Tips for a nice stay on the Railay Peninsula in Thailand
January 14, 2025
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The best hotspots in multifaceted Bangkok? We're happy to help you get started. The chaotic, lively city Bangkok is a city of extremes and, for that very reason, one of our favorite cities in Asia. Bangkok's disorganized bustle, smells and sounds surprise us every time. At least as impressive in Bangkok is the huge contrast visible everywhere. Huge shopping malls stand opposite traditional village houses and streets full of street food can be found next to luxurious rooftop bars on top of skyscrapers. Consequently, there is an enormous amount to discover in the metropolis. From restaurants to coffee spots and the best bars: we share with you the finest hotspots in Bangkok!
The finest places to eat in Bangkok
One of the most enjoyable things about traveling, in our opinion, is going on a culinary exploration of a destination. Bangkok lends itself perfectly to this. Thai cuisine is hugely popular. You can eat everywhere in bustling Bangkok, and if you know where to go, you will eat amazingly well. You can keep discovering new flavors and surprising combinations here. These are our favorite restaurants in Bangkok:
Restaurant Harmonique
Looking for a place to dine with a unique setting? Then visit the restaurant Harmonique in the cozy and historic Bang Rak district. Bang Rak is the area particularly known for its popular Chinatown, but this creative district also offers streets filled with stores, street art, some of Bangkok's most historic temples, street food and the used car parts market Talat Noi. It is also home to a number of unusual restaurants, of which Harmonique is definitely one.
Harmonique is located in Soi Charoenkrung 34 and is literally a hidden gem, as you walk right past it. The restaurant is cozily decorated with both Chinese and Thai motifs. The interior is reminiscent of an old family home with cheerful colors, flowers and deity statues. In the middle of the courtyard is a massive banyan tree. The menu at Harmonique is a mix of Thai and international dishes. The menu is not very extensive, but the dishes you can choose from are very good!
- Address: 22 Charoen Krung 34 Alley, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
- Price category: ฿฿
Restaurant Khin Lom Chom Saphan
The restaurant Khin Lom Chom Saphan is also located on the Chao Phraya River overlooking the Rama VIII Bridge (the bridge similar to the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam. Once the sun sets, Khin Lom Chom Saphan's location provides a stunning backdrop and a nice breeze. The restaurant offers both Thai, and Western dishes, especially seafood. The staff is very friendly and there is regularly entertaining live music here.
- Address: 11, 6 Samsen 3 Alley, Wat Sam Phraya, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
- Price category: ฿฿ - ฿฿฿฿
Sala Rattanakosin Restaurant
At the restaurant Sala Rattanakosin dine overlooking the Wat Arun Temple, one of Bangkok's iconic temples. The contemporary restaurant also features a rooftop bar, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the Chao Phraya River and the impressive Buddhist temple at sunset while sipping a cocktail.
- Address: 39 Maha Rat Road, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
- Price Category: ฿฿฿฿
Blue Elephant Restaurant & Cooking School
Blue Elephant is perhaps one of the most iconic restaurants in Bangkok, both in appearance and food. Housed in a century-old colonial mansion on bustling Sathon Road, the restaurant serves authentic Thai cuisine. Blue Elephant's master chef, Nooror Somany Steppe, is recognized as one of Thailand's top 5 master chefs and the restaurant is consequently named in the Michelin Guide. Besides à la carte, you can also choose a tasting menu at Blue Elephant where you will be served various culinary delights.
Blue Elephant also offers cooking classes where you will be introduced to the intricacies of Thai cooking.
- Address: 233 S Sathon Road, Yan Nawa, Sathon, Bangkok 10120
- Price Category: ฿฿฿฿
Street Food in ICONSIAM
We can't really call it street food; the food stalls in ICONSIAM. In fact, these eateries are located in the mall in a food court called SookSiam. SookSiam, on the other hand, is so nicely set up and offers such delicious food that we MUST mention this place in the list!
At SookSiam, you truly imagine yourself in another world. Here you will take a look at the culture, traditions, lifestyles and cuisine of all 77 provinces of Thailand. SookSiam is set up as a kind of cultural heritage of Thailand's main geographical regions. It is represented by more than 3,000 local businesses from all over the country. In addition to food, then, you are also at the right place for beautiful art supplies, souvenirs and other creations.
Surely the indoor floating market inside SookSiam gave us a bit of an Efteling feeling!
ICONSIAM is worth a visit anyway besides the delicious food. The mall opened in 2017 after a total investment of over 1.4 billion (!) euros converted. This makes ICONSIAM a real attraction in itself. All the most expensive stores are located here and in terms of the mall's decoration too, it couldn't be crazier, more beautiful and exclusive.
Every day at 6:30 and 8 p.m. ICONSIAM, outside at River Park on the riverfront, hosts the free spectacular ICONIC water shows which are great fun to behold!
- Address: 299 Charoen Nakhon Road, Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600
- Price category: ฿ - ฿฿฿
Breakfast and coffee spots
Not only for lunch and dinner, there are many great hot spots in Bangkok. There are also plenty of cozy and tasty breakfast and coffee spots scattered throughout the city.
Gram Cafe & Pancakes
In Japan was Gram Cafe & Pancakes very popular for some time, but since 2019, the fluffy pancakes are also available in Bangkok. The Japanese pancakes are different from the variety we are familiar with. Namely, they are 4 centimeters thick, which makes them look more like small, soft rolls than pancakes. They are served with "Nama Cream," a combination of whipped cream, butter and maple syrup. Definitely worth a try for the real sweet tooth!
