I've spent most of the past two years trying the nightlife of various Asian cities, from Indonesia to Kazakhstan. I've written individual reports for most of them (see the tag Asia Nightlife), but I thought it could be useful to make a brief summary recapitulating everything I've learned.
Based on my travels, these are my 20 favorite cities for partying in Asia (I ranked them by order of preference):
Metro Manila
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| Revel Nightclub in Manila |
I spent three weeks in Metro Manila (Makati, Malate, Quezon City). It has become one of my favorite metropolises for nightlife due to several factors: Prices are affordable, nightclubs and bars abound, girls are exceptionally pretty, Filipinos are friendly and tourists are still rare.
Note: I haven't been to Manila since Duterte became president. The atmosphere might have changed since.
Number of nightclubs: 25
For a complete review, you can read Saigon Nightlife.
Note: I haven't been to Manila since Duterte became president. The atmosphere might have changed since.
In a nutshell:
⛔ What you will hate: Safety issues in low-class neighborhoods, crazy war on drug, traffic jams, slow internet, conservative society (Catholic), disappointing food
✅ What you will love: Gorgeous girls, cheap prices on alcohol, English is spoken everywhere, large diversity of entertainment venues, midget boxing, 24-hour casinos
Number of nightclubs: 25
Curfew: 5 AM
Prices: Cheap
Meeting Girls: Easy (FilipinaCupid)
Prostitution: Moderate (in Malate, Makati, Pasay) or online on Seeking.com
Where to party: Makati, BGC (Bonifacio Global City), The Fort, Quezon City
Where to party: Makati, BGC (Bonifacio Global City), The Fort, Quezon City
Where to stay: Makati
For a complete review, you can read Manila Nightlife - Best Nightclubs and Bars.
Saigon
Saigon
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| Ladies night in Lush |
I lived in Saigon for 8 months in 2015 and I loved it. As the economic capital of Vietnam, it is one of the most happening and fastest-paced cities in Southeast Asia. It is also quite touristy and popular with young Westerners. Its nightlife could be perfect if only Vietnamese clubs were more welcoming toward foreigners.
In a nutshell:
⛔ What you will hate: Traffic jams, very hot during the intermediate season, some difficulties to communicate with Vietnamese
✅ What you will love: Cheap, diverse, beautiful girls, delicious food, Vietnamese people (smart, educated, hard-working, big drinkers), 24-hour massage parlors
Number of nightclubs: 30
Curfew: 4 AM
Prices: Low
Meeting Girls: Easy (VietnamCupid) - Read my article 12 Best Websites and Apps to Meet Girls in Vietnam
Prostitution: High (Massage Parlours in Saigon) or online on Seeking.com
Where to Party: District 1 - Read my article 12 Best Nightclubs in Saigon to Meet Girls
Where to stay: Near Ben Thanh Market
For a complete review, you can read Saigon Nightlife.
Jakarta
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| Dragonfly in Jakarta |
In a nutshell:
⛔ What you will hate: Massive traffic jams, difficulties to walk around, 200% tax on alcohol, commercial music almost everywhere, growing conservatism.
✅ What you will love: Safe to visit, plenty of attractive girls, modern clubs, hipster bars, friendly people, off-the-beaten-track destination.
Number of nightclubs: 15
Curfew: 4-5 AM
Prices: Expensive (10$ for a cocktail, 4$ for a beer, up to 25$ for an entrance in the best clubs)
Meeting Girls: Easy (IndonesiaCupid) or online on Seeking.com
Prostitution: High
Where to Party? See my guide Party Areas in Jakarta
Where to Party? See my guide Party Areas in Jakarta
Where to stay? See my guide Where to Stay in Jakarta
For a complete review, you can read Jakarta Nightlife - Best Nightclubs and Bars.
For a complete review, you can read 30 Best Nightclubs in Bangkok.
Shanghai
Prostitution: Discreet (KTVs, online, spas)
Bangkok
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| Soi Cowboy |
I've always felt that Bangkok nightlife was overrated. This has been particularly true in the past 3 years after the new government-issued stricter regulations on nightclubs. Still, it remains an interesting option for the least adventurous travelers.
In a nutshell:
⛔ What you will hate: Touristy, early curfew. Difficult to differentiate between ladyboys, prostitutes and normal girls
✅ What you will love: Busy every night, foreigner-friendly, lots of beautiful girls, cheap prices on almost everything (hotels, food, drinks, transport, etc).
Number of nightclubs: At least 30
Curfew: 1 AM
Prices: Low (5$ for a cocktail, 2$ for a beer, 15$ for an entrance in the best clubs)
Meeting Girls: Moderately easy (ThaiCupid) - Lots of competition from other guys.
