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Day Guide To Phra Nakhon— Experience Bangkok Via Its Rich Culture & Authentic Cuisine

Melissa Teo — Fri, 29 May 2020 01:00:17 +0000

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

8 Places To Eat At In Phra Nakhon After Visiting The Grand Palace And Wat Arun

Melissa Teo — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 18:33:10 +0000

The Phra Nakhon area in Bangkok is the perfect spot to head to for a day trip to experience the rich and gorgeous culture of Thailand. History buffs and photographers will love how the place is packed with historical monuments and temples such as the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Wat Pho.

A tiring day of exploring also means that it is crucial for one to suss out some good eateries in the vicinity to refuel yourselves. With that, here are 8 places that we recommend you check out during your adventures in Phra Nakhon!

Photo Credit: carmilya

AMA

For wholesome and legitimate Thai food, you definitely need to add AMA to your list of must-try eateries in Bangkok. Aside from the impeccable service and hospitality, the restaurant dishes out authentic Thai fare at wallet-friendly prices. If you’re spoilt for choice, we recommend getting their Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice!

270 272 Maha Rat Road
Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 84 716 8185
Daily: 11am – 5.15pm

KRUA APSORN

Krua Apsorn rose to fame when a member of the Thai Royal family mentioned that he loved the food here. The restaurant has been consistently dishing out scrumptious Thai fare for years and it is an eatery that only locals and foodies in-the-know head to. We highly recommend that you get the Signature Stir-Fried Crab In Curry Powder as well as their Omelet with Crab.

169 Dinso Road
Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 80 550 0310
Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 8pm

Photo Credit: crisber24_7

TANG HENG KEE

Tucked away amongst the temples and historical monuments is Tang Heng Kee, an unpretentious restaurant that serves affordable yet authentic Thai food. Diners adore their Tom Yum Koong, Pad Thai and Coconut Ice Cream! The owners speak both English and Chinese as well, so communicating with them is pretty convenient too.

302 Maharaj Road, Phra Nakhon
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 222 7072

THE SIXTH

Located just a short walk away from the famous Wat Arun and the Grand Palace, 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.

The Sixth’s quirky and homely decor gives the entire place a very relaxed and chill atmosphere. While the place only has five tables and is perpetually crowded, we promise you that the experience here is well worth the wait.

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)

Photo Credit: moonsong__

THIAN SONG ROAST DUCK

This hole-in-the-wall street restaurant specialises in roast duck. They’ve been in the business for over 70-years and is very popular with the locals. Aside from their ambrosial plates of duck rice and noodles, they are also popular for their coffee and toasted bread with orange kaya, both of which are very good for breakfast.

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

THIPSAMAI

Located on the outskirts of Chinatown, Thipsamai has been around since 1966 and the store is constantly flooded with both tourists and locals. Many dub it as the best Phad Thai in Bangkok and honestly, we can see why it is such a hot favourite amongst both the locals and tourists. Pair your Pad Thai along with some of their famous orange juice as well!

Thipsamai
313 315 Maha Chai Road
Khwaeng Samran Rat, Khet Phra Nakhon
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 226 6666
Daily: 5pm – 2am

Photo Credit: luiscpss

RAAN JAY FAI

If you’ve watched Netflix’s “Street Food” you probably would have heard of the legendary Raan Jay Fai, a woman in her 70s who cooks all her dishes wearing her iconic oversized goggles. With a Michelin Star under her belt, it is no surprise that Raan Jay Fai sees never-ending snaking long queues that sometimes do not even guarantee you a chance to try her food.

The food here is definitely on the pricier side, but that doesn’t stop people from joining the lines just to have a quick sample of what she has to offer.

327 Maha Chai Road
Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 92 724 9633

TEE YEN TA FO

If you aren’t feeling the queues at Raan Jay Fai and Thipsamai, you should pop by the less famous but just as good Yen Ta Fo, where they serve up authentic and wholesome bowls of the Thai version of Yong Tau Fu. Each bowl features springy noodles and an assortment of ingredients doused in a pink-hued soup that gets its colour from fermented soybean paste.

256 Maha Chai Road
Khwaeng Samran Rat, Khet Phra Nakhon
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 92 817 4200
Tue to Sun: 6pm – 2am
Mon: 6pm – 12am

Grand Palace Bangkok — What To See, Do And Expect At This Majestic Historical Landmark

Melissa Teo — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 01:00:33 +0000

While Bangkok is well-known for its shopping and food scene, it also boasts an incredibly rich and unique history. If you want to immerse yourself in Bangkok’s beautiful culture but you don’t know where to start, one of the places that you need to add to your Bangkok itinerary is the 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. We recommend that you visit this along with other famous sites such as Wat Arun and Wat Pho, which are all a short distance from each other.

Before embarking on your journey, please note that there is a very strict dress code that you need to adhere to or you will not be able to enter the palace grounds. If you are not dressed properly, you will not be allowed to enter the palace and you may have to purchase clothes to change into onsite.

Men are expected to wear long pants with shirts that have sleeves. Women, on the other hand, should be modestly dressed in clothing that covers the shoulders and legs. Covered shoes are recommended but if you want to wear sandals, it is advisable to wear socks with them.

When we visited the temple, the temple was filled with throngs of people and it was very crowded, so for those of you who hate crowds, do take note of this before you visit the place.

Entry tickets cost 500 baht per person.

WAT PHRA KAEW (THE TEMPLE OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA)

The Grand Palace houses Wat Phra Kaew, which translates to ‘The Temple Of The Emerald Buddha’. This is one of the most sacred places in the whole of 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.

Despite being called The Emerald Buddha, the Buddha is actually made from green jade. The robes of the buddha are also changed according to the seasons by His Majesty the King of Thailand.

Do take note that guests are not allowed to take photos of The Emerald Buddha within the temple or you will be fined.

GORGEOUS ARCHITECTURE

What we love the most about the Grand Palace is its stunning and intricate architecture. We could honestly spend a whole day here just admiring the detailed handiwork of these breathtaking structures and it is just surreal thinking of how the people in the past had managed to construct these beauties with limited tools and machinery.

Feel free to take a few snapshots with the gorgeous architecture as a memento but do take note that as the palace grounds are usually very crowded, it can be quite hard to do so without having someone wander into your shot.

EXPLORE EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY

The palace grounds are massive and it is pretty easy to get lost while you explore the place. We ourselves ended up going in circles before finding our way out of the grounds. However, take this chance to properly explore every inch of the palace. Every wrong turn led us to something interesting like detailed murals, majestic statues and gold speckled structures.

ROYAL RECEPTION HALLS

On the way out, do pay a visit to the grand Royal Reception Halls where important ceremonial occasions like coronations are held at. The Royal Reception Halls also houses the Dusit Hall, the antique throne as well as a museum that has information on the restoration of the Grand Palace as well as numerous Buddha images.

The Grand Palace
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