Fatty’s Bar and Diner

It seems no one can unseat Fatty’s from the Best Dive Bar Award, winning for three years running. Why? Well, Mathew Fischer’s Wisconsin dive bar in Din Daeng is an expat community as much as it’s a bar. The live music at the stage by the door is unpredictable enough and quality enough to keep guests coming for visiting acts and local would-be stars. Also, and we’re serious about this, don’t forget the wings.
 

Finalist: Yoshi Bar

It’s a simple, cheap, and very Japanese night out. Though small, this space never fails to pack in a party of late-nighters looking for sake. Sake by the glass starts at B200, but you can grab a flight for B690; couple that with a few B90 highballs and you’re laughing. Their food menu is nothing to sneeze at either, with classic Japanese food and bar bites made-to-order like minced tuna with seaweed and deep-fried camembert with honey.
 

Finalist: Cheap Charlie’s

It seems like a lifetime ago that Cheap Charlie’s moved from Soi 11. No one thought it would be what it was. Now, it’s the beating heart of the Onnut nightlife scene, a space for extremely cheap drinks outside and bites from other venues. Still very much an expat spot, the brand started with brothers Charlie and Satit Budkajang in 1982 and is still going strong. Where else can you get a Beer Lao for B100?
 

Finalist: Allso Bar

If you haven’t heard of Allso Bar yet, the South Thonglor venue pumping out hip-hop and affordable craft cocktails, then you are missing out. It’s open late (sometimes too late) and is fast becoming a go-to for folks who want to spend their nights on the “other” side of Thonglor. From owner Roe Laophermsook, this space is a one-floor spot sparking a cheap drink revolution on that side of the BTS. And the chicken’s not too shabby either.
 

Finalist: 12×12

Good dive bars have great music. Great dive bars make their own. The 12×12 space is equal parts club, pub, and dive. It may look a little down market, but don’t let that fool you; the cocktails here are well made. Under darkly lit red lights, most come here for the vibe and the tunes, so be sure to take some flats for the dancing.

Jack’s Bar

Yes, this is a tourist bar—but everyone ends up here eventually. In a world of riverside hi-so rooftop bars, be a Jack’s Bar. The plastic chairs are always full, that bird is always annoying, and the drinks are always cheap. When you’re on that side of town and don’t know where to go, someone always shrugs and says, “Jack’s?” That’s what Jack’s Bar is for. The Thai food is cheap, and if you go at the right time, you could get a seat on the river. If the tide’s high, you might also get a seat in the river. 

Jam

Jam celebrated its own anniversary recently, and it has been quite a ride. Put your beer on a barrel and get ready for some of the best local bands in the city. What type of music are you into? Jam doesn’t care. The bands here play Bangkok’s music—metal, folk, experimental, DJs. And, if you haven’t been in a long time, you might be interested to know the upstairs is a fun time, sometimes featuring separate musical acts. It’s a welcome spot away from downstairs that can be heaving with music lovers. 
 

F.Orange

Onnut and Phra Khanong have been coming up in the world, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still find a lot of the city’s favorite low-key bars. Like a lot of the best dive bars, this spot is small and artsy, but it’s none the worse for it. This must try on a Phra Khanong pub crawl has beers starting at B100 and G&Ts at B120. Unlike a lot of famous city dive bars, this is not one that’s crawling with expats. 

23 Bar & Gallery

Who says you can’t draw on the walls? Fascists, that’s who. The 23 Bar & Gallery is another hidden Phra Khanong spot just off of Rama IV, far from their Chinatown original. When it’s not about the cheap beer and company, it’s about the tunes. Keep an eye on this spot for their beer deals and DJs. 

We Didn't Land on the Moon Since 1987

Talk about cool, We Didn't Land on the Moon Since 1987 eschews the hipster and goes straight for the gut—but still somehow manages to exist by reputation. And, you guessed it, this is another dive that brings the tunes. Found in what’s fast become known as Bangkok’s coolest neighborhood in Songwat, keep an eye out for this spot for live music you want to see in a venue with a vibe.