Patpong

Overview and Location

Patpong sits between Silom Road and Surawong Road in Bangkok's central business district, roughly four kilometers southwest of the Sukhumvit entertainment zones. The area consists of two parallel streets, Patpong 1 and Patpong 2, both privately owned by the Patpongpanit family, who purchased the land in 1946 and built the roads in the decades that followed.

The district traces its roots to the Vietnam War era. In 1969, Rick Menard opened the Grand Prix Bar, widely considered Bangkok's first go-go bar and one of the first in Asia. American servicemen on R&R leave drove the area's transformation from an ordinary commercial street into an entertainment zone. That history gives Patpong a different character from the newer Sukhumvit districts. It feels older, more weathered, and less polished than Nana Plaza or Soi Cowboy. BTS Sala Daeng and MRT Si Lom stations both sit within a two-minute walk.

Legal Status

Patpong operates under the same legal framework as Bangkok's other entertainment zones. The Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act technically prohibits the commercial sex trade. Bars here are licensed as entertainment and drinking establishments, maintaining the legal fiction that allows the industry to function openly.

Patpong's location in the Silom business district means it sits closer to police stations and government offices than the Sukhumvit zones. In practice, this hasn't resulted in stricter enforcement. Closing times, typically 1 AM to 2 AM, are the most consistently enforced regulation. Alcohol sales bans during Buddhist holidays and royal commemorations apply here just as they do everywhere else in Bangkok.

Costs and Pricing

Patpong's pricing runs slightly lower than Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza on average, though individual bars vary. The district attracts a mix of tourists, expats, and business travelers staying in the Silom hotel corridor.

Drinks. Standard beers cost 150 to 190 THB at most go-go bars. Draft options start around 120 THB where available. Cocktails and imported spirits run 180 to 280 THB. At beer bars and street-level venues without stages, drinks can be cheaper, sometimes 100 to 130 THB for a local beer.

Lady drinks. The standard protocol applies: if a worker joins your table, she expects a drink purchase. Lady drinks at Patpong bars cost 170 to 220 THB. The worker earns a commission on each sale. You can politely decline by saying you'd prefer to sit alone.

Bar fines. Patpong bar fines range from 700 to 1,000 THB, somewhat lower than the Sukhumvit zones. King's Castle bars charge around 800 THB. Bada Bing starts at 700 THB. These fees compensate the bar for the worker's absence and are separate from any private arrangement.

Tips. Stage performer tips of 20 to 100 THB are customary. Waitstaff tipping is appreciated at 20 to 50 THB per round but not expected.

Night market shopping. Vendor stalls along Patpong 1 and surrounding sidewalks sell knock-off clothing, souvenirs, and accessories. Prices are negotiable. Start by offering 40 to 50 percent of the asking price and work from there. T-shirts go for 100 to 200 THB, bags for 200 to 500 THB. Cash only at stalls.

Budget planning. An evening of bar-hopping with drinks at two or three venues and some market browsing will run 1,200 to 2,500 THB. Carry only what you plan to spend.

Street-Level Detail

Patpong's two streets run parallel to each other, each roughly 300 metres long, connecting Silom Road (south) to Surawong Road (north).

Patpong 1. This is the main strip. Go-go bars line both sides of the street, with vendor stalls set up down the center most evenings after 5 PM. King's Castle 1, the largest bar in the King's Castle group, occupies a mid-block location and is one of the district's anchor venues. Bada Bing sits near the Silom Road entrance and draws the heaviest foot traffic. Pink Panther, one of the oldest go-go bars still operating in Patpong, has a more traditional atmosphere than the renovated competition.

Patpong 2. The second street has a different character. The Surawong Road end hosts several LGBT-oriented go-go bars that relocated here after the closure of Soi Twilight (Soi Pratuchai). Bars like Freshboys and Hot Male operate here, catering to a gay male clientele. The Silom Road end still has a few of the older ping-pong show venues, though these have thinned out over the years.

Silom Road frontage. The sidewalks along Silom Road near the Patpong entrances host additional night market vendors. The Sala Daeng BTS exit drops you right into this zone. Street food carts sell pad thai, grilled meats, and fresh fruit for 40 to 80 THB.