Prostitution: High (in Nana Plaza, Soi Cowboy, Patpong) or online on Seeking.com
Where to Party: Sukhumvit, Thonglor, RCA
Where to stay: Near Asok BTS
For a complete review, you can read 30 Best Nightclubs in Bangkok.
Shanghai
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| Bar Rouge is the best party spot in Shanghai |
As one of the fastest developing cities in the world, Shanghai is an amazing destination for extravagant parties. It is not a solo destination, though, as most nightclubs are geared towards bottle service. Perfect for a stag or a weekend with a group of friends.
In a nutshell:
⛔ Too many bottle clubs, rather expensive, daily annoyances from government restrictions.
✅ Huge diversity of clubs, easy to get around, small underground scene, interesting crowd of expats and locals, hot girls aplenty
Tip: Subscribe to a VPN service BEFORE arriving in China if you want to keep using Google, Facebook, etc. The most recommended for China is VyprVPN.
Tip: Subscribe to a VPN service BEFORE arriving in China if you want to keep using Google, Facebook, etc. The most recommended for China is VyprVPN.
Number of nightclubs: 40
Curfew: 4 AM
Prices: Average (15-20$ for club entrance)
Meeting Girls: Average
Where to Party: Hengshan road, Xintiandi
Where to stay: Near Shanghai Library Station
Taipei
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| Omni Club |
Few people would think about Taipei for a party weekend, and yet they are wrong. The Taiwan capital is home to a wild nightlife, with plenty of sophisticated nightclubs and bars. The locals are welcoming towards foreigners, the prices are reasonable, and you can go almost everywhere by foot. One more thing: They have the most amazing sexy dancers I've seen in Asia.
In a nutshell:
⛔ Nightclubs are only happening on weekends and, to a lesser extent, on Wednesdays.
✅ Taiwanese are foreigner-friendly, prices are moderate (free flow nightclubs available), few tourists around, easy to get around.
Number of nightclubs: 10
Curfew: 4-5 AM
Prices: Moderate (free flow nightclubs available)
Meeting Girls: Moderate (Tinder)
Where to Party: ATT4FUN, NEO19
Singapore
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| Bang Bang Nightclub |
In a nutshell:
⛔ Too expensive, more challenging with girls, quite tame, too many rules
✅ Diversity (Indian clubs, Arab clubs, Chinese clubs, Western clubs, Thai clubs, etc), quality DJs, stylish venues, comfortable city, amazing Ladies' nights (usually on Wednesdays)
Meeting Girls: Moderate (Tinder, Paktor)
Where to Party: Chinatown, Clarke Quay
For a complete review, you can read Singapore Nightlife Guide
Hong Kong
Prostitution: High (Wanchai)
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| The Lan Kwai Fong area is filled with party-goers at night |
A world-class city, a bit more stylish than Singapore, with a plethora of bars and lounges. Some good clubs as well, very international yet with a strong Chinese influence.
In a nutshell:
⛔ Expensive, limited nightlife on weekdays, average-looking women (as Americans would say: No offense).
✅ Cosmopolitan crowd, sophisticated venues, crazy red-light district.
Number of nightclubs: 20
Curfew: 4-5 AM
Prices: Moderate (free flow nightclubs available)
Meeting Girls: Moderate (Tinder)
Where to Party: Lan Kwai Fong, Wanchai
Where to stay: Near MRT Central
Bali: Kuta to Canggu Area
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| Clubbing in Jenja Bali |
Bali nightlife is mostly located in the south of the island. Kuta is touristy, cheap and tacky, while Seminyak is more sophisticated and popular with long-term residents. Canggu is also developing quickly with several trendy bars and clubs. You can have a lot of fun, especially if you decide to rent a big villa for a crazy weekend with friends. After that, it can get a bit boring as you always see and meet the same people over and over.
In a nutshell:
⛔ Bali is surprisingly small and it can sometimes feel like a village.
✅ The diversity of clubs and bars (EDM, techno, Rn'B, etc).
Number of nightclubs: 15
Curfew: 5 AM
Prices: Average
Meeting girls: Easy
Where to party: Jalan Oberoi (Seminyak) or near Sky Garden (Kuta)
Where to stay: Near Jalan Oberoi or near Sky Garden
For a complete review, you can check: Where to Party in Bali: A Complete Nightlife Guide
Prostitution: High (Massage Parlours in Hanoi)
Hanoi is not very different from Saigon, to be honest. It is also very touristy and its nightlife is not as conservative as you would think.
