Bangkok's Night Entertainment Scene
Nana Plaza

Nana Entertainment Plaza (NEP in short) is a well-known red-light spot situated in Soi 4 (Soi Nana Tai - South Nana) off Sukhumvit Road, just across from Nana Hotel, within a walking distance of the BTS Skytrain Nana station. It can be easily spotted by its bulky neon glowing sign 'Nana Entertainment Plaza' above the entrance and the adjacent money-changer booth. It is one of Bangkok’s most popular playgrounds of men night entertainment. The primary theme of the place could be best described as pursuit of drinking, dancing and yes, all other epicurean activities that amuse your senses, stimulate your emotions and bring together enjoyment and relaxation. If you're into the scene, you'll love it there.

NEP at Night

With a single entrance from Soi 4, the Plaza is a square-shaped courtyard surrounded by 3-story high buildings with wide balustrades on second and third floors. It actually consists of three floors of bars. The open centre of the ground floor, once used as a car park, is now seized by a handful of open-air beer bars. They are first in line to accost you once you have negotiated the narrow entrance into the Plaza's vibrant scene. Apart from a few short-time hotels operated on the top floor, almost all other venues throughout NEP are arranged in a go-go bar format. A total number of bargirls employed by the Nana Paza bars is counted in thousands. And many bars do employ girls exclusively. Although, eye-popping revelations are always there awaiting for oblivious male tourists around the corner. Refer to Tough Ladies title.

NEP During the Day

An ugly grey concrete complex during the day, as the night falls and daily heat subsides, a vital synergy of blasting music and flashy lights just about succeed at detracting attention away from the ugliness of it all. As in the Malls almost everything at NEP is on sale tempting to solicit your attention in all kinds of spirited ways. Ever-changing Nana Plaza in the late 70s started out as a restaurant hub and for years has been catering to English speaking customers primarily from Europe, America and the Middle East. Gradually, the Middle Eastern frequenters migrated to the Soi 3 (Soi Nana Nua - North Nana) just across the Sukhumvit Road. And in recent years, firstly, a few remaining restaurants inside the complex had been replaced by go-go bars. And lately, more and more Japanese men have found their way into the Plaza, most likely due to extremely high prices in the Japanese-oriented red-light districts and nightclubs. After an age-long tendency of exclusivity, this trend of putting together Western and Japanese partygoers is unprecedented in the night entertainment scene in Bangkok or elsewhere in Thailand.

Soi 4 (South Nana) During the Day


Beer Bar in Front of NEP




A View from NEP Entrance to Soi 4 (South Nana)

A wide variety of hotels, dining and entertaiment venues ranging from open-air and air-conditioned beer bars, pool and snooker clubs crowded by local frequenters, thru the humbled street vendors with go-carts and food-stalls, to the more sophisticated nightclubs, pubs, band bars producing quality live music, restaurants, massage parlours and many other watering-holes and sorts of pleasures, all of which are situated side by side in Soi 4 and its vicinity. This exciting place is a popular hangout. Worth a look, to really appreciate an assortment of the night entertainment and relaxation establishments Bangkok has to offer. One of them is...

Angels Disco

Angels Disco is just opposite Nana Plaza on the ground floor of Nana Hotel right behind the coffee shop. A spectacular discotheque (also known as Nanadisco) with staged performances by "Angels Dancers", for several years now, it has evolved into a popular after-hours meeting place. Occasionally, it gets really packed. Lots of girls, loud music and drinks, but unlike other similar venues there is an ever raising entry charge (cashed in for a drink), at the moment Baht 300. Time will tell, but it looks as if they are pricing themselves out of the market.

Angels Dancers

One Night in Bangkok

Remember that classic hit "One Night in Bangkok"?
The music and lyrics by Benny Anderson, Tim Rice, Bjsrn Ulvaeus, performed by Murray Head. The song is still the "creme de la creme" of success, especially here in Thailand. Here's a few popular bits of lyrics...

To be continued...