Tawan vs Atlas

[Kiwi306]

On Friday night I headed off to Atlas bar to see what all the hype was about. When I arrived, who should I see sitting outside but a guy I offed a few times last year from the Tawan Bar. I found out later that he had recently transferred to Atlas. He can be a bit possessive, and as he hadn't noticed me, I thought I would make a visit to Tawan instead to see what talent they had there and catch up with him on Saturday.

The first thing I noticed on arrival at Tawan was that they just ushered me in without paying the regulatory 500 baht at the door. After I had been seated the drinks menu came out.  As I looked at the stage, alarm bells started ringing. Should I exit and tell them that I left my wallet at the hotel? Many of the guys looked as if they had never lifted weights, let alone done any cardio. Against my better judgement, I decided to stay. Things could only get better....right?  There were quite a few customers in the room, mainly Chinese I imagine.

As for the show, I think I counted half a dozen drag queen routines. 

There was the obligatory big cock parade with the usual pushing for tips. Two large bodybuilders in their naked glory made the show more worthwhile. One was in very good shape, the other being definitely off-season. After the show the guys all stood on the stage, as is usual. I was hoping to get the attention of the bodybuilders, but was approached by 2  other guys instead and in the end I decided to leave empty handed.

So off I ventured to the Atlas on Saturday evening. I have been a long time fan of Tawan but IMHO Atlas came out the winner of the two. The decor is bright and modern, the staff were well presented and attired, without being too pushy. The stable of boys had more variety too, including some twinks who had firm abs. Because of the rain I don't know if all the regular boys turned up. There were some bodybuilders there, but there also seemed to be boys who would fit all types of customer preference.

And, needless to say, I ended up with my regular guy.

Now this is an entirely subjective review. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Artemis24]

Who is the regular guy? Is he any good 

[Kiwi306]

Hello Artemis 

I do feel a bit hesitant about answering your question as my taste in guys might be different from yours and the guys I prefer are certainly not everybody's cup of tea, but I recall that you are a Tawan fan too. 

My man is probably the oldest out of all the guys at Tawan and Atlas. He's quite short, but with a strong body, good shape (legs and chest) and muscular biceps, which he likes to flex. He came up to me at Tawan a couple of years ago and the rest is history. I was surprised when he wanted me to take a photo of him posing naked on one occasion.

What I like about him is that he's eager to please and is happy to French kiss, which many bodybuilders apparently don't like to do, but it's something I enjoy. I do some muscle worship and he jerks me off. Then he will give me a massage and we'll shower together. I haven't asked him to do any more than that as I'm more than satisfied with our arrangements.

[spoon]

I had the chance to do the same as you and visit tawan and atlas recently and arrived to the same conclusion. Ive visited atlas once before and thought they need to get more boys in their line up, and they do deliver this time. Granted i visited atlas on a saturday night, and tawan on a sunday night, so might not be an apple to apple comparison, but atlas has better line up of boys, both the body builder and the regular/twinkier guys.

I even had an eye on one of the regular guy who is really handsome, but unfortunately he was already with a customer when i enter the bar. I waited for a while, until that customer offed him before moving on to a diff bar. I didnt find any candidate in tawan on sunday night.

[Kiwi306]

I went to the Atlas last night, not expecting much, being early in the week.....maybe a rehash of the show I saw last weekend. There were several customers already there, many of them being women.  Also a group of enthusiastic Australian men, a handful of Asians as well as others on their own. The lineup for the show was completely different from the weekend. There were far fewer guys for a start and many were in very good shape.   I actually really enjoyed one of the ladyboy's routines too. She had a permanent smile while lit up the room and great personality and audience participation.

Later during the show a farang entered the bar and two of the bodybuilders immediately went and sat next to him and before you knew it they  had a can each. I guess he's a regular. He might have offed one of the guys, but the other one was still there at the end of the evening.

By the end of the show everyone had trickled out, leaving yours truly by myself, staring at the stage where no more than 10 guys were standing. At the weekend the  stage was crowded, many of whom were  well toned, but not with huge muscularity. But it was a different scenario last night. One was a large competitive bodybuilder, another an off-season bodybuilder. Two other muscular, well toned guys as well as other guys in good shape. Even though I was the only customer, I was approached quietly but not at all pushy by one of the staff.

Now what an enormous decision to make. Talk about being spoiled for choice. The guy I usually "off"  wasn't working last night. I know he would have immediately made a beeline for me. Much as I like him so much and will go with him again, I was secretly glad that I had the opportunity to pick someone else for a change.

So I went for the competitive bodybuilder, who was wearing glasses. He told me it would be 3000 baht, but that's how much I give to my regular guy anyway.

He drove me back to Quarter Silom on his scooter. He didn't seem to know the hotel, surprisingly enough. He's a humble, friendly, accommodating guy and he was fine with kissing. We did most of our antics in the shower too.

This was a great evening. It was as if The Tawan had reinvented itself in a new bar. Maybe it was similar at Tawan the same night. Who knows.

So the moral of the story is not to write off a bar after one visit and not to assume that weeknights won't be worth it.

