Silom Sathorn district of Bangkok is one of the Thai capital’s buzziest areas right now. Home to a spate of new cocktail bars, sunny cafés, seductive speakeasies and two of Asia’s best restaurants, the Silom Sathorn district of Bangkok should be your first stop in the Thai capital.
The buzzy Silom Sathorn district of Bangkok has evolved into the Thai capital’s hottest new drinking and dining neighbourhood. Thailand’s military coup d’état of May 2014 may have kept tourists away for a time but it’s been business as usual in Bangkok where restaurants and bars remain busy and a flurry of fabulous openings has revitalised two of the oldest parts of the city.
In the backstreets of the Silom Sathorn district, two neighbouring areas – the first known for its street food, girlie bars and gay scene, the other for its galleries, tailor shops and gem stores – a lively new eating and drinking area has emerged and everyone’s talking about it right now.
Scattered along the leafy residential backstreets of Silom Sathorn, midway between riverside Bangrak, Bangkok’s oldest neighbourhood, and sprawling Lumphini Park, these buzzy spots may be within walking distance to some of Bangkok’s finest five star hotels yet they’re under the radar for many visitors.
Silom Sathorn District of Bangkok – A Guide to Bangkok’s Buzziest Area
Things to Do in the Silom Sathorn District of Bangkok
GALLERY HOP
While not new, Silom Sathorn’s engaging galleries are worth a couple of hours of your time, including H Gallery, which shows Thai and international art in a beautiful heritage building (201 Sathorn Soi 12); Kathmandu, dedicated to local photography (87 Soi Pan/Silom Soi 13); Artery, focusing on emerging Thai art (2/2 Soi 19 Silom Rd); and Thavibu, focused on Thai, Vietnamese and Burmese art (919/1 Silom Rd). These and others feature on the Bangkok Art Map, available at all galleries and many cafés.
VISIT A TEMPLE
One of Bangkok’s busiest temples, the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, or Wat Khaek or Uma Devi Temple as it’s called by Thais, is a Hindu temple, however, you’ll see people of all religions here simply to take in the colour and atmosphere. There always seems to be some sort of ritual going on, but even if there isn’t, it’s still worth a look. Located on Silom Soi 13, also called Soi Pan (where Kathmandu is located above), there are many small shops around the temple selling Indian groceries, bindies, incense, flowers etc for offerings.
SAMPLE STREET FOOD
Silom and Sathorn have long been known for their street food, as is the adjoining area of Bangrak, the city’s oldest neighbourhood. On Bangkok Food Tours’ award winning walk through the historic quarter you can try local specialties such as khao na phed, roast duck and rice, at family-owned eateries such as Mr Soong’s 50-year-old restaurant.
Where to Drink in the Silom Sathorn District of Bangkok
The area is brimming with buzzy new cafés and bars.
ROCKET COFFEEBAR
When Rocket opened last year, this cool little neighbourhood café brought some clean-lined Scandinavian style to Sathorn Silom’s gritty backstreets. Inspired by cafes in Stockholm, Sydney and San Francisco, the owners (a trio of successful Swedish mixologists) created a very contemporary yet warm and welcoming space, with communal tables and a U-shaped bar. The big draw is their artisanal breads and pastries baked on the premises daily, great coffee that comes from small batch coffee roasters, and wholesome, healthy dishes created from organic produce. Expect anything from daily-made vegetable soups (try the carrot-cumin if you’re there on a Thursday) to Banana waffles with whipped mascarpone, strawberry-lavender preserve and fresh strawberries.
149 Sathorn Soi 12, 66 2635 0404, Sathorn www.rocketcoffeebar.com
MOKO
Art gallery owner Martine Pailloux opened this airy, light-filled café last May, which she decorated with mismatched handcrafted furniture made from recycled wood, design objects, modish light fittings, and a rotating exhibition of art and photography on the walls. Fruit bowls and cookie jars on the marble counter, stacks of magazines scattered about, herb pots on tables, and friendly service ensure it’s more café than gallery. Italian chef Marco Rosato’s light, healthy mod-Med comfort food makes use of fresh seasonal organic produce from the Royal Projects, and features flavourful vegetarian options. Locals and expats appreciate the all day weekend brunches and business travellers from nearby hotels appear to prefer the delicious set breakfasts to five star hotel buffets.
