Best Sports Bars in Bangkok

Soi 8 Pub - a top spot, but would be even better without the cigarette smokers.

My name is Stephen and I am a rugby tragic.. I blame my father and uncles. Given this addiction or affliction I try to catch the big All Black tests on TV, which means visits to a few of Bangkok's sports bars, and here are some of my regulars.

Phom Phrong Station area

Robin Hood - English themed pub

Goals For: Located next to the skytrain station, roomy, clean, lots of TVs, good selection of food and drinks, good service and attracts a mix of expats, locals and visitors -  last year, I sat a table away from former All Black, Byron Kelleher, who wolfed down three meals (very healthy ones) for lunch.

Goals Against: Get's very crowded for big, big games.

Tenderloins - Upmarket sports bar

Goals For: Modern, clean, spacious, lots of TVs, good sight-lines, good nosh and a good atmosphere. Last year we enjoyed a great night out with German friends watching Germany destroy England in the football world cup. Some times it's good to be a neutral in the crowd.

Goals Against: As the kitchen is always busy and close to the bar area, I've often left the bar smelling like a well-done ribeye steak or double-fried french fry.

Ex-All Black Byron Kelleher enjoyed his food at the Robin Hood Pub

Wall Street Bar and Grill - Offers the "authentic rugby club room" experience

Goals For: Shows every rugby match being played anywhere around the world, friendly bar staff and pretty reasonable drink prices. I also once saw All Black legend, Wayne 'Buck' Shelford in the bar.

Goals Against: Attracts a pretty crusty crowd and the bar overall is a bit "frayed around the edges."

The Office - A Hard Rock Cafe sort of inspired sports bar

Goals For: Big, lots of screens, serves the best chicken pie that I've ever eaten in Bangkok, and clean and tidy.

Goals Against: Smoking (the cigarette kind) is tolerated here - a major turn off for me. Also a bit pricy.

George Best - the Pickled Liver's patron saint

Londoner - Massive English themed Pub

Goals For: A favourite with my brother-in-law, spacious, lots of screens, great food (Tuesday is two meals for the price of one night), a good atmosphere and excellent pilsner and dark ale brewed in-house.

Goals Against: Can get mighty crowded.


Asoke Station Area

Bradmans - As the name suggests, an Aussie-themed bar

Goals For: All-round top bar for sport watching and beer drinking. Big range of well cooked food, including an interesting and tasty falafel spaghetti and host/owner Thomas is a bloody good bloke.

Goals Against: Nothing really.


Nana Station Area

Spotted at Wall Street - Wayne 'Buck' Shelford.

Soi 8 - A Kiwi-themed pub 

Goals For: Soi 8, in its own unpretentious, hassle-free way, is a good all-rounder and a personal favourite of mine. Also stays open for the 3am rugby test matches played in France.

Goals Against: Smoking is also tolerated here.

The Australian

Goals For: Swanky (compared to the others anyway), big, brash and well-designed pub. Attracts a pretty diverse group of punters and has a good party atmosphere.

Goals Against: Food and drink a little on the pricy side - but then again, this is Soi 11.

Manchester United Pub

Absolutely no redeeming features or qualities. With thousands of bars in the capital, it puzzles me why anyone would want to drink here?

The Pickled Liver

Goals For: A cosy and colourful little boozer that is a good spot to watch football. Their George Best t-shirts are also worth buying.

Goals Against: Not easy to find - it's located in the sub-soi on Soi 11.