If you are planning to visit Bangkok, taking a peek at one or a few of its Red Light Districts most probably is on your to-do list, as the capital of Thailand is well-known for its entertainment nightlife and go-go bars. Patpong is the oldest red light area in Bangkok, located at the heart of Bangkok's adult industry, where Thailand's go-go culture started.
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Patpong Red Light Area
Patpong Red Light District consists of two parallel streets surrounded by a well-known Patpong night market. The venues in this red light district open daily, and the action there usually starts at around 19:00.
Plenty of go-go bars, some of them older style, can be found at Patpong. There are also many bars of various kinds on both streets making up this Bangkok red light area. The history and surrounding night market offer unique experience here if compared to other Bangkok red light districts. There are also adult shows, including ping pong shows, featured in several upstairs bars, but most of them are run by scammers and are better to be avoided.
Patpong Night Market is one of the best-known night markets in Bangkok, and it’s quite popular among tourists. Souvenirs, gifts, clothes, handbags, jewelry, and other touristy stuff can be found on sale at this night market.
Patpong Red Light Area Bars & Reviews
Patpong's best bars are the following well-rated go-go bars:
Radio City Go-Go Bar
Radio City is a go-go bar with beautiful girls, good music, reasonable drink prices, and not too pushy service.
Location: Patpong Soi 1
Opening hours: 20:00-02:00, daily
Reviews: Radio City
Bada Bing Go-Go Bar
Bada Bing Go-Go Bar is a smaller, one-level-style go-go bar with good service and fair prices.
Location: Patpong Soi 2
Opening hours: 20:00-02:00, daily
Reviews: Bada Bing Go-Go Bar
Virgin Go-Go Bar
Virgin Go-Go Bar is the newest go-go bar in the red light district. So far the bar is known as the place where you will find great girls, friendly staff, no pushy attitude, and a nice environment.
Location: Patpong Soi 2
Opening hours: 20:00-02:00, daily
Reviews: Virgin Go-Go Bar
The Pink Panther
The Pink Panther is one of the oldest go-go bars in this red light district. In addition to the usual entertainment of Bangkok go-go bars, they also have nightly boxing shows at 22:30, which are offered free to the bar's patrons.
Location: Patpong Soi 2
Opening hours: 20:00-02:00, daily
Reviews: The Pink Panther
King's Castle 1
King's Castle 1 is a go-go bar with pretty girls, a relaxing ambience, and friendly staff.
Location: Patpong Soi 1
Opening hours: 19:00-02:00, daily
Reviews: King's Castle 1
Hotels near Patpong Red Light Area
If you wish your bed in Bangkok to be as near to Patpong Red Light District as possible, you have plenty of options to choose from. You will find a number of hotels and other places to stay just a couple of hundred meters from the oldest red light district in Bangkok.
Best hotels near Patpong:
Montien Hotel Surawong Bangkok - a 5-star hotel located next to the red light district in the midst of the vibrant entertainment, business, and shopping districts of Silom and Surawong
56 Surawong Hotel Bangkok - affordable 3-star hotel on Soi Patpong 1, opposite the red light district
Le Meridien Bangkok - newly renovated 5-star hotel in Bangkok’s central business district, a short walk from the red light district and its lively night market
Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park - a luxury hotel next to Sala Daeng BTS Station and Silom MRT Station with newly renovated rooms and premium amenities
Ekanek Hostel - a hostel a 1-minute walk from Patpong providing cheap accommodation and facilities like a terrace and shared lounge
Patpong Bangkok Map
Location of Patpong and the best accommodations in the area can be easily found on this map.
How to Get to Patpong Red Light Area
Patpong is located in the Silom district, between Silom and Surawong Roads.
This red light district is easily reached by Bangkok public transportation, as it’s located just outside BTS SkyTrain and MRT (Metro) stations.
By BTS SkyTrain
You need to take the BTS SkyTrain Silom line to Sala Daeng Station and walk to Patpong, as it's within easy walking distance from there.
By MRT (Metro)
Take the MRT (metro) to Silom Station and walk to Patpong, as it's within easy walking distance from there.
By Taxi
Take a Bangkok taxi and tell the driver to go to “Patpong”; he will definitely know the area and bring you to the right place. Just don’t forget to ask the driver to turn the meter on.
How to Get to Other Red Light Districts
Public transportation in Bangkok operates until midnight, so you can reach other red light districts from Patpong easily.
The most convenient way to reach Soi Cowboy red light district from Patpong is taking the MRT. You need to get on the train at the station nearest to Patpong, Silom (Tao Poon direction) and get out at Sukhumvit station - Soi Cowboy is nearby.
Nana Plaza red light district from Patpong can be reached in two ways:
1) Take the BTS Silom Line SkyTrain from Sala Daeng station, go to Siam station, change to the BTS Sukhumvit Line, and get out at Nana station.
2) Take the MRT Blue Line train from Silom station to Sukhumvit station and change to the BTS SkyTrain (Asok station). Nana station is just one station from there.
Tips
What is the best area to stay in Bangkok if you are planning to visit Patpong and other places of interest in the city? The answer can be found here: Where to Stay in Bangkok.
Silom is home to many Bangkok rooftop bars, where you can enjoy nightlife with a spectacular view. The most famous rooftop bars in Silom are the following:
- Sirocco Sky Bar: the spectacular open-air rooftop on the top of Lebua Hotel at State Tower, 63 floors above Silom Road, on the Chao Phraya River side.
- Scarlett Rooftop Bar: Perched on the 37th floor of Pullman Bangkok Hotel G in the heart of Silom and serving exquisite French cuisine, creative cocktails, a great wine list, and panoramic views of Bangkok’s skyline.
- Yao Rooftop Bar: Bangkok's first Chinese-influenced multi-level venue with Bangkok's glittering high-rise skyline on one side and the historic old town on the other, offering dim sum selections along with signature refreshing mocktails and cocktails, located on the 32nd floor of the Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse.
The most iconic observation deck in Bangkok, King Power Mahanakhon SkyWalk, where you can walk on the edge of the building along the glass-floored skywalk to see a 360-degree panoramic view of the city's skyline, is also located not far from the night market.
