Restaurants, bars and nightlife in Kanchanaburi
Fine dining in Kanchanaburi is generally limited to the restaurants in the resorts, and those who are visiting the area by tour will find themselves confined to a plush resort remotely situated from the town centre. These establishments generally have the best restaurants in Kanchanaburi.
Those staying in more budget accommodation on the riverside near the Allied Cemetery will find a whole street of modest bars and restaurants along the River Kwai road, where many of the guesthouses are situated. Being Thailand, the area even has a small collection of girlie bars, but they’re easy to ignore. This road is a 10-minute walk north of the town proper where tourist friendly establishments are limited.
One popular activity in Kanchanaburi is to dine on the floating restaurants, either moored or cruising the river, and there are many to choose from at the pier opposite the city gate. Many also double as discos by night and are popular with Bangkok Thais over weekends. On the whole, Kanchanaburi nightlife is rather low-key.
Here is a collection of places we suggest, but there are many more if you wander around.
Budget rating
approximately
$ dishes b30 - b70; quart of beer b70; whiskey shot 80 baht; cocktails b100
$$ dishes b70 - b120; quart of beer b100; whiskey shot 100 baht; cocktails b120
$$$ dishes b100 - 250; quart of beer b120; whiskey shot 130 baht; cocktails b150
Recommended Kanchanaburi restaurants
The biggest collection is found along the stretch of River Kwai road, including some nice riverside restaurants at guesthouses which are open to the public.
Apple Guest House Restaurant: offers a good value Thai and Western menu that is a cut above the usual backpacker standards, with professional service. Southern end of River Kwai road (03451 2017); $.
Jolly Frog Guest House: a large, popular pad with a busy restaurant that seems to attract lots of local Thais too. Large menu, average food, sloppy service but fairly good value. River Kwai road, soi China (03451 4579); $.
Punee Café: is popular because it offers plenty of helpful tourist info and services and has a book exchange. The food isn’t bad and it’s central for backpackers. Baan Nuea street (03451 3503); $.
Schluck Restaurant: is a German-themed affair with nice décor and authentic western dishes and steaks. It’s right in the middle of the backpacker street. River Kwai road; $$.
Sutjai: has the advantage of a riverside location that few other restaurants boast of. It’s tricky to find down a lane of the backpacker strip, but the food is decent. River Kwai road; $$.
Tai-Thai: is an entertainment restaurant with a bar and big screen TVs with Thai and vegetarian dishes. The atmosphere here is likely to be better than the rest. River Kwai road; $$.
Fine Thanks: is part of a group of drinking restaurants found in several cities and noted for their sexy but useless waitresses and trendy local crowd. Thai food and whiskey by the bottle. Songkwai road, near City Gate; $$.
Good View: enjoys a lovely riverside location out of town besides the Chung Kai Cemetery and it has a nice atmosphere, good food and decent service. Popular with Thais; don’t expect Western dishes; $$.
Chukradon (floating restaurant): hugely popular on weekends with visiting Thais, which means its authentic Thai food has a good reputation. It might be a bit crowded and noisy, but an interesting evening out with the locals. Leaves from the pier near the City Gate; $$.
JR Queen (floating restaurant): similar to the Chukradon but less crowded, good Thai food but as usual, the music is a tad too loud. Expect to drink whisky by the bottle and eat copious amounts of spicy food in a group, with service that is often below Western expectations. Leaves from the pier near the City Gate; $$.
Bars and nightlife in Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi attracts three types of visitor; Bangkok Thai weekenders, upmarket tour groups who are usually confined to their resorts, and backpackers who congregate along River Kwai road. This is the area that is most popular and lively in this otherwise low-key destination, which offers much more by day than by night.
However, on weekends the river is considered the most happening nightlife venue in the whole area as the many popular floating discos full of Thais ply the river, much to the chagrin of the riverside guesthouses who have to put up with complaining guests.
It’s difficult to recommend any particular drinking and partying places in Kanchanaburi, for it isn’t noted for its nightlife and caters mainly to backpackers and mid-budget visitors staying in the riverside guesthouses or close to River Kwai road where the action is centred. We suggest you stroll along this strip looking for the liveliest bar. Venues open and close down all the time; one night some are packed and the next night they are empty.
You’ll find everything from rustic small bars to larger places with pool tables and cable TV on big screens, and many offer food. Some of the busier guesthouses have a bar and a friendly atmosphere.
There is also a small collection of girlie bars at southern end of River Kwai road where you can enjoy instant female company and a party atmosphere, but your guesthouse is unlikely to tolerate you bringing one of them home. The floating discos can be quite a fun experience among the locals if you’re up for it, and are usually moored or take off from the pier near the City Gate.
- Attractions and activities in Kanchanaburi
- Getting to Kanchanaburi - transportation
- Hotels and guesthouses in Kanchanaburi
