Nightclubs
Lava Club
Go down the steps to one of the more modern clubs on the road. The interior is kind of funky, with red "lava" colours making it feel like you've gone beneath the surface of the Earth. If you like R&B and hip hop music, you'll have a blast. Sunday nights are good. Prices of the drinks are lower than the clubs in Sukhumvit and RCA, but higher than elsewhere along Khao San Road.
Gazebo Club
This is the most popular after-hours club of Khao San Road. It stays open way longer than the other clubs, so it really starts to get crowded after 01:00. It has a nice atmosphere, as it is decorated completely in a kind of Moroccan and Arabic setting including waterpipes. Music is a combination of hip-hop, house, electro and trance. Expect a hefty bill though, as just one Heineken Longneck sets you back 200 baht. Ladies usually get in for free.
The Club
One of the better clubs on Khao San Road, and you can't miss it, as it has a huge neon purple sign. It is an Ibiza-style club that basically consists of one large room in Italian style. It might feel a bit overdone and pretentious for Western crowds, but Thai locals flock to this place in large numbers. Music styles played are house, electro, techno and trance.
Bangkok's nightlife has a hard time living up to its notorious reputation â and Khao San Road is no different. While many roadside bars are open 24 hours, nightclubs close at 03:00. The only exception to this rule seems to be Gazebo Club, so many of the Khao San vagabonds go there when the rest of the bunch closes down. You can also hail a cab and go to downtown, as more nightclubs there stay open until the early hours. Always bring your passport as all nightclubs are required to check it at entry.
Sanook Bar
The feature of this small nightclub is its hip and modern interior with flashy lights and colours. It feels a bit like a VIP room or luxurious lounge bar, as it is more about chilling on seats and sofas than it is about dancing. There's a pool table and a live performing DJ. The window gives a nice view of the mansion that houses Starbucks.
Bars and pubs
Center Khao Sarn
Easily the best spot for people-watching on Khao San Road. It's probably the largest venue, in the middle of the street, with its seats right beside the road; and it's always open. It's a great place to chat, sip a beer and lose track of time. There's also a pool table and simple dishes are served. And if you run out of money, there's an ATM at both sides of the bar.
Hippie de Bar
Psychedelic interior with mismatched furniture, but not really hippie style. Outside is a nice place to chill with a beer or cocktail. It's a bit off the main street, so no noise from there, but the reggae and tropical music are a bit too loud for a casual conversation.
Adhere the 13th
Adhere the 13th is one of those typical small blues bars that is all about the music. There is always a band playing on the live stage, so visiting this one is an absolute must if you're into blues. But even for those who are not that much into it, the intimate atmosphere and tight spaces are an interesting experience for everyone. It's all about listening, and customers even tone their voice to actually hear and appreciate the music.
Gulliver's Traveler's Tavern
Nowadays one might associate this kind of bar more with Sukhumvit, however this is actually the first Gulliver's and it is right at Khao San Road. It is a sports pub with billiards, and being well-known among the backpacker community, this is a place to swap stories. Beer is at rather steep prices for Khao San though, around 150 baht a pint. They also offer some mid-range priced Western food. The atmosphere is quite relaxed at daytime, while it gradually turns into a rather wild dance party as the night wears on.
999 West
The pub that started it all, when it still had its old name Susie Pub. It is big and dark, usually packed, and playing pop music. It is very popular among Thai locals. The owners of the pub have branched out to owning Austin Pub, Tom Yum Kung and The Club. Don't forget your ID as it is sometimes checked upon entry.
Bangkok Bar
This popular pub moved eastwards in 2009, from Soi Rambuttri to the middle of Rambuttri Road. The bar can get very crowded on Fridays and Saturdays. Not just foreigners know about this place, there are many Thai locals who visit it as well. A Chang beer is 70 baht, but the locals seem to be drinking bottles of scotch or cocktails.
One night in Khao San
While there is much more to see in Bangkok than Khao San... yeah yeah, blah blah, we all know that. Party time! Khao San Road has some of the best bars in town and spending one night of your trip here is a must.
You might want to start with a romantic dinner and views over the Chao Phraya River. No place does this better than Aquatini Bar and Restaurant. A good alternative is the seafood at the al fresco terrace of Tom Yum Kung. If you want to save money, or want to have dinner at a typical Khao San-style restaurant, go for the seafood at Popiang House.
Probably one of the most enjoyable activities on Khao San Road is people-watching. Center Khao Sarn has the best views of the bunch with many roadside seats. Mulligans is a worthy alternative, and great for conversation as there's no music outside.
We've seen enough of Khao San Road, so time to head elsewhere. The locals flock to live performance bars and so should you â Adhere the 13th if you're into blues and jazz happens at Jazz Happens! Bar. If live music is not your thing, head to Bangkok Bar, another popular bar among the locals.
Most bars close around 01:00, but if you haven't had enough just yet, head for Gazebo Club. It is a unique rooftop club in Middle Eastern style that doesn't close until the early hours. Still not done? Just head back to Center Khao Sarn or Mulligans where you can wash a cold Chang beer down 24/7.
Khao San Road has some of the cheapest bars in town, and these days even Thais head down to knock back a few. Khao San bars are mostly about relaxing â just sitting outside, looking at people and enjoying the atmosphere. Some just walk around with a beer in their hand; a can of Chang beer is 25 baht at 7-Eleven. Worth a look are a few street side VW vans converted to mobile bars, serving cocktails made from cheap liquor.
The tourist crowd has spread to both Soi Rambuttri and Rambuttri Road in the north. Both of them have a relaxed pace great for people-watching. The bars have many seats lined up along the pavement, and the music is slightly toned down for casual conversation. If you want to go where the locals go, there are some artsy/indie bars at Phra Athit Road and Ratchadamnoen Klang Road popular with local art students.
Cafes
Coffee and More
A pleasant cafe overlooking a garden; it is modern, but with a cosy decor. They have a wide selection of coffees, teas and great cakes. Breakfast options limited though. Especially popular with young up-and-coming Thais.
Ricky's Coffee Shop
There are a number of Ricky's Coffee Shops, but this is the original one at Phra Athit Road. It is a nice place to relax with a cup of coffee or a cold afternoon beer. They also have Western and Thai dishes, and while they seem simple, they taste really good try the rice with cashew nuts!. You can also try one of their delicious sandwiches. Its interior is impressive, a bit like an old Chinese-style tea house.
You might like a freshly brewed coffee in the early morning, or some coconut juice or iced chocolate to cool you down in the hot afternoon. There are plenty of cafes serving these on Khao San Road; Coffee World is across from McDonald's in Buddy's Shopping Plaza and there is a Starbucks in a nice converted house inside the Sunset Street alley in the middle of the road.
Go to Phra Athit Road for a more sophisticated way of getting some caffeine. It is home to many colonial-style townhouses and shophouses that have been turned into artsy cafes and restaurants.