Back in da club

Back in da club

New and renovated hotspots to party the night away

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Back in da club

Attention, party people and night owls! Bored of the same old venues week after week? Wanna break the monotony from your usual hangout hotspots? Wish you had more choices rather than the usual clubs around Sukhumvit, RCA or Khao San? Fear not, Guru is here! I went around the Big Mango to find the newest clubs that are sure to keep your night full of dancing and drinking (responsibly)... for a fresh change.

Club Black Bangkok

If you're heading to the City of Angels' infamous red-light district seeking an actual nightclub, then Club Black is it! Having opened in May, the club has undergone recent renovations to appeal to underground music lovers and soft opened on Aug 31. In addition to a lounge area, bar, dB Technologies sound system, lighting system, pool table, multiple disco balls, the club has teamed up with underground music organiser Future Sounds Bangkok to house the best underground music the city can offer. The end result of this collaboration is a Berlin-style club that plays techno, house and nu-disco tunes.

The club, which is open only on Fridays and Saturdays, is making a name for itself by bringing in notable Bangkok-based underground DJs to play at the venue, including Nastanet (who also manages Future Sounds Bangkok along with Anton Solzhenikin, both of whom are co-founders of Flyboard Club), Soi Dogs, Kuroten, Dan Buri, Elaheh, DOTT and many more. Be sure to check the events page for upcoming artists, notable among them being James Trystan from the UK, whose set tomorrow is sure to melt your face off.

If you're thirsty, head to the bar for an extensive drinks menu where clubgoers can order a glass or bottle of a variety of drinks ranging from vodka, whisky, gin, tequila and rum to Champagne, wine, beers and soft drinks. A happy hour buy 1 get 1 free promotion is also available before 11pm, but only on whisky, vodka, gin and rum drinks.

Open Fri-Sat: 9pm-late / Club Black, 5 Patpong 2 / http://fb.com/clubblackbkk.


Cube Nightclub

Tucked away on the second floor of Silom Plaza, Cube Nightclub is one of the newest venues entering the clubbing circuit. Dubbed "Bangkok's best-kept secret", this hidden venue focuses on techno and began as an extension from house parties the group of founders would often host. They believe that Bangkok is becoming a booming scene for nightlife and underground music, and the club was conceived out of passion for the scene. The club also welcomes people from all walks of life to join in on the fun, regardless of gender or religious identity, everyone is inclusive and the friendly owners often interact and dance with you.

Once you enter through the all-black entrance with the Cube logo plastered on it, the box-like room may look a bit barren with tables and stools that you would find in any other bar or club. A lone pillar with a raised platform sits in the middle of the venue where anybody can go up and dance for all to see.

However, the DJ booth will catch your eye, thanks to the live-streaming set-up. Cube prides itself as a venue for DJs, where attention is given to them, rather than being booked once a month and they are relegated to playing in the background which other bars and clubs would usually do. A large TV is placed behind the DJ, where it displays the performance as it is streamed live. So even if you don't feel like heading down to the club, you may enjoy the music from the comfort of your home. The streams can be watched on YouTube, Vimeo and Facebook.

While the venue showcases local talent every week, Cube also brings in international artists, like UK producer James Kelley, who is set to perform on Sep 22.

Open Fri-Sat: 10pm-late / CUBE Nightclub, Floor 2, 491/20 Silom Plaza / 095-252-8301, http://fb.com/cubebkk.


The Club At Koi

Having been around longer than most clubs listed here, The Club At Koi sits high -- on the 39th floor of Sathorn Square Building. People familiar with the area will know that this is where the high-profile Ku De Ta/Ce La Vi club was once located, with Koi having now taken over the area since April.

The Club at Koi delivers an upscale, clubbing experience, with spectacular city views, exceptional music and high-end decor, which attracts the hi-so crowd. The wide, open dance floor space gives a lot of room, where up to 600 people can dance and mingle around. A terrace area also sits outside the club, where people can take a break from the music and chill out and socialise with others. Themed events and fashion shows are also held here from time to time.

Tables can be reserved in advance, ranging from cocktail tables to VIP booths, with pre-drinks available in the connected Koi lounge. Furthermore, the club is next to Koi restaurant, so you can delve into high-end Japanese-Californian fusion cuisine in a calm zen-like setting with an amazing view of the city before heading to the club for an all night of music and entertainment.

Tue-Fri: 9pm-2am, Sat: 10pm-2am / The Club at Koi, Floor 39, Sathorn Square Building, 98 Sathon Nua Road, Silom / 02-108-2005, http://theclubatkoi.com, http://fb.com/theclubatkoi.


Illionaire Hip-Hop Lounge

Preferably called a lounge rather than a club, this haven for hip-hop fans is hidden away at the back of Park Avenue in Ekamai. For those looking to get some real hip-hop, Illionaire is the place to be. This three-floor venue, which held its grand opening last Saturday, provides the party crowd a place to stay away from the busy going-ons around the area. Consider it a place to chill out for the older crowd who grew up with old-school hip-hop.

The ground floor is your typical bar area with tables where patrons can stand around and dance or head to the bar where you can watch mixologists perform feats of mixing drinks before they serve you. A spiral staircase leads to the second floor lounge area, which gives off a relaxed vibe and a better view of the DJ performing across the balcony. Head up to the third floor for the VIP areas for some private get-togethers.

In addition to serving your standard drinks, Illionaire has a slew of signature drinks (B350 each) for the thirsty taster to try, from the bitter, whiskey-based New York Sour to the sweet, Korean yoghurt-flavoured IO. You can also try the French 75, a cocktail mix of gin, lemon juice and sparkling wine or the Vivian, which "will make you a beautiful fairy today".

Open Tue-Sun: 8pm-2am / Illionaire Hip-Hop Lounge, Park Avenue Ekamai, 126/7, Sukhumvit 63 / 082-707-4008, http://fb.com/illionairebangkok.


BEAM

While not exactly new, Thong Lor's Beam Club underwent complete renovation two weeks ago and is set to reopen tomorrow with a launch party featuring electronic duo Snakehips. Hip-hop and urban music will move to the Main Room upstairs, while the Dalmation room downstairs will dish out electronic tunes.

Designed by LA-based design studio Snarkitecture, the Main Room transforms into a merge of dance floor meets hangout space, bringing more communal elements featuring group tables and sofas. Down in the Dalmatian room, party people can enjoy the night surrounded by melted disco balls designed by New York-based design collective Rotganzen.

"The focus of our redesign for Beam was the flow through the space. Rather than creating one large space, we wanted the club to feel like a series of different -- yet connected -- environments, each offering a unique experience," said Snarkitecture's designer, Benjamin Porto.

Some of the changes you will see at the venue include a "more-relaxed, lounge-like environment" at the bar and banquette seating to the dance floor, as well as a breeze-block wall system situated above the dance floor, which will help dampen the lights in order to create a mystical setting.

"We think the seating will help elevate the environment and create a space where club-goers can take a break from dancing but still enjoy the lighting and atmosphere," says Porto.

Besides the architectural redesign, the drinks menu is getting a revamp, too. Twenty-two new drinks like the Lychee Martini, Jalapeño Margarita and Guava Rum, as well as group shots like Lemon Drop, Earl Grey Rum and Yakult Soju, will be added to the menu. Customers will also be able to order buckets for sharing between two or three people. g

BEAM, 72 Courtyard, Floor 1, 72 Sukhumvit 55, Thong Lor / 02-392-7750, http://fb.com/beamclubbkk.

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