Are the bars dead?

[bkkmfj2648]

3 hours ago, Londoner said:

I'm coming to the sad conclusion that it may not be tourists who are in short supply so much as tourists like us. 

I totally agree 200% with what you wrote above and is why I continually write (see below related Sunee post) about ways to potentially decrease and/or avoid this phenomena of "short supply so much as tourists like us". 

I see one big potential event that is on the horizon (2030 World Pride) as a way to re-energize the gay economic centers (Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hua Hin, Hat Yai, Koh Samui, and Pattaya) in Thailand that are in the hinterland outside of Bangkok.

As this big event will primarily take place in Bangkok, it would be rather easy for the Bangkok promoters and event sponsors to include information about these hinterland gay economic centers when formulating the marketing campaign and programs for the 2030 World Pride events.

Will it save the current demise that is underway for these hinterland gay economic centers?  Probably not, but at least it could slow down their decay and if we are lucky, perhaps 1 or 2 would benefit from this publicity on the world stage.

 

This was so evident in this year's Pattaya International Pride Festival for 2026, where there were only 2 gay bars represented in the parade line-up out of 82 entities.

That is only a 2.4% participation rate (2 / 82 = .02439).

 

And furthermore, the local Pattaya City elections happen to mysteriously fall on the same date as the already pre-planned parade date, which was announced almost 1 year prior - the date for this year's gay pride event = Saturday June 27, 2026 - thus resulting in the closure of all gay bar businesses and venues that serve alcohol on the most important gay pride day.

This may be a phenomena that is unique only to the Pattaya City gay pride event - because over in Jomtien, the Jomtien Complex Pride Night will be more than 50% supported by gay entities and gay venues.

So, a 2.4% participation rate in Pattaya City and a more than 50% participation rate over in Jomtien.  Interesting?  What could be the cause behind this?

We will know more after the Jomtien Complex Pride Night will conclude on Saturday July 18, 2026.

[jason1975]

On 6/30/2026 at 8:31 PM, Kiwi306 said:

But there is a ray of hope. I went to the show at Dream Boys last night and there was quite a large turnout, of whom probably 50% were women. There were at least 30 boys in the lineup too.

The women mostly watch the show only. They seldom off the guys.

[Londoner]

I'd be interested to hear whether the lady-bars are suffering from the same  customer shortages.  My LHR-BKK  passenger lists were once fifty percent or more of single men. Now- and I don't mean just this low season -we are in a very small minority.

Perhaps it doesn't matter; it most certainly doesn't impinge on our enjoyment. We find Thailand as welcoming as ever, but it may be that the scene may need to  cater for couples as much as for  singles looking for company.

By the way, and this is merely anecdotal, my impression  is that there are more, or perhaps more visible, female couples than before.

 

[Keithambrose]

8 minutes ago, Londoner said:

I'd be interested to hear whether the lady-bars are suffering from the same  customer shortages.  My LHR-BKK  passenger lists were once fifty percent or more of single men. Now- and I don't mean just this low season -we are in a very small minority.

Perhaps it doesn't matter; it most certainly doesn't impinge on our enjoyment. We find Thailand as welcoming as ever, but it may be that the scene may need to  cater for couples as much as for  singles looking for company.

By the way, and this is merely anecdotal, my impression  is that there are more, or perhaps more visible, female couples than before.

 

Also, I think  there is quite an increase in medical tourism.  Several of the people on my plane, singles, and couples, were heading for the hospitals, for various procedures.  Not just face or bum lifts!

[Vessey]

5 minutes ago, Londoner said:

I'd be interested to hear whether the lady-bars are suffering from the same  customer shortages.  My LHR-BKK  passenger lists were once fifty percent or more of single men. Now- and I don't mean just this low season -we are in a very small minority.

Perhaps it doesn't matter; it most certainly doesn't impinge on our enjoyment. We find Thailand as welcoming as ever, but it may be that the scene may need to  cater for couples as much as for  singles looking for company.

