The buzz: Forget about Thong Lor and Ekkamai and give Khao San another try. Sitting quietly at the end of Soi Bavornrangsri, opposite Khao San Road, Bann Lek Tea Saam is the latest house-turned-bar hangout.

The décor: Located in the atmospheric Khao San-Banglamphu area, where most of the buildings are a mix of traditional Thai and classical European architecture, the beautiful house containing the bar maintains a successful décor formula: retro brown leather sofas and lots of warm light. The outdoor zone is filled with garden furniture. They also have a pool table and a giant screen for sports lovers.

The music: Hits from Thai indie bands play in the background most of the time, though they do have live music from Fri-Sat 9:30-11pm, covering acoustic soul, funk, pop and indie.

The price: Whiskey B350-1,300 (by the bottle). Beer B65-80 (by the bottle). Cocktails B200.

The crowd: University students, first jobbers and in-the-know Khao San revelers.

Why you’ll come back?: It’s a great respite from the Khao San madness where you can get dinner and a drink before hitting the parties, or just stay all night for a more chill experience. The live music is also highly recommended. Vasachol Quadri