In a nutshell:
⛔ Unbearable heat and humidity most of the year (from April to November), loud music in nightclubs, some tourist scams, conservative people
✅ Interesting city to visit, many young foreigners (including Western girls), very cheap (10 cents for a beer)
Number of nightclubs: 20
Curfew: 3 AM
Prices: Low
Meeting Girls: Easy (VietnamCupid)
Where to Party: Old Quarter, West Lake
Where to stay: Near the Saint Joseph Cathedral
For a complete review, you can read Hanoi Nightlife Guide
Almaty
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| TSB - My favorite club in Almaty |
Almaty was a great surprise for me. I was initially just passing by while traveling in Central Asia but I ended up staying two weeks. The city is safe, pleasant (at least during spring) and cheap. It has an awesome and fun nightlife too, easily the best in the region.
In a nutshell:
⛔ Only happening on weekends, freezing temperatures in winter, girls can be a bit conservative (though interested to meet with foreigners).
✅ Cheap everything, stunning girls (mix of Asian and Russian), interesting underground scene
Number of nightclubs: 15
Curfew: 5 AM
Prices: Cheap
Meeting Girls: Easy (Tinder, Mamba)
Where to Party: Around the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen and Gogol Street
Where to stay: Near Panfilovtsev Park
For a complete review, you can check: Almaty Nightlife: Best Bars and Clubs
For a complete review, you can check: Almaty Nightlife: Best Bars and Clubs
Phnom Penh
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| Pontoon Club in Phnom Penh |
Due to a mix of poverty and corruption, Phnom Penh's nightlife is still one of the craziest in Southeast Asia (though it has been tamed in recent years). It is a popular stop for sex tourist, especially the older and poorer ones. There is also a nascent upmarket and expat scene that is interesting enough for a weekend of clubbing.
Prostitution: High
In a nutshell:
⛔ Too much prostitution (it's hard to meet normal girls). The city is still underdeveloped, messy and dirty.
✅ Very cheap prices. Laidback vibe. Interesting city to visit as a tourist (temples, markets, museums).
Number of nightclubs: 20
Curfew: 5-6 AM
Prices: Cheap
Meeting girls: Easy but many prostitutes
Where to party: Street 51 (Pasteur) near Pontoon. For hostess bars, streets 104, 130, 136.
Where to stay: Near Cardamom Hotel, Lux Riverside or Sun & Moon Urban Hotel.
For a complete review, you can check Phnom Penh Nightlife.
Prostitution: Everywhere
For a complete review, you can check Phnom Penh Nightlife.
Phuket
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| Seduction Club in Patong |
I wouldn't spend a week in Phuket, but for a short weekend, it is fun enough. Most of the nightlife is located in the coastal town of Patong, along Bangla street. You have a bit of everything, including some trendy nightclubs and dirty ping pong shows.
In a nutshell:
⛔ Lots of tourists (and not the best kind), prostitution, ladyboys, crowded beach, scams
✅ Everything walking distance, party every night, mixed crowd, reasonable prices
Number of nightclubs: 10
Curfew: 5-6 AM
Prices: Average
Meeting girls: Rather difficult to meet non-prostitute. Try ThaiCupid.
Where to party: Bangla Road
Cebu
Cebu is one of the richest and most populous cities in the Philippines. It is also the capital of a beautiful region, popular yet not overcrowded with tourists. Its nightlife is particularly recommended if you are hoping to find a pretty Asian girlfriend. Many Filipinas live there by themselves because they work in one of the numerous calls centers or BPOs.
In a nutshell:
⛔ Becoming more touristy (especially among Koreans), rather small and provincial.
✅ Great for meeting girls, laid-back, cheap, plenty of tourist excursions nearby.
Number of nightclubs: 10
Curfew: 4 AM
Prices: Cheap
Meeting Girls: Easy (FilipinaCupid)
Where to Party: Mango Square, Mango Avenue
Where to stay: Near Mango Square
For a complete review, you can check: 10 Best Nightclubs in Cebu
Prostitution: Everywhere
Pattaya
Pattaya does not have many equivalents in the world. The city has over a thousand bars and probably 10 times as many prostitutes. It is just a huge, 24/7, bordello for sex tourists from all over the world. If you are a regular tourist, you may be amused by it for a few nights, but after that, you'll be begging for a ticket back home.
In a nutshell:
⛔ Seedy atmosphere, very commercial, dirty beach.
✅ You have to see it once to believe it. Crazy clubs, crazy people, crazy nights. Cheap. Gorgeous girls (none for free).
