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The Mixmag Asia Clubbing Guide: Bangkok

Tried, tested and true with a lot of heavy hangovers to prove it—refurbished for 2025 and beyond

  • Words: HENRY COOPER
  • 13 March 2025
The Mixmag Asia Clubbing Guide: Bangkok

The Mixmag Asia Clubbing Guide: Bangkok was updated on March 13, 2025.

Bangkok’s club scene is anything but predictable. If you’ve been, heard the stories, or seen the films, you know the drill—one drink turns into two, then three, and suddenly you’re deep into a weekend-long odyssey, collecting stories you’ll only find in the Big Mango.

As one of Asia’s, and arguably the world’s, most famous nightlife hubs, the city delivers endless revelry. But between the neon glow, oversized cocktails, and chaos, some of its best venues remain just under the radar, overlooked by most visitors.

Compiling this list was a surreal experience. Since our last Bangkok Club Guide came out just a year and a half ago, more than half of those venues have sadly shuttered (RIP), making way for a fresh wave of newcomers. It’s always exciting to see venues popping up, but it’s also bittersweet to see icons fade away. A reminder to support your locals.

With Bangkok’s ever-changing scene, we’re confident that on any given night, you'll never struggle to find something extraordinary, something memorable and something to your taste.

BEAM

Bangkok’s nightlife just got a serious upgrade. BEAM, a cornerstone of the city’s club scene, is back after a sleek redesign, reopening its iconic doors to Thonglor’s dance-hungry crowd, christened by iconic names like Helena Hauff and Palms Trax. The space’s crown jewel? A custom-designed TPI Totem soundsystem that stands three meters tall, delivering a fat, warm, and incredibly powerful hi-fi sound—engineered by the same maestro behind fabric London and Ministry of Sound. Oh, and the infamous floor vibrations? They’re back, too.

The revamped space also boasts lighting inspired by James Turrell, featuring colour-focused panels made from bio-textiles by Denmark’s Natural Materials Studio, creating a softer, more immersive atmosphere. Meanwhile, Katsu, the former BEAM Lounge, steps into its own as a standalone club with an open-format schedule and its own reimagined sound system. Think punchy, energetic vibes that complement BEAM’s upstairs hi-fi warmth. Whether it’s house, techno, hip hop, or bass, BEAM has evolved into a multisensory playground that proves why it remains the beating heart of Bangkok’s nightlife.

BEAMCUBE

A sister venue to BEAM, BEAMCUBE came to the rescue during BEAM’s renovation period, offering an eclectic mix of sounds that championed both international talent and local collectives.

Now that BEAM has re-opened, BEAMCUBE has honed its focus on house music, and the shift has only elevated the space. The venue’s lineups are bold, always pushing the underground envelope and delivering something exciting for true house music aficionados. And then there’s the balcony—huge, with unmatched views, a place to sip delectable cocktails, all soundtracked to the legendary TPI soundsystem that rivals BEAM’s own. It’s a truly exceptional setting for an exceptional sound experience.

Studio Lam

Studio Lam looks like a bar for audiophiles straight out of a Murakami novel. From its dimly lit interior, warm wooden walls and vintage record collection on display, it’s oozing with eccentric Japanese vibes throughout its ultra-small interior. There is no designated dance floor at Studio Lam; there is a however a very cool DJ booth and specially designed custom tube sound system, so what small space is available does turn into something lively. Parties regularly get so wild that they blow the roof (and speakers) off the place. Since the bar is part of the ZudRangMa Records family (it began as a radio podcast by the record store), most of the live music is adventurous and can span anything from Nigerian disco to vintage Cambodian rock all the way through to psychedelic blues. In fact, the bar solely exists to provide outside of the mainstream. Obviously, the staff and clientele boast a sophisticated musical style that you can learn something from. The cocktails are potent and made with over 30 different kinds of homemade ya dong, the beer interesting, the people eclectic, and the vibe bar none — altogether creating a kind of communal warmth in an intimate space that’s feels far away from Bangkok while being right along Sukhumvit.

