ladyironchef » Affordable shopping in Bangkok

10 Free And Fun Things To See And Do In Bangkok For The Broke & Curious

Melissa Teo — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 01:00:10 +0000

In this day and age, the wanderlust is strong, especially amongst youth who want to get out and experience the world before they grow old.

It can be easy to be swept away by the glitz and glamour of travelling portrayed by influencers and your friends on social media but sometimes, our budgets aren’t very supportive in funding our travels.

However, fret not as there are many gorgeous places to check out that won’t hurt your wallet and one of them is Bangkok. While Bangkok is already known for its cheap shopping, food and massages, this bustling city has a number of free things to see and do that’ll help you cut costs yet enjoy yourself at the same time.

BANGKOK BUTTERFLY GARDEN & INSECTARIUM

If you’re not afraid of little critters and creepy crawlies, you can check out Bangkok’s very own Butterfly Garden and Insectarium to admire some gorgeous butterflies. The lofty enclosure is home to a few species of butterflies which flutter around the various rockeries, flowers and shady ferns. We are surprised that entry for this place is free!

Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road
Lat Yao, Khet Chatuchak
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 272 4359
Tue to Sun: 8.30am – 4.30pm

Photo Credit: ambshencho

EXPLORE PAK KHLONG TALAT FLOWER MARKET

Skip the night markets and check out Bangkok’s famous flower market instead. If you love flowers or colourful sights, this is the perfect place to admire the spectacle of colours and to snap some pretty shots for the gram. Here, you also can witness both locals and tourists purchasing gorgeous, fresh flowers for whatever purpose.

Chak Phet Road, near the Memorial Bridge or Saphan Phut Chao Phraya pier
Daily: 24-hours

Photo Credit: ashleahalpern

GO MUSEUM HOPPING

Bangkok’s history and culture are incredibly rich and the best places to learn all about them are museums. While many of such museums charge for entry, some of them happen to be free. We recommend dropping by the Silpa Bhirasri Memorial and Museum and the Bangkokian Museum.

Bangkokian Museum
273 Saphan Yao Alley
Khwaeng Si Phraya, Khet Bang Rak
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 233 7027
Tue to Sun: 9am – 4pm
(Closed on Mondays)

Silpa Bhirasri Memorial and Museum
Na Phrathat Road
Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand
Phra Nakhon
10200 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 223 6162
Mon to Fri: 8am – 5pm
(Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)

Photo Credit: travellers_are_travelling

HAVE AN ADVENTURE AT KO KRET ISLAND

Don’t just limit yourself to the city area; located just a little out of Bangkok is Ko Kret, an artificial island that that is packed full of Thai crafts, culture and food. The area also has plenty of local temples such as Wat Phat Lorn and Wat Salakun for you to visit to soak in the culture. You can reach the island via taxi, driving or a riverboat so it is easily accessible.

Photo Credit: combatgotv

MBK FIGHT NIGHT

For a more exhilarating activity, you can head on down to MBK mall on a Wednesday night to check out MBK Fight Night. A ring will be set up outside Tokyu Department Store next to National Stadium BTS and there, people can watch and experience a live Muay Thai Fight. Best of all, it’s free!

444 Phayathai Road
Khwaeng Wang Mai, Khet Pathum Wan
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Daily: 10am – 10pm

RELAX AT CHATUCHAK PARK

Walk off the food coma after feasting on street food by taking a stroll in Chatuchak Park. This scenic spot is full of lush greenery and it is one of the oldest parks in Bangkok. The place is also well-connected to Chatuchak MRT Station and Mo Chit BTS station, making it a convenient pitstop for a nice walk

Kamphaeng Phet Road
Khet Chatuchak
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900, Thailand
Daily: 4.30am – 9pm

WANDER AROUND YAOWARAT STREET AT NIGHT

The streets of Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown, are filled with a plethora of things to eat see and do. We recommend coming here during the evening or at night as that’s when the place comes alive with people, street vendors and lights.

