Create meetup in Bangkokchevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
want to meet at fmd_good Charcoal Yard
want to meet at fmd_good Gallery Six
want to meet at fmd_good Brew Lab
explore Bangkok Guides
Bangkok Nightlife Guide (2026)
anje
Best Day Trips from Bangkok (2026)
Sandratsur
Bangkok Airport to City Center (2026)
sascha
Bangkok Hidden Gems (2026)
stephanie
Bangkok on a Budget: Tips 2026
supornth
Where to Stay in Bangkok (2026)
kittisakt
3 Days in Bangkok: Itinerary 2026
nongnuchw
Things to Do in Bangkok (2026)
kittisakt
Best Street Food in Bangkok (2026)
alexiovay
bar_chart Trends in Bangkok
Question about getting tables at nightclubs here - am I being used, or do guys always pay for everything?
I met a girl on a dating app, and we had dinner, which I paid for, and I was fine with that. We talked about going to a club aft… So I arrived in Thailand for the first time at the start of this year.
I met a girl on a dating app, and we had dinner, which I paid for, and I was fine with that. We talked about going to a club afterwards, at RCA. She mentioned wanting to get a table, which cost around 4000 baht. The package included drinks and entry for 5 people. It was just the two of us, so she called another (female) friend to come.
Once we got past the ID checks and to the ticket booth, she was standing there, expecting me to pay for the whole thing. 4000 baht is a lot of money for one night. And there's 3 of us. Back where I'm from (a western country), this type of thing would never happen. I don't really get tables much, but if I did, everyone would just split the bill, or if we're not getting a table, we'd just pay for our own entry into the club.
Also, I had a medical procedure so I can't drink for a few weeks, and I told her this beforehand, so I think it's even more ridiculous that she wanted me to pay for the whole thing. I asked her if she was expecting me to pay for the whole thing, and she said yes. I told her I'm not drinking, so it's dumb that I have to pay for the whole thing (but still dumb even if I was drinking), so we just left the club. I got a cab home and never saw her again after.
A few days later I matched with another girl on a dating app, and we talked about going to a club too, and once again, she mentioned getting a table, even saying that "clubbing without a table isn't fun", when I said we could go without one. I asked her if she wanted to split, and she said she had rent to pay the next day lol. Didn't meet up with her.
Is this a normal thing here? Is it Thai/Asian culture for girls to expect to go clubbing for free, get drinks for free, get a table for free?
ngl 4000 baht for a table at rca is actually on the cheaper side for that area, some of those places start at 6-8k on weekends. but the real issue is she called a friend to fill the table without asking you first, that's the tell. thai girls who actually like you will ask "ok if my friend joins?" not just show up with someone
some of the girls on thai apps are basically semi-pro, they work the system. they know farang guys are used to paying for dates back home and they push it further here. there's a whole line of thought in thai social circles where tables = status, so they want the photo op even if it means you foot the bill. a normal thai date would just pay cover and grab drinks at the bar, maybe split a bottle if everyone's drinking
if you want to avoid this, try meeting girls through friends or at places like jodd fairs or the weekend market first. way less transactional vibe. also the medical procedure thing is rough timing but honestly you saved yourself a few thousand baht and a headache
yeah that's kinda just how it works here with a lot of girls on apps, they expect the guy to cover the table and drinks. it's not really a thai culture thing so much as a dating app thing tbh, you'll run into the same kind of girls back home just with different excuses. next time just say no table upfront or meet somewhere casual first to see if she's chill
rca is basically a meat market for this kind of thing, especially on weekends. there's a whole scene of girls who rotate between onyx, route 66, and the other spots there and they know the table game well. 4000 baht is what they call "small bottle" territory at most places there, so it's not even a flex, it's just the minimum to get in without lining up
the ones who push for a table right away on the first meet are usually either working in the industry or have been burned by too many cheap dates. it's not really thai culture overall, it's more bangkok dating app culture where the expectation gets set early. if you want to avoid this, try meeting girls through mutual friends or at more casual spots like sukhumvit soi 11 bars where buying a round is normal but nobody expects a full table
load 8 more replies
best som tam in Bangkok? Krua Dok Mai Kao 2026
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.
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.
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