Welcome to the Countdown Warrior, wherein the flux capacitors are fully charged, and the Delorian’s approaching critical velocity of 141.622 kph (88mph) to return us to the future.
BOLLYWOOD: Indus New Year’s Eve
Bangkok’s own Thai-Punjabi MC, DJ Xunny Dey, is taking over Indus’ opulent outdoor garden and restaurant to ding in the New Year, Bollywood-style. A THB 2,800 ticket is a killer deal, garnering free flow premiums all night and gourmet Indian buffet from live cooking stations. Indus just posted up the evening menu and their chefs are going all out on the Kashmiri: masala and cheese dosas, rogan josh, butter chicken… but let’s face it, you had us at “free flow”!
8 pm. Tickets from THB 1,200 to 2,800. Indus, Sukhumvit 26. BTS Phrom Pong.
DIRTY 30s: Countdown Under Siege at Maggie Choo’s
While not one but FOUR NYE soirées promise to take partygoers back to the turn of the (previous) century (Whisgar’s Roaring 20s, Ku De Ta’s Great Gatsby Extravaganza and Brown Sugar Jazz Boutique’s Moulin Rouge), Maggie Choo’s is zoning in on a more gripping backdrop: Shanghai, December 31st, 1937. The Japanese are bombing the city and as a result, the celebrations are happening underground. In the spirit of being truly cloak-and-danger, details about this event are hush-hush so far, aside from a performance by local French funky soul outfit Jul & Co. However, the expectations are (needless to say) high from the imaginaries behind such a bar – named after a Shanghai cabaret owner who fled to Bangkok after the Japanese invasion.
7 pm. Maggie Choo’s, Novotel Bangkok, 320 Silom Road. BTS Surasak.
DISCO SHAKEDOWN: Nu-Yeah! Bugalú with John Morales
Studio 54 DJ John Morales was so psyched on Bangkok at his debut performance in November, he’s returning to spend the night spinning vinyl all the way into 2014. There will be no 1920s jazz or “Auld Lang Syne” behind the velvet curtains of Black Pagoda, but rather the best of classic disco and boogie, with some up-to-date funky beats thrown in by Disco Robot’s DJ Jaydubb and BKK Disco Emergency’s Scott Hess. Check out our interview with the legendary DJ here, and about that one time when that pesky Mick Jagger stole his jacket.
10 pm. THB 450 including one drink. Black Pagoda, Patpong 2. BTS Sala Daeng Station, MRT Silom Station.
PUCKER UP: Altitude Midnight Kiss
If you haven’t got a New Year’s smooch all sorted out yet, Altitude is looking like a good call. The Moët & Chandon is overflowing at the Mode Sathorn, the new hotel that’s branding itself as Bangkok’s “first party hotel” (and to find out what that means, you’ll just have to go and see for yourself). DJs Lee Cabrera from New York and Bangkok’s popular hip hop institution Tech 12 are manning the decks among others, spread across three different areas: Mode Sathorn’s rooftop, pool club and theatre bar.
9 pm. THB 600 including one drink. Mode Sathorn Hotel, 144 Silom Road. BTS Surasak.
POST-CHRISTMAS TREATS: Oskar Bistro
Perhaps you want to stuff in a few last minute goodies before that New Year’s diet. Or, maybe you haven’t come off of that holiday binge just yet – whatever the excuse, Oskar Bistro is shaping up to be Bangkok’s most delicious countdown. Chef Julien Lavigne has prepared a spread of scrumptious pass-arounds from 8:30pm to 11:30pm and a special French-inspired, dinner menu. Reserving a table is wise if you’re hoping to get in on the beef tenderloin topped up by seared Foie gras (THB850) or wild mushroom velouté and duck liver ravioli in truffle oil (THB370).
8:30 pm. Oskar Bistro, Sukhumvit 11. BTS Nana.