Photo Credit: si_rina

VISIT ERAWAN SHRINE

Bangkok is a city that is full of shrines but the most popular one out of the lot is Erawan Shrine. It was built back in 1956 by Erewan Hotel to counter the bad karma of laying the foundations of the hotel on the wrong date. Located conveniently near Phrom Phong BTS, throngs of tourists and locals alike flood the place to pray and admire the gorgeous shrine. Traditional Thai dance troupes often perform here as well.

Ratchadamri Road
Khwaeng Lumphini
Khet Pathum Wan
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand

Daily: 6am – 11pm

Photo Credit: yoroom

GO TEMPLE HOPPING

Bangkok is home to a plethora of gorgeous temples and worship sites and many of them have free entry. Visit these temples to understand Thai history and culture better as well as admire the breathtaking handiwork and architecture. Some recommended temples to visit are Mangkorn Kamalawat, Wat Indharaviharn and Wat Patum Wanaran.

Wat Mangkorn Kamalawat
423 Charoen Krung Road
Khwaeng Pom Prap
Khet Pom Prap Sattru Phai
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 222 3975

Wat Indharaviharn
144 Khet Phra Nakhon
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 282 3173
Daily: 6am – 6pm

Wat Patum Wanaran
969 Rama I Road
Khwaeng Pathum Wan
Khet Pathum Wan
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 251 6469

VINTAGE WINDOW SHOPPING AT CAMP VINTAGE FLEA MARKET

If you want to pop some tags but you only have 20 dollars in your pocket, you can head on over to Camp Vintage Flea Market to go thrift shopping. Not only is this place a vintage paradise, but it is also a very artsy spot to snap some great photos for the gram. In addition, we love how they decorate the place with repurposed planes and other air crafts to go with the vintage theme.

The Camp Vintage Flea Market
482 Kamphaeng Phet Soi 1, Bangkok, Thailand
Tue to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 11.45pm

4D3N Bangkok Itinerary — What To See, Do And Eat At This Food And Shopping Paradise

Melissa Teo — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 01:00:29 +0000

It is no secret that Singaporeans love Bangkok for being such an affordable travel destination; who can resist cheap shopping, food and massages all conveniently situated in one place?

If you’re visiting Bangkok for the first time or you just want some new ideas to add to your itinerary, we have here a 4D3N Bangkok itinerary that you can use as a guide to plan your next Bangkok trip!

DAY 1

HAVE LUNCH AT INTER RESTAURANT AFTER CHECKING INTO YOUR HOTEL

If you’re feeling a little peckish after your flight and you want to find some hearty Thai grub to dig into, we recommend popping by Inter Restaurant at Siam. This place is one of our perennial favourites in Bangkok and they serve up unpretentious and authentic local dishes at affordable prices.

9 Rama I Road
Pathum Wan District
Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 251 4689
Daily: 11am – 9pm

INDULGE YOURSELVES IN SOME DECADENT DESSERTS AT AFTER YOU

If you’ve been to Bangkok before, this dessert cafe should be no stranger to you by now. After You first started in 2007, and it has been synonymous with Shibuya Toasts ever since. The Shibuya Honey Toast is what After You got famous for, and fast forward many years, queues still form outside its various outlets every day for their amazing desserts. They have multiple outlets across Bangkok but the biggest and prettiest one is at Siam Square one.

Siam Square One
991 Rama 1 Road
Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 02 115 1949
Daily: 11am – 12midnight
Nearest BTS: Siam

SHOP TILL YOU DROP AT SIAM CENTER, SIAM PARAGON, SIAM DISCOVERY AND MBK CENTRE

The Siam area is the heart of Bangkok’s shopping district and the place is packed with popular malls such as Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery and MBK Centre. As the area is conveniently linked to a BTS station, this shopping paradise is easily accessible and not hard to locate.

PET A RACOON AT LITTLE ZOO CAFE

While Bangkok is famous for having plenty of animal cafes, our absolute favourite out of the lot is Little Zoo Cafe. The place features all sorts of animals such as dogs, cats and birds of different breeds. To top it all off, there are also exotic animals such as an Arctic fox, Fennec foxes and a massive raccoon. Rest assured, all the animals here are tame and docile when they play with humans.

