12 Places in Bangkok to Watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup Live!
The wait is finally over for the football fans around the world. After 4 years, the biggest and most anticipated international football tournament is back with the 2018 FIFA World Cup for a full month from June 14 - July 15. This year will be Russia’s turn to host the quadrennial world event as people from all around the globe will also be tuning in to the matches and cheering for their beloved national team.
Of course, nothing beats the comfort of your home, but wouldn’t it be better to get your cheering game on alongside all the other football fans around town? Watching the games at a bar can dramatically enhance your World Cup experience. Other than being able to get wild with everyone else when your team scores, you’ll also get to watch the game in a lively atmosphere complimented with your favorite food and drinks.
We’ve shortlisted for you 12 bars in Bangkok that will be pulling out all their projectors and televisions for this special event. One of them might just be down the street from where you are!
(Note: Some matches are due to kick-off at 17:00 and 01:00-02:00 in local time, so some of these places mentioned below might not be able to show us the matches from start to finish.)
AINU Bar
AINU Bar offers a unique bar experience in itself by serving traditional and fusion Japanese cuisines, popular alcohols from Japan like Sake and Umeshu, and live bands playing hit songs all night long. If this is the type of atmosphere you need for your FIFA World Cup 2018 viewing pleasure, then make sure to head on over.
The bar comes equipped with wall projectors to show all the matches, while the private rooms all come with their own TV inside so you can both socialize and watch the game all at the same time. Since they’re open from 5 pm onwards, we’ll be able to watch the matches that kick off earlier, such as the one between France and Australia on June 16, without having to wait for nightfall.
There’s a variety of promotions and discounts on food and beverage you can enjoy throughout the month of June, as well as special activities on their Facebook page and at the bar to welcome the World Cup. While the official announcements haven’t been announced yet, be sure to follow AINU Bar’s Facebook page for the latest updates.
Chongjareon Festival
This bar and restaurant located on the Kaset-Nawamin Road come with a unique theme of “The Lost China Town” where interior closely resembles a local Chinese community. Other than the Chinese fusion cuisine, Chongjareon serves up their signature cocktails in classic Chinese-style containers the topped with a few traditional Chinese herbs. The live bands and DJs add perfectly to the nightly bustling atmosphere, making this place perfect to watch the World Cup with your buddies.
The place is already equipped with TV screens that are ready to show the matches, but the owners are definitely not settling for the ordinary. They’re in the process of getting permission to install a large projector screen for the real football fans to enjoy the games as much as they can. We’ll have to wait and see if this plan becomes a reality or not.
The special promotions for the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be announced as early as next week through their official Facebook page. Don’t forget to follow them for a chance to catch a great deal during this football festivity.
Wine Republic
Great wine doesn’t always have to go along with fine dining; it can also pair well with the World Cup. Enjoy a selection of over 170 wine brands from around the world and a number of imported beers at the Wine Republic in Soi Thonglor 10, where you can choose to sit and sip in either the indoor or outdoor zone along with some delectable Thai and Italian cuisine.
Inside, you’ll find a large TV screen that will be showing every broadcast of the 2018 FIFA World Cup (except the matches that start after 01:00). Since this place opens as early as 17:30, you can drop by for the earlier matches and enjoy a nice dinner with some smooth live music through the evening.
The Sportsman Sportsbar
If you’re a fan of sports, then you’ve probably heard of The Sportsman Sportsbar before. They’re one of the places in Bangkok that put on all kinds of sports on their TVs including football, rugby, tennis, golf, cricket, motor sports, boxing, table tennis, and many more. So viewing the 2018 FIFA World Cup shouldn’t be a problem at this place as all matches will be showed on all 26 TV screens as well as the 8 projector screens in HD. If you happen to be interested in the late night matches like the one between Croatia and Nigeria at 02:00 on June 17, the bar will be extending it hours you can enjoy the matches till the final whistle.
The bar also comes with 9 pool tables, 3 dart boards, table football, and an arcade game of Golden Tee Golf for us to enjoy with our friends and family. The kitchen serves classic bar bites as well as Main Western dishes and a few Thai fusion menus. Most of the drinks menu is beers, but if you’re not a fan, there are also a selection of soft drinks and wine to choose from.
The Drunken Leprechaun
This Irish Pub was established from the legend of the Leprechaun, a fairy from the Irish folklore depicted as a little-bearded man wearing all green. According to the legend, anyone who could catch it will be granted three wishes by the Leprechaun in exchange for its freedom, and one of those wishes granted the owners The Drunken Leprechaun. The menu offers mostly Irish cuisine with a few Thai and Western options. The drinks menu, however, included all that you can think of, from beers, whiskeys, bourbon, and cocktails to wine, mocktails, tea, and coffee. The also live music starting from 20:00 onwards.
The pub will be putting on the World Cup matches (not later than 01:00) on all 3 TVs screens and both projector screens. Since the pub opens its doors as early as 10:00, it might not be a bad idea to catch the early matchup between France and Australia and the Happy Hour drinks from 17:00 - 19:00 to start and continue strong with the next matchup between Argentina and Iceland right after.
Maldives Resort Bar
This restaurant and bar consists of 5 zones that take up over 2,000 square meters in space. With more than enough space to accommodate everyone, you can choose to enjoy in the karaoke room, wine room, air-conditioned room, on the second floor, or the outdoor zone. The cozy interior is complemented by aspects of nature, especially the 50 coconut trees that stand tall as one of the highlights of the restaurant's decor. The stage usually opens up for multiple events every day with popular Thai bands often taking the spotlight for the night.