[jason1975]

7 hours ago, Kiwi306 said:

He drove me back to Quarter Silom on his scooter. He didn't seem to know the hotel, surprisingly enough.

Getting a ride with a hunk sounds romantic! 🥰🥰🥰

[vinapu]

9 hours ago, Kiwi306 said:

The guy I usually "off"  wasn't working last night. I know he would have immediately made a beeline for me. Much as I like him so much and will go with him again, I was secretly glad that I had the opportunity to pick someone else for a change.

.............

So the moral of the story is not to write off a bar after one visit and not to assume that weeknights won't be worth it.

You trigger valid point. Often when we off boy multiple times  he assumes an ownership of us and thinks next time will be his also, This creates awkward situation which we need to learn how to navigate if we want to off somebody else from the bar and not to offend 'original ' boy. Securing Line or Whatsapp contact certainly helps. More seasoned boys though  know how it works and they may be less prone to monopolising our business

........

indeed, as they say : "one statistic sample is not a basis to formulate hypothesis" . this applies to both  venues and boys. If place or guy has good feedback we should give them a second chance even if first try was far from meeting our expectations.

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, jason1975 said:

Getting a ride with a hunk sounds romantic! 🥰🥰🥰

indeed, been there , done that ( although not yet  with the guy Kiwi met )

[vinapu]

9 hours ago, Kiwi306 said:

 

So I went for the competitive bodybuilder, who was wearing glasses. ...

 He's a humble, friendly, accommodating guy and he was fine with kissing.

that is advantage of engaging more mature and business oriented straight guys. They are in for it for money and know what needs to be done to earn it,  certainly avoiding stupid antics younger guys are more prone to do.

[Keithambrose]

3 hours ago, jason1975 said:

Getting a ride with a hunk sounds romantic! 🥰🥰🥰

Pun intended?

[jamiebee]

I really love reading a fellow forum member having the same preference for big bulky guys.

Thank you for the update on Atlas and Tawan. 

And more so, thank you for the Trip report. 🫡

[Kiwi306]

Thank you jamiebee. Maybe our preference for bulkier guys makes us a minority on the board, so it's great to share our experiences.

It was a real privilege to be able to feel up such a muscular guy. BTW his name was Dee. I learned something new from him and from my second visit to Atlas. He told me that he only did bar work about 4 nights a week. I had assumed that many of the guys worked every night. So we just don't know what the quality of the stable will be from one evening to the next 

By the way, have you (or anyone else here) been to Beef bar?

[jamiebee]

6 hours ago, Kiwi306 said:

.BTW his name was Dee.

Woah 😳 good for you. When you said with glasses I immediately thought of Dee. When I was there last May I was not able to see Dee even once at all 😐. Had a pleasure to have him on my previous visits, he was always the one I chose for majority of that time and he really does not disappoint. He's so gentle and humble yet will drill you hard and rough when you asks him to 😁. He's one of the veterans of original Tawan of the yesteryears. 

6 hours ago, Kiwi306 said:

By the way, have you (or anyone else here) been to Beef bar?

I have been to Beef a couple of times when they were still in their old location in Soi 4, now they are in Silom Edge but I haven't been yet.

It's a dance club more on socializing catering to bears and those who appreciates them 😍. They have themed nights too and some events, loved their K-POP nights it was so fun. But it's way too crowded at times. You can check them out in their social media platforms too, BEEF.bkk

 

[Artemis24]

Wow! 
I need to go check it out. 

[Tawan Forever]

8 hours ago, Kiwi306 said:

By the way, have you (or anyone else here) been to Beef bar?

I have been, not impressed.

I was the oldest, and smallest in the room (and that's pretty hard with my build)... the problem is that they were not big in a good way.

Basically a bar full of young overweight guys... I'll stick with the bulked muscle guys at Tawan and Atlas 

8 hours ago, Kiwi306 said:

Thank you jamiebee. Maybe our preference for bulkier guys makes us a minority on the board, so it's great to share our experiences.

You are not alone!...Solid-arity!

[Kiwi306]

I love that...solid-arity rules!

[vinapu]

4 hours ago, Kiwi306 said:

I love that...solid-arity rules!

+1

 

[jason1975]

I commend Atlas for diversifying their pool of guys. I saw at least 3 tall young twunks hanging outside their bar when I was directly opposite at Midnight beer bar last month. I subsequently saw a customer take two of them out.

My regular guy at Freshboys tells me that some guys at his bar recently moved to Atlas because of better working conditions. I know the pay structure at Freshboys and I personally feel it's unfair. So that means the owners and management of Atlas are treating their guys decently! A good reason for us to patronise and support Atlas!

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, jason1975 said:

So that means the owners and management of Atlas are treating their guys decently! A good reason for us to patronise and support Atlas!

no doubt fact that manager Arthur was Tawan veteran for many years helps to treat guys decently.

[emiel1981]

Can't wait to check out Atlas on my November trip. And probably will also have a look at the new Tawan, just to know how it is now.

