Khao San Road
Where to lay your head
Where to lay your head
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Go back to Bangkok main page »Travellers wanting no more than a short stumble from bar to bed should check out the options on Khao San Road and neighbouring Rambuttri Road. Those who don’t mind a five- to 15-minute walk from these main traveller strips will find a better selection of accommodation to go with more of a local vibe on the streets around Khao San. Some quality places to stay are also found further east around Democracy Monument, or you could head north to Thewet and Dusit if you don’t mind positioning yourself further from the action in a sleepier part of town. Key attractions like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and National Museum are all relatively easy to access from all of these locations.
The brash heart of Thailand’s traveller scene, Khao San Road is stuffed with vendor stalls, touts and dozens of cranking bars. Running parallel to Khao San to the north, Rambuttri Road also has a lively traveller scene but with a slightly mellower scene. Cross Chakrabongse Road to the west and you’ll hit Soi Rambuttri, another traveller strip that keeps things quieter than Rambuttri Road and is almost sleepy compared to Khao San. Loud music can be heard inside rooms at many places until around 02:00 on Khao San and Rambuttri roads, but much of Soi Rambuttri stays quiet enough to sleep early.
A large, comfortable and well-established hotel situated right on Khao San Road itself, Buddy Lodge is the original property from a group that also runs at least three more hotels and roughly a dozen bars and restaurants in Bangkok. Unexpectedly classy rooms, several extras and great value make it a go-to option for flashpackers. The six-storey brick building dominates the eastern end of the... Read our full review of Buddy Lodge.
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Occupying a two-storey concrete house with no more than eight rooms, the homely Honey Place is a throwback to the “good old days” when locals opened their homes to the backpackers passing through town. Clean, simple and friendly is the recipe here, and it works. Located on the ground floor and upstairs, all rooms come with at least one window, a small desk and firm bed, with enough well... Read our full review of Honey Place.
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Nudging up to some venerable trees in a quiet spot just off Soi Rambuttri, the Lamphu House remains a top pick for budget travellers in the immediate Khao San Road vicinity. Set in a four-storey concrete building and accessed by at least one flight of stairs, all rooms come with soft rattan lamps, desks, comfy beds and free WiFi that worked very well for us on the third floor. The cheaper... Read our full review of Lamphu House.
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A key player on Rambuttri Road, the long-running Villa Cha-Cha remains a top pick for flashpackers seeking a swimming pool, generous common space and rooms with an artistic touch. In an unusual setup, the guesthouse has entrances on both Tani Road to the north and Rambuttri Road, where bamboo trim joins funky statues and loads of tables at a large bar and restaurant that’s also popular with... Read our full review of Villa Cha-Cha.
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One of the only places still catering to budget travellers right on lively Rambuttri Road, Green House serves up adequate private rooms and dorms behind and above the popular restaurant of the same name. The sought after location and inexpensive rates mean that Green House is often full—even in low season we had to book a room in advance just to take a look. This was worth it, as the small... Read our full review of Green House.
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Tucked down an alley just off central Khao San, Laksameenarai Guesthouse has a few romantic private rooms and clean dorms set in an attractive heritage house overshadowed by the low-rise neighbours. Owners claim that the handsome pale-yellow house has stood here for more than 130 years, which is old even by Banglamphu standards. Possibly preserved thanks to its delicate gingerbread... Read our full review of Laksameenarai Guesthouse.
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Sporting a stylish design, cushy dorms and helpful staff, Nitan Hostel is one of the only true hostels found within steps of Khao San Road. Set down an easy-to-miss alley that cuts south from the east side of Khao San Road, the small two-floor hostel greets you with an oversized daybed and sleek wooden floors in a common room that doubles as reception. At the back stretches a long communal... Read our full review of Nitan Hostel.
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Looming above a bunch of noisy bars, the pale green D&D Inn is one of the largest and most recognisable hotels on Khao San. Some years ago it quit being a cheap backpacker haunt by upgrading all rooms and increasing rates into the flashpacker range. Whether the benefits outweigh disadvantages is up for debate, but do know what you’re getting into before booking. D&D overlooks the noisiest... Read our full review of D&D Inn.