By the way, and this is merely anecdotal, my impression  is that there are more, or perhaps more visible, female couples than before.

 

I still use the Queen Victoria Hotel on Soi 6 for part of my holidays, in fact I have been staying there for the last 16 years, usually in a balcony room over looking the soi itself. It used to be joked that if Walking Street was the beating heart of Pattaya, then Soi 6 was its pussy! Around 60 girly bars, always fairly busy, even in Low Season, and packed to near capacity in High Season.

But maybe ten years ago its popularity and future looked uncertain. It was a place of (en)closed bars with short-time rooms convenienlty above the bars; the bulk of its customers middle-aged to elderly white farang from Europe and the West.

Then a renaissance started to take place just over ten years ago, spearheaded by the NightWish Group (who now own 20+ of the bars), opening up the front of the bars, bringing in farang managers, and encouraging a younger crowd of customers from more diverse backgrounds. The focus became more on partying, with bells ringing up and down the Soi, but still with girls up and down the stairs to the short-time rooms with their customers. It discovered a new vibrancy, that I still feel infectious, even though the girls themselves hold little interest for me these days.

More crucially perhaps, that renaissance was accompanied by intensive publicity campaigns. For example, bars would daily line-up their girls outside the bars most days for pictures that would be on each bars Facebook groups. There were even opportunities, for example, for those abroad to buy lady-drinks online for their favourites with video links, etc. Such initiatives clearly succeeded as the numbers of vistors rose again, the bars thrived, the girls earned money and a younger demographic of customers spent their time and money there.

Elsewhere, the girly bars across LKMetro, Buakhao, TreeTown, etc, also thrive, even in Low Season.

On our side of the fence, I have watched in frustration as Sunee Plaza has slowly died away; Boyztown is now a shadow of its once vibrant past. Only Jomtien Complex still does reasonably well, and consequently I spend increasing amounts of my holiday time staying at the Zing Hotel there. But the bars are still heavily populated by aging ex-Pats, drawn by its boys and far cheaper beer prices. However, I am not sure that actual tourist numbers are particularly great, and most bars seem pretty useless in promoting themselves to the wider gay world, particularly to the younger gay world. At 72 I am one of the younger, fitter ones; I haven't actually seen Zimmer Frames in use, but quite a few customers look close to needing one! Haha

Selfishly low season suits me; lots of baht-hungry boys surprisingly anxious to spend bedroom time with an old fart like me. But long-term the slow decline is in evidence even here; and basically, IMHO, its our own fault! Places like the Complex still have so much to offer the gay sex tourist, we just need to encourage them (discuss! hahaha).

[BjornAgain]

1 hour ago, Londoner said:

...My LHR -BKK...

Just as an anecdotal aside, flew Thai Airways LHR-BKK on Sunday 21st June, it's definately low season, plane was 15% at most full in economy. Business was 75% full. Crew were trying to sell the economy legroom seats at 3000THB just prior to take-off.

JC last night was quiet, however Wine Cellar was 80% full, so reputational restaurants holding their own.

On the razz Friday, so hopefully a bit more activity as the BKK crowd desend for the weekend.

[jimmie50]

This is not specifically about the bars, but low season in general.  Had a message from Paradise guy just last night.  He has no idea I am currently in Bangkok.  He was telling me how bad business is at the shop and there are very few customers.  He was asking if I might be able to send him a little money to help pay his rent.  This is the first time he has ever asked, so I am inclined to believe he is in somewhat dire straits and business really is bad.  

[floridarob]

2 minutes ago, jimmie50 said:

This is the first time he has ever asked, so I am inclined to believe he is in somewhat dire straits and business really is bad.  

Or it was your turn 😝

[vinapu]

5 hours ago, Vessey said:

But long-term the slow decline is in evidence even here; and basically, IMHO, its our own fault! Places like the Complex still have so much to offer the gay sex tourist, we just need to encourage them (discuss! hahaha).

you are 118.34% right. 

reading those forums , often I read proclamations  by posters of  how long  they did not set their foot inside a boy bar. If believers are skipping the mass, church inevitably closes sooner or later.

