This is the first time (since a couple of years ago when the Red Shirts terrorized this part of town by firing an M-79 grenade from Lumpini Park into the Sala Daeng SkyTrain station) that the Patpong 1 contraband (etc.) stalls haven't been fully rented out on a weekend night. Yes, business is down, across the board.
PATPONG I
We have walked past this so many times, we stopped seeing it. It is located on the wall next to the entrance to now closed Kiss (rumored to open this coming 15 July?). Lips 2 was, as you may recall, the predecessor to the Kiss. The sign says it is hiring waitresses, bartendees and dancers - perhaps a certain irony to some of the long-term Bangkok residents......
De Talk is growing like the Hearst Castle. It started out as a single-shophouse, soon to devour the empty next-door premises for a pool hall. Then, this month, it expanded yet again into the digs of the recently closed Red Rose Bar. Additional space for more pool tables, of course.... May the force be with them.
PATPONG 2
The Top Light Bar has gone the way of the Osteodontornis. We don't recall ever seeing them busy. Greener pastures, guys.
The Baccara has finished it's fire-damage renovations, to inlcude it's new distinctive neon. They have reintroduced 3rd floor A Go-Go there, unseen for decades - (as first introduced by the seminal Gold Label in the mid-1970's at the hand of Manager Jim George). The only problem - at least for some - is that they are now calling it the 'Baggara'.... May they continue to march - to whatever tune....
NANA PLAZA
Cowboy 2 has embellished it's "neon" with some of the newer LED lighting. Certainly effective - and extremely bright. ....But, call me old fashioned, call me what you will, I still prefer the real thing - as in real neon.... May they continue to prosper....
What was Obsession, and jokingly called the 'Op Station' by the original crew of girls, is now the True Obsession. We note they currently have tacked up some temporary signage over the original, so we will endeavor to get some better pics once their permanent neon is up. No change in modus operandi. May they continue to prance and dance.
NANA PLAZA
If something looks weird about the new Suckers sign, that's because there is something weird. They have put up a thin fabric sign over the original Lollipop (RIP) sign, and the Lollipop sign shines right through, giving the double image. This should be remedied by next survey, so we definitely will be taking a pic or two next trip around. Suckers? Lollipop? One wonders, why bother fixing that which is not broken.... Irregardless, welcome Suckers to the nightcircus.
NANA PLAZA
While we are playing the Name-Change Game, the 3rd floor Cascade is changing over to the Charades. Will have pics next time around, all being equal.
- File photo
NANA PLAZA
The Game ' SAME OLD TUNE, FIDDLE AND GUITAR...' *
*(-With apologies to Waylon Jennings.)
NANA PLAZA
TheAngel Witch 2 has reopened with a new crew all the way around. Well worth a look. Welcome them back to the Big Uneasy.
- File photo
NANA PLAZA
The 3rd Floor Wild Thing has reopened, and the same diverse crew of coyotes is back in action. The temporary closure was no doubt to weather the curfew storm....
Gone, but not gone, the Yardpetch Massage has rolled up the steel shutter and rolled out the red carpet. Welcome back to the sharkpool.
SOI 22 - (Sukhumvit)
Overground (located in 'Honey Plaza') advises that it was not closed down in February and March as Midnight Hour reported only to re-open in April. It did close on a couple of weekends under police advice due to the election alcohol bans and on one Saturday so its staff could support an external charity concert which the bar sponsored. Overground assures us that it hosted many events as a matter of public record during that period and continues to do so. They have also mentioned in a separate communication that they are closed on Mondays, their regular night off for the staff.
Gone, but not gone, is the subterranean Londoner Brew Pub - they have pulled up stakes and moved to Soi 30 / 32 Pattanakarn Road. .........Where? Below are a couple of for-the-archive photos. Let's hope the grass really is greener on the other side.....
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
Mojos, closed last month during the curfew for a planned few days off, is back on the blues firing line. Business as usual, as always.
- File photo
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
The Cefle Massage (Cefre in Thai) is back in action, now that the curfew is behind us. May they continue to slip and slide.....
- File photo
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
The fat lady sang rather suddenly in the case of the Cut & Relax Massage, located at the end of Soi Pan Pan. The only items not removed from the premises were the stickers on the windows. Ashes to ashes, so be it, then....
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
The Thanks Massage, also located on Soi Pan Pan, reopened with a fluorish once the curfew was behind us. May they continue to march.
- File photo
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
The The Dew Massage closed it's doors for keeps, only to be replaced almost immediately by the My Therapy Massage. Several of the previous masseuses are still employed there, so if you are looking for your 'regular', it is likely she is still working there. May the My Therapy hold only aces and faces....
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
The shellgame continues. The Club, which was next door to the Baron Massage moved into the Baron Massage, changing it to just Baron, and it is no longer a massage, it is a men's 'karaoke', and carries the sign, "Baron" as well as another sign on the door reading "The Club", so no one will become confused. What was originally The Club became the Snack & Darts Shimai, which may have darts, may have snacks, but definitely has hostesses. So now you know....at least until something changes.
The on-again, off-again DoubleWide is off-again. But, alas, this time for keeps - they have even removed the signage. We wish them a soft landing wherever, whenever.
- File photo
SOI AMBASSADOR - SOI 11
The Night Friends Bar has popped back up out of it's coffin - now that the curfew is dead. May the nightwinds blow kindly.
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SOI AMBASSADOR - SOI 11
Nest Rooftop Lounge is now open for business on the rooftop of the Fenix (just across the street from the Q Bar). Wish them well as they cast their lot with the rest.
