Looking to be entertained at a fun Bangkok Drag Show or dazzling trans Cabaret Theatre on your next trip to Thailand? You’ve come to the right place!
Our Bangkok Drag Show & Trans Cabaret Guide features the Thai capital’s most popular bars, clubs and theatres where talented lip-syncing female impersonators and gorgeous trans performers take the stage in over-the-top feather adorned outfits.
If you’re booking your first LGBT holiday in Bangkok we’ve also included a list of the top attractions and tours perfect for those looking to explore the history, culture and mouth-watering food scene in Thailand’s electrifying capital.
Is Bangkok Gay Friendly?
Did you know that Thailand is ranked as the most gay-friendly country in Asia?
Homosexuality has been legal in Thailand since 1956. The military accepts citizens regardless of sexual orientation, and in a recent poll, 88.7% of Thais were shown to be accepting of the LGBT community. In 2022, a Partnership Registration Bill for LGBT couples was approved that allows same-sex couples to be recognized as life partners and provides them with the same rights and privileges as straight couples including the option to adopt children.
Bangkok hosted the Thailand Pride Parade in 2022 as the first formal Pride in the city’s history. The capital also hosts the popular Songkran Gay Circuit Party and Asia Circuit Festival.
I’ve traveled to Thailand six times and am always amazed at how friendly and welcoming locals are to the LGBT community. I think Thailand’s famous Drag Cabaret culture is indicative of why the country is considered one of the most trans-friendly destinations on earth.
If you’re looking to explore more of Thailand once you’re finished planning a fun gay Bangkok getaway explore other regions like Koh Samui, Krabi, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai and Phuket.
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- Best Bangkok Gay Bars & Clubs
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Bangkok Drag Show & Cabaret History
The world may know of Drag Queens through the reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race, but in Thailand for decades there has been a vibrant drag culture.
At bars and clubs you’ll find fierce drag queens slaying the floor each night as well as the unique kathoey (trans women) cabaret shows that attract tourists from all over the world.
It has been 50 years since the launch of Thailand’s first cabaret show. Back in 1974, the owner of a gay bar in Bangkok went to see a drag show put on by a group of female impersonators visiting from the Philippines. Inspired, he designed a drag show that was equal parts hilarious drag and dazzling cabaret dance numbers! Thailand’s first drag show was officially born as the Tulip Bar in Bangkok.
Later the owner of Tulip Bar expanded his business to Pattaya, where he opened Tiffany Bar, where cabaret shows were growing and constantly attracting attention from visiting tourists.
Being a drag performer become a profession for many trans women in Thailand and soon kathoey cabaret shows spread to various tourism destinations throughout the country.
Where To Find The Best Bangkok Drag Show
The best place to watch a Bangkok Drag Show is in the Silom neighbourhood, which is located just south of Lumphini Park and accessible via Si Lom Subway Station or Silom MRT Station.
There are two key streets where most of the gay nightlife takes place. Silom Soi 4, Bangkok’s lively gay bar street, and Silom Soi 2 known as the city’s LGBT clubbing headquarters, notably home to the iconic DJ Station.
Silom Soi 4 is the typical first stop for gay travellers looking to experience a Bangkok Drag Show. On your first night out in the Thai capital we suggest bar hopping along the street, popping into drag shows, indulging in a craft cocktail or enjoying a cheap beer on an outdoor patio as it’s really the perfect perch to people watch.
While weekends are the busiest nights of the week to go out in Bangkok, since the city has so many tourists, cocktail bars, drag shows and cabaret performances can get packed even on a Monday or Tuesday during tourist high season from November to March.
The neighbourhood is filled with dangling rainbow flags, bustling outdoor patios and drag queens who lip-syncing for their life until the wee hours of the morning.
Silom Soi 4 is at its best from 9pm to 12am so it’s the perfect place to enjoy a pre-drink. After midnight most locals walk across the road to the gay party street of Silom Soi 2 to dance until the sun rises at DJ Station.
Bangkok Drag Show Guide
Bangkok’s legendary gay nightlife is touted as the best in Southeast Asia for a good reason. The city has some of the best gay bars, clubs, saunas, and eye-popping go-go boy shows catering to LGBT crowds.
Bangkok’s position as the epicentre of commerce and travel in Southeast Asia means its gay scene is so lively you can easily party 7 nights a week thanks to the throngs of travelers who visit Thailand each year.
We spent 6 weeks hotel hopping in Bangkok, visiting over 20 luxury hotels, from the Four Seasons perched over the Chao Phraya River to chic Sofitel in Sukhumvit and the perfectly positioned Le Meridien in the heart of the city’s Silom gay village.
