The 8 Best Airbnbs in Bangkok

Bangkok’s most Instagrammed Airbnb, with hundreds of exceptional reviews, the Mustang Nero features 10 wildly decorated rooms, set in a renovated old commercial building. Rooms combine a minimalist-industrial look with jungle plants, stuffed animals, antique furniture and a very eclectic vibe. It’s set across the street from the hipster W District night market and nearby Phra Khanong wet market, so you’ll never go hungry. The heart of Sukhumvit Road’s nightlife and shopping area is just a 15-minute Skytrain ride away. There are even six live cats living here, along with all the taxidermy.

The owner of this airbnb is a lighting designer, and it’s no surprise that the stylish Thonglor loft is one of the brightest stays in town. It’s set in a renovated 1990s shophouse, and there are four cosy rooms, all featuring lots of windows for plenty of natural light. The prices are a real steal for the neighbourhood, which is Bangkok’s trendiest. You don’t get a kitchen, but there’s a café downstairs, and the city’s most profiled bars and foodie hotspots are all part of the Thonglor scene right outside your door.

Welcome to the new face of Airbnbs in Bangkok, where locals don’t just rent out rooms, but design them, too. Set on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, the interior designer son of the owners took an old warehouse made of brick, covered it in tropical plants and ivy and filled it with antiques and curios, making it feel like a living museum. It’s in a traditional neighbourhood without too many tourists, and yet has a Skytrain station (Krung Thon Buri) as well as river ferry to whisk you off to all the malls, restaurants and bars across the way. Breakfast is included in the price.

If you’re looking for a room with a view in the heart of the city, it doesn’t get much better than this. It’s a luxury two-bedroom apartment that boasts an open-plan kitchen, huge bay windows, a swimming pool and of course a balcony with dizzying views of the cityscape. It’s not cheap, but you’ll also get a regular cleaning service. An added plus is the location, just steps from the Nana Skytrain station and Sukhumvit Road, where you’re surrounded by a staggering choice of popular restaurants, bars and shopping outlets in one of the city’s most central locations.

Much of Bangkok marches headlong into the future, but at this original Chinese shophouse dating back a century, you’ll get to revel in Bangkok’s past. The downstairs serves as the owner’s charming tapas bar El Chiringuito, just one of a handful of bohemian themed bars that have made Soi Nana alley one of the city’s most happening art and nightlife destinations, while upstairs is a two-bedroom duplex apartment decked out with Chinese antiques and retro memorabilia. There’s no kitchen, but who needs one when the street stalls and endless array of Chinatown eats are just a few blocks away. An added bonus is the proximity to the new Chinatown subway station, connecting you to the rest of the city.

Bangkok’s heat and traffic can be debilitating, which is just one reason Airbnbs with a swimming pool are popular. This 20th-floor cosy condominium unit has received rave reviews from hundreds of guests for its cleanliness and its pleasant decor. It has a kitchen and street food is also available just outside; it’s also just a one-minute stroll to the Saphan Kwai Skytrain station, making it incredibly convenient. Throw in a rooftop pool with a city view and you’ve got one excellent package.

You don’t need to go to Koh Samui or Phuket to enjoy some poolside rest and relaxation. This great-value stay is a traditional Thai wooden villa that resembles a temple with its sloped gabled roof, and features an open-air kitchen (stocked with some basics) downstairs, along with its biggest draw, a swimming pool. Set in a private gated community, it’s a quiet escape from the city, but do note that you’ll need to take taxis or motorbikes to get around, as it is quite far out. Then again, you might never want to leave.

This apartment is named Ba Hao, or “house number eight”, which makes you one lucky guest if you secure a booking in this renovated 40-year-old traditional Chinese shophouse residence, as eight is considered an auspicious number in Chinese culture. Three apartments are set upstairs from the bohemian Ba Hao Chinese bar below, the best of which is this fourth-floor room, which is decked out in a mix of old-school Thai and hipster Chinese decor and features a balcony and a bird’s-eye view of the temple Wat Traimit. There’s a shared living room one floor down, where guests can avail themselves of a giant TV with free Netflix, plus there’s a complimentary Thai breakfast. It isn’t cheap, but it’s classy and unique.