Bangkok evening entertainment
 

I have four nights in Bangkok and too many options for evening entertainment. On my list are Patpong Night Market, Siam Niramit show, Calypson Cabaret and Suan Lum Night market with Joe Louis Theatre. I'm on a tour and one night is a welcome dinner that I should go to since I am traveling solo and should meet and greet. Does anyone have opinions on what three are the best entertainment/experience for my time. Thanks Barb

the two nite markets are the same except that suan lum is much nicer....patpong is the adult entertainment area and is worth a walk through--the merchandise is not as nice and is really tourist oriented and they are far more aggressive, but the sights are a side of bkk that you won't see elsewhere.....i would do it on the same nite as the suan lum, doing it last as it is not far from your hotel...

Seeing both markets the same night is a great idea. I can taxi to Patpong, see my fill and compare it to Amsterdam's red light district then taxi over to Suan Lum. Will it be easy to grab a taxi? The Joe Louis Theatre shows are at 7:30 and 8:30. When do things start to rock at Patpong? Maybe it would be better to go to Suan Lum and the Joe Louis Theatre first - maybe the early show - then taxi back to Patpong so check out the sites. Barb

It will be very easy to grab a taxi from just about anywhere in Bangkok.

I really enjoyed the Suan Lum Market. I would definitely go there since it is due to close for good some time in the near future. I enjoyed hanging out in the beer garden and then shopping later when it got a bit cooler.

I am sure you will find that the adult entertainment area of Patpong is much different than it is in Amsterdam. Amsterdamis much more subdued!

Enjoy your trip!

taxi is easy especially if you have your hotel doorman tell them where you want to go....i might ask the front desk to write directions for you to give a taxi from patpong to suan lum as a taxi driver might not understand you...

getting a meter taxi back to the hotel might be difficult as the taxis at the markets try to charge you a flat fee....walk a block or so away and flag one down....not hotels nearby to avoid all of this....that is what i often do if taxis balk at meter...i go to a hotel and get a taxi....insist on the meter or you will overpay...
the subway is right in front of the market so you can take it and connect to the skytrain if you want too....

To partially answer your question, the Joe Louis Puppet Theater is uniqiue and not-to-be-missed. I would taxi there ahead of time, eat in the vicinity, see the early show and then wander the market.

The Calypso is very interesting, but probably best enjoyed with someone else. Maybe you could entice another Tour participant or two.

We saw the Siam Niramit show last November - it is "staged" complete with outside village you can photo, dancers etc. Although we have been to Thailand many times we did find it an enjoyable evening. The show is very well done. The shuttle bus was there & waiting ot take us to & from MRT.
We reserved tickets easily at the Ticketmaster stall in Paragon - but its a huge auditoriun & there was plenty of space.

Everything you mentioned is good, but it is all tourist oriented. If you want to see what the locals do for evening enternainment go to Tawan Dang.

The beer, food, & entertainment is fantastic and everyone is very friendly. And it is not expensive. You will need a reservation though.

eurotraveller - quick story, my 17 year old son and I were wandering through the Amsterdam red-light district and he commented that not many girls were working because the curtains were closed on many ofj the windows. I told him "Honey, those ARE the girls who are working!"

rhkkmk, great idea to have the hotel write my destinations down for me. I have carried a hotel business card with me where ever I travel basically for the same purpose, to try and get to where I want to go .

Gpanda, I am hoping to meet tour companions who are looking to go out and about, but if not, that won't hold me back at all.

janey, how far in advance did you buy your tickets? It is nice to know you can get transportation back and forth.

BradinBangkok - Oh boy, I'm there. Tawan Dang looks like a blast. Since it is a take off on a German Beer Garden, do they sing John Denver's "Take me Home Country Rose". :)

Thanks Everyone - Appreciate the input! Barb

We did the Calypso Cabaret and loved it. A very classy show- you will not be disappointed. Go for the cocktail show- do not do the dinner show as the food is not great. Bring your camera- as picture taking is allowed. Get you tickets ahead of time at the Asia Hotel. The skytrain connects to the Asia hotel so its easy to get to the show.

We just bought Siam Niramit tickets a day or two before - no problem.

About the show, i would recommend khon mask show in SALACHALERMKRUNG, but they only open between fri-sun. Another option would be Thai Boxing, there are two stadiums running thai boxing every night, those are not 'shows' but real combat!