Every visitor to Bangkok knows Khao San Road, but it’s the bustling streets beyond that are calling the shots.
After a makeover, Bangkok’s Khao San district is now home to some of the city’s coolest bars, restaurants, shops and boutique hotels, attracting fashionistas looking for one-off designs, foodies after something well beyond som tum, and barflies wanting to sip their single malt with a river view. Wander down a quiet lane to find it opens up to a contemporary bar of steel and glass wrapped around a central swimming pool, or stay in a boutique hotel with every mod con imaginable. Khao San Road itself is still a chaos of cheap wares – with a few bargains if you look hard – but the legend has a new look.
Stay
Navalai River Resort
45/1-2 Phra Athit Road.
Eat & Drink
Bay Tara
100 Soi Rambutri, Chakrapong Road (opposite Viengtai Hotel).
+66 824 514 944.
Café Democ
78 Ratchadamnoen Klang Road.
+66 2 622 2571.
Hippie De Bar
34/1 Khao San Road.
+66 2 629 3508.
Jazz Happens Bar
Bar Bali, 58 Phra Athit Road.
+66 2 629 0318.
Shop
Hemlock
56 Phra Athit Road.
+66 2 2827 507.
It’s Happened To Be A Closet
32 Khao San Road.
+66 2 629 5271.
Shop With No Name
Chana Songkhram Road (between Lulla Bar & MT Printing).
+66 858 380 930.
See & Do
Siam Discovery Museum
4 Sanam Chai Road.
+66 2 622 2599.
Sor Vorapin Muay Thai Boxing
13 Trok Kasap, Jakapong Road.
+66 2 243 3651.
Wat Chana Songkhram
Between Khao San Road & Phra Athit Pier.
Source: Qantas The Australian Way May 2009