Bill's Coffee Shop (Bangkok)

...looking for a coffee, then Bill's Coffee Shop is an odd place to look. It's a bar, for heaven's sake, so why they call it a "coffee shop" beats me. Perhaps they do sell coffee, but I've never seen anyone drinking the stuff there.

The grandly named Clinton Plaza is a relatively new, smallish, maze of open bars, shops, and a little bit of sleaze too. It's right on Sukhumvit Road, between Sois 13 and 15. If you're staying in ...
...nectar in a theme pub.) Bill's beer is all very reasonably priced. However, if you run out of fags, you'll be better nipping round the corner to a shop, where you'll pay about 40 baht rather than the 60 baht you pay at Bill's for the same thing. (At 70 baht to the £1, you may not be bothered.)

On Friday nights it gets verrrry busy because they have a live blues band. I'm not a great fan of the blues but this band just about converted ... more

If you're looking for a coffee, then Bill's Coffee Shop is an odd place to look. It's a bar, for heaven's sake, so why they call it a "coffee shop" beats me. Perhaps they do sell coffee, but I've never seen anyone drinking the stuff there.

The grandly named Clinton Plaza is a relatively new, smallish, maze of open bars, shops, and a little bit of sleaze too. It's right on Sukhumvit Road, between Sois 13 and 15. If you're staying in the Manhattan Hotel (recommended), then it's within very easy crawling distance home.

Although they periodically have people on the street handing out maps of Clinton Plaza - nice graphics but a little bit rude - it's easy to find Bill's, as it's right at the front on the corner. This is one factor that makes it such a good place. You can watch the world go by here. Sit there for an hour or so, and you will see most of the world's national costumes strolling by. As a woman who sometimes spends time alone in Bangkok, I've found this a very easy place to be. No hassles and something to keep me amused.

The bar itself is a spacious area with wooden seats, stools and tables. It's very nicely done out. As with many places in Bangkok, it's open, ie no walls or doors, although there is a roof which is handy if it's the monsoon. You can nearly always get a seat, except perhaps on Friday nights which are busy (more on that in a minute).

They have a counter up at one end where they sell "New York Pizza" and other things, but my American friend warned me against that. You'll have to take your own chances.

The staff are very friendly and whilst it is a beer bar (ie, not the "other" kind) it wouldn't surprise me if paying a bar-fine could lead to even more friendliness. Well, it is Bangkok.

They have an excellent choice of bottled beers and some draught. (Beer in Thailand is nearly always the lager-type unless you want to pay about £5 for a pint of the Irish nectar in a theme pub.) Bill's beer is all very reasonably priced. However, if you run out of fags, you'll be better nipping round the corner to a shop, where you'll pay about 40 baht rather than the 60 baht you pay at Bill's for the same thing. (At 70 baht to the £1, you may not be bothered.)

On Friday nights it gets verrrry busy because they have a live blues band. I'm not a great fan of the blues but this band just about converted me. "The Delta Boys" have a mixed line up of a Scot, a Thai, an American and oops, I've forgotten, English I think. Occasionally, other musicians will have a bit of a jam with them too. They are very, very, talented musicians with a good line in patter. "We don't do requests and we don't do the Eagles..."

Before I finish, here's another hint. If you wish to use the lavatory, which is just around the corner, make sure you get a toilet chitty from Bill's - otherwise you'll have to pay 5 baht.

All in all, if you're in the area then Bill's is worth a visit. But go early to get a seat if it's a Friday.

Update: 2007

Unfortunately they demolished this place a couple of years ago as part of more upmarket development. Pity - it was a good place to go. Additionally, the Manhattan hotel mentioned earlier went downhill so that's not recommended either. Ah well, things change all the time. 

...less