Sukhumvit Soi 11, Bangkok

[Samsonite]

Thanks for the photos. The area has changed so much it is no longer recognizable (to me).

[RhinoTusk]

9 hours ago, Samsonite said:

Thanks for the photos. The area has changed so much it is no longer recognizable (to me).

FYI, there's a beer bar area across the street from Wine Connection.  I didn't show it because not open in the afternoon but it comes alive at night.

 

[Samsonite]

Is the Ava Pub still on Soi 11? It was located next to the old Federal Hotel. Met a couple of truly beautiful women in the Ava Pub. IIRC, it was owned by a lawyer from California.

Edited March 26, 2022 by Samsonite

[RhinoTusk]

11 hours ago, Samsonite said:

Is the Ava Pub still on Soi 11? It was located next to the old Federal Hotel. Met a couple of truly beautiful women in the Ava Pub. IIRC, it was owned by a lawyer from California.

Yeah, it's open. I'm sure there's a photo somewhere in this thread, although I've never been in there. I've never been in Oskar Bistro either, I think they have a dress code and I like to wear cut offs and flip flops. 

[Samsonite]

17 hours ago, RhinoTusk said:

Yeah, it's open. I'm sure there's a photo somewhere in this thread, although I've never been in there. I've never been in Oskar Bistro either, I think they have a dress code and I like to wear cut offs and flip flops. 

I've heard the Ava Pub has changed and if you are not a Japanese businessman, you are not welcome, but that was years ago. True or not I don't know

Edited March 27, 2022 by Samsonite

[RhinoTusk]

I took a walk up Soi 11 last night, hungry for a burger.  I usually visit Bang Bang Burger but wanted to try Artisan Burger next door this time.  It was Tuesday but the Soi was alive.

 

 

The bar area was doing some decent business.

 

 

Food and drink were available

 

 

Samsonite was asking about Ava Bar.  I've never been in there, but Hillary 3 appears to be doing much better.

 

 

A few years ago, Soi 11 was like a block party every night with VW Cocktail Vans parked up and down the Soi.  (Just look back in the thread).  Well, the vans are back now but they're not selling cocktails.

 

 

It seems natural selling cannabis from the back of a VW Minibus.

 

 

This guy wasn't displaying prices.  When I inquired, he stated 1,000/gram.  I said I'd think about it, and he immediately came down to 600/gram, then it was "make me an offer".

 

 

There were some nice looking imported strains

 

 

They call this van the mobile "Stoner Factory"

 

 

El Gaucho Argentinean Steak House is open again on Soi 11, after being closed more than two years.  I'm glad it's back, now I know where to go for my birthday.

 

 

Finally, the Artisan Burger (280 baht), with a Pale Ale

 

 

More often I've been dining at the German Beer House (on Soi 13).  Bratwurst with sauerkraut and fried potatoes, with a Krombacher Pils.

 

 

They also feature creamy potato salad as a side.

 

 

Always good to top off a meal with a Jägermeister, 129 baht during happy hour.  Down the hatch.  Cheers.

 

[Samsonite]

Great photos!

Many thanks!

[knortyboy]

Thanks RT.

How was the burger?

[RhinoTusk]

10 hours ago, knortyboy said:

Thanks RT.

How was the burger?

It was OK but nothing special IMHO.  I preferred the Daniel Thaiger burger but they closed at that location.

[sailingbill]

Good to see you last week. Thanks for the update. I'll take a stroll down the Soi but disappointed realizing the reference to Climax being open was a prior post. Only game in town i guess remains Thermae.   I am always in search of a good burger. Ground my own beef back home.

[Samsonite]

Thermae?

The Star Wars Cantina?

?

[js007]

Some of the food looks good.  I’ve been wanting to take a trip up to Bangkok for a week or so, but I keep hesitating because it’s still rainy season.  With my luck, I’d spend money on a hotel and have to sit there doing nothing because of rain and flooding. I still might do it, though.  Otherwise, I’ll wait until November.

