Thailandโs high season is (at least) a month old and the countryโs naughty nightlife scene is buzzing again with action. Redlight Report offers a roundup of bits and bytes from Bangkok and Pattaya.
High Season Arrives โฆ at Nana Plaza
Most subscribe to the idea that high season begins Nov. 15, although hotels usually start pushing up rates on Oct. 15. With rainy season ending late, it certainly seemed like Nov. 1 was the kickoff date this year.
In his Nov. 9 column, Stickman Bangkok wrote โthere was a noticeable uptick in Sukhumvit bar trade over the second half of this past week. Multiple people tell me that there are far more people around. Is the high season clicking into gear?โ
At Nana Plaza, it certainly did. Long lines at security have queued from 9 p.m. โ midnight many nights and even the owner of Billboard Bangkok โ the cityโs most popular go-go bar โ told Redlight Report that heโs been surprised how busy it has been every night of the week.
But outside of Nana, high season has yet to hit full stride. The manager of a popular go-go in the middle of the Neon Alley lamented to Redlight Report Saturday that, a month in, high season has been highly disappointing, with the continuing sewage problems contributing to the problem.
In Pattaya, things are worse. Redlight Report spent Nov. 19-23 in Sin City and only one night โ a Saturday โ boomed. Early and midweek were still low-season slow. Managers up and down Walking Street said theyโve yet to see any real high season business.
In is Nov. 30 column, Stickman wrote that โbar trade has picked up in Bangkok but itโs uneven and the love is not being spread around evenly.
โOn Friday night, Nana Plaza was extremely busy while Cowboy was doing good trade but nothing like Nana. Patpong? Sorry, no idea!โ
Later High Season Hours
With the start of high season, Soi Cowboy is seeing some venues extend their hours. Redlight Report fave Caponeโs Pizza, thankfully, now closes at 2 a.m. instead of midnight. And Long Gun is now open until 3 a.m.
Tour Groups Get Shafted
Indian guys hoping to hit the go-go long have been subject to racist discrimination and ripped off, either being denied entry entirely or forced to pay entry fees white guys donโt have to. But Crazy House this weekend proved ripoffs are not exclusive to those from the subcontinent.
On Friday night, tourist vans pulled up outside the Soi 23 go-go and a dozen Asian tourists โ the majority of them women โ filed out. They had to queue in a long line outside the door and, to gain entry, fork over 400 baht each.
Redlight Report assumed they were Chinese, but when the tourists overheard RR asking the staff, one woman demonstratively shouted, โnot Chinese! Japan!โ
Patio Seating Again at Shark
The refit of Shark Soi Cowboy is complete with outside tables finally added. But, unlike before, these arenโt the round, rickety tables of the past, but the same high-quality, marble-top tables used inside.
Second only to Vickyโs Secret, Shark is Soi Cowboyโs best patio for hanging out and people watching
Kazy Kozy Going Into Orbit?
The renovation of Kazy Kozy continues at a leisurely pace on Soi Cowboy, but some exterior work has Redlight Report thinking they’ve partnered with the folks behind Orbit, the newest go-go bar in Nana Plaza. Orbit, while hilariously cheap looking on the inside, created an elaborate facade for its exterior, with Greco-Romanesque arched windows and columns.
Those same faux pillars have been cemented to the outside of Kazy Kozy and cutouts for the same arched windows outlined on the Soi 23 wall. Orbit, which shares ownership with Geisha in Nana and Virgin in Patpong, as well as Crazy House both have police owners.
Party Time
A Redlight Report editor this week joked that, with so many birthday parties this month, โmany parents were busy in Marchโ. Sure enough, birthday bashes are plentiful this month. Hereโs the best ones to hit.
- Dec. 5 โ The 2nd Anniversary Party for Peachy Lily, the Pattaya Soi Buakhao ladyboy bar stocked with OnlyFans celebrities.
- Dec. 5 โ Philippe, top man at Shark Soi Cowboy and Nanaโs Mandarin and Red Dragon, celebrates his birthday on Full Moon Party night at all three bars.
- Dec. 6 โ Johnny Walker (Vickyโs Secret, Blue Boar, Bangkok Investments) and Nick Wetzel (Pickled Liver) celebrate a masquerade party birthday at Vickyโs Soi Cowboy. Free buffet, bubbles & shots.
- Dec. 11 โ Noel, a partner in Pattayaโs Katoeys Are Us, has his โMidnight Cowboyโ birthday bash at the Soi Buakhao ladyboy bar.
- Dec. 12 โ The annual Playmates Party at Billboard and Butterflies Nana Plaza โ a birthday celebration for the American owner โ expands this year to On Top, the 2025 to the group. That brings the Playmates tally to 230 ladies with a free pizza for all guests.
