Much of Bangkok's nightlife is concentrated in the two red light districts of Bangkok - Patpong (between Silom and Surawong Roads) and Soi Cowboy (Sukhumvit Road), named after the first bar that opened here, the Cowboy Bar. Bangkok's sex industry is as blatant and booming as ever. However, in addition to the numerous sex clubs and massage parlours, there are many excellent cocktail bars and restaurants and, at night, the area is always thronging with people.

Most venues are open all day and late into the night, although bars and clubs are supposed to close at 0200. Sometimes there is an admission fee but this usually includes one or two drinks. The dress code is very relaxed, although a few of the nightclubs do enforce smarter dress. The minimum drinking age is now 20 and all air-conditioned bars are smoke free.

As in any city, nightlife venues come and go and news of the latest hotspots can be found in the city's listings magazine, The Big Chilli (website: www.bigchilli.com) and Bangkok 101.

Bars: The Bull's Head, 33/1 Sukhumvit Road, is popular with expats. It is a British-style pub, with regular quiz and theme nights. Irish pubs are popular in most cities in the world and the busy Molly Malone's, Convent Road, Silom is no exception. The Office is an Aussie-run sports bar on Sukhumvit Soi 33 showing live sports from the UK and Australia. To see a different perspective of Bangkok while enjoying an aperitif, try the open-air Vertigo bar on the 62nd floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel, 21/100 South Sathon Road.

Clubs: Concept CM2 (website: www.cm2bkk.com), a huge disco and bar in the basement of the Novotel Hotel on Siam Square, continues to be very popular and now has the B@S sports bar. The amazing light and sound system and ostentatious art deco-style interior of Narcissus, 112 Soi 23 Sukhumvit Road (website: www.narcissusclubbangkok.com) attracts the smart set keen on house, trance and techno. The outrageous Bed Supper Club at 26 Soi 11 Sukhumvit Road (www.bedsupperclub.com) has beds decorating this all-white cylinder shaped club, where you can chill before entering the Bed Bar to listen to house, hip hop and bhangra. Just down the road, the hangout for trendy locals and expats is the stylish Q Bar, 34 Soi 11 Sukhumvit Road (website: www.qbarbangkok.com), which also imports top international DJs. Both clubs offer a range of music from house to hip hop.

Live Music: Tokyo Joe's (website: www.tokyojoesbkk.com), 25/9 Sukhumvit Soi 26 hosts nightly blues bands with a Sunday jamming session. Saxophone Pub, 3/8 Victory Monument, Phayathai Road (website: www.saxophonepub.com), has great acoustics, a lively atmosphere and a variety of live music including funk, jazz, blues and ska. Classy Spasso, in the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Rajadamri Road, is an ideal place to dance to the sounds of top international acts playing retro, pop and top 40 music. The Bamboo Bar in the upmarket hotel The Oriental (see Hotels), is an intimate, refined club with an excellent reputation for its guest jazz bands. Brick Bar on Khao San Road (website: www.brickbarkhaosan.com) attracts a fun crowd for the live ska and reggae.