Explore the Different and Fun Areas of Bangkok - Part I

Like most metropolises around the globe, Bangkok has developed many diverse, colourful, and unique neighbourhoods and areas that every visitor to the city should make an effort to get out and explore.

 

These neighbourhoods have each developed their own character and attractions that serve to put them on the map as being must-see destinations in their own right.

 

Here are four neighbourhoods that every visitor to Bangkok should experience at some point in their stay. Most of these areas are easily reached by public transportation, and all of them have Rental for the Holidays accommodations nearby.

 

Explore the different areas that together combine to make Bangkok such a special city and such a desired destination for world travellers. 

 

Aree – A Magnet for Foodies and Hipsters

Aree, also spelled 'Ari,' is getting a reputation among travellers for offering an eclectic and artisanal variety of boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. There is also no shortage of street food.

 

The main street of the neighbourhood is Soi Aree, and in the early evening, the road comes alive with food vendors appearing like magic and selling a variety of fresh and delicious Thai treats to hungry workers on their way home.

Along the tree-lined side streets off Soi Aree as well as the main street itself, you'll find a wide variety of both Thai and western restaurants and cafes offering everything from fine dining experiences to juicy burgers, freshly-made doughnuts and desserts and, of course, plenty of gourmet coffee. The Aree neighbourhood is chock full of quirky coffee houses that brew some of the best-tasting coffee in the city, as well as serving up fresh-baked pastries. It’s a cafe-hoppers delight. 

 

The Aree neighbourhood, has its own station along the BTS line and when you visit, you should bring a healthy appetite to sample all the great food available.

Siam Square – Shop ‘Til You Drop'

At the convergence point of the two lines of the BTS system, lies Siam Square. A mecca for Bangkok shoppers, the easily walkable blocks of this area hosts not one, but three popular shopping malls as well as literally hundreds of boutiques and eateries.

 

MBK Mall is well-known for the sheer number of its shoe stores. If you’re looking for new footwear, head to MBK.

 

Siam Centre and Siam Paragon are two neighbouring shopping malls that together offer a wealth of both affordable and upscale wares.

 

The food court which takes up most of the ground floor of Siam Paragon alone is well worth a visit. It offers a dizzying array of foods from all over the world as well as a large international, gourmet grocery store.

 

For serious shoppers, be prepared to spend an entire day at Siam Square and be sure to browse through all the vintage and trendy smaller shops within the Square itself.

Phrom Phong, Thong Lo and Ekkamai – Experience Upscale Nightlife

These three neighbourhoods, each having their own BTS stops along the Sukhumvit line, are your destination if you want to experience the upscale nightlife in Bangkok.

 

From intimate, fine dining restaurants to dance clubs and bars, this area picks up the pace as soon as the sun goes down.

 

Ekkamai especially is the home of some of the hottest dance clubs in the city. The numerous clubs up and down Thanon Ekkamai offer state of the art sound and lighting systems. They cater to well-heeled residents and tourists who enjoy grabbing a good meal at one of the area’s hundreds of Thai and international restaurants before hitting the clubs.

Silom District is a Multicultural Feast

The Silom district is the centre of the Bangkok business world and attracts people from all walks of life. This has led to the establishment of hundreds of shops and restaurants that cater to all these business people, both foreign and local.

 

The area is home to many of the finest international cuisine restaurants in the city, some housed in quaint and elegant provincial homes that have been repurposed to suit their new roles in hospitality.

 

You'll find Michelin-starred restaurants as well as small local favourites among this wealth of dining experiences, and every resident of the area has their absolute favourites. If you want to dive in and experience an international or Thai cuisine prepared by master chefs, visit the Silom District and you’ll have your pick of restaurants to try.

 

The district also caters to the foreign community with sites like the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple that serves the Hindu community, Christ Church serving Christians in the local community and the Nielson Hays Library serving the British community. 

 

The Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple was constructed by Tamil immigrants to serve as their place of worship sometime in the 1860s. It has since become an architectural landmark in Silom. 

 

Christ Church is a gothic and colonial style Anglican Church located on Convent Road that was built in 1904 to serve protestant missionaries.

 

The Nielson Hays Library is part library and part art gallery. This quaintly decorated, and quintessentially British colonial-style cultural hub was originally constructed in 1869 and is located on Surawong Road   

 

Rentals for the Holidays Provides Perfect Accommodations

Rentals for the Holidays has accommodations all across Bangkok. They are the perfect solution for the traveller who wants something other than a hotel stay. With units in the various neighbourhoods, a stay with Rentals for the Holidays allows you to explore all the colour and excitement of Bangkok as you may not have seen it before.

 

Experience all the vibrant sounds, tastes, and experiences of Bangkok by booking your stay with Rentals for the Holidays.