[hank75]

The Europeans are arriving soon for their summer holidays, as seen by a spike in hotel prices at popular tourist destinations in Thailand especially the beaches on the Gulf side. Let’s see if this makes any difference. 

[hank75]

6 hours ago, Vessey said:

For example, bars would daily line-up their girls outside the bars most days for pictures that would be on each bars Facebook groups. There were even opportunities, for example, for those abroad to buy lady-drinks online for their favourites with video links, etc. Such initiatives clearly succeeded as the numbers of vistors rose again, the bars thrived, the girls earned money and a younger demographic of customers spent their time and money there.

Boy bars would do well to take a leaf out of their pages. Moonlight became popular very quickly in their first year to being ahead of the class in adopting social media. However they have ceased to innovate and are following the same formula year in and out, featuring the same line up who get older and heavier with each season. In fact I think there many foreign customers who would pay good money for a naughty video call with a boy in anticipation of soon travelling to Thailand to off him 

[bkkmfj2648]

6 hours ago, Vessey said:

But long-term the slow decline is in evidence even here; and basically, IMHO, its our own fault! Places like the Complex still have so much to offer the gay sex tourist, we just need to encourage them (discuss! hahaha).

I completely agree with your assessment @Vessey

Could you elaborate on why its our own fault?

Is it because for the gay districts that a renaissance by an entity like the NightWish Group did not take hold in Pattaya?

For Sunee Plaza it is already too late in my opinion - and for Boyztown I am not sure if an entity like NightWish Group could save its demise.

However, for the Jomtien Complex, aka Supertown - it might not yet be too late for the existing farang entities to band together to create an international marketing campaign.

On a voluntary basis, there is a single person (Jim) who runs the Supertown Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/supertowngay

and in my opinion he does a good job.  There is another web page that was promoting the Jomtien Complex, www.jomtiencomplex.com - but as per the WayBackMachine it has not had an update since 12-Feb-2026 and the last major updates were in May 2025.

Neither of these web promotional initiatives are oriented for international marketing of the Jomtien Complex.  Therefore, a type of NightWish Group international marketing initiative (a gay equivalent) might be in order - as you reported that they were successful in getting new blood (younger generations) to frequent the heterosexual entertainment districts of Pattaya.

Would you agree?

[spoon]

Younger gay crowds wants places like GOD, DJ Station and the likes, or sauna/cruise clubs that invites famous gogobar dancers or porn stars etc for special events. BKK has these and ive wonder if pattaya will start to follow suits. Pattaya used to have circuit gay party during pride month before. Is that still the case this year? 

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, hank75 said:

The Europeans are arriving soon for their summer holidays, as seen by a spike in hotel prices at popular tourist destinations in Thailand especially the beaches on the Gulf side. Let’s see if this makes any difference. 

it must be beaches as out of curiosity I checked prices for Silom and quite a few hotels are actually offering much lower rates then regular ones and when prices are more or less the same , often perks like breakfast or delayed payment or "  cancel for free by " dates 

[bkkmfj2648]

57 minutes ago, spoon said:

Pattaya used to have circuit gay party during pride month before. Is that still the case this year? 

Yes, I reported on the Asian Circuit Party that took place in Pattaya last month in June during the designated Pride month.  See below posting with 2 hot Instagram videos from the event.

 

 

[hank75]

9 hours ago, vinapu said:

it must be beaches as out of curiosity I checked prices for Silom and quite a few hotels are actually offering much lower rates then regular ones and when prices are more or less the same , often perks like breakfast or delayed payment or "  cancel for free by " dates 

For sure beaches as I was trying to book a long weekend, I have hard data as my (substantial for Thailand) budget now feels insufficient! 

