An Insider's Guide to Thonglor, Bangkok's Trendy Neighborhood

Foodies should flock to this bustling neighborhood. One of Thonglor’s most noteworthy traits is its ability to provide for a plethora of different palates. Here are the restaurants, cafés, and more worth visiting.

Thai

Oftentimes regarded as trendy or high-end, this area still offers a number of Thai eateries. From unique, fusion Thai dishes to the most authentic of street-side eats, there are plenty of Thai restaurants and vendors from which to choose.

One of the most popular ones is Baan Ice Restaurant, located right off Sukhumvit Soi 55. Its exterior is deceiving, in that the food is so much more delicious than its décor lets on. Be sure to try one of its many tasty curry dishes. Supanniga Eating Room and Khao Jao are other restaurants serving up savory Thai cuisine.

International

Whether visitors are craving chips and salsa or want an ice-cold margarita, The Missing Burro is a perfect place to frequent for those who enjoy traditional Mexican cuisine. Dat Wich is serving up soups, salads, and more. If you are feeling extra nostalgic, there is a Subway right off the train. One of the largest and trendiest places to grab a bite in Thonglor is at The Commons. Located off of Akkhara Phatsadu Alley and Sukhumvit Soi 55, those who meander down this intersection will find this open-air mall and eatery duo. Filled with international cuisine, from ribs to Italian, visitors cannot go wrong with eating here. The Andaman and Indian restaurant Masala Art are serving up some delicious cuisine as well.

Vegetarian

If you go down to the end of Sukhumvit Soi 55, there is a noodle shop next to Everyday+ Café, serving up both mushroom soup and stir-fried mushrooms. Thonglor is also home to Broccoli Revolution, one of the newest vegan establishments in town, which specializes in meat-free options hailing from Italy and South America. Visitors who look hard enough will also find a number of vendors selling things like pad Thai and stir-fried vegetables.

Cafés

From seriously skilled baristas to quaint seating and more, the cafés in Thonglor are some of the best in the city. Coffee lovers will have trouble choosing which one to occupy because there are so many. Those night owls should head to Tom n Toms, as it is open 24/7. Roots Coffee Roaster and The Roast are both located in The Commons and are delicious options for your morning cup of joe as well. There are plenty of coffee shops to choose from, including Sit and Wonder, Noonkotsi Korean Dessert Café, MUNCH, Starbucks, and Audrey Café and Bistro.

Luckily for backpackers on a budget, there is a cheap and convenient hostel located steps from the Skytrain. Goodfellas Cafe and Hostel is a great place to sleep and is equipped with a café serving up some unique brews. Those looking for something a bit more luxurious may instead opt for the Grande Centre Hotel.

There are plenty of things to see and do in Thonglor. Those on the hunt for some cheap, vintage finds should shop at the Thonglor Art Village. It is both quaint and affordable, with an entire rack dedicated to ฿100 deals. Eco Ring is another cool secondhand store in the neighborhood. In addition to clothing, this shop has everything from guitars to bicycles to browse through.

Those looking to get pampered should check out the many cheap massage parlors lining the streets. Those who are simply exploring will find that for long stretches of road, it seems like there is nothing but condos. In between these accommodation options, however, visitors will find plenty of fruit stands boasting mouthwatering mango, pineapple and more, as well as a number of high-end hair and beauty salons.

Thonglor is a neighborhood alive and well with lively bars and nightclubs. The Iron Fairies has been dubbed as one of the coolest bars in town, with vintage and rustic décor, featuring everything from an iron staircase to bottles of pixie dust. Those looking for a fantastic brew in a city seemingly lacking proper beer should head to The Beer Cap, the best bar at The Commons with a number of rotating beers on tap.

If a night of deep tech-house music and dancing are what visitors seek, they should head to Beam, also located off of Sukhumvit Soi 55. As one of the hottest nightclubs in town, those who love to party and music-lovers alike can all get behind Beam’s sleek concrete interior and DJs who perform almost every night. Those who like to booze but want to do so without the boogying should check out Game Over Lounge, a bar dedicated to gamers, equipped with things like high-end PC gaming, board games, and more.

Badmotel has a lovely rooftop terrace for those who want to sip on their unique cocktails with a view. Those on the hunt for a proper pint of Guinness should head to Flann O’Brien’s Irish Pub. For a good happy hour, check out Greyhound Cafe, which is serving up “buy one, get one” for wine drinkers. There are also a handful of karaoke bars in Thonglor, including Bon Sai Bar and J Style Japanese Karaoke.

At the very end of Sukhumvit Soi 55, there is a small market of sorts made up of an assortment of Thai food and miscellaneous goods. It lies right along the khlong, which is another type of transportation available in Thonglor. The khlong is handy in that it is very cheap, and passengers on the boat will never run into Bangkok’s terrible traffic. Taking the khlong boat is an authentic and different way to explore the city.