Once out of Patong main strip many of the bars only survive long term because of the demographic of long stayers and expats who do hang out rather than 'herro handsome man' etc...
Many along Nanai for people watching, Offshore, Dons, Dirty nellies, 50 baht bar (now 60 I think) etc etc.. Bars where you can often get into those kind of long rambling multi person debates on putting the world to rights and holding forth.