Bangkok is indisputably one of the best holiday destinations for people who love cheap shopping, food and massages. However, there’s more to this beautiful city than roaming the streets of Chatuchak and slurping down a cooling cup of Thai iced tea.

Culture enthusiasts who want to enjoy Bangkok beyond just shopping and eating will be glad to know that Bangkok is steeped in a rich, enthralling history that is definitely worth exploring. There are a plethora of landmarks and museums that are open to the public that allows us to dip our toes into the city’s bounteous history and culture, offering a fresh new perspective to the land of smiles.

If you’re keen to explore this side of Bangkok, we recommend that you start off at Phra Nakhon, where you can find a number of culturally significant attractions such as the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Wat Pho. Aside from that, the area is home to a number of eateries serving up authentic Thai fare to complete the experience.

Photo Credit: my.mdi

HAVE BREAKFAST AT THIAN SONG ROAST DUCK 

This hole-in-the-wall street restaurant specialises in roast duck and they’ve been in the business for over 70 years. Aside from their ambrosial plates of duck rice and noodles, they are also popular for their coffee and toasted bread with orange kaya, a perfect breakfast combination to start your day!

Dinso Road
Sao Chingcha, Phra Nakhon
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 224 4554
Daily: 8am – 7.30pm

GRAND PALACE 

To properly immerse yourself in Thailand’s rich, cultural history, a trip to the Grand Palace is a must. 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. It will truly make you feel like you’ve been transported to another era.

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

TEMPLE OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA 

The Grand Palace also houses Wat Phra Kaew, which translates to ‘The Temple Of The Emerald Buddha’. This is one of the most sacred places in Thailand and the small Buddha statue that resides in the temple is believed to be more than 2000 years old. The Buddha was created in India and has been moved a number of times before it was re-discovered in 1434 in a temple in Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand.

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

LUNCH AT THE SIXTH 

Located just a short walk away from Wat Arun and the Grand Palace, The Sixth is a cosy and hip little cafe that is run by a young couple. The quirky and homely decor gives the entire place a very relaxed and chill atmosphere, making it the perfect pitstop after a tiring morning of exploring the Grand Palace. 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)

WAT PHO (RECLINING BUDDHA) 

Another historical monument that you definitely need to check out is Wat Pho, home of the famous reclining Buddha. Aside from that, it is also the national headquarters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai massage. You can get a massage at the Wat Pho Thai Traditional Massage School as well to complete the experience.

2 Sanam Chai Road
Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang
Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 226 0335
Daily: 8am – 6.30pm

Photo Credit: paolo.patricola

WAT ARUN 

Directly opposite Wat Pho is Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn. You can reach it by taking a riverboat from Saphan Taksin. The compound features a majestic 70-meter-high spire that is intricately decorated with tiny pieces of Chinese porcelain and coloured glass. If you are observant, you’d even realise that the image of Wat Arun is actually printed on Thailand’s 10-baht coins!

158 Thanon Wang Doem
Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai
Bangkok 10600, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 891 2185
Daily: 8.30m – 6pm

DINNER AT THIPSAMAI 

End off a tiring day of exploring by having dinner at the famous Thipsamai. Dubbed to have the best pad thai in Bangkok, this humble eatery has even managed to snag themselves a Bib Gourmand award by the Michelin Guide. The place is constantly flooded with both tourists and locals alike so do try to head on down early to secure yourself a seat!

313 Maha Chai Road
Khwaeng Samran Rat, Khet Phra Nakhon
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 226 6666
Daily: 5pm – 2am

Bangkok is well-known for its beautiful cafés, and Luka is no exception. If you’re craving for a hearty brunch at an idyllic spot, this café is more than perfect for you. It is not only aesthetically pleasing to the eye; the food they serve will also excite your tastebuds.

Luka’s laid-back ambience will keep you coming back for more. Having multiple branches around Bangkok will certainly make it easier for many tourists and locals alike to dine at this tranquil café.

Luka has branches in Silom, Thonglor, and Soi Som Kid. In every Luka café, their concept is unique and innovative. That makes them stand out from other cafés in Bangkok.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/lukabangkok/

In Silom, their first branch, Luka shares its space with a furniture shop called Casa Pagoda. It is no surprise that one can easily feel the warmth and cosiness emitting from the all-day brunch joint.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/lukabangkok/

In Thonglor, they are known as Luka Moto. This branch is in the heart of Sukhumvit. Teaming up with the luxury brand BMW, they have motorbikes decorated around the café - something else to feast your eyes on, other than the delectable brunches and treats served.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/lukabangkok/

The last Luka branch is located in Soi Som Kid. More specifically, in Bangkok’s favourite “at-home” hangout spot, Siri House. Whenever you need a spot to chill out, or a short getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life, Luka Siri House is your best bet.

Luka is well-known for its all-day brunches and homemade sweet treats. One of our favourites is the Luka Breakfast Burrito (310 baht), and for good reason.

