For some strange reason I was thinking about Soi Zero today. Does anyone go there? It is mainly a cut rate discount area with bow-wows, right? I will still have to check it out the next time I am in Thailand though. I remember passing by it, by never went in. I believe it is located under the freeway .

Xen

I'm back to BKK on Jan 9. I'll take one for the team...

E

Actually,

I have been there many times throughout the years. The pricing is cheaper and quite often you can find that diamond in the rough. There are a lot of expats (english teachers) that frequent these bars. There is actually one bar that is extremely nice, but the music is a little too loud. Many of the bars have pool tables. A couple have air conditioning. It is located right under the freeway. All in all I like it to get away from the crowded bar scene sometimes.

I agree it can be a source for hidden talent. Many of the BG's who are just starting out learn their trade at Soi Zero. A few of the bars are dominated by a regular ex pat crowd but they are very friendly and welcome newcomers. No turf battles here. They do not have the cash to compete for the girls by and large. They just suck on one beer and talk to the girls - maybe hoping for a freebie or real date someday. I have barfined some true stunners from this place. Certainly worth a slow walk up the alley to check out what's available. You will be attacked by small groups of young girls trying to drag you into their bar. Not at all unpleasurable. Many of the bars are empty except for the girls themselves. Good ratio IMHO !!

BTW the barfine the last time I went was 300 baht and the girls were happy with 1,000 baht ST---- 1,500 LT. That was 2 years ago, before retirement.

Is Soi Zero the name of the street? Just where is it? (between Soi -1 and Soi +1?)

NEP is on Soi 4. The Marriott is on Soi 2. Soi 1 is on the other side of Sukhumvit. Walk west past the Ploenchit Center and you'll see the railroad and the elevated freeway. Soi Zero is actually underneath the freeway. The freeway marks where Sukhumvit Road turns into Ploen Chit Road. Thus, "Soi Zero."

Thanks, now I understand.

There's a big neon sign overhead that says " Soi Zero " as well. There is no REAL Soi Zero obviously. It used to be called Buckskin Joe's Village. No one ever went so they tried to find a more catchy name. Few still go but definitely worth a look for the reasons mentioned above.

I am a regular customer over there since about 7years already. if you prefer more the hidden place, then you are at the right place. and finally there are indeed some real rough diamonds, waiting to get polished!!! the music in some bars, I do agree, is simply too loud, but if for a drink or two, a dj wouldn't mind.

Dose anyone know what the girls here are like at the moment? are they all bow wows with the odd good looking girl thrown in or what. Has the B/F gone up from the B1000S/T B1500L/T posted by Khun Mor.Has anyone been there recently? might give it a try in my next trip but it will be in November so a bit of a time to wait for a T/R.

Smudge

I was there this March-- only had some drinks and played pool as I was going back home to Da . Coulsd not sample the talent , but there were some hotties there once again. It's a really laid back place- great for enjoying a few beers or whatever with NO pressure. The barfine is 300 baht. I did not ask what the girls are expecting as tips nowadays so cannot help you there. It is always worthwhile to check this place out-- after 6PM generally. Before then the hotties are still asleep recovering from prior night's activity. The first two bars on the right hand side are usually have the best looking pooying, but there are hidden gems in every bar. A little searching could yield a winner.

Excellent thanks for the help, will give it a go in November.

I'm going in June, someone tell me where to find their personal favorite girl in this area.
Thanks for the info

WCB
If she was there last month she praobably will be somewhere else by June. The girls here are even more transient than at NEP . Many are just starting out and move on to greaner pastures when they get their feet on the ground. The ones who stay will not likely be of interest to you, or most others for that matter. As I said above,the first two bars on the right side of the street usually have the best talent, but certainly not always.

Just go have a look. It will take you about 5 minutes to walk up and down the short street and check out every bar. They are all open to the street and you can see all the girls just walking past. Very small area and only a 3 minute walk from Soi Nana, what's to lose ??

It's my understanding that Soi Zero has finally given up the ghost. According to all recent reports, it has been well and truly closed.

Manos.

Too bad. It wasn't a bad place to go for a more relaxed atmosphere than NEP.

yes soi zero is closed
I checked it out
most of the bars there have been pulled down
Having said that
theres a lot more bars in a plaza near there
I think the next block up from soi zero

Yeah, you're talking about Soi 1, across the street. They do have alot of beer bars. Some of them are certainly worth a stop-in. Also, Josephine disco on the rooftop is an afterhours spot.

Manos

If your interested in the history of soi zero
[Tobacco road]
Then go on
www.bangkokeyes.com

Hey Guys, as mentioned on STICKMAN recently Soi Zero is history and thank f*ck too! It was ZERO in terms of ratings! As Stickman rightly said, "Good Riddance!" Guys that like sub-standard bars should be in heaven in the beer bars in Pattaya. NANA PLAZA too much! Great for us it just leaves more hot chicks for the guys with good taste!

There he goes again, insulting people.