Maldives Resort Bar will be on the World Cup train as well, putting on all the football matches on all their TVs and projectors for the visitors to enjoy. To get into the spirit, the restaurant will be specially decorated with national flags of the countries in the tournament and that staffs will also be putting on their favorite football jerseys. For the upcoming announcements on the World Cup promotions, be sure to follow the official Facebook page of Maldives Resort Bar.
Loyshy
Loyshy is one of most well-known nightlife spot in the Ratchatewi area, especially among the fans of quality live music. From Monday to Sunday, you can expect to see some of Thailand's very best taking the stage at this bar so that you can enjoy genres like Indie Pop, R&B, Soul Funk, American Rock, and Folk in a lively setting. The food menu mostly consists of Thai cuisine, while the drinks menu offers multiple cooling options like ice-cold beers and refreshing cocktails to start the night.
If you're both a fan of quality live music and football, then Loyshy should be on top of your list. The bar is equipped with TVs screens that are ready to put on all 2018 FIFA World Cup matches (no later than 01:00) for everyone to enjoy. As it is also the 9th year anniversary of the bar, you will also be able to catch a special deal on Irish Whiskey while cheering for your favorite team.
Baan Puen Ekamai
If you're one to love going over to hang out at a friend's house, then Baan Puen offers a similar kind of coziness and laid-back vibe at the heart of Ekkamai area. You can enjoy a variety of Thai and Western cuisine, refreshing drinks, and live music from artists of all kinds.
You can grab light bites to go with your drinks or opt for a full meal of delicious dishes such as the Chinese Plum Soup with Minced Pork (185 THB), Shrimp in Fish Sauce and Wasabi (190 THB), and Deep-Fried Chicken Ligaments (125 THB). Be sure to pair all the food up with your favorite cocktails, beers, wine, or go big with a whole bucket of alcohol or a line of shots. You can enjoy all 2018 FIFA World Cup matches (no later than 01:00) on all 4 TV screens and the large projector screen. Cheer for your favorite nation with all the other football fans at the bar while the live bands add to the vibrant atmosphere with a set if popular Thai and international Pop, Rock, and R&B tunes.
There's currently a promotion that gives you up to 20% off on food from 18:00 to 20:00. It might not be a bad idea to grab dinner at Baan Puen Ekkamai and catch the Monday matchup of Sweden and South Korea at 19:00 or Columbia and Japan on the next day at the same time.
ATMOS
This restaurant and bar located at the heart on Thonglor stands out among others with it industrial loft-style decors and hip vibes. One of its highlights is the fusion food that is creative in both taste and appearance. We recommend River Prawn Udon with Cream Cheese (450 THB) and Black Pepper Pork Ribs (340 THB) while you’re there. The drinks are also fun and unique as the Go Hard or Go Home (390 THB) that requires a group of friends to pick up their drinks from a can to see who gets the strongest drink.
Atmos will be showing the World Cup matches on its TVs so you can cheer for your favorite team while enjoying the music from the live band and groovy tunes from the DJs in one of the most energetic atmospheres in town.
Beer Belly
Beer Belly is one of the most popular craft beer bars in Bangkok due to its prime location in the heart of Thonglor and the games such as beer pong, table football, table tennis, pool, and bingo for all the visitor to enjoy with buddies. The scene is always full of energy, smiles, and laughter, especially on weekend nights. Enjoy a vast selection of beers that are sure to have something for everyone and upbeat live music on some selected nights.
To go along with the football festivities, they will be hosting a special event called “Beer Belly 2018 FIFA World Cup Live Match Screenings” where they will be showing the matches live on June 14-15 from 17:00 onward. Beer Belly will also be rolling out a special food and drinks menu as well as games and activities to welcome the World Cup season for the Thai fans to cheer on and enjoy through the night. If you’re interested, make sure you make your reservations in advance to get your hands on a delightful bag from Budweiser!
Stone Bar
The Stone Bar is the lobby bar of the Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom. The place comes dressed in colorful lights and decor, giving off a really hip vibe in a very modern setting. Most of the food menu is light snacks such as french fries, fried chicken, and sandwiches. The drinks menu consists of a variety of wine, cocktails, mocktails, and beers as well as coffee and tea for the non-alcohol people.
If you’re planning to watch a match outside but aren’t sure whether the places will be open after 01:00 or not, then head on over to the Stone Bar as they will keep the World Cup matches showing late into the night until the final results are set.
Dee Lounge and Beer Garden
Dee Lounge and Beer Garden is a modern lounge and bar that comes with a laid-back vibe everyone can enjoy. Other than the Thai-European fusion cuisine and a wide selection of ice-cold beer, the place is known for showing all kinds of sports program on the regular, including football, rugby, Formula 1, and many more. Your viewing experience will also be enhanced with the background tunes of the live bands playing classic 80’s Pop songs and some smooth Jazz.
One of the perks of catching the 2018 World Cup here is being able to enjoy it on an 85-inch LED screen that will be sure to keep you immersed in every match from the first to the final whistle. The place will also keep the matches on even after the closing time for a seamless viewing experience of the football fans (food and drinks will not be serviced after the closing time). So if you’re looking for a place that will be open for the matches like the one between Croatia and Nigeria at 02:00 on June 17, make Dee Lounge and Beer Garden one of your top choices.