Joanna James
Bangkok buzzes with party streets that come alive once the darkness takes over. Each street has a distinct personality and a flavour, making sure that you are spoiled for choice.
Just like Anantara Hotels, Resort & Spa is the hotspot brand for accommodation, The RCA – Royal City Avenue – is the hot spot for nightclubs and party streets. The Avenue is one long stretch of nightclubs stacked one after the other, making it the most popular party street. Parties at RCA are "happening" every night, including week days, and over the weekend, the clubs overflow with people come midnight. It is this excess crowd that makes up most of the party street, as there are make-shift chairs, tables, and loudspeakers out on the street so everyone can have a fun night. The crowd at RCA is a blend of males and females, and you are expected to be somewhat dressed up.
If you are not staying at one of the luxury hotels in Thailand and is in fact backpacking across the country, it is unlikely you would have "club-appropriate" attire in your suitcase. This need not stop you from enjoying the party streets in Bangkok, for Khao San Road is the place for backpackers. All you need is something that can be considered clean, and you are good to dance down Khao San, having a bite of food, singing at the top of your voice, and even browsing through a book or two as this 1km stretch of street is full of quirky little places. The best thing about Khao San Road is that the crowd comprises mostly of gap year students and backpackers, so a man in shorts and flip-flops will easily blend in.
A young crowd dressed to the nines, an atmosphere of easy entertainment, and with plenty of music to choose from Thonglor stands out among the local crowd as the one street that showcases how hard the young Thai likes to party. While the main Thonglor Road is a beautiful illustration of upscale pubs, restaurants, and bars, the real action is at Thonglor Soi 10. You have a number of clubs scattered down the road, including one club where you get two drinks for free when you purchase entry. There is a club which has both techno music and live bands in the same venue, so you can easily oscillate between the two as your mood demands. Some clubs even have free entry to everyone, trusting the atmosphere and the reputation of Thonglor Soi 10 as a high-end street to keep out the dodgy crowd. This is a refreshing change from the dual pricing that exists in most clubs in Bangkok. The crowd here is mostly the affluent Thai, young girls and boys spending the family inheritance, or the self-made professional who wants to let off steam, because s/he earned it. This means that you need to be dressed to kill, and the comfy pair of crocs cannot make an appearance at Thonglor Soi 10.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
