Bangkok
Travel Guide
Dining at a street cafe in Bangkok
Bangkok is easily one of our favorite cities we’ve ever visited. It seems like it’s always on go, from sunrise to well after midnight. You can spend hours navigating through the sleek skyscrapers and AC frigid mega-malls… and then you step into a side alley and you’re suddenly perusing a whole lane of local street vendors.
It’s metropolitan meets neighborhood charm. You can grab artisanal coffee in an air-conditioned café one minute, and five minutes later you’re in line for $1 mango sticky rice from a cart run by a lady who has definitely been perfecting her recipe longer than you’ve been alive. Bangkok does both ends of the vibe spectrum… and it does them both amazingly well.
Where to STAY
We hopped around a few different areas during our stay, trying to get a feel for the spectrum of lodging experiences. We hit up a mix from modern luxury hotels to and more local boutique spots.
AriyasomVilla: Tucked away at the end of the Sukhumvit main strip, this place felt like a hidden oasis in the middle of the chaos. Lush gardens, old-world charm, and a pool that made you forget you were woken up by a monkey turf war in the early morning.
Carlton Hotel: Right in the middle of the Sukhumvit main drag, this was pure luxury hotel life — huge beds, fully equipped gym, and high-rise views. A little on the touristy side, but being central and steps away from the BTS made getting around incredibly easy.
Na Tanao1969 ณ ตะนาว1969: Hands down, our favorite. This boutique spot in the Phra Nakhon neighborhood felt like staying in a friend’s city apartment. It had authentic local energy, with so many cafés, tiny shops, and food stalls to keep you busy all day. The owner hooked us up with a google map of all his recommendations in the area. Highly recommending asking him for this if you visit.
Where to EAT
Bangkok might actually be the best food city we’ve ever been to. I’m talking everything from Michelin-star tasting menus, hole-in-the-wall joints, and back-alley street carts that will ruin meal prepping forever. We didn’t have a single mediocre meal here.
Here are some of the absolute standouts:
Chinatown
This is the kind of energy you see in movie scenes. It’s a sensory overload of sizzling woks, neon signs, and fruit carts that look like they’ve been staged for a photo shoot. You can find endless street food here, but we really F with the raw spicy shrimp and fresh-off-the-cart durian. Pro tip: go between 3 - 5pm if you want slightly less crowds in your vicinity
Tang Sui Heng
Duck is the star of the show at this spot. We tried the duck rice, duck dry noodle, and duck noodle soup. They were all so rich, fatty and delicious, that we needed to lay down on the benches outside afterwards
Aunglo by Yangrok
One of our favorite restaurants ever. This is a Thai Izakaya concept, so you can sit by the open kitchen and watch them grill, fry and plate your entire meal. Must-tries: moo ping skewers, grilled pork and chicken skewers, Thai BBQ pork ribs, and tom yum fried rice with cracklings and egg. Book a res early because this is a must try.
K Panich
Legendary mango sticky rice spot that’s been around forever. Perfectly ripe mango, sticky rice that’s just chewy enough, and coconut cream that’s basically silk. We went back multiple times because we really couldn’t help ourselves.
Ta Chai Sukhothai Noodles
Lowkey café serving both dry and soup noodles. Every bowl was a hit, so the move is to order a few different ones and split em with your group
Boat Noodles – Toy Kuay Teow Ruea
Tiny, flavor-packed bowls of boat noodles served outdoors. Ewa and Andrew had two each… I had six because I was trying to beat my friend’s record of nine. We went from mild to spicy, and the spicy was F’in hot. Should have stopped at 5 bowls, but they were too good.
Nhong Rim Klong
Come for one thing: the crab omelette.
Uncle Liu (Er)
No-frills stall serving Cantonese-Thai fusion. It’s like they took Cantonese classics and turned the flavors up by 10.
Pe Aor Tom Yum Kung Noodle
Get the tom yum noodle soup with prawn, mussel, egg, and chicken; and the egg rice with prawn and larb.
Phra Nakhon
The neighborhood itself is a food destination. Just wander around and get a lil snack at each spot.
📍 See our full Bangkok food map here. [link to Google map]
Where to GO OUT
Bangkok is known for its nightlife. We only scratched the surface because we were recovering from long shoot days. But here’s some of the hit list:
Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar: Lowkey, intimate, and seriously creative drinks. Beautiful presentation without gimmicks.
#FindTheLockerRoom: Our friend’s spot, hidden behind (you guessed it) a locker. It’s got high-quality cocktails and a relaxed, vibey setting.
Gaze Cocktail Bar: Modern, stylish, and located in Thonglor’s nightlife zone. Great spot for pre-gaming.
GOT Bangkok: If you want high-energy clubbing, this is it. Perfect for a “we’re not going home until sun-rise” night.
Things to DO
Bangkok has so much going on that if you try to do everything, you’ll burn out halfway through. If it’s your first trip, we suggest picking a few themes and really spending some time exploring them. Here’s some things we highly recommend:
Muay Thai: If you can only plan 1 special outting… make it a Muay Thai fight. The largest stadium is Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium, and if you can swing it, get ringside seats. You’ll be close enough to hear every kick, and feel the coaches’ energy (they’ll be going hard in their fighter’s corner). We even caught a headliner who happened to be from our home town… small world
Night Markets – Bangkok’s night markets are a gift to those who aren’t built for midday heat. You can eat, shop, and people-watch while being slightly less soaked from humidity.
Jodd Fairs: Trendy and all-vibes-welcome, with plenty of food stalls and shopping.
Chatuchak Weekend Market: The big one. Over 15,000 stalls here, so make sure you clear that schedule.
Patpong Night Market: One of the oldest in the city, full of souvenirs and street eats.
Leapwan Dan Naramit Night Market: New kid on the block, but worth checking out for a different mix of vendors.
Temples – Bangkok’s temples are stunning, and you can easily spend a day visiting them. Three of the most popular:
Wat Phra Kaew: Temple of the Emerald Buddha; ornate and absolutely gorgeous.
Wat Pho: Temple of the Reclining Buddha; prepare to be humbled by its sheer size.Wat Arun: Temple of Dawn; especially beautiful in the early morning light.
Final Thoughts
Bangkok is one of those cities that grabs you by the senses and doesn’t let go. The skyscrapers and mega-malls give it that big-city buzz, but turn a corner and you’re in a neighborhood where the air smells like grilled pork skewers, scooters zip by in a blur, and someone’s grandma is selling the best mango sticky rice you’ll ever have for pocket change.
You can spend the day temple-hopping, the evening eating your way through a night market, and the late night either sipping cocktails in a hidden bar or dancing until sunrise — and somehow, it all feels like one continuous, electric experience. The food is flawless across the board (seriously, not a single dud), the people are warm, the energy is unmatched, and there’s always something happening around the corner.
Whether you’re here for the Michelin stars or the street food, the rooftop bars or the local dives, the serene temples or the sweaty Muay Thai stadiums — Bangkok delivers, and then some. We left already plotting our next visit, because honestly… once you’ve been, it’s impossible not to want more.