SOI AMBASSADOR - SOI 11
The exclusive St Moritz Bangkok has once again swung open the awesome white wrought-iron gates and welcomes all members back to the fold.
- File photo
SOI AMBASSADOR - SOI 11
The Raintree Spa - now free from the shackles of the curfew - are back serving their regulars and newcomers alike.
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SOI AMBASSADOR - SOI 11
This should put the kibosh on any rumor that the Bedsupper Club will be replaced by another Nitespot.....
- File photo
SOI AMBASSADOR - SOI 11
The Banana Club Massage for Men by Men has apparently reopened yet again. No further comment - they are open, it seems, every other time we survey.
Bangkok Eyes goes back in time to see
Who was new - And who was through
in the Expat Night Entertainment world.
How many of these old 'oases'
do you remember ?
Patpong I
* The upstairs Yellow Bar opened up in the then-recently closed down Ann's Bar. Located above today's Thigh Bar. Today, an unnamed "pay-for-show" bar operates from those digs on most nights....
* The Kangaroo Pub & Travel Center closed down - not to reopen to date. It was located on the Suriwong Road side of Mizu's.
Patpong 2
* The Sawasdee Club opened newly, arising from the ashes of the Melody Bar and the EC Pub. Today, as some of you may know, the fort is held down by Cosmos.
Soi Cowboy
* The Salambo Bar closed down, becoming the Eros bar. Today's Lighthouse now sits there.
* The then-recently re-opened Pink Pussycat closed again, after having become New Pink Pussycat and then Pink Pussycat again. Today the Cockatoo occupies that bit of real estate.
Nana Plaza * No changes that month / year.
Soi Katoey(Silom Soi 4) * No changes that month / year.
Graffiti or 'Street Art' ?
... WHICH ONE WILL THE MASSES BLESS ?
The Midnite Hour has been following the Bangkok graffiti scene for a little over 8 and a half years, reporting both the graffiti and the controversy. The controversy, of course, is whether graffiti is defined as 'defiling public property at the hands of sociopath vandals', or whether it is 'street art', an 'art brut' - a 'neo-modern art form' ?
- Limited portion reproduced herein meets Copyright Fair Use criteria.
An "A Barca" from Google's Portugal collection.
And over these more than eight years, we have seen the battle rage on. And we have been abused by irate readers for publishing graffiti - they claim Midnite Hour is promoting graffiti and encouraging lawless vandalism. We have also seen graffiti pieces shown in European and North American art galleries and museums - sometimes requiring removing entire lengths of wall -employing special preservative techniques- so that transporting to the showplace destination will be without mishap to the graffiti piece. We have also seen the growing tide of graffiti pieces sold at famous auction houses - one such piece (an original "Banksy", selling for over $1 million). We have also seen the proliferation of graffiti websites - some of which also advertise and sell spraypaint, photo reproductions of graffiti art and a variety of related paraphernalia, while at the same time, advertising the latest upcoming graffiti/ skateboard/ street-dance events.
- Limited portion reproduced herein meets Copyright Fair Use criteria.
An "El Seed" from Google's Lebanon collection.
Some of the graffiti websites have showcased prominent areas or buildings which, each of which have become a local 'nexus' of graffiti artists - where they (sometimes legally, sometimes illegally) compete to show off their best works. Love it or hate it, the reality is graffiti is not going away any time soon - in fact just the opposite is true; it is growing by leaps and bounds. And to best exemplify this, the Internet's 800 lb gorilla, Google, has just dropped on an otherwise unsuspecting public the most comprehensive graffiti site produced to date, something that likely will never be equalled. This is not hyperbole. It is called, " The Street Art Project - An ongoing collection of art from the streets. <LINK> - and is the newest tentacle of Google's Cultural Institute. No, we are not making this up. Should you have any doubts, click on the link immediately above and watch it all unfold. Although we will continue to maintain our 'neutral' position on the unending controversy, it does look like "Street Art" is slowly, inexorably winning out over "vandalism"....
- Limited portion reproduced herein meets Copyright Fair Use criteria.
A "Binho" from Google's Argentine collection.
Google'sStreet Art Project is a masterpiece of modern website display, capitalizing on many facets of HTML 5. If you enjoy browsing such traffic, you will be engrossed in their new endeavor. (Nevertheless, there is still the lingering shadow of the 800 lb gorilla : we used to joke about Google taking over the world. Now we don't joke about that anymore.....)
- And now to Midnight Hour's own brand of BangkokGraffiti ....
Graffiti #722
Archering
8 ft high x 25 ft
Graffiti #723
Stair Clowns
8 ft high x 9 ft
Graffiti #724
Illuminaughti
3 ft high x3 ft
Graffiti #725
Skullganger
7 ft high x 15 ft
Graffiti #726
Innosio
8 ft high x 18 ft
Graffiti #727
Aztoza
6 ft high x 18 ft
Graffiti #728
Close-Hold
7 ft high x 9 ft
Graffiti,Graffiti , and more Graffiti -
Bangkok's original graffiti Site !
The MIDNITE HOURGraffiti Page is prepared by Staff Contributor"Boge" Hartman .
(Boge's photo, above, is not a graffitiper-se, although there are those who have insinuated.... -
Ed)
July's Nightlife News 
SOI 13 SUKHUMVIT 
The Silk Spa has hit it right. The exterior, the interior - definitely an enticing facade. Our vote for the Door Art Of The Month this month.
TOP
LINK>"
PATPONG I 
2002 - 2014,
BANGKOK EYES / bangkokeyes.com