- Address: 7th Floor, Zone Atrium. CentralWorld Plaza Rama1 Rd., Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330
- Price category: ฿฿ - ฿฿฿฿
Konnichipan Bakery
Near the popular Rambuttri Village near Khao San Road is Konnichipan Bakery established. At this bakery you can find all kinds of sandwiches. From fresh French croissants to chocolate chips muffins and sandwiches: you can find it all there. We kept coming back here during our stay in Rambuttri because there was something different delicious to be found every day! Besides being very good, it is also spot on.
- Address: 183 Chakrabongse Rd, Talat Yot, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
- Price category: ฿ - ฿฿฿
Also read: Tips for visiting the metropolis of Bangkok
Bangkok is one of the busiest cities in the world, welcoming over 22 million tourists each year. But Bangkok is also so much more than a big, chaotic city. Look through the crowds and discover an exotic metropolis full of smells and colors.
Staying overnight in Bangkok
Looking for fine accommodation in Bangkok? Check out the various options in the modern business district and the historic center around the popular Khao San Road. The latter is especially popular among backpackers. Don't want to be in the middle of the crowds? Then Rambuttri Village is a very cozy place to stay in Bangkok.
Staying overnight in historic Bangkok
Accommodations at Khao San and Rambuttri VillageCozy bars and impressive rooftops
If anything in Bangkok is versatile, it is its nightlife. From local bars to the most luxurious sky bars, you are guaranteed a successful night out in Bangkok.
Khao San Road and Rambuttri Village
By far the most popular nightlife spots in Bangkok are located on Khao San Road. Khao San Road is Bangkok's backpacker street. Despite the fact that authentic Bangkok is very far away in this street, a visit to Bangkok is really not complete without having experienced Khao San Road. Pictures of this street are not enough. Khao San Road must be seen, smelled, heard, felt and tasted to judge!
Parallel to Khao San Road you will find the cozy, more convivial Rambuttri Village. In these streets you can find nice restaurants, but also for example the famous "cocktail vans".
- Address: Thanon Khao San, Khwaeng Talat Yot, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200
- Price category: ฿ - ฿฿฿
Lebua at State
The Lebua AT State Tower is one of the most famous buildings in Bangkok. In Lebua At State, you will find not only Bangkok's tallest rooftop bar, but even one of the tallest in the world. The famous rooftop bar (Sirocco &) Sky Bar is best known internationally for its appearance in the popular Hangover II movie. The view at Sirocco & Sky Bar (on the 63rd floor) is truly stunning. The slightly lesser-known Alfresco 64 - A Chivas Bar at Lebua At State is highly recommended. This is especially the place to be for whiskey lovers.
Want to visit Lebua At State? Then keep in mind the dress code (no flip-flops) and don't be put off by the menu prices. A cocktail at Sky Bar costs about THB 1,000, which is equivalent to a mere €30 per glass.
- Address: State Tower Bangkok, 1055 Si Lom, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
- Price Category: ฿฿฿฿
Bangkok Heightz
Bangkok Heightz is a rooftop bar in the Continent Hotel Bangkok by Compass Hospitality on Sukhumvit Road. The small rooftop is located on the 39th floor. This doesn't necessarily make it one of the highest rooftops, but the view is definitely not inferior to other rooftop bars in Bangkok. What is especially nice at Bangkok Heightz is the cocktails they serve. Besides being very tasty, they are all Instagram-worthy.
- Address: 6413 Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10100
- Price category: ฿฿ - ฿฿฿฿
Among the locals: Heaven Rooftop Bar & Trok-Si-Lom
Looking for a local and inexpensive rooftop bar? Then consider Heaven Rooftop Bar. To this bar come almost only local Thai. Therefore, it is a good option if you like to see how the Thai "go out. Heaven's rooftop bar is not necessarily very high, so don't choose it to marvel at the city at altitude. However, Heaven is very cozy, has Thai live music and serves good and affordable cocktails!
Another nice local bar is TROK-SI-LOM, close to Heaven. We ended up in this bar by chance on a weeknight and were surprised when we came upstairs and saw that the bar was completely full of local Thai. Live music is also played here. The bar is at eye level with the BTS Skytrain. Consequently, every 5-10 minutes BTS trains pass by, completely drowning out the live music in terms of sound. We found this very laughable, but then again typically Thai to see.
- Heaven Rooftop Bar: 491/43-44 Silom Plaza, Silom Road Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10150
- TROK-SI-LOM: 36 38 Naradhiwat Rajanagarindra Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
- Price category both: ฿
Jack's Bar
Hidden behind the luxury Shangri-La hotel, on a small jetty next to the public ferry cab pier, you'll find Jack's Bar. This local bar is by far the cheapest, but also one of the nicest riverside bars you can find on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. The bar with its plastic chairs is a different kind of location than most bars you find around the river, but for this very reason it is so cozy. Go here for ice-cold Thai beer and tasty Thai food!
- Address: 62/1 Wat Suan Phlu Alley, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
- Price category: ฿
Discover bustling Bangkok in 3 to 4 days
Do you have 3 to 4 days to spend in Bangkok? Then there are lots of fun things to do in Bangkok. From bicycle tours to visiting the most beautiful temples, you will not get bored in Bangkok! These are our tips for 3 to 4 days of Bangkok.
Travander
At Travander, we’re all about exploring hidden gems, unique destinations, and off-the-beaten-path travel experiences. Our motto, “Let’s Travel and Wander,” reflects our passion for discovering both local treasures and faraway adventures. As experienced travel bloggers and travel consultants, we share insider tips, personal stories, and practical advice to help you make the most of every trip. From city breaks and weekend getaways to tailor-made travel itineraries, we guide you to the most beautiful and inspiring places. Explore the world with Travander and let us spark your next unforgettable adventure!
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