The side sois. A few narrow lanes connect Patpong 1 and 2. These occasionally host smaller bars, but the main action stays on the two primary streets.

Safety

Patpong is generally safe from violent crime. The streets are well-lit when market stalls are operating, and foot traffic stays heavy until midnight. Police presence is noticeable given the district's central location.

The real risks are financial. Bill padding, upstairs show scams, and aggressive touting are all more common here than on Soi Cowboy. The Patpong 1 touts are persistent and practiced. A firm "no thank you" and continued walking is the correct response. Don't engage in extended conversation with them.

Keep valuables secured and carry only the cash you need for the night. Pickpocketing occurs in the crowded market sections. Use Grab or Bolt for transport rather than negotiating with tuk-tuk drivers near the district. Save 1155, the tourist police hotline, in your phone.

Cultural Context

Patpong holds a unique place in Bangkok's history. It was the original tourist-oriented entertainment district, predating Nana Plaza by over a decade and Soi Cowboy by nearly a decade. That history means it carries a certain weight in the city's identity, even as newer districts have drawn away much of the crowd.

The coexistence of the night market and the go-go bars creates a strange dynamic. Families browsing for cheap t-shirts walk past bar entrances with touts calling out drink specials. This makes Patpong feel less enclosed and less intense than Nana Plaza or Soi Cowboy. It also means the boundaries between tourist shopping and adult entertainment blur in ways that can catch first-time visitors off guard.

Scam Warnings

Menu switching. Some ground-floor bars show one menu when you enter and present a different bill at checkout. Photograph the menu or price board when you sit down. Count your drinks throughout the evening.

Fake goods at inflated prices. Night market vendors sell counterfeit brand items at prices that aren't particularly cheap. Everything is negotiable. If a vendor won't budge on price, walk to the next stall selling identical goods.

Tuk-tuk overcharging. Drivers parked near the Silom Road entrance quote inflated fares, especially after midnight. Use Grab or Bolt instead.

Nearby Areas

Silom Road. The broader Silom area is Bangkok's financial district by day and a nightlife corridor after dark. Conventional bars, restaurants, and nightclubs line the main road and its branching sois. Silom Soi 4 has a cluster of bars popular with both locals and expats.

Sala Daeng. The intersection of Silom and Ratchadamri roads is a major transit hub with BTS access, shopping (Silom Complex, Dusit Thani area), and upscale dining.

Lumphini Park. A five-minute walk east from Patpong, this is Bangkok's most prominent public park. Early morning joggers and tai chi practitioners make it a different world from the nightlife zone.

Meeting People Nearby

Silom's conventional nightlife offers plenty of social options beyond the entertainment district. Silom Soi 4 has bars with a mixed crowd of locals and expats that don't operate on the go-go bar model. The rooftop bars at hotels along Silom and Sathorn roads draw a more upscale social scene, though drinks start at 300 to 500 THB. Coworking spaces in the Silom area host after-work events that attract professionals and digital nomads. For a broader picture of Bangkok's dating and social scene, see the main Bangkok city guide.

Best Times

• 5 PM to 7 PM: Night market stalls open, bars starting up, quiet period for a look around
• 9 PM to 11 PM: Peak hours for both the market and the bars
• 11 PM to 1 AM: Market vendors start packing up, bars remain active until closing
• Friday and Saturday: Busiest nights, heaviest tourist traffic
• November to February: High season with the most comfortable weather and largest crowds
• Weekday evenings: Quieter, with business travelers from nearby Silom hotels making up more of the crowd

What Not to Do

• Do not follow touts to upstairs venues for any reason
• Do not pay an upstairs bar bill under intimidation; call tourist police at 1155 instead
• Do not leave drinks unattended in any bar
• Do not carry valuables or large amounts of cash through the crowded market area
• Do not assume night market prices are fixed; bargain on everything
• Do not take photographs inside go-go bars without explicit permission
• Do not accept unsolicited offers of "free tours" or "free shows" from strangers
• Do not engage with anyone who appears underage; report concerns to tourist police at 1155