The Paradise Complex

Whilst most of the Bars and Clubs seem to be centered in the Paradise Complex don't forget to visit the others situated just a few minutes walk from the rest.
For those of you who will be visiting Patong for the first time it must be realized that 99% of the boys that you will meet during your stay are "Bar Boys" who are offering a service (for a nominal fee). However, it is not the case that if you are "not buying" that they will just ignore you, that is just not the Thai way. They always seem very pleased to see you when you visit "their Bar" another evening. Drinks are in most bars not expensive and it is a nice gesture to offer your "friends" a drink and to leave a nice tip before moving on to your next encounter. What might be a nominal amount for you will be very appreciated by them, so don't be tight!! ... Your on holiday!!

The Paradise Complex is a small area centered around the Royal Paradise Hotel and is only a few minutes walk from the beach.
I personally found it to be the only place to stay if you want to be in the middle of everything and yet only a five minute walk to the beach.
Some of you may remember the Paradise Complex from the time with it's many outside bars as I did, ............ Well !!, it's all changed and the bars are now inside ! I certainly like it better as is it now as each place has found it's own identity, is able to play it's own style of music, and yet many of the bars have small, intimate terraces just outside the door, and like I said earlier my visit's often take place during the "low" (sometimes rainy) season so it was a welcome shelter.

Please note that a more "up-to-date" Guide and an excellent Gay Map are available at Connects site (but don't forget to come back!).

Once you have arrived and you want to know what is going on and where it's happening  ...... Just drop into Connect! ... if they don't know, then it's not worth looking for!!
 

Before I continue with telling you about this Paradise in Thailand I would just like to give a few totally unbiased comments about the Paradise Center and it's Gay Establishments. I myself come from Amsterdam in Holland and here we have a thriving GAY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION which is ALL the Bars, Clubs and other Gay Businesses working together. Promoting themselves as a very powerful group. I noticed in the Paradise Center that none of the Gay Businesses actually seem to work together, they all seem to do their own thing and nobody seems to advertise someone else's bar or club? It would be nice to think that as they grow and develop that they also could get together and form some sort of Gay Business Association, arrange joint ventures, special parties, get together once in a while to agree amongst their members some "rules" about the cleanliness of the area, possibly about special "Happy Hours" at some establishments at "different" times of the evening, and possibly about collective advertising? One huge benefit of such a powerful organization here in Amsterdam is that they are able to use their collective buying power giving  them a massive purchasing power with their suppliers and reducing their costs
 

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Young Shark Bar

70/188-189 Rath-U-Thit Road, Paradise Complex .. (opposite James Dean Bar and Connect) Phone (66 76) 01-968 32 75 or 01-970 10 09

I must admit that I didn't manage to visit this A Go-Go Club this year but if the entertainment was anything like all the boys that I saw outside the club then you should really take a look. Shows start around 23.30h and all drinks are 100 baht.

Paradise Complex.

I could tell you about the fantastic food!, the relaxed atmosphere!, the very charming "Siam" himself!, the extensive choice of Thai and European dishes (you must try their cordon bleu !!), the fresh ingredients!, the soft music, the "hand picked" waiters!!, or just tell you that I dined in this quality establishment five times in one week, and was even "taken out to a surprise dinner" (to this restaurant!!) by a very charming English guy on his birthday at a "great restaurant" that "he" had found!! (I had to tell him that "I" had found it three weeks earlier! ....... and if you think that it's expensive? .. then you are wrong. It can get very busy during the high season but you can always drop by early and make a reservation. It's also possible to enjoy the full menu in Siam's other establishment "Hot Spot" (just opposite).

Coffeeshop

70/71 Rat-U-Thit Road, Paradise Complex. Phone (076) 340948

E-mail : siam@phuket a-net.net.th

From the same charming (and very cute !!) owner as Siam Restaurant the two establishments are virtually opposite each other. The Hot Spot is a place to have a coffee, an ice speciality, a drink from early in the morning (8am!) or you can also take a seat for the complete menu from Siam Restaurant and still be sipping your drink and listening to classical music in the antique interior at 3am the following morning!. I enjoyed eating here and like both the restaurants from Siam the food is excellent and beautifully presented ........ and if your not hungry ........ what the hell !!!! ....... It's worth a visit for a drink and to say hello to the "Hot" boys from the "Hot Spot" !!

My Way

70/157 Paradise Complex Soi 5, Rat-u-thit Rd Phone: (076) 342 163

Professional, Immaculate, Go-Go Bar with plenty of Boys to suit any taste!! Some really hot shows and good music. Quite a large club, but the captains, hosts and boys made me feel very welcome. Many of the boys could be found on the beach playing volleyball and I think they also have their own football team! Between James Dean and The Boat Bar.No cover charge and Well worth a visit!

Passport

Soi 5, Paradise Complex, Rat-u-thit Rd Phone: (076) 344 366

Small but very interesting Go-Go Bar next to the Bank on the corner of Paradise "In". Nice atmosphere, not pushy, and the boys actually looked as if they were enjoying their dancing! The boys can often be found sitting outside in the late afternoon. A nice "personal" welcome with a big smile! ..... (worth hanging around till midnight for the "Hot" shows! ... Recommended.

Thipaluck Bar and Restaurant

Soi 5 - Paradise Complex

Next door to the Guest House were I stayed (Connect) and Passport (Go-Go Bar) this Bar Restaurant attracts many of the boys who work in the Paradise Complex. Electronic Darts game and good music, with a good selection of food and drinks. Open from early morning until "early in the morning".