Number of nightclubs: 20
Curfew: 5-6 AM
Prices: Average
Meeting girls: Almost impossible to meet a non-prostitute
Where to party: Walking street, Soi LK Metro
Where to stay: Near Central Festival Beach Mall
For a complete review, you can check: Pattaya Nightlife: Clubs, Bars, Gogo, Hotels
Kuala Lumpur
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| Zouk Club in the TREC complex |
Kuala Lumpur nightlife has some interesting aspects, but it is far from being my favorite. I've always felt uncomfortable there, as if partying was only tolerated but not really embraced. I also had a couple of bad experiences with locals, especially young and rich Malay kids.
In a nutshell:
⛔ Conservative mentality, racial tensions, limited number of clubs
✅ Affordable, conveniently located in two major areas, easy to get around.
Number of nightclubs: 20
Curfew: 4 AM
Prices: Average
Meeting Girl: Average
Where to Party: TREC, Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang
Where to stay: Near Sungei Wang Plaza
For a complete review, you can check: KL Nightlife: Best Bars and Clubs
Koh Samui - Koh Phangan
I lived in Koh Phangan for about 6 months in 2013. This gave me plenty of opportunities to try the famous Full Moon Party (and its sisters: Half Moon Party, Dark Moon Party, Jungle Party). It was not as wild as I was expecting and I quickly got sick of the backpacker crowd, but I still think it's worth trying it once.
For more sophisticated nights out, I also stopped a few times on the nearby island of Koh Samui. There are more proper nightclubs there (atmosphere similar to Phuket).
In a nutshell:
⛔ Fake alcohol, touristy, cost of living higher than on the mainland, a lot more men than women, expensive hotels during full moon parties (book in advance).
✅ Great beaches, massive parties, easy access to some drugs, easy to meet fellow travelers (in the 20-25 range)
Number of nightclubs: 5
Curfew: 5-6 AM
Prices: Average
Meeting girls: Mostly Westerners. Not so easy.
Where to party: Haad Rin Beach (Koh Phangan), Chaweng (Koh Samui)
Where to stay: Haad Rin (Koh Phangan), Chaweng Walking Street (Koh Samui)
Vang Vieng
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| For unknown reasons, Koreans love to party in Vang Vieng |
Even though Vang Vieng is only a tiny town in the middle of Laos, it used to have some of the craziest parties in Southeast Asia. A major reason for that was the availability of drugs. Things have changed in the past 5 years, unfortunately, after several tourists died. There is still a fun nightlife, split in a few open-air bars that attract young backpackers (Europeans and Koreans).
Prostitution: Small
In a nutshell:
⛔ Small, low-class, repetitive, prices above than average.
✅ The best place to party in Laos, many wild Western girls, easy to get around, some drugs still sold openly.
Number of nightclubs: 3
Curfew: 3-7 AM
Prices: Low to moderate (as elsewhere in Laos)
Meeting girls: Maybe the best place in Southeast Asia to meet Western girls (a lot of British, Canadian, American, Nordic, etc).
Where to party: Start in Sakura Bar, then move to Viva, then to Room 101.
Chiang Mai
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| Zoe in Yellow is the place to go for backpackers |
Chiang Mai does not have a big reputation for nightlife, and yet I had some of my most memorable nights there. One of the reasons for that is the high concentration of girls, either foreign backpackers or Thai students. In the meantime, there aren't that many guys, probably because they all got stuck in Bangkok.
Prostitution: Small
In a nutshell:
⛔ Provincial, very early curfew, not many venues (mostly Thai live music).
✅ Easy to meet girls, very cheap, interesting tourist sights in the city.
Number of nightclubs: 5
Curfew: 1 AM
Prices: Cheap
Meeting girls: Easy with both Western girls and Thai girls
Where to party: Nimman (Thai area), Old City (Tourist area), Loi Kroh (Lady bars)
Where to stay: Near Tha Phae Gate.
For a complete review, you can check: Chiang Mai Nightlife
Prostitution: Small
For a complete review, you can check: Chiang Mai Nightlife
Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan is the only Thai-style, backpacker party island in Indonesia. It's great if you want to meet Western girls, drink cheap beers and try magic mushrooms. During the day, there isn't much to do apart from suntanning and diving.
In a nutshell:
⛔ Low-class, very young foreigners. Overcrowded. Accommodation is more expensive than in Bali.
✅ More Western girls than anywhere else in Indonesia. Mushrooms and marijuana easily available. Some beautiful beaches.
Number of nightclubs: 4
Curfew: 5 AM
Prices: Average
Meeting girls: Moderate (Western girls mostly)
Where to party: Between the Pier and Villa Ombak Hotel.
