Patpong Revisited

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

I visit The Pong about every 3 months and, while I feel embarrassed to admit it, I always seem to have a good time.

 

 

The Star of Light is world famous, of course. There's been enough jizz generated there to flood a small city.

 

 

Otherwise very quiet in the afternoon until the workers show up to build the night market.

 

 

I live so close to Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy that I never come to Patpong to bar fine. I come to Patpong for one reason only:

Prices have always been lower and I can order Long Island Iced Teas all night and get really wasted. In fact, I haven't bar fined from The Pong since '03, this cutie from Kiss (not to be confused with Kiss on Soi Cowboy).

 

 

Last night I took a walk down Soi Thaniya, until a tout informed me this was for "members only" and, while I could take pictures of the street, I wasn't allowed to take any picture of the girls.

 

 

I always drink in the same 5 bars on Patpong: Kings Castle I & II, Club Electric Blue, Pink Panther, and Bada Bing. I tried the Black Pagoda once after stickman raved about it, before I realized they were an advertiser. I don't know what's going on in the other bars.

 

I've been going to Kings Castle I & II for over 20 years, see my Bangkok Trip Report from 1992:

 

http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/topic/62014-bangkok-trip-report-21-years-ago-w-photos/

 

The bars are adjacent, they might do well to knock the wall down and consolidate, but they haven't invested in the property since I've been a customer. Looks just the same as 20 years ago, except a Jack & Coke goes for 130 now (still better than paying 180 at Baccara). They used to be prepay on drinks but now the customer signs each receipt, perhaps sending a message that it's going to be difficult to pad your bill. As usual, there were some very attractive girls there.

 

Next stop was Pink Panther. I love it when bars price all their cocktails the same, so a Long Island Iced Tea is 180 baht, same as a Singapore Sling. Since this is Patpong I would expect that it be diluted, but it tastes like rocket fuel anyway, can't even taste the tea. Went down so well that I ordered another. I used to 'sober up' with an Irish Coffee here, but it's no longer on the menu.

 

 

All the girls dress as coyotes but they seem to have three classes of girls. Some girls bar fine at the usual 600 baht while others bar fine much higher, and some girls can't be bar fined at all. Make sure you know the class of girl before investing 180 baht in a lady drink. At 11 PM they have Thai boxing, I always make sure I'm out of the bar by then.

 

By this time the night market was in full swing and the music bars had their bands playing marginally better than Country Road.

 

 

Took a break for dinner at Le Bochon. Lobster Bisque, Lamb Shank in a while bean sauce, and Creme Brulee, with a glass of red. No Thai food on the menu, not an appropriate place to bring a bar girl for dinner, but a Star of Light girl under the table would be delightful.

 

 

Lust of Bangkok? I never saw this place before, the night market really obstructs visibility in the street.

 

 

Next up was Club Electric Blue, and yet another Long Island Iced Tea.

 

 

Last stop Bada Bing, and another Long Island for 200 baht. I don't know how you feel after 18 shots of booze but I can hardly remember getting home, think I took a tuk tuk. Found these shots in my camera this morning, so glad I didn't leave it in the bar.

 

 

[teelack 9,645]

Great review and reminds me that I need to spend some time in Bangkok soon.

[MM 6,562]

Good grief. I haven't been to Patpong in over a decade. I got leery of the lady boy bars.. kept going into the wrong places and having to order a drink and put up with their importuning me to take them or buy a drink at least. I was new enough that it was just uncomfortable.

Also had an episode at an upstairs bar where my friend and I were hit up for a very high bill after one drink and a totally disgusting pussy show with what looked like a bonafide crack whore.

Spent the most time in Music Cafe after that. . Is it still there?

[plahgat 523]

Nice review!

We go to the same gogos as well!

Didn't barfine from Patpong this year, but had a girl several times from Pink Panther last year.

As you said all girls in here dress in coyote wear, but some of them are still considered as gogo girls and will barfine for 600 baht and 2000 baht ST,

rest are agency girls and most doesn't barfine at all.

