Pangina Heals’ guide to queer Thailand and Bangkok nightlife
“When I was growing up, no one looked like me”
Drag superstar Pangina Heals takes us on a personal tour of queer Thailand, sharing her favourite Bangkok nightlife spots, restaurants and hidden gems. Ahead of her WorldPride Amsterdam 2026 performance, the Thai drag queen discusses LGBTQ+ rights, Asian representation and the places that make Bangkok feel like home.
You were born and raised in Thailand. When you think of home, which place, smell or memory comes to mind first?
“The smell of moo ping in Silom: those barbecued pork skewers on the corner of Saladaeng Road take me back to when I was a baby drag queen, queueing at two in the morning after work at this famous street food vendor. That smell brings back the nostalgia of nightlife, and what it feels like to be young and passionate, to love drag, and to be figuring life out at the same time.”
Many people mainly know Thailand as a holiday destination. What do you think they should understand about everyday life there?
“Thailand is a destination where you choose your own adventure. Most people think it’s mainly a party destination that can completely swallow you up, and it is, but many people would be surprised by the places of peace and quiet where you can very easily drift away. Bangkok is busy and vibrant, and for some people that can be overwhelming. But when you live there, you notice that locals find a balance between the chaos and the calm.”
Which place in Bangkok feels very much like “you”, a place you would take a friend to if you wanted them to understand you better?
“House of Heals is the place that is truly, authentically me. HOH invites you into a jungle-disco wonderland, a fantasy where you step into a world of wonder and beauty and where the best of Thailand is on show. Not only because the name refers to my drag persona, but also because this drag nightclub is exactly what I envisioned for everyone who loves performance and wants to have an amazing night out in a safe queer space. Even Dua Lipa has mentioned it as one of her favourite places in the world, and Lisa from Blackpink celebrated her birthday there. My goal is for people to better understand the art of drag, see how much work goes into every performance, and feel that this place is for everyone.”
Where do you go when you want something to eat that feels truly comforting? Not fancy, not polished, just delicious and deeply satisfying.
“I love ม๊ากะเเนน, or Ma Ka Nan Kitchen, which means ‘Nan and her mother’s kitchen’. This mother-and-daughter eatery is very no-frills and entirely focused on the food, right there by the roadside, where you can choose what you want on your rice. They serve เเกงขี้เหล็ก there: a curry you do not often come across, and for me it is an absolute must. I always go back there after a long tour abroad.”
What is your favourite place in Thailand for a great night out?
“Bangkok has so many options that it’s impossible to choose just one, so I’d recommend a bar-hopping experience on the world-famous Silom Strip. Start with a kiki with friends at Gen Wine, the newly opened wine bar with live music, to ease into the evening. Then take a tuk-tuk to House of Heals for the drag shows and to really get the party started. Next, hail a taxi to EDT for a shower show experience, but elevated, with top go-go boys and a unique water and light show. After that, it’s time to dance, so head over to BEEF, where you’ll find the finest male meat, the best DJs, and dance the rest of the night away. And if that’s still not enough for you, carry on to Boy Camp for an after-hours spot where you can explore your desires.”
Are there any queer bars, clubs, drag nights or performance venues in Thailand that visitors absolutely should experience, in your view?
“House of Heals for a high-end drag experience, Silversand for beer garden vibes, people-watching and drag shows, EDT as a shower show bar, Horn for techno, EDM and apocalyptic Berlin vibes, Gen Wine for stylish live music and quality time with friends, Beef for dancing all out and meeting people on steroids, and Boycamp as a men-only after-hours spot. Wink, wink.”
When friends from abroad come to visit, what is one thing you always make them do, even if they think they’re too tired, too jet-lagged or too full?
“Go for a walk in Suan Lumpini Park. The sunshine helps you adjust to the time zone, and you’ll see giant Thai monitor lizards roaming around. It’s a kind of Jurassic Park adventure that feels very specific to Bangkok. And also get a world-famous Thai massage, because it’s incredibly cheap and amazing here. Nowhere else in the world can you get a one-hour massage for 250 baht.”
Where do you like to shop in Thailand? That can be fashion, beauty, vintage, markets, design, anything that makes your inner diva point and scream.
“For drag, I go to Watergate Pavilion, which I call the Diagon Alley of drag. It’s every drag queen’s dream in one building: wigs, supplies and costumes, all at a very low price. A lot of people sell these costumes abroad with a 400 per cent markup, but if you go straight to the source, you pay only a fraction of that. I’ve taken Courtney Act, Derrick Barry and Marina Summers there before, and they completely lost it.”
Is there a Thai designer, artist, drag performer or creative scene you wish more people outside Thailand knew about?
“I love Sarran’s refined high-end jewellery, which Lisa from Blackpink also wore in her music video. For playful, fashionable daywear, I love Matter Makers and Leisure Projects. And the jackets and suits by Dry Clean Only are world-famous, because Rihanna and Beyoncé have worn them.”
Thailand has a global image of beauty, nightlife and hospitality. But what is queer Thailand like from the inside?
“We have made important progress in terms of lgbtiqa+ rights, and it was only last year that marriage equality was legalised. That is a good step in the direction we want to go, but in some respects we are still lagging behind. Legal gender recognition, for example, remains limited, which means trans women are still registered as male on official documents, and the same applies to trans men. Thailand also still does not have broad workplace anti-discrimination legislation in which sexual orientation and gender identity are explicitly named across all aspects of employment. Some lgbtiqa+ people, especially trans people, still report discrimination in job applications, promotions and in the workplace.”
What advice would you give queer travellers going to Thailand for the first time?
“It’s a relatively safe destination, but you do need to do your homework beforehand. There are cultural differences and there is a local code of respect that we find important and uphold. Certain scams also occur, so I’d check things in advance before booking certain excursions. But other than that: enjoy it.”
Are there places in Thailand outside Bangkok that lgbtiqa+ travellers absolutely must not miss?
“Samed, which is known as the Fire Island of Thailand. It’s relatively close to Bangkok and Samet is known as the gay island. The island’s slogan is: ‘เสม็ดเสดทุกราย’, which means: everyone who comes to Samed climaxes.”
What do tourists often misunderstand about Thailand, or specifically about Thai queer culture?
“There is a lot of stigma around ladyboy culture and the link that is often made with sex work. First of all: don’t walk up to a trans woman and call her a ‘ladyboy’, because that can come across as incredibly offensive. The term is used within the community and should not simply be used by just anyone to address someone. Secondly: don’t assume that every trans woman is a sex worker. Trans women work in almost every sector of the labour market - it’s good to understand that.”
You're coming to Amsterdam during WorldPride. What does it mean to you to meet queer fans from all over the world in that setting?
“I get an enormous wave of excitement when I think about it, because representation is so important. The fact that I'm the only Thai queen performing means a lot to Thai people and to people of Asian descent. When I was growing up, I didn't often see someone who looked like me in mainstream media. We see our place in the world when we see someone who looks like us taking up space. Being able to pass that on now is an honour.”
Finally: if someone only had 24 hours in your Thailand, where would you send them, from breakfast to late-night chaos?
“I would take them to Luka for breakfast, because of the amazing coffee and the healthy, hearty breakfast in an intimate, dog-friendly atmosphere. For the late-night chaos, I would take them to Silom, and then they can choose their own adventure.”
More info: tourismthailand.org, melkweg.nl/clubchrome
