When you've gotta have a drink at a Bangkok bar that used to be a gas station

It's easy to find a Bangkok bar stuffed with hot fashion models or a restaurant with great views of the city. But what about those days when you’re in the mood to chill at a run-down Shell gas station, surrounded by old petrol pumps?

Try Drink ‘n Dine by the Station, around the corner from Khao San Road. Yellow metal tables and foldable chairs -- hey, they match Shell's colors -- surround the old pumps, all topped with a lit candle to give the place an oddly romantic vibe. (Fear not, the candles won't create a fireball end to your night. The pumps haven't been used for an eternity).

Fancy a game of PlayStation? There’s a game consol right there. Sports matches are blasted onto a massive projector screen to the rear of the outdoor eatery.

The food at this Bangkok bar is actually quite good (not the usual service station fare that's for sure), with all the Thai dishes travellers tend to go for on the menu like stir-fried cashew chicken, Thai omelets, curries, tom yum goong and fried rice. The drinks, blended behind a mock gas pump, serve their purpose. It may not be fancy, but it is a great place to fill up. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

getting there

Drink ‘n Dine by the Station
Chakrabongse Road, near the corner of Khao San Road
Open 6pm-midnight
tel +66 (0)8 1 651 3910