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Two swimming pools, a frangipani-strewn courtyard and a desirable location help to make up for the mediocre rooms at Rambuttri Village, one of the largest and longest running larger hotels in the area. Just back from Soi Rambuttri behind the associated Rambuttri Terrace Restaurant, the hotel spans three five-storey buildings set around an open-air common area with tables, trees and a fishpond... Read our full review of Rambuttri Village Inn.
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Some of our favourite places to stay in all of Bangkok are located within a kilometre walk from the west and north of Khao San Road, on or just off Phra Arthit, Phra Sumen and Samsen roads. A mix of travellers and locals create a scene that spares you the brashness (and noise) of Khao San while still offering plenty of low-key bars and cafes to chill in. The area is much better for budget travellers than Khao San itself, with some 20 cheap hostels found on Samsen sois 4 and 6 alone. You’ll also come across good-value guesthouses, boutique hotels and luxury rooms with river views.
Riva Surya sets the standard for luxury accommodation in the Khao San area. Rising between laid-back Phra Arthit Road and the Chao Phraya River, the mid-size hotel’s gorgeous design toes the line between modern sleekness and old-style Thai elegance. While not cheap, this is an exceptional choice for a honeymoon or end of trip splurge. Approaching from the street entrance, security guards... Read our full review of Riva Surya Bangkok.
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Run by the same family that first opened its doors to backpackers in the early 1980s, Apple Guesthouse recreated itself in recent years by erecting a modern concrete building in place of the old wooden house. Some will say it now lacks the charm of the old days, but you’ll still find the same laidback vibes along with exceptional budget value and a lot more comfort than before. Long before... Read our full review of Apple Guest House.
Born Free Hostel’s black-and-white paw print sign pokes out from some greenery to mark the spot of a relaxing and artistic scene with great-value dorms on a side lane near Khao San Road. The ground floor common room feels bigger than it is thanks to natural light from wide windows near the old shophouse’s high ceilings. Raised off the floor, tables and floor cushions make it easy to chat... Read our full review of Born Free Hostel.
Offering a memorable setup in an area stuffed with dorm options, Canale Hostel blends modern comforts into a heritage house set in a village beside the murky water of the Banglamphu Canal. The small property occupies one of several houses set in a long wooden structure that dates to the early 20th century and, apart from the hostel, is still home to several families. Approaching from Phra... Read our full review of Canale Hostel.
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Dewan Bangkok is the first “Arabian-themed” hotel we’ve seen in Thailand that actually carries out this design in a tasteful way. More importantly, it offers rooms and service of a higher grade than many similarly priced hotels in the Khao San area. Designers pulled off quite a transformation when they combined two pre-existing buildings, formerly broken into three shophouses, to create... Read our full review of Dewan Bangkok.
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One of our favourites out of the many homely hostels found in the Khao San area, Khaosan Immjai serves up cushy bunks on a quiet side lane while living up to a name that translates as “full heart,” denoting inner peace or contentment. The five-floor converted shophouse greets you with an orange paintjob, and bright colours continue inside with a palette of yellow, green, orange and pink.... Read our full review of Khaosan Immjai Hostel.
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Popular with families and flashpackers, Lamphu Tree House remains a comfortable choice with old-style Thai elegance and a quiet canal-side location. The long-running and reliable property is not an actual treehouse built into the branches of a tree, but you will find the broad red leaves of old umbrella trees draped over the canal out front. The design relies on Thai silks, wooden Buddha... Read our full review of Lamphu Tree House.
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One of the only hostels in Bangkok with a swimming pool is the Mad Monkey, a top pick for young travellers looking for a built-in party scene. The hostel launched in 2017 as the first property in Thailand from a group that already ran several hostels scattered around the Philippines and Cambodia. Backpackers who have stayed in any of these will find the same successful recipe here: lots of... Read our full review of Mad Monkey Hostel Bangkok.