Entrance to the cafe is free, but all visitors are expected to purchase a main and drink each in order to maintain the welfare of the animals.

424/7 Siam Square
Rama I Road, Pathum Wan District
Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Daily: 11am – 8pm

HAVE DINNER AT NUER KOO

Located on level four of Siam Paragon in Bangkok, Nuer Koo is known for its premium beef noodles, with prices ranging from THB170 for the sirloin to a whopping THB950 for a bowl of Kobe beef noodles. The beef noodles may be pricey by Bangkok’s standard, but by its quality and taste, it is still considerably reasonable, especially when we are talking about premium beef cuts such as wagyu and Kobe.

Rama I Road
Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 610 9773
Daily: 11am – 10pm

TAKE SOME INSTAGRAM-WORTHY SHOTS AT CHANG CHUI PLANE MARKET

If you’re looking for a more unique and artsy night market to explore, we recommend that you pay Chang Chui Plane Market a visit. Located in the Thonburi district, this massive lifestyle space is a one-stop destination for everything art-related.

Think fashion apparel stalls, concept cafes, food trucks and a vintage cinema for the film buffs. The creative co-working space looks more like a page from a fairy tale book than the usual boisterous Thai night markets you are used to seeing in Bangkok. Also, remember to get a picture with their iconic plane that’s right smack in the middle of the place!

460/8 Sirindhorn Road
Khwaeng Bang Phlat, Khet Bang Phlat
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10700, Thailand
Tel: +66 81 817 2888
Thu to Tue: 11am – 11pm

DAY 2

WAKE UP EARLY FOR CHEAP WHOLESALE DEALS AT PRATUNAM MORNING MARKET

You can forget about scrolling through Taobao for the next few months after visiting this gargantuan wholesale paradise. The market is filled with hundreds of vendors selling trendy pieces for dirt cheap prices. We recommend coming here with a group of friends because you can get even cheaper prices when you bulk buy!

Ratchaprarop 1 Alley
Khwaeng Thanon Phaya Thai, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Daily: 5am – 6pm

HAVE BREAKFAST AT LUNG PRATHUNAM BOAT NOODLES

There are multiple places in Bangkok that serve up decent bowls of boat noodles but one of our absolute favourites is Lung Prathunam Boat Noodle. Here, they have 6 different broths and 8 different types of noodles to choose from. Each bowl costs a mere 30 baht and an upsized version would be 40 baht. For those of you who are in a rush, you can also do a take away for 50 baht.

960/14 Phetchaburi Road
Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 85 919 1994
Daily: 8am – 5pm

GO SHOPPING AT PLATINUM FASHION MALL AND PANDTIP IT MALL

It is impossible to not have heard of Platinum Fashion Mall and this shopping paradise is home to a plethora of stalls that sell cheap and trendy clothes, accessories and shoes. With 6 floors housing over 2000 stalls, the place will keep you busy for hours! If you aren’t keen in fashion, you can also head on over to Pandtip IT Mall to check out some of the tech stuff that they have available.

GET A MASSAGE ALONG PETCHABURI SOI 15

While shopping may be fun, it can also be pretty exhausting. To ease those muscles and give yourself a break, we recommend heading over to the row of massage parlours at Petchaburi Soi 15 to treat yourself to a good session of kneading and back cracking. While all the parlours there are pretty decent, our favourite is Number One Massage!

If you want more recommendations for other massage spots worth checking out, you can read our article about them here.

Number One Massage
1/7-8 Pratunam
Phetchaburi soi 15
Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewei
Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: +65 +66 2 653 9967
Daily: 9.30am – 12am

HAVE LUNCH AT THE PLACE 168

If you’re on a tom yum hunt with a group of ravenous friends, we recommend that you pop by The Place 168 to share their massive Tom Yum Koong Soup. The Place 168 is a humble Thai restaurant tucked away at a rundown building near Pratunam Market. While the small shop has a pretty extensive menu filled with authentic Thai dishes, most people go there for their gargantuan bowls of Tom Yum Koong Soup.