Living in the capital for several weeks meant we had the opportunity to visit the top Bangkok drag shows and trans cabaret theatres.
Most gay bars and clubs in Silom start the evening with drag shows to entice locals and tourists to spend the night. You’re likely to catch a drag show in Bangkok between 10-11pm when guests arrive to enjoy their first drink of the evening. After the drag shows wrap up DJs spin into the late hours and the bars turn into a fun dance floor.
Here is a list of our favourite Bangkok Drag Bars & Clubs, perfect for a night out on your next visit to the Thai capital!
House of Heals
Renaissance Bangkok is one of the most popular hotel’s in the city for LGBT travelers as it’s located close to the Silom neighbourhood. The chic hotel is home to one of Bangkok’s most popular Drag Bars, House of Heals.
Thailand’s renowned drag celebrity Pangina Heals, known as the co-host of Drag Race Thailand and as a contestant in the inaugural season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs. The World, oversees Bangkok’s most renowned drag club.
Nestled on the luxurious 33rd floor of the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel, the popular Bangkok Drag Show warmly invites enthusiastic guests seeking a vibrant night of dance alongside exceptional drag performers.
Drinks range from classic cocktails like mojitos to signatures like Pangina’s Kiss, wines like Moet Imperial Rose, ice-cold beer like La Trappe Witte and Asahi.
House of Heals runs fun queer programming throughout the week but Friday and Saturday nights are your best bet for a late night Bangkok Drag Show extravaganza. Before visiting review the House of Heals calendar and you’ll find fun theme nights like Rap Battle, Bingo Night, Diva Night, Country Queens and Mother Has Arrived.
If you’re traveling with a crowd book your night out at House of Heals in advance to enjoy bottle service at standing tables (1-5 people) or sofa seating (5-8 people).
DJ Station
DJ Station is legendary, by far the most famous of Bangkok’s gay nightclubs. It’s a must-see on any Bangkok drag show itinerary.
Located at the far end of Silom Soi 2, this massive 3-storey gay club kicks off each night with a series of lip-syncing drag queens before things get taken up a notch with shirtless go go dancers taking the stage.
With 3 different floors of fun, the club is busy every night of the week and becomes packed to bursting point at weekends. Things start to kick-off and the venue fills up around 11:30 pm.
The first 2 floors are for people looking to dance their socks off, while the 3rd floor is exclusive for those who want to spend quiet and intimate moment with friends or honestly take a quick break from the energy downstairs.
It’s best to visit between 11-11:30pm if you want to catch the drag show. You’ll enjoy 30 minutes of classic drag ballads with Whitney and Celine making regular appearances as well as some Thai and international pop. Once the show is over around midnight the dancing begins.
DJ Station is known for playing remixes of the top mainstream international pop, think Kylie Minogue and Madonna.
Being Thailand’s most popular international gay club the crowd is a mix of local Thais, Asian & Western tourists.
The entry fee includes two drink vouchers and after that all drinks are 200 Baht (approximately 6 USD).
The Stranger Bar (House Of Dag Queens)
The Stranger Bar, aka House of Drag Queens, is located on Silom Soi 4, Bangkok’s bustling gay street.
The New York-styled bar serves cheap cocktails and beer at the main bar but we suggest heading up to the mezzanine for a bird-eye view of the nightly Bangkok Drag Show.
Open every night of the week, The Stranger Bar in Bangkok is the only gay bar in the city that hosts drag shows Monday to Sunday, which typically start at 10pm.
Entry is free and drinks are very reasonably priced. The Stranger Bar Bangkok offers a daily 100 THB cocktail promotion plus a daily Happy Hour until 9pm.
Circus Soi 4
Circus Soi 4 (formerly Telephone Bar) offers a blend of drag queen shows and a prime outdoor seating area, practically on the runway of Bangkok’s vibrant gay neighbourhood.
The famous venue underwent a fierce transformation after running as the popular Telephone Pub for over 35 years. Skip inside and you’ll feel like you’ve entered a magical circus tent.
Circus Soi 4 is now one of the best gay bars to enjoy killer lip-sync drag shows. Offering a stage to some of the city’s most beloved local queens, Circus Soi 4 also hosts Djs that spin disco, techno, hip hop and house.
Known to locals as a gay theatre restaurant, enjoy an unforgettable meal while being entertained by drag queens in the colourful dining room or outside on the breezy patio.
Drag Queens perform 2 shows every night at 9pm and 10pm.