James Dean Bar

126/10 Rajuthit Road, Paradise Complex. Phone : 344 215

A very friendly bar with lots of bar games, cute boys, good sound system and a small terrace overlooking "Young Shark", attracts a nice crowd from the early evening through to the early hours.
A nice place to start the evening ......... and, it seems that everyone who is anyone ends up here before heading off home, including many of the boys from the surrounding bars! Very friendly staff who always seem to have time for a chat.

See also my entry for the James Dean Guest House in my "Accommodation" page.

David's Bar

70/120-133 / 8 Paradise Complex, Phone : (076) 340312

This was "My Bar"  where I spent many an enjoyable evening with some of the most beautiful and certainly the friendliest "Boys" in Patong Beach.
The bar is a long narrow building that actually goes through from one street to the next which gives it two small terraces outside.I don't think that I missed an evening of dropping in, sometimes only for a coffee but really I was going along to see someone very special that I met there this year. He, (and all the other boys who were always there) will know who "He" was. I called in to the bar and within minutes, no matter what he was doing he came and sat with me, making me feel very comfortable and almost part of the furniture!! We also ate together most evenings in some of the nearby restaurants and I just hope that next year (Wow!! 2000!!) "He" my very special friend (Dam) will be there again? I know that I will be!!!!
A small "Go-go" stage inside offered on many occasions and impromptu show yet the bar prices are as for a normal bar, without show. It also seemed very popular with the "Bar Boys" who dropped in from other bars during the evening.
I personally found the small terrace next to the miniature waterfall and pool be the most popular, just sitting watching the world (and many of the "Cabaret Artists") go past on their way to the many other show bars in the area and listening to the music.
Opens early (around 5pm) ..... and it didn't go to bed before I did!

The Boat Bar

Rath-U-Thit Road 125/19-20 Paradise Complex, Patong Beach (opposite the Royal Paradise Hotel) Phone +66 (0)76 341237 Email: dancom@phuket.a-net.net.th

This Bar on the corner of "Paradise In" and the Royal Paradise Hotel just past "My Way" moved to it's new inside premises along with all the other "outside" bars. I remembered the Boat Bar from previous years with it's outside "Boat" set in a pool of water.The new premises are far more spacious with a small balcony overlooking the large stage, and a covered verandah outside. Some alterations and improvements during 1999 have closed most of the "openings" that lead onto the street making a very nice and quite intimate verandah surrounding the large stage and dance floor and now with an additional outside bar. The drinks prices are very reasonable considering the huge stage show that they manage to put on every evening. The show begins just after midnight ............then, .......... a pause before the second show. The only problem is that this "pause" is announced (if you listen for it) during a comedy sequence which is mostly in Thai. The first evening I was there I thought it was all over and left along with about another 20 people. Possibly they could stand a small board on the stage saying "Interval .. Back soon"?Anyway don't disappear after the first show because it gets even better after the break!!! One thing that I certainly noticed this year was that the sound system sounded a lot better but this could have been due to the new more closed walls making the acoustics surpassingly good! Anyway I soon got hooked and even after 7 consecutive days I was amazed that they managed to put on a different show each night!!!

Ps. This is one place where you really should try to slip something into the beautiful costumes of the performers! (I'm talking about a tip!!) .....

Black and White Music Factory

70/123 Rath-U-Thit Road, Paradise Complex Phone 340758

Virtually next door to "David's Bar", I made many visits to this very well run Go-Go Bar.The continually changing boys dancing on the stage gavea really good and very sexual show.The staff didn't seem "pushy" with the drinks which I liked ! .... (I ordered another drink "when I wanted one" !)Well worth a visit.

Heaven Bar

70/138-139 Rath-U-Thit Road, Paradise Complex (just behind Connect Guest house)

A large "open Air" inside bar with a small terrace infront .......a great place to get chatting with other tourists (if you can keep your eyes off all the cute Thai boys that are coming and going throughout the evening). At the time of my visits I didn't need to let my eyes wonder far from the bar staff ... Wow!! .......Check it out ..... you certainly won't be disappointed!

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

The following information I was sent by a friend in Patong Beach (February 2000)

Whilst I have not personally visited this new establishment I was very impressed by their website and have therefor included them in my guide. I will certainly have to take a look at this new club when I return in September 2000 as it looks very impressive!! (and it is only 20 meters from my holiday accommodation CONNECT GUEST HOUSE).

Thanks for the info!!

Welcome to Patong A Go Go Boys bar and lounge, right in the middle of the Paradise on Soi 5, across from James Dean, Connect, and next door to Young Shark. We have some strong and seasoned  neighbors, and some tough acts to follow, and, we have our own distinct style and way of doing things.

 We think we are a good addition to the Patong entertainment main street.

Our entertainment is Go Go Dancing, pure and simple. There are no fire eaters, candle shows or costumed mime singers, as fine as they may be. We are just laid back, smiling and having a good time in our large, comfortable space, no hassles, no pursuit.

We try to keep the volume of the music at a listenable level, and do some entertaining while we're keeping the club lively and bouncing.

Give us a go.
We'll give you, some go-go.

gogo@gayphuket.com

Take a look at their very impressive site (but do come back!)
http://www.gayphuket.com/patongagogoboys/home.html

Neil February 2000