I'm for one sad to see Soi Zero go. It was a good place to kick back in the daytime and just BS with the girls or shoot pool all day. Most of the time they never even charged you for the game if you were drinking or buying LDs. Cheap drink prices and ZERO lady drink pressure. They were thrilled if you bought a drink and you could afford to buy one for all the girls if you wanted to.

There was an occasional gem to be found there as well. I have barfined some very good looking pooying from Soi Zero. Sure the majority of the girls were not stunners but who cares ?? there are other things than eye candy to enjoy. Most of the eye candy tastes like crap when you open it up anyway.

Dave
You're even starting to irritate me with your hyping of Nana and put downs of other venues. So what if it was "substandard" -- at least by your standards I guess -- it was an alternative to the money grubbing whores in NEP.

The Soi Zero closure was on Stickman recently, so I just reported what he said. Many ex-pats felt the same. Poor location and the surroundings looked like a slum. IMO there are a ton of better places in BKK to visit. BTW - I know a guy who owned a bar in Soi Zero and he said it was hopeless.

Khun Mor, I would tend to be more irritated about where you are right now. Hence, big work overload, progressive rat race, no imminent vacation, etc...

BTW, I walk by one of your favourite bars every night; namely the extremely popular Morning Night. I know a friend of the cashier and it is without question one of the most popular bars in the whole of Bangkok. Gulliver's on Soi 5 is another very popular venue. Success and popularity substantiate survival, therefore Soi Zero is history, and that comes as no surprise to me. Gulliver's and Morning Night are so much better. Plus a whole other load of places.

Laguy, you do tend to moan and groan a lot - IMO you should get out there and enjoy life. Some guys sit in LOS bars surrounded by attractive women looking like they are on death row! I just find that a bit hard to comprehend...

FYI - I do not ever refer to the LOS bargirls as, "money grabbing whores". I was a bit shocked by that. In addition, I was taught by my parents to stand up for what I believe in and speak my mind. (My right to the First Amendment - freedom of speech). And I will continue to do so.

Dave; There is no First Amendment in Thailand. All there are for resident farangs are dead end jobs with no job security. Perhaps that is why one of the few pleasures you seem to have in life is posting endless nonsense on this board.

Dave
The only quote from Stickman I see was Good Riddance" The fact that Stickman says it does not make it gospel. The way I read your post the following statement was your own.

Guys that like sub-standard bars should be in heaven in the beer bars in Pattaya. NANA PLAZA too much! Great for us it just leaves more hot chicks for the guys with good taste!

That implys that anyone who frequented Soi Zero had no taste in women and only NEP has decent pooying. Nothing could be further from the truth.

You prefer pussy peddling scam artists ??
I do not refer to all Thai bargirls as money grubbing whores , but I certainly will make the assertion that there are more than a few of them and the majority seem to work in NEP. You cannot in any honesty deny that they exist. You have already said repeatedly on this board that many bargirls are bilking 2-4 farang ATMs simultaneously. I suppose you consider this part of "Thai culture" ?

My parents also taught me to stand up for what I believe and spaek my mind. You seem to increasingly think you're the only one with an opinion around here and anyone who has a differing POV is either dumb or wrong.

The main point I was making is that the closing of ANY alternative bar site in BKK is to be mourned not celebrated. In case you had not noticed in the daytime NEP also looks like a slum as does 80% of BKK. I rarely barfined from Soi Zero but it was still a great place to kick back and relax. Try doing that in NEP !!

What good will come of the closing of Soi Zero except the dissapearance of a venue that was trying to compete by offering a lower cost, friendlier option to the increasingly pricey go gos and major beer bars that are dominating the BKK market right now.

There were bars there that many ex pats frequented because their baht lasted much longer. The girls were very easy going and laid back. They could make one drink last a very long time and there were no mamasans or servers rushing over to hustle drinks. The DJ/bartender would play any music request instantly without first being bribed by a tip or drink. I guess that's why Soi Zero was such a terrible place. What a horrible example to be setting . Makes the other bars look so mercenary .

If you prefer that kind of atmosphere, the beer bar complex on Soi 1 and Queen's Park Plaza on soi 22 both offer similar pricing to soi Zero. The problem is that, with the exception of three ourdoor bars, none of the Queen's Park bars open as early as Soi Zero used to. I think some, if not most, of the Soi 1 bars do open pretty early.

To give you an idea, happy hour at my bar (which runs from five thirty to eight thirty) features forty five baht Tiger draft and fifty baht for all bottled beer. While this is one of the better deals around, I'd be surprised if some of the other bars in the two areas mentioned didn't have some pretty attractive happy hours, as well.

Manos.

(Message edited by mano_poderosa on July 30, 2006)

only forty five baht for tiger draft in Mano_poderosa`s bar.
Me get dunk in flaming moe bar for long time

Mano

I think it's all about having a choice. It's nice to have options and the chance to spend a cheaper more relaxed afternoon than you can find at Big Dogs or Morning Night for example.

