Bangkok, has a lot more to offer than its tired reputation for the raucous go-go bars of Patpong and Soi Cowboy. During the past few years, the city has emerged as a sophisticated metropolis, with a nightlife to match. There are enough clubs, pubs, and trendy bars with Bangkok's fashionista to keep you people-watching for days. Not to mention the plush cinemas with the latest films, regular concerts featuring top-name western artists and cool jazz clubs.

For something more low key and cultural, you could go to a dinner show with performances of Thai classical dancers and sword play, or take a dinner cruise on the Chao Phaya River in an old rice barge, or see a Thai boxing match at the Lumpini Stadium. For the energetic, there's bowling and surprisingly in this tropical city, ice skating. If you really want that last minute bargain, the evening is the best time to shop at the markets, when its much cooler. Many open until 10:00 or 11:00pm and there's always food on the street, or head for the nearest place to have a drink and rest your feet. Then there's the rest of the night.....

Pubs, Clubs & Discos

Discos
Many of the hotels have very good discos, often in the basement and not as expensive as you would imagine. Concept CM2 at the Novotel in Siam Sq, Rivas - pretty stylish, at the Sheraton Grande and Tantra Club at the Pan Pacific are just a few worth a mention.

Serious clubbing
Taurus Brewhouse, Lucifers, Ministry of Sound, Narcissus and La Lunar offer upbeat and loud music. Royal City Avenue is whole street of ultra-packed and huge clubs the size of plane hangars, mainly for teens. Silom Soi 4 has about 20 boutique size clubs. One club - Tapas More groove than tapas, but so popular this "hole in wall" has expanded rapidly.

Cocktail Bars
Q bar - New York style, Chinatown - Food and lots of gold trimmings, Compass Rose - Breathtaking views from the 59th Floor of the Westin Banyan Tree and Hyper - good for people watching on Soi 4, Silom.

More Bars
Bangkok’s bar scene has caught on to almost every theme. Tapas, latino, British pubs, Irish bars, beer gardens, upscale New York style, or local street cafe, it's a great choice. If you like English and Irish pubs there's The Bull's Head and The Londoner Brew Pub with excellent food and pub-brewed beer on Sukhumvit. Shenaningan's, Bangkok's original Irish pub and O'Reillys Irish Pub - a rustic Irish pub on Silom with an authentic atmosphere. For tapas lovers the Soho Bar & Restaurant provides sophisticated tapas and music on Convent Rd.

Music Venues/Live Music

For cool jazz and blues try the old Saxophone Pub at Victory Monument or Brown Sugar which has a an acid jazz lounge upstairs with a "real jazz" ("no Kenny G") combo. Plenty of talented hotel Filipino bands and live acts visiting from the US, Australia and Europe. There are great Thai Elvis and Thai Tom Jones shows accompanied by very tight bands at Radio City and Lucifer's nightclub upstairs if you want to keep going.

For Latino fans - there's no shortage. On Sukhumvit, Baila Baila - funky and colourful, La Havana & El Cubanito Salsa Lounge - authentically Cuban, and the Salsa Club - seriously Latino at the Pathumwan Princess Hotel. For a raucous Thai music night out, try Tawan Daeng (Red Sun) brewhouse on Rama III Road - famous for their dark beer - courtesy of a Munich Brewmeister.

Strange and Exotic

Patpong, Soi Cowboy and Nana entertainment complex are the main venues to head for. Usual mix of go-go bars, exotic shows and high price drinks.

Family Entertainment

Late afternoon, early evening when its cool, is a good time to walk around the city. Catch the sunset in the park on Phra Arthit Road right on the river opposite Wat Arun, or take the kids rowing on the lake in Lumpini Park late afternoon to escape from the bustle of the city. Early evening, take a stroll around Pramane Ground, for a view of the glittering gold spires of The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keow or the Flower Markets near Chinatown before 11:00pm. Go bowling, ice skating or see a film at the cinema in Siam Sq.

Many hotels will provide baby-sitting services if you give 24 hours notice. So its possible for you and the kids to enjoy Bangkok. Here's an idea of how one knowledgeable visitor to Bangkok spent the evening.

Siam Square. "We'd do a bit of shopping early evening (Discovery Centre, Siam Centre, MBK shopping mall). Dinner at Hard Rock, movie at a ridiculously plush cinema at Discovery, or the Scala (old fashioned large cinema) then bowling at MBK or ice skating at the World Trade Centre. Send the kids to bed, then party away the night with down at CM2 club at the Novotel Siam Square."

And that's just one area ......there's lots more!!!