Dance Night at Astra

Astra is the RCA (Royal City Avenue) venture of DJ Tui, who owns the respected Cafe Democ near Khao San Road. He developed it about 2 years ago, putting on sporadic shows even as the building work was being completed.

There are now two room: the Bar, where jazz and lounge sounds allow civilized conversation on club-like leather couches, and the Main Room, which only opens Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and for special nights. And those nights are special.

Astra shuns residents in favor of guest Djs, forging a name as one of Bangkok's best nightspots based on the import of high-quality international acts and a ace atmosphere. Djs Digweed, Sasha and Paul van Dyke played there in the past.

Once each month there's a Brit Pop-slash-Punk night courtesy of Dude Sweet, the city's favorite Indies party host.

The Main Room has stucco-like walls of loosely slapped-on white plaster and Gaudi-esque touches such as tiny ornate tiling, undulating contours and stone benches on the dance floor. There are castle-like windows spaces, crystal chandeliers and ornate grille work, while the mezzanine has a curtained-off section with red velvet baguette seating, which in neighboring clubs might be called a VIP area.

It's an interior with an organic quality, all the better for not being slick, and with haphazard grand gestures that make dance nights feel as if a bunch of students have invaded n abandoned Spanish country house to throw a Rocky Horror Show party.