Charmming Bar [Bkk-Sapan Kwai] closed

[pong]

This bar, opened at least some 18+ years ago, and the only remaining gay bar in the area out of that soi with the remaining others, has now also closed. The building is boarded up and for sale/rent. Charmming (yes, with 2M) had some glamour in the early nineties-when it hosted most of the MIDWAY-magazine models.

Visited this area to meet best friend yesterday-streets in BKK eerily quiet. It seems some of the karaoke bars in the soi near Liberty Hotel/Stax are also closed. Another gay area on the decline. Also the 2 short-time hotels I remembered of were closed/torn down and the other one renovated and turned into some kind of bungalow complex. Best friend knew of other hotels nearby-very good room for just 200 bt.

Many of the former girly bars in the Pradiphat area also appeared to have closed down. Others reamin in the street east of the intersection-named Suttisarn.

Just to inform you-cannot remember having seen postings about this area for a long time.

[Guest alaan]

Thanks for the update Pong. I used to be a regular visitor to Saphan Kwai, going there at least 1 or 2 of my 4 yearly visits, but it must be about 1-2 years since i have gone.

 

I nearly went to stay at Saphan Kwai last week when I had booked to stay at Suriwong and was unsure about the 'red shirt situation' and how it would affect the venues i normally visit. As it turned out the silom soi2/4 and twilight venues were operating as near normal so I didn't venture to Saphan Kwai yet again.

 

One of the main reasons i do not visit now is that i have been hooked-up with my bf for the last two years and therefore do not have need to be taking off guys from the karaoke bars now. In the past i have had superb nights of fun with some very sweet cute guys from Saphan Kwai and if i was 'single' would definitely venture there again.Now if we fancy a change from suriwong/silom venues we head to Rachada Soi 8 or the like instead.

 

My bf and i do both enjoy occassional karaoke evenings or to visit them for a couple of hours, so i think just for a change we might stay there 2-3 nights at Karnmanee Hotel when i visit at start of July. I do like the area, and if staying at the weekend is easy to get to the Chakajuk weekend market.

 

Any further updates would be appreciated. Normally i just stroll down to soi 20 and try 2-3 different karaokes until i find the one i feel comfortable in for the evening or as in previous visits find one with a selection of guys i find attractive.

 

One of the things i did like in the SK karaokes compared to the suriwong/silom venues is the honesty and knowledge of the mamasans when it comes to selecting a boy that i would be comfortable with.In my experience I was never let down on any occassion with recommendations of advice from any of the SK bar mamasans, and indeed met many fine gay lads through them.

 

I remember even one night after getting on with a couple of boys and the mamasan of one karaoke, we decided to move on to another venue outside of SK, the mamasan said he would like to go and would i be ok to have the four of us go together and he would share the cost between us. He was of his word and we checked and split the tab together, he paid the taxi to and i covered the taxi back and a great night to boot.

 

Hmmmm...........just talking about it has wetted my own appetite for a return visit...

[llz]

I have just read in the TMM webboard that Charmming was not closed (which would have been VERY bad news for all Saphan Khwai lovers). A poster explained he went yesterday at 11 pm and all boys had already left, but was said 7/8 guys had turned up on that evening.

 

So ... what ?

[pong]

I have just read in the TMM webboard that Charmming was not closed (which would have been VERY bad news for all Saphan Khwai lovers). A poster explained he went yesterday at 11 pm and all boys had already left, but was said 7/8 guys had turned up on that evening.

 

So ... what ?

strange-as the roll-out sign that always stood there was away and the building was shut up (well-it was daytime) and a big sign with for rent/sale on. Throughout the years the police have moved to close 1 by 1 all bars outside of that dead-end soi. there are still 3 sauna-gay though, with 69 underground the best and biggest.

[Gaybutton]

there are still 3 sauna-gay though, with 69 underground the best and biggest.

Considering that most of us are probably unfamiliar with these places, can you tell us the names and addresses of where they are located?