1. Tapas is an unlikely survivor of the bar wars that has become an institution on Silom Soi 4, a small sidestreet that's packed with mostly gay bars. Tapas is on the left right near the entrance to the soi and we use the term unlikely because many other bars have come and gone here but Tapas has hung on and thrived. It's small, cramped and had the risky idea about nine years ago to decide to serve the Spanish appetizers, tapas, as its main reason for being. They started playing music from the beginning also, if we remember correctly, and now have an art gallery scene going on upstairs as well. The two levels are both fairly cramped, especially on weekends but there is also an outdoor seating area which is porbably the most popular. Actually there's sort of a party outside on this whole street. the Djs here play house drum 'n bass and other similar tunes. The also feature a lot of other types of music and as they say in their own words, "
We play Spanish music, of course - from flamenco to jazz - but also play a lot of other Latin music, particularly from Cuba. Some of our favourite artists at the moment are: Chano Dominguez, a brilliant flamenco/jazz piano player from Spain; Cesaria Evora, the "
barefoot diva"
from Cabo Verde; Tinariwen, think electric blues guitar from the Sahara; Maiyito Rivera, one of the hottest Timba singers from Havana; Pink Martini, the ultra eclectic 14-piece band from Seattle."
Sounds like apretty eclectic mix and if yuou go here you're sure to find a pretty eclectic mix of people as well. Definitely one of Bnagkok's quirkier, and interesting places to go. Tapas Silom Soi 4 02-234-473 Open 11 am till late.