People familiar with Bangkok or looking to visit know some of Bangkok’s most famous and infamous nightlife spots. The best known is Patpong, which dates back to the 1960s and was popular with soldiers on furlough from the Vietnam War. Also well known are Nana Plaza just off Sukhumvit Road at Soi 4 ​​(Soi Nana) and Soi Cowboy.

In fact, there are several other entertainment areas that have become more well-known over the years, including Ratchadapisek Road, Rama IX Road, RCA (Royal City Avenue), Soi Thonglor, and Soi Ekhamai.

But there is a place that is not on the maps of most information sources: Washington Square (and surroundings).

Washington Square faces the south side of Sukhumvit Road between Sukhumvit Soi 22 and Sukhumvit Soi 24, closer to the former than the latter.

Washington Square is actually an enclosure with three elongated side-by-side buildings taking up much of the center, with a walkway running along all four sides, the walkway framed by a row of buildings. The square can be entered directly from Sukhumvit Road via a short drive to the inner drive or from Sukhumvit Soi 22, directly opposite the Regency Park Hotel, about a hundred meters from Sukhumvit Road.

The Plaza is a rather curious place. There are several bars, including two that also serve food, some that only serve drinks, and others that are more of a restaurant than a bar. There are some bars that cater to the Japanese. Located just on the northwest corner of the Square, there’s even a gay bar, but for most Square patrons, you might as well be on another planet. There are also several massage parlors. There are several businesses located here, including a printing company and a travel agency. The middle of the three side-by-side buildings used to house a movie theater but now offers a large pool-facing bar on the ground floor with a “ladyboy” cabaret show upstairs in the auditorium.

The largest single group of regulars at the Plaza, and it is very much a place for regulars, is American, although there are many other nationalities represented, notably Canadian, British, Australian and New Zealanders, but with many others represented. by at least one or two people. For the most part, Square’s regular customers (a group called “Squaronians”) are a slightly older group and almost entirely male.

The west facing bar spots and two of the bars that also serve food are not for the faint of heart as they can be quite raunchy. Not always, but sometimes. The same goes for all drinks-only places. When they’re quiet, they’re great places to relax, whether you want to sit and listen to music or watch TV (all places have both) or strike up a conversation with other customers or employees. Of course, if you like fuss, you can find that too. Drink prices are particularly competitive, especially when compared to hotel bars and bars in more well-known venues. In all, there are about a dozen places catering primarily to Westerners.

Along Sukhumvit Soi 22 there is the occasional bar, plus a small block of (mostly) bars across the soi from Washington Square and a bit further down. All of these are western-oriented and have numerous regular patterns.

This is a good area to get an idea of ​​the lifestyle of the resident expat which is very different from that of the corporate expat. Most people in this area are full time *and* long term, not rotating after a tour back to their home country. Many have Thai wives and some have children. A considerable number are retired (including some retired US military). The largest work group is made up of people in the oil business or construction (often oil-related) such as field workers.

A local British writer once wrote an article describing the Plaza’s regulars as “men with thousand meter stars”, and that’s a good metaphor. Newcomers are always welcome, but Scuaronians like to get a feel for them (and don’t suffer fools at all, gladly never mind!).

I should point out that while I am very much a Squaronian myself (and have been for over a decade), I have no business interests anywhere in Washington Square. Sometimes I get asked why I write about it so often.

It’s worth checking out, and it’s close to the Skytrain station at The Emporium, as well as a bit further from Asoke station; the hike is easy from either. Allow about four to five minutes from The Emporium station and about eight to ten minutes from Asoke.