Best places in Bangkok for that first Tinder date

If you want to cut out the conversation, come to Beam, probably known as the haziest and the loudest club thanks to a top-of-the-line sound system. Let the electronic tunes, laser lights and misty atmosphere lull you into a false sense of complacency and comfort. If the night is going better than you expected, this is your chance to be a bit touchy (trust us, nobody will notice). Or if you see the red flag waving, this is your chance to turn and run (nobody will notice either). 

Taking your date to Game Over Lounge for card games may sound nerdy and geeky, but don’t be so quick to judge. Games like Drunk, Stone or Stupid, or Never Have I Ever allow you to (really) get to know your date, and may just unveil your bae-to-be’s darkest, naughtiest, most shameful moments. (Has he had a threesome ? Has she done a walk of shame in a Halloween costume?) 

If you want someone else to provide the evening’s humor and entertainment, then Bangkok Comedy Club is where you need to take your date. The venue has been known to host several world-class comedians, including Jim Gaffigan and Jimmy Carr, but even on regular nights, the usual acts are still worth a watch. Sit back, laugh your butt off and let these funny men shake off the first-date jitters for you. 

Take the classic movie date to another level by seeing a film at Bangkok Screening Room. The alternative cinema usually shows independent movies, sophisticated documentaries, classic cult films, so this is your chance to show off your cultured palate. The place also has a mini bar where you and your Tinder date can lounge and linger after the movie. 

If his/her profile says “into something mysterious” take him/her to Dine in the Dark or DID for the literal blind-date experience. At DID dishes are served in complete darkness by visually-impaired staff. This is a chance for you and your date to connect through real conversation rather than focus on each other’s appearance. Who knows, this might turn into the real deal. 

A first date over beers might seem cliché but not at Hair of the Dog. For one, the craft beer place has a better selection of brews than most bars, so just choosing a bottle will already merit a discussion. Second, the place is decorated with pieces usually seen in an asylum/hospital—we’re talking surgical lighting, a mortuary cabinet, and autopsy beds—so you won’t be at a loss for conversation starters. (“Have you ever seen a dead person up-close before?”) 

Want to start out the night on a fun note? Come to #FindThePhotoBooth. The bar is in a hidden location and requires some creative sleuthing to find. The real fun starts when you enter the photo booth (this is actually the bar entrance). Snap a few photos with your Tinder date while figuring out the way to open the bar door. If things end well, you have a photo of your first date together to show your kids. But if things end badly, there’s always the delete button.