Best Bangkok Areas to Stay for Food, Romance and nightlife

Planning your trip to Bangkok can be tough. Choose the wrong place to stay and you could end up in one of the city’s overcrowded tourist traps or in one of the sleazier parts of town. I’ve been in Bangkok for 5 years now, and one thing I’ve realized is that while there are some areas you should avoid, there is no one best place to stay. It will still vary depending on exactly what you want from your time in the city.

Ratchathewi and Ari for Transport Shopping and Cafes

I want to start with a part of town that I almost never see recommended in any guidebooks or videos, and it’s an area that I think is massively underrated as a place to stay.

What I like about this area is that it’s very well connected by public transport because not only is it near the BTS metro system, you can also take advantage of the city’s public canal boat system, meaning you get a completely different and, in my opinion, more interesting view of the city and can easily beat the notorious Bangkok traffic.

If you’re interested in doing some shopping in Bangkok, this is the area to stay because it’s only a short distance away from some of the city’s bigger shopping malls and a few stops from the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market, which is one of the best places in the city to buy souvenirs. Not only that, but it’s right next door to the famous Jim Thompson House, where you can buy some of the best quality clothes in the country.

This area is called Ratchathewi, and despite not being very well known, it still has a decent nightlife with plenty of bars and restaurants nearby. But what I like most about it is that it’s right next door to another area that used to be underrated but is now becoming more and more popular.

This area is becoming known as Bangkok’s coffee shop district, as its streets are lined with trendy cafes. What I love about this area is how chill it is compared to other parts of the city. The streets are quiet and lined with trees, and you’ll find locals taking it easy in one of the many coffee shops. This area is called Ari, and since it’s next door to Ratchathewi, it still has all the advantages that I mentioned before and could be an option for people looking for something a little bit different.

Yaowarat and Soi Nana for Street Food and Cocktails

But if there’s one thing Bangkok does better than every other city in the world, it’s street food. But where is the best place to enjoy the best street food?

Well, there’s one iconic street in Bangkok that has over 100 street food stands on it, making it by far the best option for food lovers. This is hands down the best place in Bangkok for street food, and Yaowarat Road is the beating heart of it all. You can’t walk 10 feet without stumbling across a food store selling something you’ve probably never even seen before.

This is Bangkok’s Chinatown, and its history is also what makes it so special. Old temples, hidden shrines and vintage shophouses line the streets, giving you a glimpse into a part of Bangkok that feels like it’s from another era. The Golden Mount in particular is a stunning temple overlooking the city below, and it’s also just a few metro stops from the most famous temples in the city.

In terms of nightlife, a number of the city’s most famous cocktail bars are all located on Soi Nana, not to be mistaken with Nana Plaza, which is the city’s red light district. Soi Nana has a number of Thai and Chinese-style cocktail bars that make the most of local flavors, so if you’re looking for some unique drinks, check out the bars in this area like Teens of Thailand, TBA and Ba Hao.

I suppose what I like most about this area is its variety. There is so much going on in a relatively small area that every time I go over here, I find something different. I’ve honestly never eaten at the same street food stand or drank the same cocktail twice, and I’m always finding interesting side streets to go down. This, more than anywhere else on the list, is a place I could just get lost in, wandering around without any particular aim to see what I would find.

But be aware, this is Bangkok at its most chaotic, and for some people it can be overwhelming, as every night the streets fill up with thousands of people looking for something to eat. So this might not actually be the best option for people traveling with kids.

A Family Friendly Stay Near Sukhumvit

Bangkok can be an absolute nightmare if you’re traveling with kids. Staying in the wrong place means you could be near dangerous traffic, and there could be more than a few sketchy individuals looking around. Well, luckily, there’s one area of town that I think is best suited for families, especially with young kids.

First of all, because it’s quite a central location, this area is a little better looked after than other parts of town, and I find it especially useful when I’m pushing my daughter in a pushchair. It’s one of the only places in the city that I can actually push her along the sidewalk without hitting massive bumps in the road. Plus, it’s the only place on Sukhumvit that I’ve ever seen guards to help people cross these insanely busy roads.