SALON KIKU

Just a few flights of stairs above Studio Lam, you'll find Salon Kiku—a cozy, cutting-edge space that’s quickly becoming a key fixture in Bangkok’s nightlife. Opened in 2024, Salon Kiku has already earned a reputation as a go-to spot for more laid-back, intimate vibes, offering a welcome respite from the more intense late-night venues. With Altec A7 speakers anchoring the room and panoramic views of the city, it’s a refined experience, both sonically and flavour-wise. The venue effortlessly transitions from a sophisticated jazz café to a bustling dance floor, with a genre range that spans jazz, soul, funk, Thai funk, world grooves, house, and beyond. And let’s not forget the wine—Salon Kiku’s selection is nothing short of impressive. If you’re seeking a more grounded, mature night out with quality sound, sips and selections, this is your spot.

12x12

This cosy vintage-style bar is a hipster magnet that churns out eclectic underground music in the regular in an excellent atmosphere. It’s super casual and low key with couches, a bar to sit at and musical accompaniment that will transport you to an era gone by. The bar is a hidden gem, and that always makes for a great low key night out — think Japanese beers and homemade plum wine coupled by an intelligent soundtrack. We’ve never heard of a “big” DJ playing here but you never really do when it comes to all the best audiophile bars in Japan, where 12x12 gets its inspiration from. And here’s a story we love to tell: we previously bid farewell to 12x12 but turns out its time had not yet come, and it was resurrected and saved, and thanks to some donors, the space was recently renovated, soundproofed and a new venue installed.

ROVER

BLAQ LYTE has long been a staple in Bangkok, spanning multiple platforms—from their radio show to their lifestyle clothing store. However, it’s BLAQ LYTE ROVER that’s arguably become their most iconic venture. Though it opened just a few years ago, Rover has already solidified its place at the forefront of Bangkok's nightlife scene. The club’s space, which holds 250 people, is perfectly complemented by the rich sound of Void Acoustics, delivering a crisp and immersive listening experience.

Known for its ambitious and genre-defying bookings and collaborations, Rover attracts an eclectic mix of talent and crowd, constantly collaborating with some of the city’s most innovative collectives and attracting the most in-touch, happening ravers. Another gem in the venue is BLAQ LYTE 11, which is a smaller, separate back room that offers its own distinct atmosphere and separate events throughout the week. Rover has a magnetic pull, drawing in a crowd that’s both fresh and forward-thinking—it's effortlessly cool and always on the pulse of what's next. Keep an eye on BLAQ LYTE Shophouse too; their store where pop-up events are a regular occurrence.

BAR TEMP

When Never Normal sadly closed its doors in May 2024, Bangkok's eclectic underground house scene was left with a void—but Bar Temp is almost the much-needed reincarnation. The team behind Bar Temp is a powerhouse of Bangkok’s nightlife veterans, including key figures from More Rice, Human Spectrum and the late Never Normal, as well as seasoned bar owners. Although the grand opening is set for April, the ongoing soft launch has been nothing short of impressive, featuring bold international and regional acts alongside some of Bangkok’s most exciting and seasoned artists.

The space is equipped with a Martin Audio sound system, delivering a crystal-clear experience. With no flash or frills, Bar Temp is all about one thing: raw, top-tier music in a no-nonsense, intimate environment. It’s quickly becoming the go-to haven for true house heads—a sanctuary for those who live and breathe the underground scene.

SIWILAI RADICAL CLUB

Siwilai has a reputation around Bangkok through fashion, and their latest venture into clubbing with Siwilai Radical Club has seen strong and steady success so far. Built using over five tons of recycled plastic, the striking bright-orange facade and interiors reflect the creativity the space brings to the city. By day, the space serves as a vibrant dining spot, but by night, the Discotheque takes over, complete with a sprung dance floor and a high-fidelity sound system engineered by NYC’s Ojas and Norway’s NNNN.

From Wednesday to Saturday, the club offers a dynamic blend of disco, hip hop, and house, and although it’s new and still finding its feet, the future looks very promising for the spot. We’ve seen it when it’s at its full potential and it’s really something.

