I've taken a fancy to a bartender at Balcony Bar on Soi 4. Is it possible to hire these guys? I'm hesitant to broach the subject with him because I want to enjoy his continued excellent service and I'm afraid an inappropriate offer would be insulting or awkward.

You could ask for his Line to contact him outside business hours.

That's not insulting, and he'll understand your message.

I assume that all the staff are quite used to the question so they will take no offense. I am curious to see what more experienced members think. There is a particular waiter at Stranger Bar that checks all my boxes. 

5 hours ago, NolaAndBeyond said:

I've taken a fancy to a bartender at Balcony Bar on Soi 4. Is it possible to hire these guys? I'm hesitant to broach the subject with him because I want to enjoy his continued excellent service and I'm afraid an inappropriate offer would be insulting or awkward.

Engage in a conversation, buy him a drink or two, make it clear that you fancy him and ask if he would be interested in spending some private time with you. 

There are various face saving answers that can be ways of saying no thank you to you, eg I have got a boyfriend. Thais are good at this and I don't expect he would be offended to be asked but don't treat him like an off boy. 

I don't imagine that the waiters/bartenders there are offable to anyone who asks in the way that a gogo guy is. 

13 hours ago, Flynn said:

I assume that all the staff are quite used to the question so they will take no offense.

that's sure thing but  khaolakguy quoted belowi is right

8 hours ago, khaolakguy said:

I don't imagine that the waiters/bartenders there are offable to anyone who asks in the way that a gogo guy is. 

 few years ago I had similar heats  and since it ended well , there's story:

on my way to OTHER bar  I stopped to hand over small tip (50 or 100) , smiled and continued my way. Upon return I was greeted with smile on approach  so slipped another small tip , smiled even more broadly and went away.

day or two later  - repeat but this time I was greeted with 'how are you ? " on my way , still to a different bar. Returning 1-2 hrs later I was met with extended hand , gave another tip and was rewarded with " one day  we need to have a beer together" . It did not happen because it was my last day but I was back few weeks later and was greeted with smile and reminder about the beer. This time I discretely whispered "when?" , 'I will let you know " was the answer. So I ordered a meal , half way through the meal asked him if he wants a beer, he did. It was enough to be informed  that his day of was Sunday so I suggest ' lets meet on Sunday. Which lead to exchanging Line.

When I had Line things went fast so we meet over beer in place by my hotel, I invited him for a dinner which was enough to hear suggestion  " why we don t  buy some beers at 7/11 and drink in your room to save money" . It was like getting phone from lottery office  ' you just won 1.7 million ' or something . In the room we both behaved for a first round but when we opened second slowly but surely , not that slowly but certainly very surely things moved toward , how to say it , less formal atmosphere.  

In short, smile ensuring I'm interested  with a little help of money steered guy to right direction without me  being pushy or offensive which would certainly put him off.

Apologies for the reminiscence...! Many years ago, I was dining at Balcony when one of the waiters, a very cute guy, seemed to take more of an interest in me than I expected. I'd never considered for one moment that the waiters there were "offable" and so I was merely polite.

  The next day I was in Babylon and whom should I encounter....? And yes, we did. Why he was interested in me I shall never know.

STAFF at Balcony are NOT 'offable' but they can of course make arrangements for after 2:00 closing time.
I imagine it is the same for most bars in Soi4 but some definitely offer that service.
Most of the bar staff at Balcony are straight but VERY friendly but I doubt if they go as far as horizontal friendliness (😜). No harm in asking out for a meal or drink though.

3 hours ago, Londoner said:

Apologies for the reminiscence...! Many years ago, I was dining at Balcony when one of the waiters, a very cute guy, seemed to take more of an interest in me than I expected. I'd never considered for one moment that the waiters there were "offable" and so I was merely polite.

  The next day I was in Babylon and whom should I encounter....? And yes, we did. Why he was interested in me I shall never know.

Fear not. He wasn't offable from Balcony, they have to work their full shifts.

14 hours ago, Patanawet said:

Most of the bar staff at Balcony are straight but VERY friendly but I doubt if they go as far as horizontal friendliness (😜).

even if they do , we will never learn about it here  because we are discreet gentlemen en masse .

As for staff being straight , as with go-go and massage boys proclaiming the same , I have my doubts to a degree of that straightness when comes to job they actually do. 

On 12/9/2025 at 1:45 PM, Londoner said:

 

 The next day I was in Babylon and whom should I encounter....? And yes, we did. Why he was interested in me I shall never know.

Hoping for a bigger tip?

On 12/9/2025 at 5:45 PM, Londoner said:

Apologies for the reminiscence...! Many years ago, I was dining at Balcony when one of the waiters, a very cute guy, seemed to take more of an interest in me than I expected. I'd never considered for one moment that the waiters there were "offable" and so I was merely polite.

  The next day I was in Babylon and whom should I encounter....? And yes, we did. Why he was interested in me I shall never know.

Your obviously far too modest

Back in the early 2000’s I regularly travelled to Bangkok and dined frequently at arguably the most expensive restaurant in the city located in the best hotel. There was a waiter there who was always extremely friendly and subtly flirtatious. I have followed his career and life trajectory on Facebook and elsewhere. He is married now with a family. Back in the early 2000’s he worked me out and knew exactly where the next tip was coming from. You’ve got to love the Thais and wouldn’t want them any other way.