Thermae tips
For those staying at the Manhattan Hotel, u dun have to go all the way to Sukhumvit to enter. There’s a “secret” back way right next to the hotel, just before the tailor. It’s unmarked unless u look up and see the Ruamchitt sign. The gate is always open. Some motorcycles will be parked inside. This is actually the extension to Thermae’s toilet. It’s also good to know about this entrance/exit in case u need to escape from or avoid someone.
Inside Thermae and the hotel lobby are strictly non-smoking. If u need to light up, u can go out the front entrance or go to the Thermae toilet and sit on the steps.
If ur inside Thermae, the way to the toilet is to go out the back door, up the stairs, hang a left (the hotel lobby is to ur right) and go down the stairs. There r some wash basins too. The toilet is for boys and girls. Ur expected to hand a tip to the lady vendor sitting on the steps. The hotel also has a CR to the right of the front desk. But Thermae customers have to pay a fee to the lady sitting at the table in front of the CR.
There is no cover charge/admission fee to Thermae, but ur required to buy a drink. If u enter thru the front door, the bar is to ur immediate left. The waiters will usually make u go straight to the bar and order a drink, before u can take a look at the merchandise. There’s a menu board above the bar. Give ur order and money to the waiter. He’ll go the cashier and bring back ur change. No need to pay a tip if u get the drink from the bar. If u order a drink from a waiter and he brings it to u, u can give him a tip. He will appreciate that. Note: U only have to buy 1 drink. The waiters will try to bother u to order another drink, but u dun have to. If ur a regular, they leave u alone.
There r only waiters, no waitresses. They wear a light blue shirt and can speak Eng. Some of them have been working here before some of the girls here were even born.
They started selling popcorn a few years back to try to increase sales/customer. They have their own popper. It’s 20 baht a box (only 1 size). That’s a fair price. The girls at Twisters sell popcorn for double that. The popcorn is usually good. I tend to get some popcorn cuz they haven’t changed the prices of drinks for a long while and they appreciate it if u do.
This place is scrupulously straight. No scams, no short-changing, no bill-padding. No staff will ever ask for a tip. I’ve also never heard of any set-ups, like a girl taking a guy to a dark place where he’ll get mugged.
The system here is pay as u go. There’s no check bin or running a tab.
Besides drinks, they also serve Thai and Western food. Ask a waiter for the printed menu. In the old days, the girls never ordered anything. But since their prices went up (the girls’), some now order a drink or food, especially the karaoke-type girls. If u order food, the waiter will bring u a glass of water, except maybe for French fries or chicken wings. The fried chicken wings are popular. The kitchen is next to the toilet and the door is always open. If ur going to order food, dun look inside the kitchen. Dun know if u still have to order a drink if u get food.
The boss is a short, stocky guy, usually with a scowl. He comes late, about 10:30, and changes into his waiter uniform in a room in the back. He often stands by the front door and makes customers buy a drink. Whatever u do, dun get on the wrong side of this guy.
Thermae is in the basement of a hotel. The hotel has ST rooms. | |
