Bangkok, Thailand

Why?

Do you really need a reason to visit Bangkok? Even though I have been many times, it is a city never ceases to excite me when I am there. Not only it’s a vibrant city full of great food, markets and massage parlours. It’s the hub to the many beautiful islands scattered around Thailand.

[ Typical Traffic in Bangkok ]

Length of this Trip

4 days. Trip made in 2010. 

Hotel we stayed in

This time stayed in Amari Watergate. Although the hotel is a walking distance to Central World/Grand Hyatt and Phaya Thai BTS station, would I recommend it? Not really as it’s located on a very busy road and a market with high traffic! However, the room is spacious and clean. Better alternatives are the mid-range Novotel at Siam Square or if you want to splurge, stay in the newly opened Siam Kempinski!

What to do?

Day 1

• Took Airport Link to Makkasan Station, then change for a taxi but I would have just taken the taxi from the airport all the way to the hotel as Makkasan Station is a bit deserted and it was hard to find a cab.
• As we arrive in the late afternoon, we decided to have dinner alfresco style at the famous T&K Seafood Restaurant located in Chinatown on Yaowarat Road (aka Soi Texas). To be honest, come here for the atmosphere not the food. Food was good but not great. We had grilled BBQ prawns, curry crab, fresh oyster with Thai herbs and friend morning glory. For a few hundred Bahs more, I’d rather go to Somboon which is my all time favourite seafood restaurant in Bangkok. However, Chinatown is an interesting area to explore at night. Soi Texas is full of food stalls selling grilled seafood, cold sweet coconut based soups, noodles and local delights.

[ Seafood dinner at T&K ]

[ China Town at night ]

Day 2

• I always enjoy the hotel buffet breakfast in Bangkok. However, another reason I won’t recommend Amari Watergate is their buffet breakfast was very disappointing. Still a good varieties to choose from but the quality was not that good. I have once stayed in Shangri-la and I must say their buffet breakfast was the best. Food was beautifully spread out with great choices catering for both Asian and Western hungry tourists. My favourite seats were the ones on the terrace overlooking at the Chao Phraya river.
• Spa treatment at Spirit of Spa in Soi Lang Suan – I don’t understand why some of my friends don’t enjoying having a massage whereas I love the sensation feeling my muscles relaxed after a good rub. It was clearly a mistake deciding to walk to the Spa from BTS. Even though it was not a hot day, I was literally soaked myself and felt very irritable by the time we arrived there. The spa is small but very cozy. I had a very enjoyable spa treatment of body scrub with jasmine rice powder followed by an hour and a half hot stone massage. It just felt therapeutic and heavenly.
• Lunch at Greyhound, Siam Paragon – Paragon is the mega shopping mall in Bangkok full of high end boutiques. Originally we planned to go to Mandarin Oriental café but service was appalling so we couldn’t wait for the waiters to come back to take our order and moved onto Greyhound instead. I had a yummy light tum yum soup with a chocolate cake – yeh I know it was a weird combination! Food was okay but cheap. After that, we had a quick look at the Paragon department store. A recommendation for all the ladies – don’t miss their jewellery section, I can always pick a unique local designed piece or two here.  Also not to miss is the department store's Gourmet Supermarket in the basement level where you can try local snacks in a clean environment.
  

  

  [ Siam Paragon ]

• Shopping in Siam Square Soi 1-3. These streets across Siam Paragon are full of local independent shops. A great place to explore. I bought a funky necklace at Mosessories. Shame we didn’t have enough time, I only managed to quickly walk around 1-3 plus it was raining so took a tuk-tuk to the dinner place instead. Tuk-tuk actually charges more than taxi but it was a fun ride and the most important of all got us from A to B quickly. Most taxi drivers would drive around blocks to make the meter runs longer! (BTS: Siam)
  

  
  

  

  [ Siam Square Soi 1-3 ]

• Drinks & Dinner at Hyde & Seek. This place was recommended by a local. Very stylishly decorated by the owners from Sweden. Even though I like Thai food, it’s a nice change not having something with chillies for a change. They do wicked cocktails and the food and atmosphere were excellent. Address: Athenee Residence, 65/1 Soi Ruam Rudi, Sukhumvit Road (BTS: Phloen Chit)

[ Hyde & Seek ]

Day 3

• Chatuchak Market – the best time to come to Bangkok is between October and March before it gets boiling hot! Walking inside the market lined with thousands of stalls without air-condition isn’t fun. Chatuchak is the biggest market in Asia and it’s always a must thing to do on my agenda. We bought a few items of homeware this time and I even found the coconut ice-cream stall! There is a section with a/c restaurant near the antique market, a good place to wind down after busy shopping!  (BTS: Mo Chit)
  

  

• Or Tor Kor Market. The market is across the street near the antique section of JJ market (aka Chatuchak Market). Very clean and big but they mainly sell grocery. It's an interesting place though.  Quite a big section of food stalls but no idea what to order so ended up eating in JJ market instead.
• Dinner at Patara (375 Soi Thonglor 19 Sukhumvit 55, Klongtonnua Vadhana).  Beautifully decorated with an open garden. Food was unconventional and refreshing. Service was great. Although we didn’t enjoy the pork ribs, it tasted too porky. Other dishes were fine. Atmosphere was a bit lacking as the restaurant was very quiet but it’s a romantic place to take your date. (BTS: Thonglor)
  

  

  

  [ Patara ]

• Drinks at Iron Fairies, 394 Thonglor Road (Sukhumvit Soi 55), opposite Ton Krueng Thai Restaurant, Bangkok (BTS Thong Lor).  A great small bar - very dark with live jazz performance. Great place for a night cap after dinner at Patara.

If you have more time, try:

• Erawan Tearoom for afternoon tea.
• Somboon for delicious seafood
• Jim Thomas House to appreciate traditional Thai architecture
• Koh Samet for a beach excursion
• Ayutthaya Ancient City for a day trip