Silom Soi 4 – The Beating Heart of Bangkok’s LGBTQ+ Nightlife

Hidden just off bustling Silom Road, Silom Soi 4 has long been one of Bangkok’s most colorful and welcoming corners. What began decades ago as a quiet side street slowly grew into the city’s most famous LGBTQ+ gathering place — a vibrant stretch where locals, expats, and travelers from around the world come together every night to celebrate life, love, and community.

From Hidden Alley to Pride Landmark

In the early years, Bangkok’s gay scene was still underground. A few pioneering bars opened discreetly on Soi 4, offering rare spaces where people could meet openly and feel accepted. Over time, word spread. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the street had transformed into a lively cluster of bars, each spilling out onto the narrow lane with music, laughter, and flashing neon lights. The atmosphere was — and still is — unmistakably Thai: friendly, relaxed, and full of fun.

The Rise of the Iconic Telephone Pub

No name is more closely tied to Silom Soi 4 than Telephone Pub, which first opened its doors in 1987. It quickly became the cornerstone of the soi and one of Bangkok’s first openly gay bars. The bar earned its name from a playful idea — each table had its own telephone, allowing customers to call someone across the room if they wanted to say hello.

What started as a clever novelty became a cultural icon. Over the decades, Telephone Pub evolved into a multi-floor restaurant, bar, and karaoke lounge where countless friendships and love stories began. For more than 35 years, it was the go-to meeting point for Bangkok’s LGBTQ+ community — a safe haven that represented openness, connection, and joy.

Reinvention After the Pandemic

Like much of Bangkok’s nightlife, Silom Soi 4 faced a quiet stretch during the COVID-19 lockdowns. When the city reopened, change came quickly — and one of the biggest transformations was the rebirth of Telephone Pub as Circus Soi 4.

Today, Circus Soi 4 has become the new heartbeat of the street. The legendary venue has been completely reimagined with dazzling décor, nightly drag shows, and a full restaurant menu, all while keeping the warm hospitality that made Telephone so loved. It’s a fitting tribute to the old days and a bold step forward for the next generation of Bangkok’s LGBTQ+ nightlife.

The Spirit Lives On

Walk down Silom Soi 4 on any evening and you’ll still find the same welcoming energy that defined it for decades. Tables line both sides of the narrow lane, music fills the air, and laughter echoes from bar to bar. Locals, expats, and travelers mix freely, sharing stories and cocktails under rainbow lights.

Silom Soi 4 is more than just a nightlife strip — it’s a living symbol of Bangkok’s diversity and resilience. From the pioneering spirit of Telephone Pub to the new era of Circus Soi 4, the street continues to celebrate freedom, creativity, and pride.

And as every Bangkok night proves, the show on Soi 4 never really ends — it just keeps reinventing itself.

Sources:

• Gavin Patterson & John Walker, Star Observer – “Sawadee-Kap (Welcome to) Silom Soi 4,” June 2015 starobserver.com.austarobserver.com.au

• BK Magazine – “Bangkok’s oldest bars,” Sep. 2017 (Telephone Pub entry) bkmagazine.com

• Kasintorn H., APCOM Newsroom – Interview with Telephone Pub partner, Nov. 2021 apcom.orgapcom.org

• Go Thai. Be Free (TAT) – “What’s hot in Silom – Bangkok’s gay hub,” 2017 gothaibefree.comgothaibefree.com

• Pride Thailand – “Circus Soi 4… Hottest Spot for Drag Performances,” Mar. 2023 pridethailand.compridethailand.com

• The Gay Passport – Circus Soi 4 review/overview, updated Feb. 2025 thegaypassport.comthegaypassport.com