Bangkok's nightlife is legendary, and in fact it is one of the reasons people come to Thailand. It can be daunting to consider the many venues in the city, but if you think of Bangkok as being divided into various nightlife areas, each offering something different and with a different atmosphere, you will begin to find your way around.

Sukhumvit's nightlife is especially cosmopolitan, and along the road on both sides and in the many sois are countless pubs and bars and restaurants. Many have live music and pool tables. Around the top end of the road, at Soi 4, is Nana Plaza, one of the city's main bar venues. Further down the road, on the other side at Soi 23, is a short street known as Soi Cowboy, also crammed with bars. Around the Soi 11 area are a number of nightclubs catering for the international crowd in addition to young Thais, and to match their world-class reputation they often fly in top DJ talent. Soi 33 is home to the so-called "artist bars", most of which take their names from celebrated artists, and these are all upscale cocktail lounges, popular with Thais and expats alike. Head a little further out to the voguish sois of Thonglor (Soi 55) and Ekkamai (Soi 63), and you will find these essentially residential areas have become centres for clubs, bars and restaurants in recent years.

With its huge selection of pubs, clubs and bars, Silom is another prime nightlife centre. The world-renowned Patpong is located here, and here is plenty more, for many of Bangkok's gay venues are in the Silom area.

Young partygoers tend to head for Royal City Avenue, more commonly known as RCA. This road is crammed with clubs with booming sound systems, soft mood lighting and dazzling lasers, and each one seems to be packed every night of the week. Khao San Road, still a haven for backpackers but more upmarket than it used to be, is a centre for clubs playing hip-hop, pop, indie, rock and reggae, and there are also pubs and bars with live music.

SHOPPING

Bangkok is one of the great shopping centres of Asia, whether you are looking for brand-name goods in air-conditioned shopping malls, antiques, curios, objets d'art and fine handicrafts in specialist outlets, or a bargain in the street markets.

Shopping Malls

The area between Siam Square and Ratchadamri is the epicentre for mall shopping, with enormous malls such as Siam Centre, Siam Square, Siam Paragon, MBK and Central World Plaza all within walking distance of each other, and with countless small stores and boutiques surrounding them. All the way along Ploenchit Road there can be found malls and stores, and when Ploenchit changes its name and becomes Sukhumvit Road there can be found a lot more. Silom Road is another major shopping area, with the two biggest names, Central Department Store and Robinson's, also represented elsewhere in the city.

Some further distance along Sukhumvit Road at Soi 24 is The Emporium, a destination shopping mall that has premier brand-name shops along with a huge variety of consumer goods, a large department store, and a supermarket specialising in top quality imported European and American food and beverage products.

Markets

For markets and street markets, it would be very hard to beat Bangkok. A major attraction on weekends is the huge Chatuchak Weekend Market, located in northern Bangkok but easily accessible by Skytrain and Metro. There are a reputed 20,000 stalls selling what appears to be literally everything. Go early in the morning to avoid the heat and the crowds. Suan Lum Night Bazaar is in the centre of town and although smaller than Chatuchak is still big and colourful. There is a large food court with a live band every night. Patpong Night Market, which runs somewhat incongruously through the city's best-known red-light district, is a place you can really test your bargaining skills and pick up Thai tourist products as well as clothes, bags and counterfeit goods.

Garments and textiles are one of Thailand's main exports, and consequently Bangkok is an excellent place to buy clothing. Pratunam Garment Market is an astonishing place, largely existing for the industry buyers, but perfectly amenable to consumer visitors. And if you want clothes made to measure, the main tourist areas have a plethora of tailor shops, mainly run by Indians. Take along something you want copied, or even a photograph, and you could get it done in 24 hours: although longer is recommended.