Lindas

[Luxrebel]

I just saw a mention of the 'infamous Lindas Bar' on a seperate thread, so I decided to set-up one of its own to ask some questions.

Where is Linda's? Is it the same Linda as used to be accross from the entrance to the Sofitel?

I often wondered what happened to that place but never asked before.

I am sure the Sofitel tried hard to get rid of it, and then I hoticed that the place had just disappeared.

[Sabai Jai]

Lux rebel

There is a "Linda's Bar" on the lower part of Soi 80. I think this is the original Linda. I don't know her personally but I heard she is very old now and nothing much happens there now.

She started out on Soi Bindabaht years ago..late 80's I think before moving to that curious place you mentioned opposit the new entrance to Sofitel

Regards SJ

[margaretcarnes]

Good to hear that Linda is still on the go down Soi 80. My 'mole' confirms all the above history - and adds 'past her sell by date as a bar girl'!
Not my words I must add. Personally I think she's a very nice lady and would drop by and see her any time, despite inside info on her business methods!
BTW - Lindas age is uncertain and I'm in no position to cast nasturtiums, but would guess in her 50s. Still a chicken with a spring in her step

[smiles]

I live in Soi 80 and there definitely is a Linda Bar here (and around the corner from our place) ... just a block and a half up from the Petchkasem Rd entrance.

I pass it by every day and night going here and there, and I'd hardly call it 'notorious': most nights quiet and rather laid back, never empty but hardly ever full to overflowing either. Never stopped, but will one of these days simply because of this thread and the designation of 'infamous'. I'll let you know!
Soi 80 has spawned quiet the little nightlife thing happening. There's at least 8 small bars along the main drag (most of them what were originally the parking/patio areas of the townhouses which make up the 2 sois of Soi 80 itself.
My favourite 'irony' moments come as I'm wandering down to the Railway Soi for fresh fruit and vegetables is The Friendly Bar, which hardly ever has a soul in it besides two bored-looking ladies begging you in . . . and The Devil's Bar**** (or something like that) which is jammed packed!

There's also 2 gay bars on this outta-the-way Soi, which surprised ~ and delighted.
There's a dark and blacked out bar for watching live European soccer games (but lots of smoking goes on inside ~ everybody else but us one night) and the Man United vs Liverpool game could only be seen through a thick blue cigarette haze. We left at half time and headed to the Corner Bar which was mercifully open to the fresh air.

Cheers ...

**** On my 6pm run tonight I passed by the above-mentioned 'popular' bar. "Or something like that" indeed! I'm afraid my predilection toward poetic licence, as well as a love affair with all-things-ironic got the better of me on this one. The name of the bar is actually "The Eagles Nest". Far less ironic unfortunately, and an obvious flight of fantasy on my part (but it was still almost full at 6PM).

[Fybo]

I seem to recall that the bar had the strap line of "infamous" in the Lonely Planet Guides of of few years ago.

Around 10 years ago when I made my 1st visit to HH (armed with my Lonely Planet), I set off in search of the "notorious Linda's Bar".

The bar I found was just up from the Sofitel, no customers and two Thai ladies aged around 50ish (not very good with ages!). They were very pleasant and I had one drink and left.

I can only surmise that the Lonely Planet contributor must have had a beer or three and had his first ever Thai bar-girl experience (allegedly of course). Hence his view of it being notorious.

[Sabai Jai]

Linda's deffinately was 'Infamous' in more than one of it's previous incarnations, usualy late on.

I never went to one but was shown some photos's of a 'Party' held there by some of the old hand Bar owners.

SJ