Bangkok is a gay-friendly city, and Silom Soi 4 near Patpong is a buzzing center for gay bars. Among them, Balcony is one of the liveliest, with its good-looking and flirtatious waiters and eponymous balcony offering a neat perch for people-watching. Also, there's plenty of people-watching in the dim-lit, air-conditioned interior, and lots of chances to meet new friends. Pitchers of beer and cocktail jugs are pretty cheap, and they serve some decent food as well, with plenty of choices of Thai and international fare. They also host cabaret nights occasionally; see the website for details.