1/49 Phetchaburi Road
Khwaeng Thanon Phaya Thai, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 657 0880
Daily: 10.30am – 9.30pm

VISIT THE NEW MALL, ‘THE MARKET’

The shopping scene in Bangkok just gets better and joining the slew of malls is The Market. Located just across the road from Central World, The Market is home to plenty of stalls like boutiques, blogshops, cafes and massage parlours. The prices here are a little on the steeper end but we feel like the things sold here are of better quality.

111 Ratchadamri Road
Khwaeng Lumphini, Khet Pathum Wan
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 121 8888
Daily: 10am – 10pm

HAVE TEA AT BOYY & SON CAFE

Located conveniently at the recently renovated Gaysorn Village, BOYY & Son is a chic, stylish and incredibly Instagram-worthy cafe that sells coffee, tea and an interesting array of pastries. We absolutely love their croissants which are flaky, buttery and fragrant all at once!

BOYY 127 Unit L00-01 GAYSORN Tower2 Lumphini
Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 253 8300
Daily: 8am – 8pm

SHOP EVEN MORE AT CENTRAL WORLD SHOPPING MALL

Like we said, the shopping never ends at Pratunam! Another mall to check out is the famous Central World Shopping Mall. While it is similar to many Singapore malls and the stuff here isn’t as cheap as the markets, it’s still a great place to do some window shopping and enjoy the air-con!

999/9 Rama I Road
Khwaeng Pathum Wan
Khet Pathum Wan
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Daily 10am – 10pm

HAVE DINNER AT GO-ANG PRATUNAM CHICKEN RICE

If you want to try a different variation of chicken rice aside from Singapore’s Hainanese chicken rice, we recommend that you pop by Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice. These plates of Michelin Bib Gourmand chicken rice certainly live up to its name and we can see why it’s so popular with both the locals and tourists. Brace yourself for some really long queues!

960 962 Phetchaburi Road
Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 252 6325
Daily: 6am – 2pm, 5pm – 2am

END THE NIGHT WITH TALAD NEON NIGHT MARKET

If you still have time, you can also hop on over to Talad Neon Night Market for even more shopping and feasting. We prefer this place to Palladium Night Market as we feel that the things sold here are catered more to the youths. They also have a larger array of stalls that sell food so it’s a great supper spot!

1087, 167 Phetchaburi Road
Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Daily: 5pm – 12am

DAY 3

VISIT THE MAJESTIC GRAND PALACE

If you’re into culture, history and art, one place you definitely need to check out is the majestic Grand Palace. Located in the old city of Bangkok on the banks of the famous Chao Phraya river, this majestic, sacred landmark is nothing short of breathtaking.

Na Phra Lan Road
Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang
Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 623 5500
Daily: 8.30am – 3.30pm

ADMIRE THE GORGEOUS STRUCTURES AT WAT PHO

After the Grand Palace, you can head on over to the gorgeous Wat Pho, home of the famous reclining Buddha. The breathtaking structures and statues make for the perfect backdrop for a nice photo for the gram!

2 Sanam Chai Road
Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakhon
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 226 0335

HAVE LUNCH AT THE SIXTH

If you’re feeling a little peckish after exploring the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, you can have your lunch at The Sixth. located just a short walk away from the famous landmarks, The Sixth is a cosy and hip little cafe that is run by a young couple. They specialise in wholesome and soulful Thai food which include the likes of Tom Yum Koong, Phad Thai and Thai Green Curry.

Maha Rat Road
Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang
Khet Phra Nakhon
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 64 316 6890
Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 5pm
(Closed on Sundays)

TAKE A TUK TUK TO CHINATOWN

Travel in style to your next destination by hopping onto a Tuk Tuk. These adorable little open-air taxis are a fun way to get around Bangkok while you enjoy the sights along the way. However, do be careful as some of the Tuk Tuk drivers tend to overcharge customers to earn a quick buck.

GRAB SOME DIM SUM AT LHONG TOU CAFE

Situated right smack in the middle of Chinatown is Lhong Tou Cafe. This eclectic, cosy eatery is popular for their dim sum as well as their very interesting interior; both of which are incredibly Instagram-worthy. Our favourite menu item here is the Shitake Mushroom Bun!