Where to stay: Backpackers: Stay in party hostels like Gili Castle or Broken Compass. If you have money, try instead Scallywags Resort.
For a complete review, you can check: Gili Trawangan Nightlife - Lombok
For a complete review, you can check: Gili Trawangan Nightlife - Lombok
Very good one! I have only visited 12, still more work to be done. Just one diverging opinion: Singapore is more stylish than HK, not vice versa. And "negative" points on Pattaya could be transferred ti the + side also. Keep up the good work
ReplyDeleteOk for Singapore and HK, it seems I'm wrong about that... It was based on my travel impressions but maybe i haven't been there long enough...
DeleteList is precise and unbiased (visited or lived in 14). Absolutely true about Singapore being much more stylish than HK, which more dynamic. Not my favourites but very strong contenders. For living, Singa maybe close to No 1 with Bangkok (more expensive, but for a reason). Question: why no cities from Middle East, had a very good time (and profitable with different races of girls, mostly for money, though) in Dubai? On the other hand, Seoul and Tokyo?
ReplyDeleteHi there, I've never partied in the Middle east (except Tel Aviv)... I've not been to Seoul yet and when I was in Tokyo, I didn't go to any clubs... the list is really based on my personal experience that's why I didn't include them... Hopefully I can update it with new destinations soon...
DeleteI'm surprised as well that Tokyo is not on this list. The biggest and richest city in the world with a nightlife like no other. You have multiple happening districts like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Akasaka & Roppongi to mention a few. More bars then any city on the planet and more Michelin starred restaurants as well. Whatever genre of music your into from Techno, Electro, House, Trance, EDM, Pop, Rock, Hip Hop, Heavy Metal or Punk you are likely to find a strong scene with world class nightclubs like Womb, Alife, Harlem or the cavernous AgeHa offering he best local and international artists on a weekly basis. The only downsides are the harsh drug laws make it very difficult but not impossible to find recreational drugs if that's your thing and it is also is difficult to meet local Japanese girls with the language barrier and cultural issues but some areas especially Roppongi are known to be frequented by Japanese girls interested in foreigners.
DeleteMacau not bad either. Tokyo diverse, vibrant, but very complicated for girls, if not paying. Which is differently organised, and complicated. Nice list, but should be according to segments - best cities for 1/ regular girls, 2/ bar girls, 3/ freelancers, 4/ going out, clubbing, 5/ comfortable life for a foreigner, and separately for a Farang, 6/ most expensive and cheapest in relative terms, with all other necessities included
ReplyDeleteI went to Macau 2 nights but I found only a few empty clubs with Russian hookers. The most famous nightclub (I think Pacha) was closed during the week so I couldn't go there. It seems most of the nightlife consisted of karaokes and spas which is not really my favorite form of entertainment.
DeleteYes the segments are a good idea as I'm mixing apples with oranges... I'll think about new detailed articles with your suggestions... Thanks!
Good points on Singapore being really attractive, but expensive. Macao can be interesting, but you need at least a week and relatively nice weather. They have massage parlours, casinos, freelancers, cafes... Dubai is really strong, but within certain rules, which is sort of OK if you respect them. Great clubs, bar and malls. For me, next stop is Kuala Lumpur
ReplyDeleteDubai is also solid, but expensive for no reason. Best places are Filipino bars and clubs, where you feel being somewhere else, like in SEA. York hotel is also worth visiting
DeleteOnly 15 nightclubs in the whole of Jakarta??? There's more then that in North Jakarta alone.
ReplyDeletePersonally i will not put Tokyo on the list. Been there twice and overall really disappointing.
ReplyDeleteIn Roppongi you will be chased by African immigrants every single night trying to get you in some shady strip clubs or massage parlous. During the week many clubs are quite empty. Other areas except roppongi are not really foreigner friendly unless you are 20 years old , super trendy and speak Japanese. Probably 95% of jap girls does not speak any English...
And it seems like the only reason that the majority of Jap guys go the clubs is to cock block u. The only way to get around is to get girls Line ID and trying to set up something after the clubs or for a next day. Many Jap girls are very pretty but many have horrible teeth and questionable hygiene. But Tokyo itself is fun , a lot to do
Bangkok clubs are not cheap, an opposite, nightlife is quite expensive. If we don't talk about cheap bars, but real clubs, cheapest beer you can find in whole Bangkok is 150 thb beer in Havana social, soi 11. All other clubs, but i mean all of them, keep price for beer from 200 to 250 thb, which is 6-8 usd. This is pure fact from my rich clubbing experience, as i have been heavily partying in Bkk clubs for past 10 years.
ReplyDelete