Superstar Bar - Patpong

[Scottish Gary]

Ive just read an interesting story about this bar. Apparently back in the seventies it was the haunt of CIA Spooks, mercenaries, drug dealers, spies, dreamers and an all round mix of bizarre characters.
One group of drug smugglers used the place as a base to carry out millions of dollars worth of deals from Thailand to USA.

I can honestly say that in the few times i have trawled up and down Patpong ive never noticed it but apparently its still open today.
Anyone ever been to it or any old hands remember it back in the day?

[Rural Surin]

Actually, there were quite a number of "hangouts" that such characters of the time called home.

[Ratchaburi]

& that would be ?

[Loy Toy]

Pat Pong and all those bars lost their mystic charm a long time ago.

About the same time that Katoeys invaded the place.

[Warrior]

I was in Pat Pong for the first time, 22 years ago.
I saw a woman with a snake.
That was the last time I saw Pat Pong.
That was also the last time I saw a woman with a snake.

[Breny]

There is a good account of the bar in a book called "Grass" by Phil Sparrowhawk ( he used to co-own the bar ) A good read.

[Scottish Gary]

There is a good account of the bar in a book called "Grass" by Phil Sparrowhawk ( he used to co-own the bar ) A good read.

I remember in the Howard Marks book Mr Nice he says that Phil Sparrowhawk was one of his smuggling partners.......

From Stickman Weekly

'' No mention of timeless Patpong venues would be complete without SuperStar, the long-running gogo bar on Patpong soi 1. In the area's heyday, SuperStar drew more visitors than any other bar. Old Asia hands tell me that for a time it was the busiest and best bar not just in Thailand, but the entire region. Back in the good old days, SuperStar produced a nude calendar featuring dancers from the bar.

In his autobiography, "Mr. Nice", Howard Marks says that during the '80s SuperStar was a hangout for DEA types. A friend who was in and out of Bangkok during that period remembers seeing Westerners sitting at tables at the back, conspicuous by their ear pieces and ignoring the entertainment.''

[tonyroma]

some of the best performers i ever had came from this bar ...absolute glamours ...

[VocalNeal]

I was with one of the former managers/front men last night! Many stories.

[Davis Knowlton]

I remember it well. Twin brothers, former US Special Forces, ran it. They also smuggled huge amounts of pot into the US. They were eventually busted in a joint Thai/DEA operation smuggling a freighter load into the US. Both did time in the US. Upon release, the ban on their return to Thailand was eventually lifted. One currently lives in Thailand, the other elsewhere in Asia. It was a great bar with lots of characters - DEA, CIA, a variety of Thai police and military, etc, etc. In its prime, probably the best bar on the strip.

[Thai Pom]

Had many a good time in there as a young man listening to the stories. The fact that 99% of them were true made it more interesting.

[Bobcock]

Goldfingers used to have as similar clientelle.....

On of them has not long released from his jail term and returned to Thailand for a while but I think his mojo is gone in these parts and has moved somewhere else.

[Smug Farang Bore]

Used to be Charlie superstars but being set up by drug dealers they ERR decided to drop the Charlie.


The guy got caught doing one last big job using an outside team of people.


One being DEA. OH dear.

[mackayae]

Ian, Sam, Frank, Bobby and his brother and later Randy were part of the management. Art was the DJ. Go across the street to Goldfingers and ask Randy or Art about the Superstar.