Visited Billboard last week and honestly, it’s still the best show bar in Bangkok. The jacuzzi and shower shows keep the crowd entertained, even if you’re not barfining. I barfined a slim 23-year-old for 3,500 short time plus 1,500 barfine. A bit pricey, but she gave amazing service and wasn’t rushed. Drinks were 220 each, so expect to spend if you stay a few hours.

I’m a big fan of Angelwitch. It’s darker, louder, and the stage shows are like something out of a rock concert mixed with burlesque. The girls are a little more edgy here, tattoos, attitude, and less of the sweet-and-cute vibe you get at Baccara. Paid 3,000 short time, and honestly it was worth it just for the bar experience before we left.

Baccara on Soi Cowboy is the tourist magnet for a reason. Two floors, always packed, dancers actually seem to enjoy themselves. I prefer upstairs because the girls are more chilled and you can actually talk. Barfine is 1,000, girl asked 2,500 short time. Cheap compared to Billboard, but the vibe is unbeatable. Neon lights everywhere—it feels like a movie set.

I’ve been to both Nana and Cowboy dozens of times, and I think Cowboy is better for first-timers. It’s one street, easy to navigate, and less overwhelming. Bars like Tilac and Shark are friendlier than the hard-sell Nana bars. But if you want big productions, Nana’s Billboard and Angelwitch are must-sees.

Don’t skip Crazy House if you like things a little wilder. Girls topless from the start, no gimmicks, just raw shows. It’s near Cowboy but separate, and it’s packed with both locals and expats. Barfine 1,000, girl asked 3,000. Best part is the upstairs seating—you get close-up views of the action, and it feels more hardcore than anything else in Bangkok.

If you only have time for two streets in Bangkok this trip, make them Nana Plaza (Sukhumvit Soi 4) and Soi Cowboy (off Asok) — same neighborhood vibe, completely different energy. Nana is the three-floor “adult playground” with dozens of go-go rooms and a heavy ladyboy presence; Soi Cowboy is a compact neon strip built around a handful of big-name stage bars where the spectacle is the point.

Nana Plaza — what to hit and why

Nana is basically a three-storey box of go-go bars. Walk the second and third floors and you’ll quickly spot the places that run shows, themed acts, and tub/soap shows — and a handful of bars (Billboard, Spanky’s, Geisha and a few rotating newer spots) still get the most attention for quality dancers and regulars who know how to work the crowd. If you want variety in one walk, this is the place.

Quick picks (Nana):

Billboard — one of the bigger, buzzy bars in the plaza; full stage, loud, good for energy.

Spanky’s / Geisha (upper floors) — known for themed shows and crowd interaction; better for viewers who want something wild or silly.

How to use Nana: do a fast lap first (30–45 minutes), then pick the bar where the vibe and the girls click for you. Bring small bills for drinks/tips and confirm any barfine/room fees before you leave the plaza.

Soi Cowboy — top bars and the street vibe

Soi Cowboy is short (a few hundred feet) and loud — it’s built for stage shows and quick bar-to-bar hopping. The crowd is younger and flashier; the big names that tourists and repeat visitors still point to are Baccara, Crazy House, Tilac, Suzie Wong and a few others — each has its own lighting/stage gimmick and a different price/attitude. If you want big stages and lots of dancers moving at once, Cowboy wins.

Quick picks (Soi Cowboy):

Baccara — often called one of the best on the strip for sheer numbers and “party” energy. Check their social/X page for updates.

Crazy House / Tilac / Suzie Wong — known for big stages, distinct show formats, and heavy footfall; good if you want options and a high-tempo night.

Money, timing, and practical rules (so you don’t look like a tourist)

Best time to go: 7–10pm for the freshest faces and best choice; after 11pm the top girls are often barfined or busy.

Barfines & prices: some go-go bars list standard barfines (many places run in the ~700 baht ballpark for short-time at popular bars, though top performers or peak nights push higher). Always confirm the total up front — barfine + tip + room fee.

Approach: do one circuit, pick 1–2 bars, order a drink, chat five minutes — if it’s a fit, invite for a drink and swap LINE. If you plan to leave the bar with her, get the mamasan to confirm price/room first.

What each street is best for (useful short rules)

Nana Plaza: concentrated variety — best if you want to try lots of different bars in one night and find specialists (ladyboys, themed shows, tub/soap acts).

Soi Cowboy: stage spectacle and big-bar energy — best if you want loud shows and a high-tempo night where the street itself is the entertainment.

