Soi Thaniya is the home of
Japanese nightlife in Bangkok, and is part of the Patpong area.
Known to locals as Little Tokyo, this area is the domain of
Japanese businessmen resident in Bangkok as well as Japanese
businessmen and tourists passing through.
While Westerners are welcome
to enter the bars of Soi Thaniya, it is best to go with a
Japanese friend. Some bars will only allow Westerners or
non-Japanese to enter with a Japanese host. This is because
the way the bars operate is very much
geared towards the Japanese way of going out, involving karaoke
and in most establishments it is compulsory to have a companion
look after you. It goes without saying that the prices in
Soi Thaniya are sky high.
There are a number of small
Japanese restaurants in Soi Thaniya as well as Thaniya Plaza
which is full of all things golf: golf shops, golf apparel, golf
balls, golf mementos. If you're crazy about golf, you'll
like the plaza.
Truth be told, the bars and
stores on Soi Thaniya may not appeal to the average non-Japanese
visitor but the lane is still worth strolling through and
checking out, especially at night when all of the neon comes
alive.