71/2 Sathorn Soi 10, Sathorn 66 2635 3673
U.N.C.L.E
Still very much under the radar, this glam, dimly-lit cocktail bar is a speakeasy in the true sense of the term – there is no sign out front and access is via an alley beside Lady Brett and up a couple of flights of stairs behind the restaurant. While there’s a DJ some nights, the focus is on the drinks. The owners, the same team behind Rocket and longstanding gastro-bar Hyde & Seek, are three Swedish mixologists who have been making the city’s best cocktails for the best part of a decade. Expect handcrafted cocktails, including many old recipes, made with premium spirits and house-made infusions, served in fine vintage-inspired glassware.
149 Sathorn Soi 12, Sathorn www.avunculus.com
NAMSAAH BOTTLING TRUST
At Namsaah Bottling Trust, the newish gastro-pub of chef Ian Kittichai of Issaya Siamese Club, chase salmon tartar wonton ‘tacos’ with Negronis made from fresh tangerine juice and roasted mandarin. Longer review below.
401 Silom Soi 7 www.namsaah.com.
VESPER
You can savour barrel-aged cocktails and infused spirits at Vesper, a lively cocktail bar and European-style bistro. See below for more info.
10/15 Convent Road, Silom
MAGGIE CHOO’S
At Shanghai-inspired speakeasy Maggie Choo’s, order heady cocktails and Thai-Chinese dishes while watching live cabaret, jazz and blues. The concept is the brainchild of Australian Ashley Sutton, responsible for the design of Bangkok’s most original bars, and it’s ran by Sanya Souvanna Phouma of Bed Supper Club fame.
320 Silom Road, Sathorn. Maggie Choo’s Facebook page
Where to Eat in the Silom Sathorn District of Bangkok
EAT ME
One of the hottest places in the ’hood at #25 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list Eat Me isn’t new. In fact it’s 16 years old – ancient in Bangkok years – but has remained au courant thanks to a team with their fingers on the pulse. Australian Darren Hausler and food stylist sister Cherie opened this local institution when there was little in the area except food stalls. The good-looking retro space would be a grand old dame if it weren’t for frequent nips and tucks by American designer Kelly Wheatley of LUMP, whose handcrafted furniture is made from recycled wood and vintage fabric. CIA-trained chef Tim Butler (formerly of New York’s Daniel) continually tweaks his seasonal menu of fine produce-driven cuisine that Hausler calls “modern, international, regional’. Try the Australian salt bush lamb rack with broad bean, mint and charred lemon. A favourite with hospitality industry folks who dine and drink here late; kitchen closes at 1am.
Soi Pipat 2, off Convent Road, Silom 66 2238 0931
LE DU
Just over a year old, the unpretentious décor of this petite restaurant belies the elegance of the contemporary Thai cuisine artfully arranged on the plates. The Thai owner-chef, 28 year-old Thitid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn trained at the Culinary Institute of America and worked at Eleven Madison Park and Jean Georges in New York. Le Du means ‘the season’ in Thai and the Ton is sourcing quality seasonal produce from around Thailand to create some of Bangkok’s most intriguing and most contemporary food right now. Dishes such as local ostrich, tamarind, winged beans, sticky rice, chilli paste, and roasted rice incorporate modernist techniques without the silly tricks and gimmicks. Don’t even think about ordering anything but the tasting menu with wine pairing. Ton is also a qualified sommelier.
399/3 Silom Soi 7, Silom 92 919 9969 www.ledubkk.com
NAMSAAH BOTTLING TRUST
We love Namsaah because it’s both a fabulous cocktail sipping and snacking spot (downstairs) or an atmospheric dining space (upstairs). ‘Namsaah’ is an old Thai name for sparkling water – a nod to the former life of this crimson early 20th century villa as a soda bottling company office. It was also the residence of a royal aide-de-camp and a bank headquarters. Owners Thai chef Ian Kittichai (Issaya Siamese Club, Smith) and manager Justin Dunne (Bed Supper Club, KuDeTa) tried to capture some of that colourful history in the grand building’s latest incarnation as a fun bar and restaurant. And they succeeded. Following its July 2014 opening Namsaah quickly became a local favourite for its atmospheric décor, idiosyncratic soundtrack, whimsical cocktails, and playful Asian inspired dishes like salmon tartar wonton ‘tacos’ and a pink krapow burger (Wagyu beef in a pink peppercorn bun). Match them with a smoky Negroni created from fresh tangerine juice and roasted mandarin oranges or a Whiskey Sour made with Thai Sangsom ‘whisky’ and salted caramel.