Bipolar Silom
Bipolar Silom is one of the newest gay bars in Bangkok’s Silom Soi 4.
Ready to entertain you with a fierce Drag Queen show at 10pm, then stay for the dancing DJ beats until late.
Bipolar Silom is only open on Friday and Saturday nights so it’s a must-see on weekends.
During our visit drag queens were performing in the street, stopping traffic and giving the crowd sipping cocktails on the patio a good reason to hoot and holler.
Banana Room Club
Banana Room Club offers a small outdoor terrace and indoor seating that wraps around a central stage where cabaret shows and go go dancers entertain until the wee hours.
One of the main attractions at the Banana Room Club are the Thai dance shows featuring talented drag queens. If you’re feeling brave, head over to the karaoke zone and show off your pop singer skills. Late at night strippers (and the onstage shower) make things a bit more racy.
Entrance costs 400 baht and includes 1 drink.
Lost & Found
Late-night revelers and underground culture vultures unite: a unique after-dark destination can be found at LOST & FOUND, which promises fabulous food and drink, boundary-pushing entertainment and a one-of-a-kind experience.
Designed by Ashley Sutton of The Iron Fairies and Maggie Choo’s fame, LOST & FOUND intrigues guests with its elongated bunker like design to the piston moving ceiling lights, the intimate space is not only a restaurant and bar but also offers a performance space for some of the city’s most unique shows and performers.
Besides a rotating roster of theatrical performances of drag artists, live singers, puppetry and burlesque, the venue offers artistic aficionados its own signature show, based on the bar’s fictional backstory.
Every meal is a feast and every night spent there is a festival, where charismatic characters come together to push the possibilities of fashion, art and theatre. Highlights from the menu include Chicken Karaage with Volcano Sauce, Teriyaki Beef Roll and Spicy Salmon Maki.
Hidden on the third floor of Riverside Plaza, the lifestyle mall that connects Anantara and Avani+ Riverside Hotels. LOST & FOUND is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 7:00 pm till late.
Bangkok Cabaret Shows Guide
Drag and cabaret shows share many similarities: they both involve makeup, costume, dancing, and most-importantly lip-syncing. Some draw distinctions between the “show-biz” style of cabaret performances and the more Western-based style of drag.
Many drag queens in Thailand, both cisgender and trans, respect and feel a connection with cabaret show performers. After all, it was through cabaret performances that drag culture became recognized in Thailand.
In a traditional Bangkok cabaret show, performers often wear gigantic dresses that exaggerate their bodies. The gowns are decorated with shiny decorative elements, made fabulous by feather headbands and tiaras.
Performers often adapt elements from Thai culture into their dresses and shows, which consist of lip-syncing performances, comedy, and choreographed dances.
Unlike the typical Bangkok drag show, which is typically hosted at a gay bar or club in Silom to a largely LGBT crowd, trans cabaret shows are hosted in impressively large theatres in locations throughout the city.
You’ll have to buy a ticket to a Cabaret Show in Bangkok in advance and can select from a seat map based on where you’d like to view the stage.
While many gay travellers love to visit Cabaret Shows in Bangkok you’ll find a majority of straight tourists including couples and families who are keen to enjoy the razzle dazzle the Vegas-style performances.
Calypso Cabaret
Calypso Cabaret was the first transgender cabaret show in Bangkok, putting on its inaugural performance in 1988. The theatre is conveniently located at Asiatique The Riverfront overlooking the Chao Phraya River.
The show was created with the aim of providing a platform for transgender performers to showcase their talent with two shows a day at 7:30pm and 9:15pm.
The impressive theatre seats 540 guests, who enjoy a 60 minute show featuring over 15 jaw-dropping numbers inspired by Las Vegas, Korea and Thailand.
You also have the option to reserve a seat at the Calypso restaurant to enjoy a Thai meal while watching traditional Khon dance before the cabaret show begins.
If you’re looking for a truly unique experience in Bangkok book a White Orchid Cruise and Calypso Cabaret combination ticket. The dinner cruise runs 5-6:45pm followed by a Calypso Cabaret performance at 7:30pm.
Golden Dome Cabaret
Golden Dome Cabaret has been dazzling tourists in Bangkok since it first took the stage in 1997, housed in an impressive 685 seater European-style theatre near the popular Chatuchak Weekend Market.
For over 25 years, audiences have been enchanted by jaw-dropping shows featuring talented trans performers, world-class costumes, elaborate scenes, and spectacular light and sound.
