7 Bangkok Neighborhoods to Eat and Drink

Bangkok and its 15 million inhabitants know how to welcome people, and they also know how to have fun. And when you come to Thailand, you can understand the desire to come and unwind a little, to take a breather on vacation after months of hard work!

Whether you are an expat or a visitor, Bangkok has several neighborhoods that can make you spend a crazy night, or simply with your lover or friends, chilling on a rooftop or by the river. There is no shortage of options! Whether it is bars, restaurants or often, a mix of both, I have no doubt that Bangkok will be able to give you your Very Bad Trip 😉

Note that many restaurants close late, sometimes at midnight, while bars sometimes extend until 2 a.m. depending on the area or even 3 a.m. for some Clubs, but never beyond.

1- Khao San district

I'll start with the most obvious. Khao San has now, for several years, become the default pied-à-terre for people passing through and newcomers to Thailand. It is therefore quite natural to Khao San Road that many of you will turn to with the idea of ​​having a drink and seeing some entertainment.

The street has had a bit of a facelift in recent months, which is not unpleasant, with renovations to the facades, and even more recently, a redevelopment of the road crossing it, giving it more of a pedestrian street feel (which it should be, but is not during the day)... The street is slightly less "messy" even if, rest assured, you can still find street food, elephant pants and a bit of everything and anything...

Khao San Road at night.

It's about who will sell the cheapest and strongest alcohol...

In addition to the small bars, each of which will blast the sound system to attract you, and the reduced prices on the famous "buckets", its buckets of alcohol in kit form, to encourage you to sip a drink while you sit at their "dinette" style tables and chairs; you will have some famous bars, some with groups playing live music like the Brick Bar, very often crowded.

I can also cite the Bangkok View Rooftop Bar, which dominates the end of Khao San Street, or the “hidden” one Reggae Bar Bangkok, located in an alley joining Khao San to Rambuttri in the middle and the Mulligans Irish Bar, also in another alley straddling Khao San and Rambuttri. There are also clubs there, like The Club Khaosan Bangkok or Superflow Beach Club Bangkok.

But if I want to talk about Khao San Road, it is also to address what is around it. Because if Khao San designates a particular street, the animation and the possibilities of going out are not limited to it alone. I cannot ignore for example the Soi Rambuttri, its twin sister which, although neighboring, is a street that offers a slightly more relaxed atmosphere than on Khao San. But as an alternative, I especially wanted to tell you about Phra Athit.

Rambuttri Street, next to Khao San.

In Rambuttri on the way to Phra Athit.

Pad Thai, one of the staple dishes in Thailand.

The street Phra Athit is the artery that runs along the river, following Phra Sumen Street. This starts at the park next to the Phra Sumen Fort and goes to the Phra Pin Klao bridge. Some of you have certainly already passed there, after the bridge, it is the national theater, the national museum, the royal square of Sanam Luang and therefore the Grand Palace at the end, and all this is accessible on foot.

You may have slept there too, since that's where the popular hotel is located New Siam II, often cited by French-speaking travelers as accommodation with a good quality/price ratio in the area (for other suggestions, I invite you to take a look at those mentioned in my article dedicated to accommodation in bangkok).

During the day, it is a much quieter street, not unpleasant to come and eat there since you come across a few restaurants, but most open in the evening, because there, it changes face to become more lively. But contrary to what one might think given its location, it is a street and bars very widely frequented by Thai youth, coming to quench their thirst here with a good dose of live music.

The only drawback is that the tables are spread out on the sidewalk, leaving little space for pedestrians passing by...

On Phra Athit Road, just off Soi Rambuttri.

Another area around Khao San, a little further away, I can mention the road Samsen Road, of which you have for example the Join The 13th Blue Bar, which is an excellent address for a Jazzy atmosphere. The latter is located at the foot of the bridge crossing the canal, opposite the Soi Samsen 2. Before, you also had Madame Musur there which has now expanded and settled in a corner of Soi Rambuttri precisely. Still on the main road in Samsen, you will find " The Exile Rockbar", another popular spot with live music.

Getting to Khao San Road:

To date, there is no metro going there directly (this will be the case in a few years because it is obviously planned).

• The closest line is the MRT Blue Line (underground metro), which has a stop at Sanam Chai station, behind the Museum Siam and not far from Wat Pho, so you will be about 2 km from Khao San Road.
• The alternative is the line of BTS Sukhumvit Line (aerial metro), Ratchathewi station, then tuk tuk or taxi meter, there are then 4 km left to go. Also with the same distance, you can go to the line of BTS Silom Line and go down to National Stadium.