On 7/16/2025 at 5:47 AM, Kiwi306 said:

Even though I was the only customer, I was approached quietly but not at all pushy by one of the staff.

That's how I like it. I like to get some attention from the boys without them being pushy. It's also how I remember it from the (very) old Tawan during my first visits in 2012 / 2013. A nice muscleboy would approach you, start a little conversation. But when you would tell him not interested it would be fine and het would leave quietly. If you would have interest and buy him drink, the conversation would continue with the boy probably subtle telling you about what he could offer you. But never in a pushy way.

On 7/16/2025 at 3:27 PM, vinapu said:

that is advantage of engaging more mature and business oriented straight guys. They are in for it for money and know what needs to be done to earn it,  certainly avoiding stupid antics younger guys are more prone to do.

Totally agree. I mentioned it before in one of my trip reports. The best experiences I had with moneyboys were with the boys that were slightly older and had more experience in the job. I found them to be more friendly, knowing what is expected from them in return of the money, showing initiative and making you have a good time. While the younger boys more often seem te be a bit lazy in bed, you have to take initiative as customer to get something going or ask him to do things and they think they can earn money by being boring instead of being a bit active and try to do their best to make you have a good time.

Same kind of positive experience I had with the only guy I ever offed in Tawan. He was a bit olde than I would normally go for, a bit bulkier also (he had muscles but also a little belly...). But he really was doing good job in making sure I liked the time spent with him. He started a massage that quickly turned into "other things". But when that finished he continued the massage instead of the "it's over - give me my money - I'm gone"-mentality the younger guys sometime have.

On 7/19/2025 at 4:59 AM, vinapu said:

no doubt fact that manager Arthur was Tawan veteran for many years helps to treat guys decently.

Is that the older guy that was always taking time to talk to the customers in the old Tawan, explaining about possibilities of the bar and boys but also doing some friendly smalltalk? He was really nice and friendly. But didn't see him anymore after Tawan became The One. 

[Kiwi306]

Hey, ernie, he sounds like the guy I was offing last year. He always massages me afterwards and then we shower together 

[vinapu]

4 hours ago, emiel1981 said:

"it's over - give me my money - I'm gone"-mentality the younger guys sometime have.

...........

Is that the older guy that was always taking time to talk to the customers in the old Tawan, explaining about possibilities of the bar and boys but also doing some friendly smalltalk? He was really nice and friendly. But didn't see him anymore after Tawan became The One. 

exactly , what you described is quite popular behavior of younger but also older but offed for the first time guys . Deed done , lets shower, cash in and go instead of ' when you will see me next time ?' as minimum.

In paid  encounter of any kind it's one who pays to initiate parting rites. I'm not shy to point it out to guys looking for subsequent off that I was not happy with them rushing things out at the first time

.............

Arthur is older, very massive guy who looks and probably is of mixed Asian / black race. In fact one can take him for a black guy

[Kiwi306]

My trip to Thailand is quickly winding up. Now that I am completely free from family (my nephew married a Thai lady) I have been making several visits to Atlas. It's actually been a bit awkward as I have had 2 boys there wanting me (ok....my money), so I have had to try to share the love. Anyhow, on King's birthday, Monday, I went to the bar at about 10 pm. I was immediately grabbed by my 'regular', and we left before the show started. There were a couple of guys on the stage I would have gladly taken, but that's a other story. At that stage there were only two customers there, so I don't know whether they even went ahead with the show. Last night I decided to return at about  the same time. I knew that my 2 guys weren't going to be there, so I thought it would give me the opportunity to try someone new, much as I really like the other 2 and will continue to see them.

I made a point of seeking out Arthur (manager )and told him that he should have a sign outside to advertise the time of the show. I also think he should aim for 10 pm, instead of 1045, because the chances are that customers might be enticed to go to other bars where the shows start earlier. 

To my embarrassment I  was the only one there. By 1045 there was only one other customer and after a few minutes we were told that they had decided to cancel the show. The lady boy was already there too. So my advice to Arthur was timely, methinks.

Long story short, I decided to take Vit. And what a super sweet, caring, muscular guy he is too. I must say that the Atlas boys have been very attentive and eager to please. I'm sure I will not go to any other bars in Bangkok in the future.

But my concern is that if Atlas continues to get so few customers, what will it's future be. If anyone is planning to go there, please encourage Arthur to advertise his bar a bit more.

 

 

[floridarob]

1 hour ago, Kiwi306 said:

Anyhow, on King's birthday, Monday, I went to the bar

I still have December 5th engraved in my head as the King's birthday.... it seemed like I was there every year, while he was alive, for 2 decades at that time.

People both in the US and Thailand asked why I would always go at the beginning of December... I'd tell them that I was invited to the kings birthday, since we were both born in Mt. Auburn hospital in Cambridge Mass.... some actually believed me 😉

I still have this saved on my laptop from when he passed away...October will be 9 years already  😳

[emiel1981]

3 hours ago, Kiwi306 said:

I must say that the Atlas boys have been very attentive and eager to please.

Sounds very good! Can;t wait to check out Atlas and the boys there with my own eyes (and hands... and....).