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What is it? Founded by Maft Sai, this Sukhumvit 51 spot politely ignores the Top 40 music chart. Instead, it champions Thai funk, molam and luk thung, genres that once flirted with obscurity, now very much part of the Thai zeitgeist, placing them beside African soul and classic disco. And now their famous bar next door, Studio Lam, has closed up shop (for something more exciting, we hear, on the grapevine), this is your best bet in Bangkok to capture the essence of the surprisingly successful revival of old Thai music.
Why we love it: A stubborn streak runs through the place, commanded through expert authority over the genre – they were instrumental in re-signing old labels and recovering music almost lost to time. Inside, collections refuse easy popularity and overlooked sounds are reframed as globally relevant. This quiet defiance has earned admirers far beyond Bangkok. Finding the shop – tucked down a dead-end soi near Thonglor BTS – can feel like a cultural scavenger hunt in and of itself. Once inside, you’re likely to leave with an album you’d never previously encountered yet somehow feel attached to by the time the needle retracts.
Time Out tip: This is also where The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band first took shape. Ask the staff to play a 1970s molam or luk thung selection from the archive. Let it run in full and you’re bound to have your wallet ready.
Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana. Open Wednesday-Sunday, midday-8pm. Closed Monday-Tuesday