By boat, you can take the Chao Phraya Express, and get off at stop no. 13 "Phra Athit" or the next stop, no. 14 "Rama 8", if you are going towards Samsen (it's still about the same distance). Otherwise, there are buses, tuk tuks and taxis in general, even if concerning the latter two, it is difficult to avoid excessive prices for the uninitiated.

2- Soi Ari (Soi Phahon Yothin 7)

Not to be confused with Soi Ari on the Sukhumvit side, I am talking about the Soi Ari at the foot of the BTS station Ari, from the Sukhumvit line. This is going up towards the north of the city, shortly before the stop to go to the Chatuchak Market. Soi Ari actually refers to Soi Phahon Yothin 7.

It's a neighborhood that I know well for having lived there for several years. And it's a neighborhood that I always like to come and eat a bite. It's a very mixed atmosphere between an expat neighborhood (because there are more and more of them in this area) and a place for locals to go out.

View of the buildings in the area around Soi Ari.

During the day, there are an impressive number of cafes, especially in Soi Ari 1, one of my favorites being the small and hidden Aribica, which offers very good coffee for only 60 baht (they have since opened a 2nd branch, Aribica Specialty Coffee X Amplify Coffee Roasters, larger a little further down the same street). The last one tested being the CAFE VONDERVIC.

But in the evening, you will find many restaurants open and offering both food and drink, such as the O'Glee which offers a wide selection of beers. At the foot of the station, you have a few options around the Villa Market (opposite Soi Ari).

In the main Soi Ari, for example, you have the lay lao – Ari for northeastern and Laotian cuisine, or even the Ongtong Khaosoi Ari Branch for northern cuisine.

There are also a whole bunch of small restaurants in a small side street between Soi Ari 1 and Soi Ari 2 (near the main artery) and others more discreet behind a green building (Snanapa), still along Soi Ari 1. In Soi Ari 2, you have several Japanese restaurants.

As you go a little deeper into the neighborhood, you have a few options in Soi Ari 4, including the GUMP's Ari Community Space.

Still on the way to the Ari district, you can head to the street called Rama VI Soi 30 (which corresponds to Phahon Yothin Soi 5, which connects Phahon Yothin Avenue and Rama VI). There, you'll find, in addition to the restaurants along the street, a few options further on at Aree Garden.

I don't put more specific names of restaurants because when I do the update, I realize as always that the restaurants are okay, so it's never easy to have information on the page.

Getting to Ari:

Directly accessible by overhead metro. Take the BTS Sukhumvit Line and go down to the Ari station.

3- Victory Monument

Probably the most underrated neighborhood despite its fairly convenient location because it is central, and yet Victory Monument, with its recognizable pointed monument in its center, is an area that comes alive in the evening (and during the day too, for that matter).

Victory Point is its heart, with around it, the one I frequented from time to time, The Saxophone Bar and its jazzy atmosphere, on the corner further in the mall you have the restaurant and bar PEAK-A-BOO Bar (formerly the Beat@ Victory Mall), which has a great view of the monument and the BTS line that runs past it. In another corner of the intersection, you have the bar heap

If you move a little further away from the intersection, following the BTS line, you will find the restaurant Eat Am Here, which opens until midnight and Baan Bar Food & Beverage open until 2am.

Getting to Victory Monument:

Also easily accessible, since it is located along the metro line BTS Sukhumvit Line, stop Victory Memorial.

4- Ratchathewi

It has regularly served as my "fiefdom" for my outings. Ratchathewi is especially a good spot for its Co-Co Walk, offering a collection of restaurants and bars under one roof. Clearly Thai-oriented, you will still encounter a few foreigners, including tourists and expats staying in the area.

My fiefdom!

I don't necessarily have a particular name to recommend, especially since it changes regularly (depending on the managers), even if the Chilling House stands out a little, go there according to feeling and above all, depending on the places available because it is often crowded if you arrive a little late.

Often crowded on weekends!

Getting to Ratchathewi:

This is the stopping of Ratchathewi Metro, BTS Sukhumvit Line, just before stopping at major shopping malls like Siam and MBK.

5- Silom and Sathorn

Patpong. Certainly a word that you will have heard or that you will have noticed. It is basically one of the red light districts of Bangkok. But it has become a place to go out in its own right. Because there you can find a night market on the street itself, as well as numerous eating and drinking establishments in its surroundings.