401 Silom Soi 7, Silom 66 2636 6622 www.namsaah.com
VESPER
When it opened in March last year this European-style bistro and cocktail bar injected some sophistication into a street previously distinguished by an Irish pub and Mexican joint. By day Vesper has a gentleman’s club vibe with its leather Chesterfield sofas and black and white tiled floor. After dark, when the lights are turned down and music turned up loud, things get pleasantly boisterous. Named after the Vesper martini, the drinks by London’s Fluid Movement mixologists draw a discerning crowd for the infused spirits and barrel aged cocktails, as much as the Spanish-Italian comfort food by Chef Luca Appino, where tapas introduce a menu of pizzas, grills, and handmade pastas, such as Orecchiette ‘Bocca di Lupo’ made with spicy Nduja sausage from Calabria.
10/15 Convent Road, Silom 66 2235 2777
Where to Stay in the Silom Sathorn District of Bangkok
W BANGKOK
The W’s arty vibe and clubby style reflects the character of Sathorn, a district in the city’s central-west dotted with galleries and speakeasies, and neighbouring Silom, best known for its nightlife and gay scene. Interiors by New York design firm AvroKO and Thai-based architecture and design house SODA feature playful installations by local artists such as a wall of tuk tuk lights and whimsical touches such as cushions made from satin Muay Thai boxer shorts and oversized boxing gloves on beds in the 402 rooms.
106 North Sathorn Rd, Silom
Book the W Bangkok online with our booking partner Booking.com
METROPOLITAN BY COMO
That this minimalist boutique hotel is home to chef David Thompson’s Nahm, number 7 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list, is reason enough to stay. Its location was once an inconvenience, but is now within walking distance of many of Silom’s new cafés, restaurants and bars. Or stay in for superb breakfasts and to loll about the 25-metre swimming pool.
27 South Sathorn Rd, Silom
Book the Metropolitan by Como online with our booking partner Booking.com
While we didn’t check out any of the bars and restos you’ve listed on our visit to Bangkok a few weeks ago, we can certainly vouch that the city was buzzing! We’ve now stayed at the Shangri-La, Mandarin-Oriental and Grande Sheraton Sukhumvit – all great luxury hotels. In Ubud, Bali, we had a peek at Uma by Como – and that was fab (very modern) – so the Metropolitan by Como in Bangkok is sure to be great too. Next visit, maybe we’ll stow our suitcases there :-). And hopefully get a chance to check out some of your drinking and eating suggestions too…
The Mandarin Oriental is indeed very special. We’ve stayed a few times now and they treat us like family – they have some of the best staff in Asia, if not the world. We actually didn’t like the Como much at all the first time we stayed, and on our last stay they messed up our booking even though we were there to interview and photograph Chef David Thompson for a story and David was at the desk essentially telling them to sort it out in Thai. They did, and they more than made up for it by putting us in a two-storey loft suite AND offering us an additional night. It was wonderful! As you know, we love our holiday/apartment rentals, and this was like living in an apartment. We did not want to leave. If you’re a fan of Como, try the Point Yamu on Phuket – very kitschy-cute design, stunning restaurants and amazing food.
But, yes, next time you go to Bangkok, do check out the spots above. There are new places opening all the time in that area as well, so we’ll continue to update this each time we get back. Thanks for visiting!
I am having SUCH a hard time deciding where to eat when we visit at the end of Oct. I think I’ve read most of your articles but we’re only 2 nights so it’s all a matter of how much we can eat in a short time – plus wanting to do some ‘off the tourist trail’ activities. So far I’ve booked Gaggan and Nahm for dinners – I haven’t been to BKK since 1999 so I figure I have to start there and then work back…..any guidance welcome :) And thanks as always for your thorough and informative posts Lara (and Terence) :) xx
Stay in the Sathorn-Silom area. I would recommend booking Nahm the first night and Le Du the second night. After Nahm go for a drink at UNCLE or Maggie Choo’s, and after Le Du go around the corner for a drink at Namsaah Bottling Trust. You could do lunch at Issaya one day and lunch at Errr (Bo.lan chefs’ new place) the other day. Breakfast at Rocket one morning and Moko the next. The day you’re at Errr you can explore the old town pagodas in the morning and then in the afternoon visit Chinatown. On the other day you can wander around Silom (above) or go to Siam and do some shopping. How does that sound?
Thanks Lara, you’re fab :) We’re actually staying at Conrad – not my first choice but we won a 2 night stay at a charity auction. I’m so conflicted about Gaggan now! Love your ideas though and Maggie Choo’s was also suggested by a friend who used to live there. I think I might throw all of the ideas into a hat and pluck out each meal individually ;)
x
Gaggan is okay, it’s not as good as it was, but then it’s always been uneven in our opinion. And when you only have so many meals…