Titanium is a happening and pulsating place to check out some live music and totally chill, literally that is. The lavish club features innovative lighting, a big sound system, celebrity DJs, and Thailand's hottest all-female rock band that performs here regularly. Additionally, the club boasts a -10 ice bar in which frozen drinks are as cold as the surroundings. The ice bar has every known brand of vodka on the planet in its collection and makes a unique addition to the club. The big draw though is the Unicorn all-girl rock band that performs nightly and really sizzles. It isn't exactly cheap here, but the club is indeed a flashy spot to rock the night away.
Recommended for Sukhumvit's Best Nightlife because: For an icy hot club, Titanium rocks and is pretty unique.
Dave's expert tip: There is a buy one get one free vodka drink happy hour before 10 pm.
Soi 8 on lower Sukhumvit doesn't get too many accolades when it comes to cutting edge bars, but inVite bucks the trend, with a combo of great fusion food, and a fantastic cocktail menu. The GM Keoma Intravaia is a professional "mixsultant," and bar trainer, and he designed the drink menu here. The staff is happy to suggest cocktails that pair with the food, and you'll be wowed by creations like "Saint Barth," which combines chili vodka, passion fruit, and lime, or "Some Like it Strange," which pours premium Hendrick's gin along with Choya umeshu plum wine, lemongrass, Thai cucumber, and ginger beer. A majority of bars across Bangkok never get the Thai-spiced cocktails right, but inVite succeeds on every level. There are craft beers, and the open-air setting makes this a really popular bar and one of the better night spots for chilling and drinking in the neighborhood. They also have ladies nights and other such specials during the week and host various theme parties on the weekend.
Recommended for Sukhumvit's Best Nightlife because: For some superb cocktails and warm vibe, inVite is an excellent selection.
Dave's expert tip: Check their Facebook page to find the latest promos and specials.
As the name says, Apoteka seeks to emulate a 19th-century apothecary, with plenty of old wood and brick and lots of potion looking glass bottles up on the shelves. The retro feel is in here, but the scene is very modern. Not only does the bar have some great signature cocktails and a wide variety of beer and wine to select from, but the happening bar on trendy Soi 11 is also home to some of Bangkok's best live music. The Keith Nolan Blues Band, one of Bangkok's finest blues outfits, are regulars, as is the popular Soi Dog Blues Band. If you appreciate good blues, this is the best you are going to find on this side of town. In a street that has become noted for its trance, DJ, and full-on electro-style parties, Apoteka feels a bit more refined and elegant and is an excellent choice for a night out.
Recommended for Sukhumvit's Best Nightlife because: For a combo of great live music, stiff drinks, and a hip atmosphere, Apoteka stands out.
Dave's expert tip: From 5:30 - 8:30 pm they do a 99 baht happy hour here with house spirits and beers going for cheap. It's a bit far to walk here from Sukhumvit. Take the Sky Train to Nana, walk over to Soi 11, and grab a motorcycle taxi down the soi.
Located in the heart of Sukhumvit, just steps from the Skytrain and subway stations at the Asok intersection, Axis & Spin flies under the radar of most visitors, perhaps because it sits so far above them, located on the 38th floor of The Continent Hotel. This beautiful chilled out sky lounge and bar features all you need for a superlative night out. The panoramic city views are dazzling, the extensive drink and food menu both creative and inspiring, and the happy hour specials as well as freebies for those who opt-in for Sky benefits at the hotel make it well worth the elevator ride up. The drink menu is well themed, divided by classic cocktails or more innovative "Pre-Prohibition, Prohibition, and Post-War" drinks, matching the vintage decor of the bar, which features plush armchairs, old bicycles and animal statues, along with massive bay windows looking out on the city lights. Try a Barbary, with blended scotch, creme de cacao, and heavy cream, or an Artist's Special, with bourbon, Amontillado sherry, lime, and grenadine, or you can stick with the more well-known offerings like the colorful tequila sunrise or strawberry daiquiri. If you're hungry, dinner is also served at Axis & Spin, with the eclectic menu featuring standouts like black mussels in a white wine garlic sauce, Australian Wagyu beef burgers on charcoal buns, Australian lamb rack served with black truffle risotto, and fish and chips with tartar sauce.
Recommended for Sukhumvit's Best Nightlife because: For a birds-eye view of Bangkok and chilled vibe, you can't beat Axis & Spin.
Dave's expert tip: Take advantage of the happy hour promotions from 5-8, such as buy one get one free. Check the Continent website for updates.
Octave Rooftop Lounge and Bar is the latest arrival to grace the sky-high bar scene in Bangkok. While most of the airborne bars with views tend to be concentrated around Silom Road and the Chao Phraya River, Octave sits towering above Thong Lor and Sukhumvit Road, and the views from the 45th floor are absolutely spectacular, giving the feeling of being in a helicopter, as there is nothing around to impede the 360 degree panorama. In addition to the marvelous views, the three level bar and lounge also makes outstanding cocktails, as the in-house mixologist has signature drinks such as the Bangkok 57 (saffron infused vodka with champagne!) and the Bloom Over the Roof (red berries tea infused vodka mixed with mint leaf and elderflower syrup) to keep customers sated. There are also top wines available, along with some tapas style nibbles to go with the sublime surroundings.
