The updated and expanded Utopia Guide to Thailand offers a comprehensive glimpse at the gay and lesbian scene in 23 cities including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui, and Pattaya. Listings include organizations, bars, discos, accommodations, spas, restaurants, and more. A special section highlights venues that are especially welcoming for women. Enjoy savvy comments and recommendations from hundreds of local Utopians and gay travelers. Click here to order the collector's First Edition

Hat Yai -- area code (66-74)

Hat Yai is a busy economic hub of Southern Thailand. It serves as a R&R holiday spot for many Malaysians who head north for the city’s less-conservative nightlife and shopping opportunities. Transgender performers are visible at straight places, but the little bit of local gay life is fairly hidden from view.

It’s short drive from here to the beaches of neighboring Songklaa province.

The population of Hat Yai is about 200,000 (that's about 8,000 Utopians).

• Men in Hat Yai message forum

• Buddy Menclub
  7/2 Sriphuvanut Rd. Run down and seedy, but the staff are very friendly.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Coming out from GL Sauna soi, turn right and on the next soi you can see three gay bars. Top Man is owned by Mr. Tong who is gay and very, very friendly. Address: 38 Thaiarkarn Rd, 081-540-2410, 074-421-341. G-man is just nearby. Keep going and turn right after the intersection and you can see Buddy. There is no gay disco in Hat Yai, but there is Sotus (so-dus), a mixed disco pub. You can ask a tuk-tuk or motocycle to take you there. The gay area is on the left side when you enter the door. I believe you can find a lot of friends." -- adul2638, Mar 30, 2010

• Paladium (mixed)
  9 Chaiyakul Uthit Rd, 081-541-3719.

• GL Sauna
  37/73 Sinbenjaponcenter Bld, Soi P. Nattapon 2, Sripoovanart Rd, 084-058-7299. Many willing local guys hang around. Nice ambience and clean environment.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "GL Sauna is going well with a lot of good looking guys around. Mostly busy after 7pm. The only sanua in Hat Yai, very near to Diana shopping center." -- adul2638, Mar 30, 2010

• G-Time
  2/F Lee Gardens shopping Center. Fashions and gay style, with good advice on the local scene from the staff.

Krabi -- area code (66-75)

Once the favorite get-away for in-the-know Thai vacationers, Krabi’s new airport has signaled international awareness of this picture postcard paradise of fairytale islands, spectacular sea caves, isolated inlets, monkey-filled jungles, eco-protected mangrove deltas burgeoning with wildlife, floating Sea Gypsy villages, and an influx of well-designed 5-star boutique hotels that (mostly) blend into the scenery.

Quiet Ao Nang Beach has the only stretch of shops and restaurants, but it’s decades behind the over-development of resort areas like Phuket or Pattaya. Most tourists want to stay out on the peninsula in the chock-a-block bungalows between Railei Beach and Ao Nang Beach (now accessible only by sea or the small public pathway that skirts the “private” Rayavadee hotel. Note the small fisherman’s shrine tucked into a limestone cliff on Ao Nang Beach – it's stuffed with an exotic variety of balad kik phallic offerings.

The population of Krabi is about 25,000 (that's about 1,000 Utopians).

• Men in Krabi message forum

Click here for Krabi hotels and accommodations.

Comments from Utopians:

"My friend took me to Room 69 which is 30+ minutes drive away from Aonang. It's a mixed crowd but very, very happening! Check it out and also another club nearby call Number 1." -- Arie K., July 28, 2010

• Banana Leaf Restaurant and Cocktail Bar
  Ban Ao Nang, Ao Nang Beach, 087-563-7931, email. Located opposite to Sunset hotel and 25 meters down from Krabi Resort. The restaurant is gay-owned and gay-friendly. Extensive menu with Thai food, seafood and steaks. Also serves well presented cocktails in a warm and relaxed atmosphere, with a discreet ambience and outstanding service. Soft background music with mood lighting. Open daily from 3pm-1am. Utopia Member Discount
• Coffee Arthit Ao Nang
  23/28 Moo2, Ao Nang Beach, 075-637-847, 081-895-1538, email. Gay-owned Internet café. The owner, Boonchai, is very nice and friendly. Fresh coffee and tea, all day breakfast, soft drinks, cocktails and ice cream.
• Lemongrass (Thai and European cuisine)
  1 Thanon Maharaj (attached to Traveller's Guest House, on the premises of Central Inn), 075-630-443, email. Gay-friendly open-air restaurant, centrally located, with attached Internet cafe (high speed access). Superb cooking by Parin. Movies and sports shown. Thai and western music.

Phi Phi Island

This picture perfect tropical island in the middle of the Andaman Sea is just an hour by speedboat from Phuket or Krabi.

• Sun Trip
  Email. Gay bar on Phi Phi Island overlooking one of the beautiful bays. They have a swimming pool and special drink prices for special friends! Try their "cock-tease-tail". Utopia Member Discount

• Sun Trip
  Email. Massage available. Utopia Member Discount

• Love Café Phi Phi
  Phi Phi Villa Resort reception area, Tonsai Ba, email. Gay and lesbian-friendly Love Café Phi Phi serves up hot and foamy cappuccinos, drinks with benefits, sensational smoothies, organic teas from Northern Thailand, luscious cocktails (including some unique tea and coffee based cocktails) all to a backdrop of great tunes. All real, however you like it: latté, espresso, cappuccino, machiata affogato, corretto, and with regular, soy or skinny milks. Passionate about coffee or chilled music - come and feel the love! Utopia Member Discount