[Londoner]

A couple of visits ago, I found myself in conversation with a guy from my country who had been a regular since the early 2000s.   Like many,  he'd originally been drawn here by the bars and the opportunities for meeting  go- go dancers. Now, he said, he no longer visits bars; he has no interest in ladyboy shows, nor muscle-guys generally and the twink-bars he favoured barely survive. Many haven't of course.

So why still come? he says that Bangkok has remained a thrilling , if exasperating city, while Pattaya is hugely-improved. He loves the dining opportunities, the vibrant malls and appreciates the ease of travel from BKK.  

OK, and the "sanuk" I asked? Apps. Instead of meeting guys in the evening, he meets them in afternoons.  Yes, some turn-out to be duds, but we all remember the offed-guy who was fun and tactile in the bar and   a cold fish in bed.

His benign view of Thailand corresponds with mine, if for different reasons.  The last time my partner and I visited a bar was at least twelve years ago and that was to see an old friend.Times had already begun to change. I recall Jim Lumsden saying this to me in Ambiance a couple of years before his departure. He saw the apps as the defining factor; I think there's more to it than that.

Nevertheless, our community is changing too. Our overall numbers in Thailand may decline, the age-range may change, but there will still be enough to draw us here, both those with and those without LTRs.

 

[macaroni21]

@Londoner what you're saying is that Thailand as a destination will survive, but the gay bar scene that you and your informant enjoyed will not -- if it isn't on its deathbed already.

I agree.

But what also needs to be said is that Bangkok's massage sector and the Silom 2-type dance bars is probably going to continue doing fine, even if competition remains fierce and establishments come and go (novelty factor at play). Notably, these are geared to the Asian traffic, not the farang visitor of old.

Where does that leave Pattaya? Probably nowhere. @Vessey above describes a revitalisation of a soi, but it sounded like it was still aimed at the farang market (or maybe the Indian market, but bear in mind Indians' spending power is very limited on the whole). The problem with Pattaya is that few gay businesses have figured out the importance of the Asian market for its future, let alone the importance of marketing. And so they're missing a huge opportunity.

 

[Londoner]

Yes. My neighbour's son is in his early twenties and gay. Three years ago he visited Thailand for the first time with his boyfriend.  His choices of places to stay were significant; Bangkok for the clubs, not Patpong.. Islands for the parties, not Pattaya. And Chiang Mai for sight-seeing. 

 

[Londoner]

Two nights ago, as previously mentioned, Pattaya's T21 was packed. I can't have been the only non-Asian visitor.....but it certainly looked like it.

 

[Kiwi306]

I tend to be a muscle bar fanatic. But I seem to recall that vinapu once said that he likes to support several bars when he is in Bangkok. Correct me if I am wrong, vinapu.

So, in connection with this thread I thought I would take that advice and inform the forum of my detective work. So for 3 evenings I entertained Tawan boys in my room before they went to work. Boy A the first night, then boy B the second and back to boy A the third. The usual heartbreaking stories of no customers, I can't pay my rent/gym fees, etc. Yes, I am a sucker for a hard luck story.

Afterwards I was free to start my bar crawls and check out the shows. On this thread I've already reported my experience at Dream Boy - lots of customers and lots of boys.

The next night I went to Fresh Boy. Now, to be honest, I don't like entering a bar on my own because of the pressure which is often put on you. So I sat on a step over the road for several minutes until I saw a group of about 6 probably Chinese guys walking up the steps and I quickly followed them. Again there was a fairly large turnout of customers as well as boys. One boy came up to me and started fondling me. He told me through Google translate that he was from Laos and was new on the scene. He wasn't my usual type, and there were others I would have preferred. Anyhow, he asked me to buy him a drink after the show, so I obliged, but then the usual messages came up about how far my hotel was and would I like to take him. I then thought it was time to move on, so I gave him a 100 baht tip and said I might see him again. When I returned to the hotel I thought even though he wasn't my first preference, he was smooth and fresh and maybe I should have offed him. But common sense kicked in, and I thought that maybe one boy a night is enough to pay for, but I will possibly return and see what happens. I booked a fairly long vacation in Thailand and I need to pace myself.

