Hi everyone.  Well, I haven't been to Chiang Mai in a while, so I am looking for some up-to-date suggestions.  I already have a place to stay but specifically would like to know answers to these questions...

1.  What's the best disco (gay-friendly) in Chiang Mai.  Does it have a show?

2.  What's the best gay karaoke?  Looking for a large selection of Thai and English tunes.

3.  What's a nice gay place to sit and relax with the boyfriend over a few cocktails?

4.  What restaurants do you recommend?

Thanks in advance for helping me out.  I never know how up-to-date some of the Internet guides are, so I prefer current, first-hand knowledge.

Thanks,
AT

Can't really answer #1 and #2.  I've probably stayed at the Porn Ping about a dozen times and have never gone into the disco (Bubbles) in the lower level.  Too noisy even at street level! And don't do karaoke.

3.  One of the gay bars by the Peak seems to be a decent place to have a drink with a friend. I most often actually go to the group of bars about 50 yards south of there and on the other side of the soi, mainly because I know people there. But
the peak bars are less noisy, that's for sure.

4.  My favorite restaurant in Chiangmai for dinner is on the east (river) side of Charoen Pratet about a half a block south of the Porn Ping.  Think it's called the Antique House or Old Thai House.  Nice ambiance, nice music, and good food.  I usually try to go upstairs and sit on the balcony overlooking the main seating of tables in the patio area and the musician.  The restaurant building itself is an old teak house (shoes off before going up the stairs!).

This time next week I too shall be in Chiang Mai after a long absence. I can't offer any suggestions as to the night life (it was very quiet during my last visit) but I can recommend the Whole Earth restaurant which is only a  short walk from the night market. Beautiful teak building (no shoes allowed) a mixture of Thai, Indian and vegetarian food. Quiet ambiance, subdued music. One of my top three in all of Thailand.

Well, the gay-friendly disco would have to be "Bubbles," I think.  It's been around forever.  You could always start there and ask about other places.

There's a gay karaoke about 15 feet away from "My Way."

A quiet place for a few cocktails? Try "The Glass Onion" on Nimmanhemin.

Restaurants?  Everybody loves "The House" (farang/Thai fusion, about 1000 per person with wine and cocktails).  I love to go there for birthdays and other special occasions. Northern Thai food? Try "Un Ay Rak" on Sirimangkalajarn --  this will run about 200 per person with beer.  Live music, good food.

Otherwise, Chiang Mai resembles San Francisco.  With millions of visitors every year, there are just too many hotels and restaurants to keep up with!

P.S.  I think The Good Earth is overrated.  They can't even make Chinese hot-and-sour soup right.  But it is very nicely decorated and all that, so you need to decide (oh bother!) whether you want to go for "atmosphere" or "food."   :-)

1.  Bubbles very gay friendly but if you are with  aThai BF I would suggest the Mandalay or Discovery.  Mandalay, discovery, and spicy are all after hours.  Spicy can be a little dicey after 0200 Am.
2.  Very goo Karaoke place, but I cannot remember the name.
3.  Two bars in Night Market.  I like friendship a lot, but many people like Paradise or MTV next to Friendship bar.   They will usually stay open after hours if no BIB around.  Also suggest SOHO before 0200.
4.  Great places to eat.  Two numerous to mention.  Chiang Mai has a number of really good places to eat with every kind of cuisine.  Suggest you look at present and past issues of Chiang Mai mail where they have a weekly review of places to eat.
http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/

You should probably drop by the Warm Up, on Nimmanhemin.

And also look here:

    http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/hospitality/gays/

and here:

    http://www.dreadedned.com/directory/quickselect/2/?Type=0&Area=0

I got these through the secret mystic art of typing "chiang mai gay bars" into Google.  Did you do that?

Henry Cate wrote:

I got these through the secret mystic art of typing "chiang mai gay bars" into Google.  Did you do that?

Thanks for everyone's help.  Some good information.  And Henry, yes I have googled, dogpiled and yahooed.  But as I said in my original post -- and I quote:

"I never know how up-to-date some of the Internet guides are, so I prefer current, first-hand knowledge. "

Again, thanks for everyone's help!

AT

American Teacher wrote:

1.  What's the best disco (gay-friendly) in Chiang Mai.  Does it have a show?

His club on Chiang Mai Land is easily the best and very gay.  Show with katoey comperes and coyote boys.  But this is a Thai late night place (dead before 1 a.m), and not for lone Farangs.  Great in Thai company, but take care Chiang Mai Land can be dangerous!

Bubble: forget it unless you wanna pick up a hustler, or get elbowed by the scrum of backpackers.  Mandagay is the big Thai place - many gays but Franag not welcome.

Warm Up: Nah   (unless u r under 30)  There is also a brand new place by Thapae Gate (forgot the name).  Its upstairs from the bar/restaurant at the front of the Top North Guest House.

American Teacher wrote:

2.  What's the best gay karaoke?  Looking for a large selection of Thai and English tunes.

"The relex" on the Superhighway.  Another Late night Thai joint - same as His Club - only go with Thai company, and take care: the combination of Tai Yai and Lao Khao often ends in a brawl.  Popular with off duty gogo boys.

American Teacher wrote:

3.  What's a nice gay place to sit and relax with the boyfriend over a few cocktails?

Glass Onion, Soho (OK but Usually dead), Art Gallery (Near Imperial Mae Ping Hotel), Garden Bar (Lotus Hotel), Friendship bar (The Peak @ night Bazaar - the only worthwhile bar left in that part of town).

If you want fun Thai Style with live music try Radchada Cafe - student place in Santitham with many gays.  (plenty of young cocks, but not many cocktails :) ) Also does food.

American Teacher wrote:

4.  What restaurants do you recommend?

Cafe Di Nimanan (Same Complex as Glass Onion - so you can combine good food and cocktails).
Oriental Garden Restaurant on Loi Kroah Road (Gay owned)
Fine Thanks (Canal Road)
Good View (Ping River)

For Northern Thai with music try Huean Suntory - few km's north of Superhigh way on West bank of the Ping River.

American Teacher wrote:

Thanks in advance for helping me out.  I never know how up-to-date some of the Internet guides are, so I prefer current, first-hand knowledge.

The following is the only really up to date guide I've seen on the internet (also has a list of placers that have closed down - so you can see how out of date some other guides are!).

http://www.bontong.com/GayChiangmai.html

Also has a cool Google map!

Quote:

........and not for lone Farangs
           ........Chiang Mai Land can be dangerous!
           ........many gays but Franag not welcome.
           ........ often ends in a brawl
           .........Nah sad (unless u r under 30)
          

Really?  I would not say any of that about Bangkok establishments. There are places where farangs don't frequent but none where they are not welcome.

for some people 'farang not welcome' means that they dont lay out the red carpet and fall on their knees when a farang walks in

TrongpaiExpat wrote:

Quote:

........and not for lone Farangs
           ........Chiang Mai Land can be dangerous!
           ........many gays but Franag not welcome.
           ........ often ends in a brawl
           .........Nah sad (unless u r under 30)
          

Really?  I would not say any of that about Bangkok establishments. There are places where farangs don't frequent but none where they are not welcome.

Mandalay, is the only place in CM where the owner really doesn't like Farang and has an anti-farang door policy.  I understand primarily due to previous problems with the backpacker fraternity, rather than gays - and although nicknamed Mandagay, its actually a straight venue.

My other comments refer to late night Thai bars (i.e after hours places); these kind of establishement always attract people of the night, who've already drunk too much, maybe abused some other stubstances, and the risk of some kind of trouble is significantly higher.  This is not just Chiang Mai, or Thailand, but the world over.