Safety & common sense

Don’t leave valuables in short-time rooms, confirm the price before you go, and use condoms. If something feels off, pull the mamasan/manager in and sort it before walking out. These areas are busy and mostly safe for tourists, but small scams and confusion over fees still happen — being clear and calm prevents most of it. (local forums and TripAdvisor reports bear this out).

Nana Plaza — full, verified list (top floor → ground floor; 24 gogo bars exist in the plaza

Billboard — signature top-floor show / rotating stage.

Butterflies — large top-floor club-style gogo (big stage / lights).

Spanky’s — popular, showy bar with “sexotic” bits.

Geisha (aka Charades in older lists) — tub/soap shows on the top floor.

Rainbow (Rainbow 1–4 / Twister) — historically a multi-unit rainbow complex (Rainbow 4/Twister often flagged as big).

DC-10 — rotates between ladyboy / girl formats in recent updates.

Erotica — two levels, sometimes short-time rooms.

Enter / (aka Las Vegas / Hollywood Strip historically) — smaller VIP-style bar.

Casanova — long-running name on plaza lists (ownership/format has shifted).

Lollipop / Suckers / Spellbound (name shifts recorded over time) — small mid-level bars.

Carnival — older Crown-group name still referenced in bar lists.

Voodoo / Hoodoo — name changes but commonly referenced historically in plaza roundups.

Mandarin — small two-level bar noted in reviews.

Mercury / (new spaces previously Mercury) — revived/relocated bars show up in updates.

Straps — small bar name that appears on plaza maps / guides.

Candy Land — mid-level bar noted in several plaza reviews.

Temptations / Obsession — referenced as ladyboy/performer pockets in the plaza.

On Top — newer VIP club cited in plaza social posts.

Whiskey & Gogo (and other beer/bar combos on ground floor) — popular for watching.

Sexy Night / Spicy / Twister variants — small/rotating names that appear in local roundups.

Billboard-adjacent small bars (several tiny venues noted in guides — e.g., Cascade, Candy, etc.).

Stumble Inn (outdoor / beer bar adjacent — often recommended as a chill start).
23–24. (Other plaza gogos) — multiple small bars (dozens of name variants across sources; plaza site confirms ~24 go-go bars total).

Notes on Nana: Billboard + Butterflies are the “destination” bars right now (top floor, lots of dancers). Many of the other spots are small, rotate names/staff often, and some spaces convert between ladyboy-focused and girl-focused lineups — hence the variation in lists. Always do a quick lap and check which bars have the vibe you want.

Soi Cowboy — full, verified list (compact strip; 20+ bars)

Soi Cowboy is short but dense. 

Baccara — headline, busy upstairs/downstairs stages.

Crazy House — famous high-energy stage format.

Tilac — old-school favorite with steady crowd.

Suzie Wong — known for its unique shows and long history.

Cowboy 2 (aka Cowboy II) — popular “fresh girls” spot.

Long Gun — quieter, often praised for fair prices & friendly staff.

Country Road — live music / relaxed end of the strip.

The Dollhouse — mid-strip gogo bar.

Corner Bar — reliable, friendly spot for watching.

Deja Vu — occasionally closed/renamed post-COVID but historically prominent (check live status).

Long Gun / Five Star — other mid-strip bars flagged by reviewers.

Bad Beach / Bada Bing — late-night / mixed format bars appearing in various lists.

Cowboy 3 / other 'Cowboy' family bars — smaller sister bars that pop up on the strip.

Penny Black — late-night club adjacent (not strictly a gogo but part of the street mix).

Random / Five Star Bar — rotating live music / gogo hybrids.

The Oasis (Cowboy) — listed among the live music / chill options.
17–20+. Small bars & pop-ups (Corner, The Dollhouse variants, country road adjacent small venues) — Soi Cowboy has many small bars that come and go; maps & walk-through videos show 20+ establishments active depending on the night.

Notes on Cowboy: Baccara, Crazy House and Tilac remain the strip’s anchor bars — they’re the names most consistently recommended for first-time visitors. The rest of the strip is worth walking from end to end and picking whichever bar’s vibe fits you.

Quick actionable advice

Do a lap first. Both Nana & Cowboy are dense — 20–30 mins of walking the circuit shows you which bars have the atmosphere and girls you want. (Pro tip: top bars often fill up after 10pm.)

Expect name changes. Small bars regularly rename or shift format (girl ↔ ladyboy). If an old name is missing, search the plaza/strip on IG or Google Maps for the new name.

Barfine & price checks. Confirm barfine / room price before you leave any bar — popular bars often post standard rates but small bars may negotiate verbally.