Live molam music and ya dong cocktails make a potent pairing at DJ Maft Sai 's barebones enclave tucked off Sukhumvit.

Named after one of Maft Sai’s radio podcasts, the venue’s focus is unsurprisingly on nightly adventurous DJ sets and live music.

With nights dedicated to everything from Ethio-jazz to modern boogie, you won’t find a more esoteric soundtrack in town—nor a cooler crowd, who when not cutting shapes on the cramped dancefloor can be found smoking streetside, Beerlao in hand.

Live sounds might come courtesy of Toomturn Molam Group, Yaan or the globe-trotting Paradise Bangkok, whose contemporary spin on Thai funk music is breathing new life into the genre.