538 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong
Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 64 935 6499
Daily: 8am – 10pm

EXPLORE THE STREETS OF YAOWARAT

SLURP SOME NOODLES AT NAI EK ROLL NOODLE

Situated at the heart of Chinatown, Nai Ek Roll Noodle is a humble stall that specialises in —you guessed it — roll noodles, as well as some of the crispiest deep-fried pork we’ve ever tried. The food here is so good that they’ve even earned themselves a place in the Michelin Guide

442 Khwaeng Samphanthawong
Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
+66 2 226 4651
Daily: 7.30am – 1.30am

EXPLORE THE MASSIVE TALAD ROD FAI SRINAKARIN

If you don’t have much time to go night market hopping in Bangkok, the one market you need to head to to get the full experience is the famous Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin, also known as Rot Fai Train Market. There are a number of similar train markets across Bangkok but this is one of the bigger ones.

What we love about this place is how it feels like there are multiple night markets packed into one area. Just when you think that you’ve finished walking the whole stretch, you find yourself in another completely different area filled with more rows of exciting things to explore.

Soi Srinagarindra 51
Khwaeng Nong Bon, Khet Prawet
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10250, Thailand
Thu to Sun: 5pm – 1pm
(Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays

EAT LENG SAAP FOR SUPPER

Leng Saap essentially translates to ‘Spicy Pork Bone Soup’ and it basically consists of giant portions of pork ribs and spine that are generously doused in a rich and addictively spicy broth as well as plenty of lime, coriander and chilli. We’ve tried the one at Golden Mile Tower back in Singapore and were instantly hooked, and we pleased to say that the ones here in Bangkok taste even better.

Soi Srinagarindra 51
Khwaeng Nong Bon, Khet Prawet
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10250, Thailand
Thu to Sun: 5pm – 1pm
(Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays)

DAY 4

DO SOME LAST MINUTE SHOPPING AT UNION MALL

One mall that has slowly but surely gained some popularity over the years is Union Mall. Located near Chatuchak Weekend Market, this mall has 8 levels full of shopping, food and services. Girlfriends, your boyfriends will love this place as much as you do as there is a whole level just dedicated to men’s fashion. Do take note that as this is a mall that is more frequented by locals, some of the stall owners here may not be fluent in English.

1 Khwaeng Chom Phon
Khet Chatuchak
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 512 5000
Daily: 11am – 10pm

EAT BOAT NOODLES AT KIN TIEW KAN

There are few things as addictive as boat noodles and we love the satisfying feeling of stacking all those finished bowls up high. The great thing about boat noodles is that because the portions are all so small and cheap, you get to try a variety of different broths and noodles till your heart’s content without feeling a pinch in your wallet.

One hot spot to try out boat noodles is Kin Tiew Kan at Union Mall. The stall is perpetually packed with patrons but don’t let the queues discourage you; the place is completely worth a try!

Lat Phrao, Khwaeng Chom Phon
Khet Chatuchak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900, Thailand
Tel: +66 81 849 9292
Daily: 11am – 9pm

STROLL THROUGH CHATUCHAK PARK

Walk off the food coma after lunch at Kin Tiew Kan by taking a stroll in Chatuchak Park. This scenic spot is full of lush greenery and is one of the oldest parks in Bangkok. The place is also well-connected to Chatuchak MRT Station and Mo Chit BTS station, making it a convenient pitstop for a nice walk

Kamphaeng Phet Road
Khet Chatuchak
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900, Thailand
Daily: 4.30am – 9pm

VISIT THE BANGKOK BUTTERFLY GARDEN AND INSECTARIUM

Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road
Lat Yao, Khet Chatuchak
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 272 4359
Tue to Sun: 8.30am – 4.30pm

POP BY CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET

Chatuchak Weekend Market is no doubt one of the most well-known markets in Bangkok and for many good reasons too—the sheer size of this outdoor market makes it impossible for you to cover the entire place in a day. Covering 27 acres of land in total, this is one of the largest markets in Bangkok and it is home to over 8,000 stalls featuring Thai street food, fashion, homeware, flowers and so much more.

Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road
Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Sat to Mon: 9am – 6pm
Wed & Thu: 7am – 6pm
Fri: 6pm – 12am
(Closed on Tuesdays)

GRAB SOME COOL VINTAGE WEAR AT THE CAMP VINTAGE FLEA MARKET

If you want to pop some tags but you only have 20 dollars in your pocket, you can head on over to Camp Vintage Flea Market to go thrift shopping. Not only is this place a vintage paradise, but it is also a very artsy spot to snap some great photos for the gram. We also love how they decorate the place with repurposed planes and other air crafts to go with the vintage theme.

The Camp Vintage Flea Market
482 Kamphaeng Phet Soi 1, Bangkok, Thailand
Tue to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 11.45pm

A Backpackers One-Day Guide To Bangkok’s Bustling Yaowarat Road

Melissa Teo — Sat, 19 Oct 2019 20:31:43 +0000

If you’re planning to make a trip to Bangkok and you’re still clueless on how to fill your itinerary up, why not pay a visit to Bangkok’s bustling Chinatown?

Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown, is a culturally rich area that’s packed with plenty of history, stunning architecture and of course, food. It’s the perfect place to check out if you want to learn and experience the way Thai and Chinese cultures have intermingled and co-existed in Bangkok for years.

The streets here are lined with a plethora of food vendors, temples, monuments and locals going about their daily lives and there is always something happening at any point in time. This can make it quite overwhelming for first-time visitors so if you are worried about being swept away and lost in this hectic enclave, you can refer to this guide for some ideas.

Photo Credit: dumtok

GOLDEN BUDDHA TEMPLE (WAT TRAMIT TEMPLE)

Wat Tramit houses the largest golden Buddha in the world and this breathtaking monument that stands at 3m tall sits majestically on an altar surrounded by traditional Thai golden arches. From the top of Wat Tramit, you also get a fantastic view of the ornate Chinatown Gate that is just a stone throws away. There is also a museum in the temple that teaches you about the history of Yaowarat and how it came about.

661 Charoen Krung Road
Talat Noi, Samphanthawong
Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 89 002 2700
Daily: 8am – 5pm

Photo Credit: beyond.frontiers

CHINATOWN GATE

Standing tall and proud in the middle of Chinatown is the Chinatown Gate, an ornate ceremonial gate that sits on a large traffic island at Yaowarat Road. Constructed in 1999, the gate was built to symbolise the loyalty of the Chinese community to King Bhumibol of Thailand and it was opened just in time to celebrate the King’s 60th birthday on the Throne.

Photo Credit: yaizamartinezrodriguez

KUAN YIM SHRINE

Kuan Yim Shrine is one of Yaowarat’s most vibrant attractions and it features a 900-year-old statue of Guan Yin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. Throngs of both locals and tourists alike come here to pray, especially during the holiday season, and the place is always filled with smoke and incense.

606 The King’s Birthday Celebration Arch
Yaowarat Road
Bangkok, 10100
Tel: +66 91 769 0824

HAVE BRUNCH AT LHONG TONG CAFE

This eclectic, cosy eatery is popular for their dim sum as well as their very interesting interior; both of which are incredibly Instagram-worthy. The common thing about quirkily designed eateries is that they usually have pretty subpar food. This isn’t the case for Lhong Tou Cafe; we never thought that we would ever have some of the best dim sum of our lives in Bangkok and the dim sum here puts some of the ones we’ve tried in Hong Kong to shame!

538 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong
Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 64 935 6499
Daily: 8am – 10pm

Photo Credit: drewparrett

TALAT KAO (CHINATOWN OLD MARKET)

Talat Kao is a 200-year old open-air market in the heart of Chinatown and here, you can watch the locals go about their daily lives as they go marketing for fruits and vegetables and trade items with one another. Foodies can also fill their bellies with plenty of scrumptious street food that is readily available at every turn. We recommend trying their Chinese food; there is no better place to try it than in Chinatown!

