Baronbonk.com News and views on nightlife, bars, gogos in Bangkok and Thailand

The final port of call on our trundle around Thailand was Chiang Mai. I have had very mixed feelings on this northern outpost. I find that people tend either to love the place, or hate it. As a tourist resort it is principally a cultural attraction. Bonk and culture are an anathema. My last visit ended prematurely after I had had a very enjoyable day playing with the elephants. Bonk, who had declined to join in my trip into the countryside, abruptly decided there were not enough suitable playmates (animals were not deemed suitable).

On this trip we did find there was a certain amount of action, be it in the evening. Chiang Mai does not wake up until after lunch, even most of the shops and stalls stay firmly closed in the morning.
We stayed at the Suriwongese Hotel* which was comfortable and right in the centre of town. However looking around we found some well located and cheap guest houses. The Top North Guest House* being the pick. In reality it is a hotel and the air con rooms were quoted at B500. Next time we would probably stay there. The other advantage is the Top North is just off Moon Muang, which seemed to have the best selection of bars.
The first place we had a drink at was the Red Lion (123 Loi Kroh rd.) in the centre. I have been to hundreds of bars trying to be English pubs. And here was one that actually pulled it off. The feel is right with that lived in feel set off by a traditional décor. The impression, of an English pub, was completed by Mathew, the owner, pulling the pints when we walked in. The Red Lion seems to be a gathering point for English ex-pats and there is a German bar on one side and a Belgium bar on the other.

Loi Kroh road has a collection of bars and restaurants all a long it. From the Red Lion, towards the river, is Il Colosso an Italian restaurant with rooms. We had a satisfactory lunch there. Going the other way, there is the new beer bar centre, behind the Mai Ping hotel, with a few good bars. We became friendly with Scot, a long term resident of Chiang Mai, at the Hiss and Slither bar and his collection of fun girls from Pattaya. The drawback to this soi is the boxing ring in the middle. There is a show…………need I say more! Good for those culture seekers but serious drinkers wait till it is over!

Just off this soi is the Starxix gogo. We visited and left just as quickly. Very low lighting, so low it was difficult to make out if the images around the walls were animal, vegetable or just plain ugly. The latter seemed to be the norm. I am told this awful place is police owned. It does the city of Chiang Mai no favours. Wandering up Loi Kroh there are several passable bars with a cluster at the junction with Moon Muang. The bar right on the corner is the Bo Bo Ba Ba bar owned by German Ralph who plays the music, with an emphasis on the sixties. Ask for a track and he will be pleased to oblige, if he can. There are two gogos in this area. The best is the Spotlight run by another German called Adam. This bar has been around for twelve years and has a good regular clientele. On the other side of the Klong is another gogo that is not really worth writing about.

So that is really the play area of Chiang Mai, Loi Kroh and Moon Mung around the junction of that street. There is another area of bar beers just beside the Night Plaza. I wandered around one night and decided that they were not only short of staff, but lacking in young and/or pretty staff! Chiang Mai is developing into a place were a few days R & R will not be wasted. There is a fun and developing nightlife. And there is much to see in Chiang Mai and around the area. A real contrast to the beach resorts that most people seem to head for.

The price comparison between Phuket and Chiang Mai are quite staggering. We had one round of two beers which cost under B100. Compare that to Patong where many bars are looking for that for a single beer. The test of a place is would one go back. The answer, for me, is yes I will. I liked the laid back small town atmosphere. There are plenty of watering holes and plenty of friendly places and faces.

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