What part of Bangkok is the absolute best for nightlife and nice little hole-in-the-wall restaurants?

We would like to spend a few nights at a hotel that is surrounded by great venues.

I will specify our taste in night life to help you assist us!

We are a young acting and feeling 40 and 44 yrs old but not into the disco/nightclub scene. If it was a worthwhile place we would definitely check it out and dance with the best of them.

We really enjoy casual places where we can have a few beers and maybe listen to some low key live music. At home we enjoy good blues bars with a small dance floor.

Pubs/bars with an unusual flair always peak our interest.

We are not interested in the type of British or Irish pubs that are built to cater to ex-pats.

That being said, where would you recommend we spend a few nights in Bangkok?

Is the Novetel Siam a good hotel option for such a location.

Cheers!

Tamara

Definitely go to Admakers on Soi Lungsuan - it has a mix of locals and expats, very good live band who always gets the crowd dancing despite the lack of a designated dance floor. Stay open late too. Food is good and reasonable there - Thai motsly - so make a reservation on a Fri or Sat and you can be there 7:30-8 until 1ish when they shut down. For a lvoely outdoorsy drink experience complete with a gaggle of geese (actually ducks) wandering around check out Aquat at the Four Seasons - lovely feel as open air, as I said ducks wandering around, eat somewhere else then come here around 9:30 and chill out until midnight or so. If you stay in Siam you are one stop on the BTS from both these - for the Four Seasons you would take the line to Rajdamri, right there when you walk down the stairs for Admakers the Chitlom line then walk halfway down soi Lungsuan.

There was a thread not too long ago with some good suggestions...since you like live music, I agree Admakers is nice.
I think the Saxophone Bar at Victory Monument is also a nice spot: good live music (jazz/ rock), clientele was youngish expats and Thais. There is also outside bars /restos to drink and eat at in Vitory Point (no music though) and the market is v. lively.
At Suan Lum night bazaar there is a great outdoor pub - v. large. Fun! I'd definitely visit, though the music tends to be Thai pop covers, not blues!
Tawandeng has live music, quite a mixture - including the local 'folk' Thai music which can strangely grow on you. It's also a brew house with great pork knuckle and German beer.

Thanks for the info!

Are these places all in the same neighborhood? What part of town are they in?

We are trying to decide what part of town we should base ourselves in.

Thanks!

Thanks!

With the suggestions you've been given, there is no best place to stay. Each location would require you to take the skytrain or hop in a cab to get there.

I would second Tawandang for a great place to mix with the Thais. Very few farangs here. Good food, good music, good stage show, plus dancing in the ailes.

Carol

You mention the Novotel Siam. It is an OK hotel, VFM. What is your budget? Ensure your hotel is near the sky train - the best way to travel in Bkk - and you will be fine.

Frankly, I would like to stay at Centre Point Silom, the serviced apartments. My boyfriend is concerned about that being too far from the action. It is right on the sky train and near the Oriental, I think. How long will it take for us to get to some of the places people have mentioned traveling by sky train?

most of your higher end nigh spots are located on sukhunvit.rd. actually suk has something for just about everyone.

novatel may not be the best place to be . if you really want to be in the midle of things. CM2 which is located in the basement of the novatel is one of my favorites clubs, it has a live band the plays modern music and also has a seperate room for hard core hip hop. (well atleast on weekends. the HARD ROCK is also in Siam district (where the novatel is)

www.bangkokgiggs.com lists many live venues.