Bangkok Happy Hour Deals and Drink Offers

Usually in the early evening, roughly 6pm to 9pm, although each bar sets its own hours. Many gogo bars take part, cutting the price of a beer until the late crowd arrives. The stages are quieter then, but it is the cheapest time to look around and choose where to spend the rest of the night. Some expat bars also run an afternoon happy hour for their regulars.

Check what the headline price leaves out. A bottle of spirits usually comes with a mixer set of ice, soda and Coke that is charged separately and refilled as you go. Hotels, rooftops and sit-down restaurants may add a service charge and VAT on top of the menu price, shown as '++'. And a promotion may cover only selected drinks, so ask before you order the next round.

Often, yes. A whisky set is a bottle of spirits with an ice bucket, soda and Coke, mixed at the table by the staff, and split between a group it usually works out cheaper per head than buying drinks one at a time. It is the standard way Thais drink in pubs and bars. Ask what the mixers cost before you order, because they are often billed on top of the bottle.

Yes, by a clear margin. A large beer from a 7-Eleven costs noticeably less than one at a beer bar, and a gogo charges more again, so plenty of regulars have one on the walk to Nana or Soi Cowboy. Shops can only sell alcohol during set hours and stop entirely on some Buddhist holy days, so buy ahead. Don't overdo it: a drunk customer is the easiest one to overcharge.

Yes, especially at lunchtime. Many Bangkok restaurants, including smart ones, run weekday set lunches that cost far less than the same kitchen's dinner menu, and hotel restaurants often lay on lunch buffets. A good-value lunch is an easy way to eat well and keep more of the budget for the night ahead. Check whether the set price includes a drink, and whether service charge and VAT are added.

On price, yes: a bucket is a flat of Thai rum such as Sangsom with an energy drink, Coke and ice, shared through straws, and usually costs around 200 to 400 baht. The catch is strength. One bucket holds several strong drinks, some are made with dodgy spirits, and it's easy to lose track of the night. Watch it being mixed, share it with friends and never leave it unattended on the table.

Local beer and Thai spirits. Chang and Leo are the budget lagers, with Singha usually a few baht more, and all cost less than imported beer. Sangsom, a Thai rum, and Hong Thong are far cheaper than imported whisky or vodka, whether by the glass or by the bottle with mixers. Large bottles shared between friends usually work out cheaper than small ones, and cocktails tend to be the dearest drinks on the menu.

Only if you'll drink enough to beat the fixed price. Free-flow deals, common at Bangkok hotel brunches and some bars, give unlimited drinks for a set time at one price. Check which drinks are included, as house wine and local beer often are while spirits and cocktails cost extra, how long the clock runs, and whether service charge and VAT are added. Pace yourself, because the rest of the night still has to be paid for.