Royal City Avenue or more frequently just RCA is where Bangkok’s hip young things go to party. Westerners are scarce, people over the age of 25 are also scarce.
It is a long crescent shaped road that runs between New Petchburi Road and Rama IX Road in a rather under-developed corner of the city. There are shops, restaurants, a cinema and offices. But it is the cocktail lounges and clubs that draw the crowds.
The big ones are Route 66 and Flix. Also worth checking out are Ezze, Zeta and Club Astra.
There’s no cover charge at most of the venues in RCA and, since the majority of the patrons appear to be students, the beers are reasonably priced as well. This means you can cruise from one to the other or cool off outside for while before heading back into the fray.
If you fancy something a little less frentetic stop in to the Old Leng Pub and Restaurant. This is a charming old wooden building that has been there for considerably longer than the road itself. When I was there entertainment was provided by a lone singer with an acoustic guitar.
Royal City Avenue is rarely marked on maps. Taxi drivers all know it as simply ‘RCA’. Go to Petchburi MRT staion, leave by exit one and get a taxi along New Petchburi Road.