Soi Patpong.

To be honest, this is one of the areas I visit the least, preferring Khao San and more generally Ari, as it is closer to home. I am therefore less able to recommend specific establishments (one of the ones I liked has closed…), but we can mention the White Rabbit Bar, at the foot of the Silom BTS station.

Just at the corner of Silom Street and Rama IV Avenue, in the former Robinson renovated into Silom Edge, you have a nice little rooftop recently tested, the Throwback.bkk Rooftop Bar.

Interior of the Roadhouse Barbecue.

Not far away in the street parallel to Silom, Surawong Road, you have right at the intersection a sports bar which is also a restaurant, tested on a World Cup evening, the Roadhouse Barbecue.

Note in passing that Silom 4 Street is mainly filled with bars aimed at a gay clientele.

Along Convent Street you have the Vesper and MASH craft brews & bites. Unfortunately, the iconic Maggie Choos, whose entrance with its small Chinese restaurant already transported you to another universe, has closed...

Bye bye Maggie Choo.

It is also at the end of Silom that the famous rooftop bar of the Lebua State Tower, but I talk about it in a dedicated section. If you go to the very end of Silom, to reach the banks of the Chao Phraya, you can find a good local atmosphere at the water's edge, at the Jack's Bar.

Parallel to Silom Road is Sathorn Avenue. Basically more of a business artery than an outing, but on the perpendicular streets between Silom and Sathorn, there are some nice spots, especially along Sathorn Soi 10. There is the Bardo Social Bistro and Bar, which closes a little “early” at 21 p.m., otherwise there is the Revolution Cocktail

Le Blue Parrot Bangkok and its nice garden have moved, and is more like Khlong Toei's porch now than Silom (see location here).

On the parallel street, Sathorn Soi 12, you have The Intern Café which I had tested some time ago.

Getting to Silom:

Silom is a well-served artery because it can be reached by both the underground and overhead metro:

• MRT Blue Line (underground metro), Silom station
• BTS Silom Line (aerial metro), Sala Daeng station

Getting to Sathorn:

Sathorn is also served by both subways and even the boat since the lower part of Sathorn overlooks the Chao Phraya River.

• MRT Blue Line (underground metro), Lumphini station, especially useful if you are going to the upper part of the avenue, Rama IV coast and close to Lumphini Park. This is mainly where you will go to get to the HI-SO of the So Sofitel or the Vertigo bar, which are rooftops, so I talk about them in the dedicated section.
• BTS Silom Line (aerial metro), Chong Nonsi station, Surasak or even Saphan Taksin. There is also a new station, Saint Louis, which came to be inserted between Chong Nonsi and Surasak, allowing you to go directly to Sathorn Soi 10 and 12 without having to walk as before.

On the lower part, you can reach the area by boat via Saphan Taksin or the Oriental stop, but since the article is mostly about going out, and the boats stop around 19pm, this is unlikely to be your option.

6- RCA (Royal City Avenue)

Royal City Avenue, better known as RCA, is a street with an ordinary appearance and rather sleepy during the day. But at nightfall, it becomes completely different as it transforms and becomes entirely dedicated to partying. Clearly aimed at Thai youth, although lately, I understand that a large Korean clientele has taken over the place a bit...

This street is less well-known to the general public because it is more a place for discos and clubs than for bars, so it is generally more suited to locals and expats than tourists.

There are still some notable options, the most interesting for eating more peacefully being the OLD LENG BAR @RCA. Afterwards, you can let off steam at the Onyx Bangkok or the family Route66 Club. It's an area that I used to frequent, there's a clearly more festive atmosphere than a relaxed one in general, even if you can find outdoor spaces for that.

Please note that the dress code is rather “casual”, shorts and flip-flops are not really acceptable there…

RCA daytime.

The only photo I have of RCA at night!

Getting to RCA:

The street is not directly served by the metro as such, however, an MRT line (underground metro) passes not too far away, in addition to the train from the airport (the Airport Rail Link):

• MRT Blue Line, Phra Ram 9 station, the closest one is about 1 km from RCA, otherwise there is Phetchaburi station (which is the one before Asok, towards Sukhumvit) then taxi or tuk tuk (about 2 km)
• Airport Rail Link, Makkasan station ou Ramkhamhaeng, each located equidistant from RCA (approximately 2 km), with Makkasan having a connection to the MRT Blue Line metro.

