Where do people go out usually for bars and clubbing?

You hit the nail on the head with Soi 11. For a totally different vibe, walk over to Sukhumvit 22. There's a cluster of indie bars like Tuba and the speakeasy-style Ku Bar that pull in a creative Thai crowd, artists and media types. No working girls to dodge, just people drinking and talking.

Another spot that gets overlooked is the area around Saphan Taksin BTS. Walk down Charoen Krung Road toward the river and you'll find Jam Bar and a few others tucked in old shophouses. It's where Thai food bloggers and photographers go to unwind, and the drinks are solid for 120 baht.

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Soi 11 is basically a meat market at this point, you're not wrong about that. If you want actual Thai crowds without the weird vibe, head over to Ekkamai or Thonglor but go deeper into the soi, not the main strip. Places like Beam or Sing Sing Theater on Thonglor have a mixed crowd of locals and expats who actually live here, not just tourists passing through.

For something totally different, check out the area around Sam Yan or the old town near Democracy Monument. There's a street called Tanao Road with tiny open-air bars where university students and young Thai workers hang out. Drinks are like 60 baht and you'll actually meet people instead of dodging touts.

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yeah soi 11 is def a mixed bag, lot of that scene there tbh. for a more normal crowd try ratchada soi 4 or rca if you want proper thai clubbing vibes. ratchada has big clubs like snow white and the bouncy castle one where it's mostly thai locals and some tourists mixed in, cheap drinks too like 100-150 baht for a beer. rca is more upscale with route 66 and onxy but you'll see way more actual people hanging out instead of working girls

if you want something more chill with a backpacker/local crossover, khao san road is obvious but the side sois off it have better bars without the chaos. or try ari bts area, lots of lowkey rooftop bars and craft beer spots where thai office workers hang after work. cheaper than thonglor too

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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