 

Plahgat

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

Thanks for the comments. Don't know the names of the live music places except Radio City and have never ventured into any of the upstairs bars.

 

I had a thirst for some Crown Royal whiskey one afternoon so went into the Crown Royal bar, but they don't stock it. Go figure.

 

Here's an interesting article describing the history of Patpong since the 1940s

 

http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/the-banana-plantation-turned-sex-zone/2005/09/20/1126982060480.html

 

A Stickman article from last year

 

http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/StickmanWeeklyColumn2013/Timeless-Patpong.htm

 

The Patpong Wikipedia page

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patpong

Edited August 15, 2014 by RhinoTusk

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

I just bought this camera at MBK and was trying it out. Nice girl.

 

[ikkrang 490]

I just bought this camera at MBK and was trying it out. Nice girl.

 

[/url]

MBK?

 

I'm going to assume now, maybe at fotofile?

 

Sh what did you buy, RT?

 

Something small?

[Jboy 8]

fantastic and informative stuff, definitely need to invest some time here on next BKK trip.......

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

MBK?

 

I'm going to assume now, maybe at fotofile?

 

Sh what did you buy, RT?

 

Something small?

 

No, I upsized to full frame from Photo AV. Fotofile wanted 10,000 baht more for the same camera. Here's a monitor lizard I found in Lumpini Park today. I don't think you'll get this shot with a cell phone.

 

[InCider 22]

Here's a couple of more articles regarding the history of Patpong that you might find interesting

 

http://www.thebigchilli.com/features/patpongs-favourite-son-tim-young

 

http://www.thebigchilli.com/features/the-original-hippie-behind-mississippi-queen-patpongs-legendary-soul-bar

 

 

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

I made my semi-monthly visit to Patpong tonite and the usual bars: Kings Castle I & Ii, Club Electric Blue, Pink Panther, and Bada Bing. King's Castle raised the price of Jack & Coke from 130 to 150, but CEB still has 59 baht draft. As usual, I had the best time in Bada Bing but left the camera home this time.

 

After some Long Island Iced Teas, I enjoy taking a Tuk- Tuk back to Sukhumvit. They always asked for 200 and accepted 120. As a sign of the times, now they ask for 300 and won't take less than 150, it's less than a hundred on the meter. Fortunately, i started early and could use the BTS for 31 baht.

[tequilareef 43]

Don't know why you feel embarrassed as I found my last two trips there to be quite good. Going to old haunts like the Pink Panther, Kiss and of course some Kings group bars. I found the Kings group bars to be quite shitty compared to others. I was impressed with Bada Bing. Back in the day, the Executive Lounge and especially the Crown Royal where massive expat hang outs but have since changed. Executive lounge isn't even there anymore. Used to be some nice hotties in there as I worked across the street in CP Tower so it was a nightly routine for many years. Superstar, Goldfinger's and Peppermint.

[tequilareef 43]

Here's a couple of more articles regarding the history of Patpong that you might find interesting

 

http://www.thebigchilli.com/features/patpongs-favourite-son-tim-young

 

http://www.thebigchilli.com/features/the-original-hippie-behind-mississippi-queen-patpongs-legendary-soul-bar

 

 

 

I used to work with Tim (Wanchai) when he was running Tata's career, great link. May he rest in peace

Edited January 23, 2015 by tequilareef

[nadia 6]

i like the madrid tavern for people wathing and when the boys set the stalls up

[MM 6,562]

 

http://www.thebigchilli.com/features/patpongs-favourite-son-tim-young

 

 

Fascinating stuff in that link!

 

It's well worth a read...I missed reading it when this was posted, but now I am glad I took the time.

[pattayaman 8]

is thye pickled liver bar still there off soi 11 just past cheap charlies. had some good bights in there

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

is thye pickled liver bar still there off soi 11 just past cheap charlies. had some good bights in there

You must have been pretty wasted. The Pickled Liver Pub is on Sukhumvit Soi 7/1, that's quite a ways from Patpong, but the pub is still there.