By boat, same remark as for Silom/Sathorn, I doubt that this is your option given the schedules but note that there is the San Saep canal nearby, crossed by a shuttle during the day. Close to RCA, there are the Wat Mai Chong Lom or Thong Lo stops.

7- Sukhumvit

Nana (Soi 4)

We have now come to the name that is probably most familiar to you. Sukhumvit Avenue, the heart of the city, is certainly the most obvious choice for going out as this artery is full of possible places. Starting at the beginning. If you go down to the Nana station, you will be put into the bath of direct animation.

Nana shelters one of Bangkok's red light districts, but it is also a place to go out with many bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Near Soi 4, you have Bully's, which has good burgers, and across the street, between Soi 3 and Soi 5, you'll find Bangkok's Arab Quarter. There are Indian, Lebanese, Egyptian, and other restaurants there if you're looking to try different types of cuisine.

Sukhumvit Self 11

Many are concentrated in particular in Soi 11. Even if today the legendary Cheap Charlie and the entire small street behind it have disappeared (and will make way for a new skyscraper...), there is still plenty to do.

For food, it's very international but there are some very good options like the Cappadocia Turkish Restaurant Bangkok or the superb Pastel Rooftop Bar & Mediterranean Dining with its ceiling fresco that takes you straight to Portugal.

There are plenty of places to chill out and have a drink. Whether it's at the Zanzibar or Golden Giraffe for live music, the cozy Oskar Bistro or Havana Social, there is something for everyone. For dancing, there are several nightclubs, such as the Levels Club or the Sugar Club, but none excel in terms of reputation. The best being a priori the Bafros which is more of a lounge bar.

Otherwise, personally, I happened to hang around at Nest Rooftop Lounge, which has the advantage of being very cool in terms of atmosphere, with quite a few places to sit down with a drink with friends. The latter is located on the roof of the Fenix ​​Hotel, ideal for resting your feet in the sand.

On Sukhumvit Street 11.

Asok – Phrom Pong district (Soi 19 to 39)

At the next station, Asok (where the famous Terminal 21 shopping center is located), you have for example the Japanese restaurant Kenshin Izakaya Asok, with a nice theme and atmosphere to enjoy a good beer and Japanese snacks. In Soi 19, there is an old institution, the Beer Garden Sukhumvit 19.

Continuing along the BTS line, you can stop at Phrom Pong, besides its two department stores, The Emporium and the stylish EmQuartier, you will find many authentic Japanese restaurants. Heading towards Sukhumvit Soi 2, you will find theOtto Bar. 

As for the bars themselves, you will find several along Soi 33/1, there is the Robin Hood, a sports bar, in a similar style, the O'Shea's Irish Sports Bar and next to it, the Royal Oak.

Finally in Soi 39, you have the famous The Iron Fairies Music Bar Bangkok.

Iconic view of the crossroads in Asok.

Thong Lor

Continuing further along Sukhumvit, between Phrom Pong and Thong Lor stations, you have the Iron Balls Parlor & Saloon, a great cocktail bar, on Soi 45 and right next door, a famous nightclub, the Sing sing theater.

Shortly after, you arrive at the Thong Lor station, a mecca for Bangkok's upper class. As you walk along Thong Lor Avenue (equivalent to Sukhumvit Soi 55), you can try many Japanese restaurants and bars, sometimes both, like the AINU Bar.

Right next door you have the cocktail bar, Rabbit Hole, and not far away, opposite, is also the Lightesss Thonglor, another good address for a cocktail bar once again.

View of Sukhumvit Avenue from a BTS (skytrain) station.

Phra Khanong

I could talk about Ekkamai, the station located just before, but I'm not going to mention the whole avenue. So to end this night tour of Sukhumvit, I suggest the Phra Khanong station. You will find there the excellent W District with its square surrounded by restaurants and bars.

It's a pretty popular place for expats and Thais alike. And in my case, it's close to several of my friends, so it's one of the places I go regularly.

Getting to Sukhumvit:

You have several possibilities as such, since as I mentioned just above, Sukhumvit Avenue brings a large number of possibilities for outings, without even having mentioned the rooftops located along it. Basically, the Sukhumvit metro line will obviously be your ally.

• BTS Sukhumvit Line (skyline), your choice of Nana, Asok, Phrom Pong, Thong Lo, Ekkamai, Phra Khanong stations
• MRT Blue Line (underground metro), Sukhumvit station (correspondence with the BTS in Asok)
• Airport Rail Link, Makkasan station + MRT subway from Phetchaburi, to Asok.