The show is inspired by global pop culture as well as Thai, European, and South East Asian cultures. Expect a seamless and fluid experience as we take you through a tour of over 10 amazing acts, each infused with unique pop references.
With over 50 actresses and actors, the Golden Dome Cabaret cast and crew comprises of talented transgender performers, professional lights and sounds technicians, customized choreography, and elaborate scenes.
Mirinn Cabaret
The impressive Mirinn Theatre is located at RCA Plaza near Petchburi MRT station. Guests arriving by public transit can hope on a free shuttle van timed perfectly to arrive at the venue for the show.
The popular show is located in a flashy Hollywood-inspired venue in one of Bangkok’s most popular entertainment areas.
Guests are greeted with a complimentary beverage and enjoy butler service in a traditional lounge where premium beer, wine and cocktails can be enjoyed.
Guests can opt to have dinner at Mirin Cabaret, which is served 15 minutes before the show starts and features a set Thai menu featuring Shrimp Spring Rolls and Cashew Chicken Stir Fry.
The 1 hour stage show features glittering sets and trans performers decked out in elaborate costumes and impressive sets. The shows many dazzling cabaret numbers include themes like ancient Thailand, Thai drum circle, “Diamond’s are a girls best friend,” Japanese Kyokiranbu, classic Chinese dance, K-Pop Bang Bang Bang, Vietnamese De Mi Noi Cho Ma Ngae, Indian Ratha Nacheki, a glittering gold Egyptian number, eye-popping Brazillian Carnival, and sultry Roxane.
Mirinn Cabaret puts on 3 daily shows at 4pm, 5:30pm and 7:30pm.
Fun Things To Do On A Gay Holiday In Bangkok
While it’s easy to relax in the lap of luxury at your Gay Bangkok Hotel pool or spa we suggest booking fun tours to experience all the Thai capital has to offer!
No trip to Bangkok is complete until you’ve visited the Grand Palace and many of the city’s golden glimmering temples. Many local guides offer fun tours for those who want to experience the city by tuk tuk, bicycle, riverboat or on foot.
Book one of these private or group tours to enjoy an authentic Thai experience that is sure to make your Gay Bangkok Getaway unforgettable.
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer: arrive to Bangkok with ease by booking a private airport transfer in advance.
- Private 8 Hour “Best Of Bangkok In A Day”: first time visitors to Bangkok will love this full day private city tour featuring all of the city’s top attractions.
- Bangkok Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour: enjoy sightseeing in the Thai capital at your own pace with a hop-on hop-off bus pass good on the Elephant GoGo Double Decker Bus. With 15 stops, you can explore many of the city’s top attractions.
- Bangkok At Night: Temples, Markets and Food By Tuk-Tuk: on this 4 hour tour enjoy the magical of Bangkok at night via tuk tuk. Stops include temples, flower market, street food snacks and dinner at a local restaurant.
- Bangkok Walking Food Tour: join a fun small group walking tour to explore Bangkok’s famous street food scene. Sample dishes like pork with sticky rice and papaya salad.
- Manohra Luxury Dinner River Cruise: hop on a classy dinner cruise on a restored antique rice barge. Admire views of Bangkok’s twinkling skyline while enjoying a 4-course meal.
- Bangkok Jungle Bike Tour: fitness fans will love this 4 hour bike tour exploring Bangkok’s most beautiful natural spaces. Includes a delicious Thai lunch.
- Half Day Tour Royal Grand Palace & Bangkok Temples: this 5 hour private tour visits Bangkok’s most famous attractions: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Traimit
- Food Market Tour + Thai Cooking Class: master the basics of Thai cuisine on this tasty tour, featuring a guided market visit followed by a cooking class with a professional chef in Bangkok.
- Muay Thai Show at Rajadamnern Stadium: sports enthusiasts shouldn’t leave Thailand without watching a Muay Thai Thai Kickboxing match.
- Railway Market, Floating Market & Salt Farm Tour: this popular 7 hour tour takes out outside of Bangkok to visit the famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Railway Market. Includes a boat ride.
- Full Day Ayutthaya Historical Park Small Group Tour: this 9 hour day group tour visits the UNESCO Ayutthaya Historical Park located north of Bangkok.
- Pattaya and Coral Island Tour: this 13 hour group tour visits Pattaya and nearby Coral Island where you can swim and snorkel.
- River Kwai Full Day Tour: this 11 hour group tour includes a visit to the infamous bridge on the River Kwai, built by Allied prisoners of war (POW) during World War II. It includes a visit to a war cemetery, Japanese POW camp and buffet lunch.
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