 

Edited January 29, 2015 by RhinoTusk

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

Heres a Patpong update:

 

Ive been a customer of Kings Castle I for 25 years and the owners never invested any money to improve the property, until this year. See my nostalgic 1992 trip report here:

 

http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/topic/62014-bangkok-trip-report-21-years-ago-w-photos/

 

Amazingly, Kings Castle I has been completely remodeled, with a new exterior sign and fully renovated interior. For those that prefer the old way, Kings Castle II next door is still the same. On any given night, these bars may have as good a lineup as any GoGo in Thailand (not to be confused with Kings Corner, which has ladyboys).

 

Sharks had opened a branch on the Surawong end but it didnt last very long.

 

It seems like the hawker in front of Barbar Fetish Club has been there forever. I've never entered this bar.

 

Club Electric Blue is no longer a GoGo but now a high-end Steakhouse with prices that rival El Gauchos. Dont know about the quality. While examining the menu, the manager assured me they had the best steak on the Soi. I told him Le Bouchon was pretty good. The Smokin Pug was my favorite restaurant in the area, but they moved closer to Lumpini Park last year, so I usually head over to Samboon Seafood for a crab dinner, its about a 15 minute walk.

 

The third Bangkok Hooters now occupys what was previously Flam OBriens Irish Pub, on Soi Thaniya at the foot of the BTS.

 

Sorry, no pictures this post, but I did manage to leave my camera bag (with over 85,000 baht worth of equipment) in Pink Panther. I usually order a Long Island Iced Tea there and, thinking it was probably diluted, I ordered a second when the Bar had some real cuties. Perhaps the drink wasnt as watered down as I thought? Fortunately, my waitress chased me down the street like I was trying to run out on the check.

Edited June 17, 2018 by RhinoTusk

[streeteats 30]

Actually PatPong is a fun, interesting place that gets bad mouthed a lot, though I'm not sure why. Certainly you have to be aware of the scum that tries to rob you with the upstairs extortion venues. Aside from that, there's a lot to see and do. Its pretty fascinating the way the night market emerges with the night life. Provides lots of eye candy from both angles.

[Siam Sam 964]

Good photos and I really enjoyed your old trip report. I haven't been to Patpong in the evening for ten years but have lots of great memories of it from the past. I've already planned to stay in Silom for the last four nights of my upcoming trip and spend the evenings on the hunt in Patpong so it's good to see this thread updated. Patpong has a bad reputation because it's a bit of a shit hole but at night it is totally transformed and can be a lot of fun. Although I still absolutely love Nana Plaza and its surrounding area and always will, I've done it so many times and I want to try something different. I can't wait to hit Kings Castle again after all these years. These sort of posts make me realise how much I love Bangkok which is better than Pattaya for everything except mongering and beaches. Even with the mongering it's a close run thing for me, Soi 6 is the only thing that keeps me excited about Pattaya.

Edited November 17, 2018 by Siam Sam

[hwells 6]

Great memories Rhino Tusk. i still enjoy Patpong as recently as last month was in Kings castle 1 & met up with a girl that I had BF 4 or 5 years ago. She was still great & have to agree with you the bar has one of the best line ups in Bangkok. I like to frequent P Panther as well always full of cuties & eat at La Brouchon whenever in the area.

Patpong was my introduction to Bangkok in the early 1980's our bar of choice being the Mississippi Queen followed by a stager done the street to Grand Prix then a late night / early morning jaunt into Super Star to see Sam & his lovely lasses.

Alway manage to get at least one night there when in Bangkok.

Edited November 24, 2018 by hwells

[Samsonite 181]

IIRC, the Mississippi Queen was the bar used in the movie, "The Deer Hunter".

The best looking girls I've met in BBK have all, without exception, worked in bars on Patpong.

Edited November 24, 2018 by Samsonite

[VPI78 11,528]

IIRC, the Mississippi Queen was the bar used in the movie, "The Deer Hunter".

The best looking girls I've met in BBK have all, without exception, worked in bars on Patpong.

 

It was indeed. MQ's 'twins' were popular a few years afterwards as a young DB would attest.