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Bangkok nightlife – Washington Square, off the beaten track

People familiar with Bangkok or looking for a tour are aware of some of Bangkok’s most famous and infamous nightlife spots. The best known is Patpong, which dates back to the 1960s and was popular with soldiers on leave from the Vietnam War. Also well known are Nana Plaza just off Sukhumvit Road at Soi 4 ​​(Soi Nana) and Soi Cowboy.

In fact, there are several other entertainment areas that have become more well known over the years, such as Ratchadapisek Road, Rama IX Road, RCA (Royal City Avenue), Soi Thonglor, and Soi Ekhamai.

But there is one place that is not on the maps of most information sources: Washington Square (and vicinity).

Washington Square faces the south side of Sukhumvit Road between Sukhumvit Soi 22 and Sukhumvit Soi 24, closer to the former than the latter.

Washington Square is actually a compound with three long side-by-side buildings occupying much of the center, with a path running along all four sides, the path framed by a row of buildings. The square can be entered directly from Sukhumvit Road via a short drive to the inner drive or from Sukhumvit Soi 22, directly opposite the Regency Park Hotel, about a hundred meters from Sukhumvit Road.

The Plaza is a rather curious place. There are several bars, including two that also serve food, some that serve drinks only, and others that are more of a restaurant than a bar. There are a few bars that cater to the Japanese. Located just in the northwest corner of the Square, there’s even a gay bar, but for most Square patrons, you might as well be on another planet. There are also several massage parlors. There are several businesses located here, including a printing house and a travel agency. The middle of the three side-by-side buildings used to house a movie theater but now offers a large pool-facing bar on the ground floor with a “ladyboy” cabaret show upstairs in the auditorium.

The largest single group of regulars in the Plaza, and it is very much a regulars place, is American, although there are many other nationalities represented, especially Canadian, British, Australian and New Zealand, but with many others represented. by at least one or two people. For the most part, Square’s regular customers (a group referred to as “Squaronians”) are a slightly older group and almost entirely male.

The west facing bar venues and two of the bars that also serve food are not for the faint of heart as they can be quite raunchy. Not always, but sometimes. The same goes for all drink-only places. When they’re quiet, they’re great places to relax, whether you want to sit down to listen to music or watch TV (every place has both) or strike up a conversation with other patrons or employees. Of course, if you like the hoopla, you can find that too. Drink prices are particularly competitive, especially compared to hotel bars and bars in more well-known venues. In all, there are about a dozen places that cater primarily to Westerners.

Along Sukhumvit Soi 22 is the occasional bar, plus a small block of (mostly) bars across the soi from Washington Square and a bit further down. All of these are western in orientation and have numerous regular patterns.

This is a good area to get a taste of the resident expat lifestyle which is very different from that of the corporate expat. Most people in this area are full time *and* long term, not rotating after a tour back to their home country. Many have Thai wives and some have children. A considerable number are retired (including some retired US military). The largest work group is made up of people in the oil business or construction (often oil related) as field workers.

A local British writer once wrote an article describing the Plaza’s regulars as “men with thousand-meter stars”, and that’s a good metaphor. Newcomers are always welcome, but the Squaronians like to get a feel for them (and don’t suffer fools at all, it doesn’t matter with pleasure!).

I should note that while I am very Squaronian myself (and have been for over a decade), I have no business interests anywhere in Washington Square. Sometimes they ask me why I write about it so often.

It’s worth checking out, and it’s close to the Skytrain station at The Emporium, as well as a bit further from Asoke station; the walk is easy from either. Allow about four to five minutes from The Emporium station and about eight to ten minutes from Asoke.

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