The Navalai River Resort offers smart rooms in an enviable riverside location that’s practically on top of Phra Arthit ferry pier. Attentive service and a rooftop pool also help to make it a top pick in the midrange bracket. After a polite receptionist told us the options in clear English, we took the lift upstairs to check out rooms that are sleek, clean, cushy and spacious, even if they... Read our full review of Navalai River Resort.
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Our favourite out of the five properties run by the New Siam group, New Siam II Guest House is an affordable option for flashpackers and families keen on enjoying a swimming pool in a quiet location near Khao San Road, the historic district and the river. Though rooms are dated and staff could be friendlier, the value is still among the best of any budget hotel in this part of Bangkok. The... Read our full review of New Siam II Guest House.
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Named after the side street that it’s located on, Sam Sen Sam Place started out by offering cheap backpacker accommodation in a pair of attractive heritage houses. In more recent years the family owners constructed a four-storey building further back on the property, resulting in a wide variety of rooms with different levels of comfort and style. Ice-blue-and-white or dark-green-and-cream... Read our full review of Sam Sen Sam Place.
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A staff that goes the extra distance to ensure guests are happy combines with smart rooms and a convenient Samsen Road location to make Tara Place stand out from the medium-size hotel pack in the Khao San area. An enthusiastic receptionist asked if we’d like to see some rooms no more than two seconds after we started with: “Looking for a room.” In a flash we were in the lift with a... Read our full review of Tara Place.
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Tucked down a quiet alley near Phra Sumen Fort and an easy stroll from Khao San Road, Adamaz House delivers clean and well-equipped rooms for non-fussy flashpackers who don’t require an on-site bar and restaurant. You’ll find Adamaz’s sleek but out-of-place facade after wandering past napping cats down a cramped alley. The lobby reminds us of a midrange Chinese karaoke bar, with glossy... Read our full review of Adamaz House.
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With a terrific location, comfortable beds and lower-than-expected rates, BB House might just live up to a name that stands for “Best Bed”. There are however some disadvantages to consider before you steer your way here. Overshadowed by the larger and less inspiring Happio Hotel, which covers part of the same building, BB House blends into the bustling corner of Soi Chana Songkhram and... Read our full review of BB House.
New Phiman Riverside is an oddity that will be heaven for some hippie types and bloody awful for those who like things neat and tidy. With a shantytown feel and splendid views of the Chao Phraya, it’s one of the most peculiar places to stay that this writer has ever come across. Near the dead-end of Samsen Soi 5, a ramshackle muay Thai ring and ancient banyan tree make it clear that... Read our full review of New Phiman Riverview Guesthouse.
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Set in a warren of lanes where you cannot throw a cat without hitting a hostel, Once in Bangkok Guesthouse offers no-frills budget rooms for those who prefer some privacy. The mid 20th century building has an unusual curved shape to follow the pavement at a corner where Samsen Soi 4 bends to meet another lane. This makes for some oddly shaped rooms that come with a choice of shared or private... Read our full review of Once in Bangkok Guesthouse.
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Including some of Bangkok’s finest bed and breakfasts, these properties are all situated closer to the unmistakable Democracy Monument at the heart of Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Expect more of a local scene that places you one to two kilometres east of Khao San Road, and the same distance northwest of the Grand Palace and other key sites down in Rattanakosin.
Set in a beautifully restored late-19th century house in the historic district, Baan Noppawong is among Bangkok’s very best bed and breakfasts. Look no further if you seek elegance, romance and comfort to go with an intimate atmosphere and excellent location. The house was built in the late 1800s by a noble family — the Noppawong na Ayudhaya’s — and is now owned and operated by... Read our full review of Baan Noppawong.
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Set in a former palace building that’s been in the same family for seven generations, the Old Capital Bike Inn has six rooms each with a classy individual design. Throw in an environmental outlook, free bicycle tours and impeccable service, and you have a fabulous choice for those who prefer an intimate bed and breakfast rather than a larger hotel. Around 2015 the place rebranded itself,... Read our full review of Old Capital Bike Inn.
