Bangkok has many neighborhoods, each with its own style and feel. Whether you want a quiet riverside area, a lively nightlife spot, or a place full of history, Bangkok has it all. In this guide, we’ll show you the top 10 neighborhoods in Bangkok to live, work, and explore, so you can find the best spot for you.
10. Thon Buri
Thon Buri is located on the West side of Bangkok, just across the Saphan Taksin bridge, over the Chao Phraya River.
Let’s start off strong with a dark horse.
Your potential dream condo could be along the Chao Phraya River in Thon Buri which means that a lot of the attractions there are riverside too! Thon Buri falls off the radar with a lot of people due to it being away from the main city, but that’s just part of its charm. It’s easy to make a home here and forget about the hustle and bustle that’s typical of central Bangkok.You also won’t be paying the typical Bangkok rates in this neighborhood, everything is relatively cheaper in Thon Buri.
Also let’s not forget that you could find one of the most iconic malls (Icon Siam) here too!
You’re here for the quintessential Bangkok experience so strap in because we’re diving into it!
9. Hua Lamphong
Hua Lamphong is located just east of Chinatown in central Bangkok, anchored by the city’s historic main railway station and close to MRT access.
Truly an underrated neighborhood, Hua Lamphong is home to some serious history. The Hua Lamphong Railway Station, Yaowarat (Chinatown), and Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha) are all in proximity of this historical neighborhood. If Chinatown is nearby then you know you’re in for some great local eats as you can find some amazing street food down Yaowarat Road, with even more waiting for you at the Yaowarat Old Market. If you’re into a more hipster vibe then be sure to visit Soi Nana (not to be confused with the one on Sukhumvit Soi 4) for some amazing artisanal bars.
Contemporary art buffs would love this area too as you’d close to River City, a shopping center housing amazing local and international contemporary art exhibitions. Of course, no prominent Bangkok neighborhood can be without an affluential shopping mall. A ferry across the Chao Praya River will lead you directly to Icon Siam, the grandest riverside mall in all of Bangkok.
8. On Nut
On Nut is located in eastern Bangkok along Sukhumvit Road, just past Ekkamai and Phra Khanong, and is easily accessible via the BTS Skytrain.
On Nut used to be the tail end of Bangkok civilization. All of the splendor and prominence would end right here. Bangkok though, is a thriving and expanding city and On Nut has certainly been a benefactor in that expansion!
While On Nut isn’t the most upscale neighborhood, that very much adds to its charm. On Nut is a no-nonsense residential area with a large Tesco Lotus on Sukhumvit 50 for everything you could possibly need. If you want something a bit more epicurean in this quiet neighborhood, then right across from Tesco Lotus are a group of container restaurants and bars that are well worth visiting. In fact, the legendary Cheap Charlie’s is located here, so be sure to stop by!
7. Silom
Silom is located in the heart of Bangkok’s central business district, stretching from Lumpini Park to the Chao Phraya River, and is served by both BTS and MRT lines.
Ah, Silom. The financial center of Bangkok. Silom is an area that’s highly contradictory to itself, much like what old Bangkok was originally like. No matter how much the rest of Thailand’s capital changes, Silom has withstood the test of time. While lacking in great and affordable residential options, Silom has the wild streak of the Bangkok of old. You can find your bootleg DVDs here, among many other unmentionables along Patpong Market. There is one of the oldest bars in the area (Madrid Bar) that was open since the Vietnam War. Plenty of amazing food and drink options are along Silom road, and for the uninitiated, it doesn’t seem like a road worth walking.
It’s a strange cascade of old and modern, wild and orderly. This is what Thailand once was decades ago, and as time moves on only Silom manages to hold onto it.
6. Ari
Ari is located just north of central Bangkok along Phahonyothin Road, easily accessible via the BTS Ari Station, and is known for its laid-back vibe and trendy cafés.
Ari has a very special place in the hearts of those that are living or have lived there. While not perfectly ideal in terms of logistics from the commercial and financial center, Ari’s charm lets it be its own entity.
It’s not exactly far from the commercial center of Bangkok, but you’re paying a great deal less when it comes to housing. You’d also have a more eclectic selection of residences within this neighborhood as opposed to the usual high rise condo. Expect to find fancier apartments here within its sois.
You can also easily come across some of the finest street food, cafe, restaurant, and bar options in Ari. This neighborhood is absolutely perfect for the initiated Bangkok denizen that’s seen the sights and might be in need of something different, but it’s not ideal for someone who’s either here for the first time or looking for the atypical Bangkok experience.
