Upvote:7
There are actually only three areas in Bangkok licensed for actual go-go bars, meaning scantily dressed girls of negotiable virtue dancing on stage:
There are also a few gay go-go areas, notably Soi Pratuchai quite close to Patpong.
See Wikivoyage for a quick rundown of how these places work and how to behave yourself β and yes, it's perfectly OK to go just for a drink.