King’s Castle 1 is one of the longer-established go-go bars in Thailand. Situated in the Silom section of Bangkok, the bar is a part of a larger group of bars, as indicated by the “number 1” at the end of its name. The notoriety that these establishments once received does not seem to be as prominent as it used to be, but this observation can also be made about the nightlife in Patpong as a whole.
We have been repeat visitors to King’s Castle 1 for quite some time. However, we don’t believe we have actually entered the establishment for approximately 10 years. This realization only occurred to us during a recent visit to Patpong. Consequently, we decided to venture into the bar and thoroughly examine it with the intention of publishing an updated review. We must confess that we were pleased with what we observed.
King’s Castle Patpong
King’s Castle go-go bar is exceptionally easy to locate, especially in recent times. Patpong is no longer as popular as it once was, and the area tends to appear dimly lit and somewhat desolate. Although there are people in the street, the vibrant crowds that used to fill this alley have diminished. While the remaining adult businesses in Patpong may not favor this new normal, it does simplify navigation within the area. Additionally, during specific times, a significant number of people can still be found in the vicinity.
King’s Castle is situated approximately midway along Patpong 1, on the right-hand side when approaching from Silom Rd. The bar’s name is prominently displayed on the wall in large white English letters. Several scantily clad women stand outside the bar during business hours in an effort to entice customers to enter. As if that wasn’t conspicuous enough, there is also a flashy LED sign that intermittently displays “King’s Castle” in English.
For those who are not familiar with the Patpong Museum and haven’t visited the area, it’s essential to note that this zone was among the original adult entertainment districts in Bangkok. Westerners, including the CIA, established their presence off of Silom, and subsequently, various other establishments emerged. Some of the first modern agogo bars in Thailand originated in Silom.
Patpong’s reputation has suffered due to issues such as the ping pong bar scams that were once prevalent. However, those scams were always easily avoided by simply declining the invitations from touts with signs into unfamiliar venues. In recent times, the situation has significantly improved, with scammers becoming less visible and their activities slowing down. Legitimate adult businesses continue to operate with what appears to be a solid customer base, which is not necessarily a disadvantage for those customers. This positive trend hasn’t hindered the efforts of King’s Castle.
Inside King’s Castle 1 is a fairly standard and spacious agogo. It features a central stage where dancers perform in their bikinis and hot pants. The ladies are, of course, there to earn money, and they do so in an appropriate manner. While the dancers are happy to accept invitations for lady drinks, most are also open to barfines with customers at rates that are essentially standard for the area. There is minimal pressure to buy drinks or leave the bar, even from the mamasans. As a result, patrons can enjoy their time without feeling stressed or breaking the bank.
Staff, services and summary of King’s Castle
King’s Castle could be characterized as old-school, though I prefer to describe it as well-managed. They have a practice of having customers sign off on their drink orders. When you order a 170 Baht beer, the waiter will present you with a receipt displaying the price. You sign the receipt if you agree with the price and the drink, which makes it straightforward to avoid any drink scams or bill padding—a thoughtful touch.
King’s Castle 1 has a substantial number of women on staff, and we’re talking about several dozen. On busy nights, there may be as many as sixty or seventy ladies present, although, to be fair, I wasn’t able to count them all. What’s evident is that there are several shifts of ladies taking turns on the stage, and they perform enthusiastically, complete with actual dancing. The remarkable thing, in this day and age, is that most of the women working at the bar are slim and quite attractive. These are fit women in their early twenties, with very little body fat and few tattoos, evoking memories of the good old days. If this is considered “old-school,” then so be it.
One might expect a group of beautiful go-go dancers to be aggressive gold-diggers. However, these ladies are clearly working, yet they do not come across as purely motivated by financial gain. In fact, they exhibit a very laid-back and upbeat attitude, and this positive atmosphere extends to the entire establishment. Drink prices at King’s Castle remain quite reasonable. Furthermore, the barfine is set at 800 Baht ($23 USD), which is not much higher than what agogo bars were charging several years ago. This is notably lower compared to some newer Thai go-gos that request barfines of up to 2500 Baht.
Address:- 87 Patpong Soi1, Surawong Rd., Bangrak, Bangkok, Thailand, 10500