ELSEWHERE

Founded in late 2024 by three brothers with experience living in Tokyo, New York, and Paris, Elsewhere brings a much-needed late-night underground house music venue to Bangkok. Located in an unassuming building, this intimate space is quickly becoming a favourite among serious electronic music buffs.

Opening at midnight and gaining momentum after 2 or 3am, Elsewhere stays alive until dawn—something that’s increasingly rare in Bangkok's nightlife scene. Once most other spots close for the night, everyone seemingly flocks to elsewhere to continue with the weekend antics. With a sound system powered by Danley Sound Labs and JBL, the venue has already hosted some of the finest house selectors from across Asia and shows no sign of slowing down. If you're looking for a proper underground experience, this hidden gem is a must-visit.

THE WAREHOUSE / CLUTCH

In the heart of Talat Noi lies one of Bangkok’s most authentic and effortlessly cool multi-functional cultural hubs: The Warehouse and Clutch. The Warehouse is a sprawling multi-story venue that hosts pop-ups, markets, raves, and much more, all while housing a tattoo parlour, vintage clothing stores, coffee shops, art studios, and—of course—Clutch.

As a bar, Clutch is already one of the city’s best, with eclectic cocktails, cool, understated decor, a magnetic crowd, and consistently great music. But when events roll around, the spaces truly come alive. Often in tandem with The Warehouse, the hangar-esq space transforms into a vibrant festival atmosphere, frequently hosting Bangkok’s top collectives such as RomRom and BCR, going from colossal house/techno events, to unique flea markets, to boldly creative art fairs to more. Every event we’ve attended has been a hit, and despite its unassuming exterior, The Warehouse and Clutch have become one of our go-to spots, headline event or not. We even caught a Ben Klock set on a random Wednesday night with zero promotion—where else in Bangkok can you see that?

BACCARAT

Baccarat stands as one of the city’s most sought after nightlife destinations, drawing a vibrant mix of tourists, expats, and locals every weekend. Unlike some of the more underground spots in town, its sound leans toward the accessible, serving up a steady flow of afro, progressive, melodic, and tech house, alongside hip-hop and R&B staples. The energy here is undeniable—no matter the night, the dancefloor is packed, and the party spills out onto the streets. If you're looking for a stylish, more accessible, high-energy atmosphere where the crowd is as lively as the music, and mingling is everywhere, Baccarat is worth checking out.

Sing Sing Theater

Stop into Shanghai in the 1930s where dim red lighting, retro-futuristic Chinese lanterns, cheongsam clad women and the occasional dwarf hurrying to the stage for a performance sets the mood for an atmosphere only found at this unabashedly theatrical venue. The bar and club is the brainchild of Ashely Sutton of Iron Fairies and Maggie Choo’s fame and boasts mezzanines, hidden backrooms and a dance floor that comes to life on the club’s pièce de résistance — a grand staircase. Best of all, instead of catering to an EDM cartel, Sing Sing Theater has stellar music programmers at its helm and is a regular destination for acts like Sébastien Léger, Yokoo, Red Axes, Amine K, Technasia and more when in Asia.

Khao San Road

Wait, wait—don’t click off this list just because of the headline. We felt it was important to include some of the standout spots around the infamous Khao San. We're not necessarily co-signing the area, but Bangkok is a huge city, and for those who enjoy buckets, ping pong, and all things seedy—go ahead, you’ll love it. But since most tourists tend to stay in this part of town, we’ve highlighted a few nearby spots that veer off the usual backpacker trail and offer something a bit different than what you'd typically find in the area. Decommune, when it had its dedicated club room, was a staple in Bangkok, and the space still often hosts some killer pop-up events. Some of Bangkok’s most creative, bold and memorable nights happen here—highly recommended seeing what they have on. Although the upstairs is gone, the main room (when the right event is on) is top-notch. Culture Cafe is an audiophile’s dream, decked out floor-to-ceiling with top-notch equipment, vintage mixers, and more. It’s a more intimate, music-focused night out. Irie is the go-to for all things DnB, with roots, dub, bass, and reggae as staples at this spot and are veterans in the Bangkok scene.

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