The burrito boasts a substantial amount of sausage, black quinoa, avocado, capsicum, sour cream, grilled corn salsa, and special Luka spices, all wrapped in a flour tortilla. Imagine enjoying the homely feels of the cafe while indulging in a homemade burrito. It sounds like heaven to us.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/lukabangkok/

What pleasantly surprised us was the Acai Bowl (280 baht). The acai berries are blended with coconuts and banana milk, contributing to the dish’s milky and wholesome taste. Add fresh fruits such as bananas and kiwis, pomegranate seeds, house-made granola, toasted almonds, and you have the perfect bowl.

Luka Bangkok
64/3 Thanon Pan, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Nearest BTS Station: Surasak
Mon to Sun: 9am to 6pm

For those of you who have small appetites or just need something small to munch on before your next meal, boat noodles are a perfect meal option. Tiny yet incredibly hearty and substantial, don’t underestimate these little bowls of goodness that pack a powerful punch.

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. Located right smack in the middle of bustling Pratunam, its convenient location makes it a great pitstop for ravenous shopaholics who need to refuel after a tiring day of shopping.

The menu here at Lung Prathunam Boat Noodle is pretty straightforward. Here, they have 6 different broths and 8 different types of noodles to choose from. Mix and match to get your desired bowl of boat noodles; the combinations are endless!

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.

We decided to try a combination of Thicken Beef Soup with Rice Noodles. The beef soup was outrageously robust and packed full of umami. For such a small bowl, they were rather generous with their serving of beef slices which were chunky and not too tough on the teeth.

For something a little lighter, you can choose to have their Clear Soup with Minced Pork and Fish Ball. We had our bowl with glass noodles. The soup was less heavy on the palate as compared to the Thickened Beef Soup, yet, it still was satisfyingly flavourful. The minced pork also added a nice meaty bite to the dish as well as enhanced the flavour of the soup.

Other soup flavours that you can try are Dark Soy Sauce with Pork or Beef, Dry Tom Yum, Yong Tau Fu and Tom Yum Soup.

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

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While Pratunam is known to be a shoppers paradise filled with an endless array of stalls, it is also a gluttons idea of heaven.

The streets and malls of Pratunam are packed with a smorgasbord of stalls that serve up a tantalising selection of food that ranges from hearty local bites to delectable cafe nosh. Each and every nook and cranny of this area is crammed with surprises and we can promise you that you will never run out of new things to try here.

If you are overwhelmed by the wide selection of goodies to tuck into, here is a quick guide to 9 of our favourite places to get some great grub after a tiring day of shopping in Pratunam.

BAMEE SAWANG

While people hear more of the famous Sabx2 Wanton Mee, there are better places in Bangkok to get a scrumptious bowl of roast pork noodles and one of them is Bamee Sawang. We love the wanton mee here and we also recommend that you give their Stewed Pork Leg Over Rice a try too.

982 Phetchaburi Road
Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 056 0663
Daily: 9.30am – 11pm

BOYY & SON

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

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

GONG TONG CAFE

Gong Tong is a charming and quirky cafe that dishes out themed homemade dishes that revolve around different historical periods of Thailand. They serve up both sets and à la carte options and each and every dish here will take you to a completely different era. While the prices here are on the steeper end, we can assure you that it is well worth every cent.

Thanon Phaya Thai
Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 64 879 0149
Daily: 10am – 8.30pm

Photo Credit: seeintear

KHAO KHA MOO TRUK SUNG (PORK KNUCKLES)

For those of you who love anything and everything pork-related, you’ll absolutely love Khao Kha Moo Truk Sung. This humble stall specialises in outrageously tender pork leg over rice that simply melts in your mouth. Aside from that, they also serve up other dishes such as rice with crispy pork and bowls of hearty soups.

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

Photo Credit: midnightkaiton_pratunam

MIDNIGHT KAITON CHICKEN RICE

If the queues at Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice are way too long, you can check Midnight Kaiton Chicken Rice out instead. Here, they serve up hearty plates of chicken rice as well as crispy fried chicken which is perfect for supper. The only gripe we have is that they only open after 7pm.

986 Phetchaburi Road
Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Mon to Sat: 7pm – 4am
Sun: 7pm – 12pm

PONDTIP PRATUNAM 

There aren’t as many stalls in Bangkok that sell duck rice as there are that sell chicken rice but if we had to recommend one, it would be Pondtip Pratunam. This humble stall sells an array of scrumptious Thai food but they’re famous for their duck dishes. We recommend the Soya Duck Rice and the Stewed Duck Rice!

922, 924 Phetchaburi Road
Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 650 4023
Daily: 6am – 8pm

THE PLACE 168

The Place 168 is a little Thai restaurant tucked away at a rundown building near Pratunam Market. The small shop has a pretty extensive menu filled with authentic Thai dishes but they are most famous for their gargantuan bowls of Tom Yum Koong Soup which are great for sharing.

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