There is also the boat with the San Saep canal but I repeat, given the schedules concerned, this should not be the travel option, the latter only operating until 20:30 p.m. and 19 p.m. only on weekends.

8- Bonus: rooftops in Bangkok

I couldn't end this article without telling you about the famous rooftops, these bars with breathtaking views that can be found almost everywhere in Bangkok. In fact, almost every large hotel of a certain standing will have its rooftop bar, so the choice is wide.

The best known of all to date is the Sky Bar, located at the Lebua Tower, at the bottom of Silom Road. Highlighted in particular thanks to the film Very Bad Trip 2 (Original title: Hangover 2) whose main action took place in Thailand including Bangkok. If the view on the river is indeed sublime and I had the chance to dine there, it was a lot of years ago now.

At the time, the bar was reasonably priced. As it grew in popularity, it became a bit overpriced, with a minimum drink costing 400 baht (€10), and that's a Coke... Cocktails are at least 800 baht (to give you an idea, it's normally around 240 baht).

Lebua Tower is located at the end of Silom Street, the nearest metro is BTS Chong Nonsi, but it is still 1,5 km to walk there (might as well take a tuk tuk). Also with a view of the river, this time on the other side, you have the least known Three Sixty Lounge, at the top of the Millennium Hilton Bangkok hotel. Less known, there is the Yao Rooftop Bar, at the top of the Marriott Hotel located on Sirawong Street, parallel to Silom.

At the corner of Sathorn Avenue and Rama IV, you have the beautiful hotel So/ BANGKOK (formerly So Sofitel) which has a great view of Lumphini Park and has no less than 3 spots for that. You have the Water Club and its swimming pool hosting Pool Parties on the 10th floor, and higher up on the 29th floor, the Park Society, which is mainly a restaurant and closes at 22:30 p.m. To end the evening with the great view, you can go up to the 30th floor and sip a cocktail at the HI-SO Rooftop bar.

View of Lumphini Park from the Hi-So rooftop.

Still on Sathorn, there is the Vertigo, located at the top of the very classy Banyan Tree hotel. Another possibility, this time on the Pratunam side, the commercial district of Bangkok, you have the Central World shopping center, accessible from the boat (via the San Saep canal always, Pratu Nam stop) or from the Chitlom metro (BTS Sukhumvit Line). There you will have not one, but three rooftops!

Staying close to Lumpini Park, you have the already very famous Bar Yard, at the top of the new Kimpton Maa-Lai Hotel which, by the way, is an excellent place to sleep if it is in your budget, and which is also next to a beautiful little garden at the foot of the neighboring building, which is part of the same complex and houses the Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.

Two are almost side by side since they are part of Centara Grand Hotel which is part of the shopping center building. The Red Sky is located on the 55th floor, open from 16pm to 1am, requires proper attire and reservations are required. Same condition at CRU Champagne, located higher up on the 65th floor. It also has a restaurant. At the top of another tower but still belonging to Central World, there is the Zense restaurant, which is also a bar but closes earlier at 23:30 p.m.

On the side of Sukhumvit, in Soi Sukhumvit 11 which I mentioned above, you have the bar restaurant Above Eleven, on the 32nd floor of Fraser Suites, which offers an unlikely fusion of Peruvian, Japanese and New York cuisine.

A glimpse of the view from Above Eleven (sorry for the quality, I only had my phone…)

Not far between Soi Sukhumvit 13 and 15, you also have on the 32nd floor of the Sofitel Sukhumvit, Belga Rooftop Bar & Brasserie, a Belgian restaurant which paradoxically was once a French restaurant called l'Appart. Further along at Phrom Pong, there is the Mojjo Rooftop Lounge Bar, in Soi 24 and the ABar Rooftop in Soi Sukhumvit 22.

On the Thong Lor side, which I also mentioned in this article, you have a bar at the top of the hotel Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, with the excellent Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar, which remains a reference.

Almost opposite in Soi 40, you have the Tichuca Rooftop Bar and on the same side as the Octave, the most modest Tt rooftop bar x Cafe, almost at the foot of Soi 55.

If with all these suggestions you can't find a good place to spend a good evening in Bangkok, I don't know what else to say... If you have your favorite little spot, I'm all ears! Don't hesitate to share your good tips.

Did you like the article? share on Pinterest!