[jacko]

19 hours ago, js007 said:

Some of the food looks good.  I’ve been wanting to take a trip up to Bangkok for a week or so, but I keep hesitating because it’s still rainy season.  With my luck, I’d spend money on a hotel and have to sit there doing nothing because of rain and flooding. I still might do it, though.  Otherwise, I’ll wait until November.

Give it a short while and the rainy season should be over. They are getting even more of it there than we are here in Pattaya. 

[RhinoTusk]

I took a walk down Soi 11 yesterday, my old neighborhood.  I took along the Nikon ZfC, my street photography camera, and everyone thought I was a tourist. ?

 

 

I knew it was only a matter of time before "Happy" Pizza ? ? came to town.  I haven't ventured up to the 5th floor lounge yet, I've been trying to watch my weight.

 

 

Everywhere you look, more dispensaries are opening. This is a new and emerging market with modest entry costs, so many players are testing the waters.  Eventually it will reach market saturation and the less savvy will fall by the wayside.  This is how the free market works, in all it's glory.  I'm already beginning to see prices starting to drop because of competition, so support your local 'budtender'  if you're inclined, it's free market capitalism in action.

 

 

There have been some recent changes outlawing cannabis trucks, smoking lounges, online advertising, etc.  I took a look when the ordinance took effect and all the cannabis trucks were gone, only to reappear a week later, although about half as many.  Evidently, "arrangements" ? were made.

 

 

The beer bar area on the former location of the Cheap Charlie cul de sac has filled in nicely, serving food and drink with ladies to provide company if you wish.

 

 

I would walk down this lane,  past the Park Hotel, as a shortcut to the Soi 7 Beer Garden.  Now it's all filled in.  You can go back and review the thread to see how it looked before.  Unfortunately, many of the older photos were 'shrunken' from a forum software upgrade.  The images are still the same size on disk, only the HTML needs correction.

 

 

I took a table in back and ordered a large Heineken.  I asked the waiter if it was OK if I smoked.

 

 

Venturing further up the Soi we see some old favorites as well as some new businesses.

 

 

Haven't seen this place before, will have to try their quiche

 

 

A new fast food burger place, there are now many options for a burger near the Soi 11 'T'

 

 

They still haven't fixed the unsightly wires

 

 

The view from "The T"

 

 

Looks like a reopening of the Chilli Culture restaurant is coming soon, it's about time!

 

 

Chaidee Mansion has expanded and taken over what was a Middle Eastern restaurant next door.  I inquired about Chidee Mansion when I moved into the neighborhood (10 years ago) and couldn't believe how pricey it was, but I think I know why.  It's a comfortable place where you get a clean shot to Bumrungrad Hospital in an ambulance  ?  any time of the day without having to worry about being stuck in traffic.  Great location for those on medical tourism.

 

 

Insanity Nightclub

 

 

The sign says "We Are Open"  No, they're not.

 

 

Here's a new bar.  Firehouse burger restaurant used to occupy this space.

 

 

Plant Pioneers, another new business.  This is a vegan restaurant, it has nothing to do with ganja (and you can see my reflection in the mirror).

 

 

Lastly, Villa Market, where I did most of my grocery shopping (back when it was located next to the Ambassador Hotel).

 

 

One thing that draws me to the area now is the pig roast every Saturday at the Old German Beer House, starting 4 PM.

 

 

They offer small (215 baht) and large (395 baht) plates, with sauerkraut and fried potatoes.  This is the small plate, all I can handle.

 

 

Alternately, the Old German Beer House over on Soi 13 has the same offer on Fridays.  The advantage of the Soi 13 restaurant is they have Paulander Oktoberfest, a seasonal brew that I really enjoy.  I don't understand why they don't have it on Soi 11.

 

 

Top off the meal with an ice cold Jägermeister

 

 

Thanks for joining me for this stroll down Sukhumvit Soi 11.  Hope you enjoyed it.  Cheers.