The third night I went to Hot Male. Again I waited until someone walked up the stairs before entering. There was one other person in the bar and about 8 boys on the stage. I ordered a drink and then noticed that the man who went up the stairs had gone, as had the solitary customer. So I drank up fast and made a hasty retreat. Ok, it's a matter of personal preference, but the boys didn't do anything for me.

So I then decided to make a return visit to Dream Boy, where the first show had just started. Two boys had really stood out the first time I was there and whom I would try to off if I go back. I hope I got the numbers correct. 96 was a chiselled athletic type and a great smile. 105 was the type I usually prefer. Tree trunk legs and a muscular body. He got the most tips too. He also participated in a freestyle dancing routine and had amazing rhythm. Interestingly the show was completely different from the first show I attended there. Both nights there were farang male/female couples in the crowd They tipped well too. I stayed for the second show. During the evening there were quite a few customers coming and going.

As for the hotel prices, as mentioned in the thread, they seem to have plummeted. My usual hotel of choice is Quarter Silom, as long as the tariffs are reasonable, as they can go sky high at times. Converting to $US, I paid between $35-50, including breakfast, a night.  I used Agoda. I just checked again and on some nights it definitely is more expensive and you can still get some good deals.

I'm now in On Nut and  nursing a bad head cold and aching knees. I fell over a couple of weeks before I left for Thailand and had some physical therapy beforehand, but obviously not enough. I'll have to get some treatment in Bangkok, as I want to do that new  Lumpini Park walk. And I want to have some workouts.

When I return to Silom I will have to make a plan for the next bars to visit.

Any recommendations?

[hank75]

2 hours ago, Kiwi306 said:

So, in connection with this thread I thought I would take that advice and inform the forum of my detective work.

Thank you for your hard work and service to this forum 

2 hours ago, Kiwi306 said:

When I return to Silom I will have to make a plan for the next bars to visit.

I was told Big Boy is better on weekends with some special acts, a conformation either way would be appreciated 

[vinapu]

6 hours ago, Kiwi306 said:

 I seem to recall that vinapu once said that he likes to support several bars when he is in Bangkok. Correct me if I am wrong, vinapu.

..........

The usual heartbreaking stories of no customers, I can't pay my rent/gym fees, etc. Yes, I am a sucker for a hard luck story.

 

Thank you for great report, I feel like I was there bar hopping with you..

Yes , indeed every trip  I  make a point to myself to visit at least once every bar  in Silom area usually alternating evenings between bars outside Patpong2  ( Banana, Jupiter, Moonlight, TharnTawan ) and those  in Patpong itself ( Dreamboys , Big Boys , Hot Male, FreshBoys and Good Boys), sometimes even try to squeeze more then one bar a night. I don't want to be one  complaining about  demise of boy bars and in second breatch boasting about not visiting one for years .

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

as for heartbreaking stories unfortunately some of them may be true and equally unfortunately some of them may be not. So dealing with them we must use sound judgement and a grain of salt. At times we must even show our assholish side.

My two favorite  conversations already told here but I venture to repeat them again :

1/ boys contacts me on Line 'when you are coming again ? I miss you ", my answer " really , do you remember me ?' , his answer "no, but I still miss you " 

2/ boy arrived to hotel on motorbike and I helped him to find   spot to park it. At end of session , upon receiving his generous tip as I was happy with the encounter,  he asked

"can I get some  money for a taxi?"

In short, give them money because you like them, not because you like their story.

Hope you return to good health and bar hopping very soon. 

 

[kram987]

5 hours ago, vinapu said:

1/ boys contacts me on Line 'when you are coming again ? I miss you ", my answer " really , do you remember me ?' , his answer "no, but I still miss you "

Thanks, that really made me laugh!

[kram987]

5 hours ago, vinapu said:

Thank you for great report, I feel like I was there bar hopping with you..

+1