Soi Lat Krabang 5, Lat Krabang
Bangkok 10520, Thailand
Tel: +66 99 383 0304

Photo Credit: gerdaaboushanab

SAMPENG MARKET

This long, narrow street is a wholesalers idea of paradise. Expect rows of stalls selling a mish-mash of random items like fabrics, clothes and electronics for dirt cheap prices. If you bulk buy, you can get an even larger bargain so you can come here with some friends for even better deals!

96 Chakkrawat, Samphanthawong
Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Daily: 9am – 6pm

Photo Credit: ambshencho

PAK KHLONG MARKET (FLOWER MARKET)

Chak Phet Road, near the Memorial Bridge or Saphan Phut Chao Phraya pier
Daily: 24-hours

HAVE DINNER AT NAI EK ROLL NOODLES

442 Khwaeng Samphanthawong
Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
+66 2 226 4651
Daily: 7.30am – 1.30am

ENJOY YAOWARATS FAMOUS TOASTED BUNS

Yaowarat Toasted Bread sees perpetual long queues on the daily made up of both locals and tourists. What makes the bread here stand out from anywhere else is its filling; each perfectly toasted and buttered bun comes generously chock full of a filling of your choice and they have sinfully good options such as condensed milk and sankaya.

Yaowarat Road
Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 224 0677
Sun, Tue to Fri: 6.30pm – 12am
Sat: 6pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)

EXPLORE THE STREETS OF YAOWARAT AT NIGHT

The streets of Yaowarat are undoubtedly exciting in the day, but the entire place truly comes alive when the sun goes down. Watch the various street food vendors slowly set up their stalls and see the bright lights come on, illuminating the streets with a soothing neon glow. The place looks very different at night and you’ll feel like you’re in a completely different area altogether.

Photo Credit: cassidyfowler

HAVE DRINKS AT ENJOY THE VIEW AT SKY VIEW 360° ROOFTOP BAR OF GRAND CHINA HOTEL

End of the hectic day with a chill session of drinks and a magnificent view at Sky View 360°. This gorgeous restaurant that is perched atop Grand China Hotel provides diners with a breathtakingly beautiful 360° overview of Chinatown and Chao Phraya River. Here, they have an international-style menu that has something for everyone as well as fizzy cocktails and ice-cool drinks.

215 Yaowarat Road
Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 224 9977
Daily: 7am – 12am

Huai Khwang Night Market — A Local Bangkok Shopping Spot For Insominiacs

Melissa Teo — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 21:13:04 +0000

Bangkok is a shopaholics paradise and we love how this city has a plethora of shopping spots to satiate our never-ending love for shopping.

If you’re sick of the usual touristy markets like Chatuchak and Talad Neon, you can try paying a visit to Huai Khwang Night Market. This market is less frequented by tourists so you get to shop like a local and have a different night market experience altogether.

Huai Khwang Night Market is just a short walk away from Huai Khwang MRT station, which makes it very convenient and accessible.

Do not expect rows and rows of tented stalls like what you usually see at night markets in Bangkok; the stalls here are mostly located within buildings along a long winding road and to us, it seemed more like a row of shophouses that function like night market stalls.

Here, you can find different stalls selling a variety of things such as clothes, accessories, shoes, beauty products and random knick-knacks. You can also get your hair and nails done at one of the many beauty salons that line the streets.

Take a break from all that shopping by indulging in some scrumptious food. Huai Khwang Night Market is home to plenty of both street stalls and restaurants that are open till the wee hours of the morning, so you’ll always have something to satisfy your hunger.

While it is an interesting place to check out if you have time, we don’t feel like it is a must-visit unless you want to experience what a more local market feels like. It has everything that your usual night market has and we honestly did not find this as exciting as the other night markets we have visited.

If you don’t have much time and you only can visit one or two markets, we recommend that you check out Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin or Hua Mum Night Market instead.

Huai Khwang Night Market
Soi Pracha Rat Bamphen
Khwaeng Din Daeng, Din Daeng
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Daily: 24-hours