Titanium girls
I have never been very inspired by Washington Square . I remember when I first came to Bangkok many many moons ago and a man called Trink used to write a widely respected column about what and where. In those days Washington Square used to figure regularly, and Nana Plaza was just a glint in the Crown Group's eye. I did once leave the attractions of Patpong and travel there for what seemed like hours, to find a collection of not very exciting bars in this tiny ‘enclave' of bars tucked away off Sukhumvit and Soi 22. And Patpong was in its ‘hay day', the sky train was no more than an idea, and the Chairman was still learning about mobile phones. My odd foray over more recent years has given me no reason to review my first impression. Then I had an email about Queen's Park Plaza suggesting I might enjoy a drink there, and if that was not enough, I heard a few things about Titanium too. Then I realised the Sukhumvit Pool league, which we support through our sister site poolinbangkok.com. was almost exclusively based in the environs of that area. So there was nothing for it but to take a trip. What was surprising was I had so much fun and even went back for a second night!
It was on the second night that I managed to get myself organised and decided I might as well risk a meal at Bourbon Street, Washington Square, before I got started. That all went pear-shaped when I realised that somebody had turned the place into a crèche for the evening. It was most definitely Brats R Us: and as those who know me will vouch, a single child will have me in full retreat, let alone a whole restaurant of them! So I caterpillered off round the rest of Washington Square and visited a couple of the aging Septic's bars - perfectly nice people with bars that had not been decorated since I read all those Trink articles. They were, and there is no other word for it, depressing. Even Taffy's Hairy Pie Club at the entrance to the square, now called the New Square pub, was that. The girls were friendly but it seems that Taffy's extremes over the years have caught up with him. He is now is a position that many successful ex-pat bar owners get into. For years he has driven his business from the bar and played with whoever would play. Now it is his money (in terms of business) or his life (if he continues to play). So I left Washington Square trying to think of a reason to go back.
However Soi 22 itself has been transformed. Queens Park Plaza contains over 30 bars. It is a classic bar soi area, like those more typically found in beach resorts. None of the bars are large and there is a mix between aircon and open bars. Neil who has the Happiness bar at the back was the man who got me there, and the man who explained all to me. This is very much a local's area and most customers do wander round the bars and indeed they are almost encouraged to. Bars normally have a pool table and half a dozen girls. The girls are friendly without being pushy, and inevitably slightly more mature. Many of the bars have a farang owner who may or may not be in residence on a particular night. But I can say that this was an area I enjoyed drinking in: and that is what it is all about. And of course there are more than a few willing ladies should, at the end of the evening, your bed seem such a lonely place. The point about the inter-action between the bars is well made by the Pool League with several of these bars participating. Can you see a friendly competition between the various Nana Plaza bars - it would be shotguns at dawn and somebody would bring an RPG!
Down the road, towards Sukhumvit, there is Larry's Dive Bar. This is almost as old as Washington Square , but seems to have got a new lease of life. Larry clearly has a sense of humour as his newspaper style menu shows. I trundled in on my way to Titanium and enjoyed a friendly beer as well as the sign promoting Tequila with comment: "Have you hugged your toilet today!" That is just about what I think of the stuff. It is about the only alcohol I will not drink!
Titanium (website http://titanium-club.com/ ) I have heard and read a lot about and I was keen to see for myself what was what. It is described as a New York-style music bar downstairs and then there is the Vodka room upstairs. The downstairs features the usual minimalist décor with a metal bar and more interestingly the music is in part supplied by an all-girl band called Unicorn. Both nights I went there the bar was pleasantly busy but I had little problem getting a drink. The first night I arrived after the band finished at midnight and the DJ was doing his bit. The music was loud but not over the top and frankly, this kind of bar needs loud music. The drinks are 160 Baht each after 9 pm. Upstairs is the vodka room in what is effectively a deepfreeze maintained at – 10C. Andy the manager levered me upstairs to have a go. I felt sorry for the luckless Thai bar man wrapped up and wearing gloves. I had a white chocolate and a strawberry vodka, all infused on the premises and both at least tasting of what they should. Although, I fear, I did not want to hang around in the ice room. It is unquestionably ‘a get your shot and get out' kind of place, but fun and a good gimmick.
The next night I saw the girls play and was impressed. Unicorn is a six piece band of 20 something Thai girls and they did a good selection of numbers all of which I knew and some of which were almost my era! The great point was that the girls seemed to be enjoying themselves and putting their all into it. I also got to talk to Peter the owner. As ever the web boards have all kind of stories on them and I was able to check those. Strictly speaking the Communist-uniformed serving staff, and there are many of them, are cute and young but can not be bar fined. But, as Peter put it, Thailand has it own dynamics and if a person buys a girl ten drinks then she, if she wants to, can then leave. But Peter stressed he is not selling girls and no pressure what so ever is put on the girls and if anything, the pressure is to not go with customers. There area few freelancers about but anybody can go in and I saw no obvious working girls on my two visits. I thought Titanium a fun place and good spot to party, or even just hang out!
http://titanium-club.com/
To the Archive