Not only that, but it’s also located near some of Bangkok’s green spaces. Benchasiri Park is the only park actually located on Sukhumvit Road, so it’s a good place to escape the hecticness of the city. But the much bigger Benjakitti and Lumpini parks are also just a short ride away.

But if you’re spending time in Bangkok with kids, there’s one thing you’ll need more than anything else, something most people don’t think about until it’s too late. Bangkok, in case you didn’t know it, is pretty damn hot, and this means you’ll probably need somewhere to escape to and take advantage of the air conditioning. This means you’ll need to keep the kids entertained whilst indoors, and that’s where this area really shines. The coolest new mall in Bangkok has to be EmSphere. This building has one of the best indoor food courts in the city, and there’s plenty for kids to do here. In the evening, there’s also a few family-friendly bars that are good for kids, with live music and, of course, air conditioning.

Just across the road is another mall, EmQuartier, which has plenty to do for kids, including kids’ play areas, rock-climbing walls and trampolines. The area itself is quite international, too, with lots of Japanese and Korean restaurants and a handful of bars. But it is still far enough away from the seedier or wilder bar areas, again making it a good choice if you have kids.

The Chao Phraya River for Romance and Views

But what if you’re looking for a romantic getaway in the city? The next location is home to some of the most stunning views in the city and the city’s most luxurious resorts.

Staying along the Chao Phraya River is like having a front-row seat to the best of Bangkok. These hotels are also conveniently located right next to the Reclining Buddha and the Royal Grand Palace, so if you only have a short time in the city, this could be a great option for you.

This area is definitely home to some of the best hotels in the city, with brands like Mandarin Oriental, The Peninsula and Hilton all located here. But the real reason to stay here is that they offer some of the best views in the city, as they overlook the river and sometimes even the city’s temples.

On my honeymoon, I actually stayed opposite Wat Arun, which is one of the most stunning temples in Bangkok. It was really amazing to be able to get one of the best views in Thailand without the crowds, and I’m not going to lie, being able to crack open a bottle of wine by the temple also made it a lot more fun.

Not every hotel has views opposite the temples, but they usually have stunning views of the river below, and you can sit and watch how life unfolds on the Chao Phraya River, giving you a completely different perspective of the amazing city, away from the sound of beeping horns and motorbikes and away from the madness. However, the only issue I have with this area is that it lacks a bit of nightlife. Don’t get me wrong, there are still a few places to sip a cocktail as the sun sets over the river, but you’re kind of missing out on some of the best spots in the city, which are all located in the next location.

Asok and Sukhumvit for Bangkok Nightlife

You can’t leave Bangkok without a wild night out, but some of the city’s most famous spots are actually some of the most overrated. Khao San Road, for example, is synonymous with backpacking in Bangkok, but personally I think it’s become a bit of an overcrowded tourist trap, with scams lurking on every corner. Whilst the area is still famous for nightlife, I think there are far better places in the city to experience it.

This area is known for having some of the best restaurants in the city, as chefs have come in from all over the world to open restaurants here. It’s also known for its sky bars, which are the best places in the city to watch the sun go down. This area is another part of Sukhumvit Road, and the area around Asok is where I recommend most people stay for nightlife.

What I like most about this area is that it’s the most varied place in terms of nightlife. If you’re looking for something a bit more upscale, like cocktail bars, whiskey bars and fine dining restaurants, it’s got that here. But there’s also a good range of less fancy options, with a lot of pubs and beer bars as well.

In fact, you’ve probably already seen one of the city’s most notorious nightlife spots here. This small, dingy street right next to the metro stop lights up at night with bright neon lights. This area is known as Soi Cowboy, and you may have seen it from a number of films about the city, including The Hangover II. This bar street blurs the line between bars and the red light district, but it’s by no means as seedy as some of the other areas of the city, like Nana Plaza or Patpong. But it is still an iconic Bangkok street.

This is also the best spot in the city for public transport because it’s where the connection points between the two metro lines meet, as well as having the chance to hop on one of the city’s canal boats. So there’s no need to waste your time in traffic, meaning you have easy access to all the city’s best sites.