Saturday night at the Brick Bar

There are many pubs in Bangkok that have live music, but very few that make it the focal point rather than a mere entertainment alternative to the TV, pool and darts. Brick Bar states its aims clearly with a stage that covers most of one wall of this size-able but still intimate venue.

Most of the hefty six-to-eight person wooden tables are laid out right in front of the stage, giving a small concert atmosphere, with good views also available from the mezzanine.

They have a decent sound system and a large screen that shows the band. The walls bear black-and-white photos, and behind the stage are displays of musical instruments. Locals will notice that Brick Bar is very much modeled on the pub the Saxophone, although being attached to Khao San Roads famous boutique hotel Buddy's Lodge, and newer, it's less grungy.

There are three bands every night, of which some play either exclusively original material or add it to standards. The headliners play every night except Sunday.

To help digest the sound, there's a large menu selections with Western favorites such as pizzas, snacks and salads, plus main meals, and a huge selection of regular Thai cuisine, including stir-fries, spicy salads and curries.