Recommended for Sukhumvit's Best Nightlife because: Octave has the best panorama view of Bangkok anywhere on Sukhumvit and is a real sky-high cocktail bar.
Dave's expert tip: Sunset is a great time to come in. Best to get here by taking the BTS Skytrain to Thong Lor and walking over one block.
While Bed Supperclub may have closed down, Sukhumvit's party central Soi 11 keeps on going strong in the nightlife department, with the slack taken up by new kid on the block Levels. This swank electronic nightclub with a view is located on the 6th floor of the chic Aloft Hotel and is now the place to be seen and party in lower Sukhumvit. There is plenty of house music being played here, but Levels excels in its DJ's, bringing in some of the top international acts from around the world to rock the house. There is a large dance room here with a giant LED chandelier overhead, and then there is a club zone that features a great sound system. There is also a terrace bar that looks out over all the Sukhumvit neon and gives you a chance to catch your breath. There are plenty of promotions and theme nights here, but you are guaranteed one heck of a party just about any night of the week.
Recommended for Sukhumvit's Best Nightlife because: For Sukhumvit's most happening spot, it is hard to top Levels.
Dave's expert tip: Check the website for theme and promotion nights, along with the listing of which top DJ's will be in town.
Easily Bangkok's most highbrow dance club, Sing Sing Theater is a fantasy replica of Shanghai in the 1930s, with hanging red lanterns, dancers in red robes with patterned fans, and metal cages spread across the room, making it appear as if a shady brothel of yesteryear. Seedy it isn't though, as the fine drinks, high prices, and top DJs from around the world ensure that the clientele are Bangkok's most well-heeled and most ready to party. Never mind that the dance floor consists of almost nothing, just head out and join the wild throng. It's a combo of theater and nightclub and truly is unique. If the whole fantasy getup strikes a familiar chord, it's because nightlife designer mogul Ashley Sutton (Iron Fairies and Fat Gutz, etc) was behind this one as well.
Recommended for Sukhumvit's Best Nightlife because: For being Bangkok's most unique highbrow dance club, Sing Sing Theater is a work of art!
Dave's expert tip: Take the BTS to the Phrom Phong station and walk over to Soi 45, the club is next to Quince Restaurant.
This hole in the wall pub has more space for beer than customers, but that is just fine, as their selection of bottles of craft beer and cider from around the world is simply outstanding. You sit around a long rectangular table, gape at the fridges and shelves full of both Thai and international crafts, and save your money by ordering six or more (which can be combined between friends), which gives you wholesale prices, pretty much unheard of in Bangkok. Added pluses are the owner's most well-behaved chihuahua in the world, which makes the rounds to all drinkers, and the roast chicken vendor outside, who brings in rotisserie grilled chicken once you've worked up an appetite.
Recommended for Sukhumvit's Best Nightlife because: For a vast selection of craft beers set in a friendly local spot, Bottles of Beer is your neighborhood go to!
Dave's expert tip: Take the BTS Skytrain to the Thonglor station and walk back down Sukhumvit to Soi 34, the bar is just down the street on your right.
Above Eleven defies convention in many ways. Inspired by a Central Park-style vertical garden, this oasis towers above Bangkok's most up and coming trendy music and club scene street, Soi 11. The setting is outstanding, and the food and drink are no slouches here either, as the club offers Bangkok's only Nikkei Peruvian Japanese cuisine. The drink menu is exhausting and is listed via funny categories such as the wine section's "Sorry love I'm on a budget" or the "I've got it and I want to flaunt it" list. However, all these outstanding features aside, the reason Above Eleven is on this list is for their superb live music. The soulful Cliff Hardy quintet plays killer jazz tunes here each week, and there are also salsa nights and other music festivities. Well worth a jaunt.
Recommended for Sukhumvit's Best Nightlife because: For chilled out nightlife with great drinks, Above Eleven is on top.
Dave's expert tip: Gents need not wear singlets, shorts, and sandals, there is a casual dress code
Havana Social is Sukhumvit's ode to Cuba. While the other bars on happening Soi 11 are open-air or street-facing clubs, Havana Social is a hidden secret. It is down a side alley, has no sign, and there is no indication that there is even an establishment here. There is just an old retro telephone booth outside. Call the bar in advance to get the entry code, which you punch into the payphone, a door swings open, and voila, you enter a crumbling shophouse that resembles pre-revolution Havana, complete with cracked ceilings, hanging clotheslines, and retro furniture straight out of Fidel's younger days. In truth, it's origins, there are great mojitos and rum drinks on the menu, and even Cuban dancing and a live band on weekends. It's a great escape from the often seedy Soi 11 experience, and well themed, fairly authentic, and a great Bangkok party haunt.
Recommended for Sukhumvit's Best Nightlife because: For a unique party in a retro-Cuban hideaway, Havana Social excels.
Dave's expert tip: The club is in the little alleyway in front of the Fraser Suites. Look for the old payphone booth out front, and make sure to contact them before for the code to get in.