Obviously I usually prefer the atmosphere at Morning Night and have single handedly kept their cash registers full on many a day. It's nice however to have other options and occasionally I was in the mood to just kick back and relax - not fight off drink suckers. IMO every time any bar area closes down your options are narrowed. Suk Soi 10 , Clinton Plaza, Asoke beer bars , now Soi Zero. No reason for celebration that I can see.
Hopefully Soi 1 and Soi 7/1 or ? others can take up the slack.

That was my major objection to Dave's gleeful proclamation that a cesspool of blight on BKK had been shut down at long last. It seemed to be a personal affront to him it even existed.

KM, I do know a bar owner who took a big one for the team in Soi Zero; he lost a lot of cash! Soi Zero is history but existing places are either improving, or new bars are opening up all the time. The new owner "ET" of BULLY'S PUB (just down from the gas station on the corner of Soi Nana); has really given the place some character. Spaceous bar with pool tables, relaxed atmosphere, pleasant decor and some of the BG's are OK. Quite an extensive menu with a wide range of beers. The Kilkenny draught is a particular treat. I also think Hillary II is a very push place with plenty of BG's around. Also, Mano has a great, relaxed little bar with pool tables and a mega cheap Happy Hour. Where one door closes another opens!

Laguy, I'll take my chances in paradise!

I hear ya, KM. I spend time in my own bar, in Patpong, in Cowboy, in Nana, in Soi 33 (though less and less frequently of late) and once in a blue moon on soi 7/1. They all have their own positives and negatives. I'm glad that all of these options (and others that I rarely take advantage of) are available to me in Bangkok.

Manos.

(Message edited by mano_poderosa on July 31, 2006)

Mano, there are a ton of other options available in BKK. And in low season there are plenty of options for attention & relaxed social interaction from BG's in very quiet bars. There are also some really plush new bars springing up. Even Nana Plaza has very quiet bars, where the BG's are more than happy to meet some customers. I totally disagree about Soi Zero, or "Sub Zero" as it is known among some of the ex-pats here. I know so many other better options. BTW, I notice if you mention quiet, small bars like Rainbow 3, or Mercury some guys really put those bars down. Yet we have support and sympathy for Sub Zero. It's remarkable!

FYI MONGERS - Well worth taking a trip off the beaten path to Mano's bar (Flaming Moe's in Queen's Park Plaza, Sukhumvit, Soi 22). VERY relaxed atmosphere, pool table, VERY cheap drinks (ATTENTION PORKER! LOL!). And, of course apart from a few cute chicks, Mr Mano is a really cool guy to talk to. It's so relaxed in Flaming Moe's that the staff are almost horizontal...well, the young babes soon will be horizontal if that monster man Epi arrives!

Interesting you mention Rainbow III and Mercury. I happen to enjoy both of those bars and usually make it a point to stop in, at least every other time I'm in the Plaza. DC 10 is another small Nana bar I enjoy, though solely for the music and the friendly servers...rumor has it they once had an attractive woman dancing there, though that rumor is still unsubstantiated as of this writing. Rainbow III, on the other hand, usually has a fair few good looking dancers. Mercury falls somewhere in the middle, sometimes it has hot women (apart from a couple of the bartenders who are always attractive) and sometimes there's a dearth of talent. Bottom line, there are alot of options in every traditional nightlife area, not to mention under-reported venues like Titanium on soi 22 or The Champagne Room just outside of Nana. I'm happy to check them all out. Eventually, I'll probably make my way into Toxic, as well. It's all out there, from tiny little go-gos like Tina's (in a hard to find alcove off of Soi 22) to mega massage parlors like Poseidon. I think, time permitting, it's well worth checking out a variety of different venues to determine what most strikes your fancy. For instance, like most expats I had an inherent distaste for Patpong. Of late, however, I find myself having a great time there and visit 3 or 4 times a month.

Manos.

Hi Manos, I could not agree more with your comments. Guys visit various bars for a variety of reasons. Some are party bars, some are show bars, some have hot go-go dancers, and other bars (like beer beers) have a more relaxed atmosphere. These are just a few reasons off the top of my head why guys visit a variety of bars for a variety of reasons. Some residents visit certain bars to relax after work, or because they like the music. There is such a diverse and wide scope of bars in BKK and Pattaya that it would take you MANY years to get around all the bars. There are thousands of bars and multitudes of BG's. We have not even mentioned clubs, discos and freelancers. Enjoy the adventure!

Dave, very good point. "Guys visit various bars for a variety of reasons". With that said I will truly miss the soi zero bars. I paid my first visit to them some 12 years ago. I used to visit them when I didn't want to be bothered by anything or anyone. They were low key, not crowded, and not too noisy, although there were a few that would crank the music. I liked them when I was in a mellow mood. I didn't go to them very often, but they did fill the mood that I was in. I will now have to find another area to fill it.

Ezgab, Soi Zero may have been OK several years back but towards its death it deteriorated rapidly. Some mongers' info on this board is very dated, you have to move with the times. There are so many bars here in LOS that I cannot see the problem. Pattaya is now estimated to have over 1,500 bars. There is a good start!