5. Asok
Asok is centrally located at the intersection of Sukhumvit Road and Ratchadaphisek Road, and is one of Bangkok’s busiest transport hubs with both BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit stations.
This is where it’s at. In the middle of the list is the commercial center of Bangkok. Asok benefits from being easily accessible through the BTS Skytrain, and MRT Subway, having the Terminal 21 Shopping Center for a delectable selection of restaurants, plenty of five star hotels, an endless amount of bars and restaurants along Sukhumvit Road, and is between two red light districts.
Asok is how the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority want you to remember all of Bangkok, where high rise buildings are commonplace, and the local Thai life isn’t. Despite the prosperity that Asok tries to project, walking down Sukhumvit Road toward Phloen Chit will remind you of the country you’re in. Along the road are various shops selling fake sunglasses, jewelry, DVDs, clothing, sexual enhancement supplements, and much much more.
4. Ekkamai
Ekkamai is located along Sukhumvit Road in eastern Bangkok, just next to Thonglor, and is easily accessed via BTS Ekkamai Station.
こんにちは, welcome to Ekhamai! It’s unfair to associate only Ekkamai with Japan, but right off the Ekkamai BTS skytrain is Gateway, a Japanese themed shopping center. A good deal of Bangkok’s Japanese population live within the finer residences here in Ekkamai, and it certainly is a neighborhood worth living in!
Here you can find famous holy sites like Wat That Thong, a large supermarket in the Big C Supercenter, plenty of amazing teppanyakis and izakayas, multiple clubs catering to Bangkok’s exclusive night life, and much much more.
While not the most local feeling neighborhood you could find, it most certainly has a quirky upscale feel to it.
3. Phrom Phong
Phrom Phong is a lively neighborhood along Sukhumvit Road in central Bangkok, centered around BTS Phrom Phong Station
Speaking of upscale, that’s exactly how you’d describe Phrom Phong. Maybe upscale with a bit of chaos. Phrom Phong is home to the Em shopping centers of Emporium, EmQuartier, and EmSphere where excess is in abundance. Did they really need three luxury malls all within close proximity of each other? No, but that’s how Phrom Phong rolls.
This neighborhood is oozing with wealth. Having a home here, maybe a condo in one of the sois means you’ve come a long way in life and have need for nothing but the finest you can get your hands on.
Five star hotels? Check. Five star restaurants? Check. An amazing park next to the mall? Check. Amazing massage parlors? Check. Place to park your supercar? Check.
2. Thong Lor
Thong Lo is a trendy neighborhood also located along Sukhumvit Road in central Bangkok, centered around BTS Thong Lo Station.
While Phrom Phong is associated with static wealth, Thong Lor can be seen as the place of active wealth. That’s mainly because Thong Lor is the place to be seen!
This neighborhood is where you’d find all of Thailand’s generational wealth hanging out. The children of politicians, police chiefs, business owners, etc. will all find a place to hang around in Thong Lor! It’s not just the exciting night life that Thong Lor has to offer, it’s the Michelin Star restaurants (Supanniga), luxurious shopping outlets (Marche`), and more!
Like Phrom Phong, having a residence here means that you want for nothing in life and we certainly congratulate you if you can afford it!
1. Sathorn
Sathorn is a bustling business district in central Bangkok, situated along Sathorn Road and well-connected by the BTS Skytrain and MRT subway systems.
And now to deviate a bit from the previous entries. Living in Sathorn means having a bit of everything should you so desire it.
The high-rises of the city are here, in fact arguably the best skybar is located here at the top of the Banyan Tree Building (Vertigo). A peaceful neighborhood is also within reach (Suanplu), where you can find some great artisanal cafes, street food, and the like. There’s also a park nearby, one of the more famous one’s in the city (Lumpini Park), the perfect place to decompress and exercise. At the edge is Rama 4 road where it gets really congested, but you aren’t too far from the MRT subway (Sathorn) or you could use one of several BTS skytrain stations (Saphan Taksin, Surasak. Chong Nonsi) depending on which part of Sathorn you’re in. You’d be next to the most recently constructed mall which is a city of its own (The One Bangkok). You’re right next to the financial center (Silom), and not too far from the commercial center (Sukhumvit).
Sathorn places at first not just because it has everything you could want, but because you aren’t far from anything that’d typically be off the beaten path in Bangkok. While the top best neighborhood listings have all been about being the destination you may want to reach, Sathorn is still a place where you’re still undertaking a journey, and all of the aforementioned places can easily be where you end up going.
Want to know where to stay in Bangkok? Check out our next post: Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Bangkok