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Strategically located down a quiet alley off the Democracy Monument traffic circle, Ratchadamnoen Residence delivers very comfortable serviced apartments with an intimate guesthouse vibe. It’s one of a growing number of quality midrange choices for those looking to stay in the historic district, but away from Khao San Road. Set in a nondescript renovated townhouse, the R Residence... Read our full review of Ratchadamnoen Residence.
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Opened at the tail end of 2012, Baan Dinso at Ratchadamnoen is situated at the heart of Bangkok’s historic district and has spotless, elegant rooms directly overlooking Democracy Monument. One classy joint. The new sister establishment of the original Baan Dinso, a short walk away down Dinso Road, Baan Dinso at Ratchadamnoen occupies a freshly renovated four-storey building that used to... Read our full review of Baan Dinso at Ratchadamnoen.
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A throwback to the 1960s with revamped rooms and a great swimming pool, Hotel De Moc is a hotel with a story to tell. The property opened under the name Thai Hotel in 1962, a period when the city began drawing crowds of US servicemen on leave from the war in Vietnam. In 1964 it appeared in Operation CIA, a ridiculous film set in Saigon but filmed in Bangkok in which a spy played by a young... Read our full review of Hotel De Moc.
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These spots are all spread around a leafy area near Thewet Pier on the river ferry lines and the National Library, as well as further east in the similarly low-key Dusit and Nang Loeng neighbourhoods. Those who don’t mind a two- to three-kilometre trip down to Khao San Road will find several quality places to stay that tend towards the artistic and intimate.
Have you ever dreamed of taking an ordinary old shophouse and turning it into a plush urban pad? The family who runs Loog Choob Homestay on the fringes of Bangkok’s old city did exactly that. What used to be a rundown, uninspiring building underwent a complete transformation, and the result is an intimate place to stay with no shortage of comfort or style. Loog Choob is a sophisticated... Read our full review of Loog Choob Homestay.
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The Phranakorn Nornlen experience takes you straight into the creative soul of Thai culture. Comfortable rooms and abundant common spaces are adorned with imaginative murals; vintage displays lend the feel of a classic Thai market; and daily workshops encourage guests to create their own masterpieces. Even if you don’t stay here, it’s worth stopping by for the arts, crafts, antiques and... Read our full review of Phra Nakorn Norn Len.
Quiet location, immaculate accommodation, exceptional service, classy decor and intimate atmosphere: that’s Baan Manusarn‘s simple recipe for success. From the friendly greeting to homely common spaces and spotless corners, it’s easy to see why this cosy bed and breakfast has earned such a phenomenal reputation after just two years in business. This is one spot that you’ll want to book... Read our full review of Baan Manusarn Bed and Breakfast.
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It’s not so often that we come across a “boutique” hotel that warrants the term, but Baan Tepa Boutique House in the low key historical district of Dusit gets it just right. With eight reasonably priced, artistically rendered rooms to choose from, this is an excellent choice for those seeking an intimate bed & breakfast experience with plenty of antiquarian charm. Baan Tepa occupies... Read our full review of Baan Tepa Boutique House.
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The longstanding Shanti Lodge was among the first Bangkok guesthouses to go “cool” with lattes, Vivaldi, vegetarian food and no smoking back in the ’80s. It remains popular with earthy-crunchy backpackers, even if some will find the “coolness” contrived. Shanti has enjoyed a long and successful run, but has it become a fading star? A longstanding stalwart. Though Shanti has undergone... Read our full review of Shanti Lodge.
Established way back in 1980, the still-very-much-alive Sawatdee is a relic of the early days of backpacking in Thailand. Rather than go boutique or attempt to transform into something more modern, the owner has stuck to her original recipe of dirt-cheap rooms and an unpretentious atmosphere that feels how staying in a local’s home should feel. Clambering up and down the steep stairs is like... Read our full review of Sawatdee Guest House.
Hidden down a leafy alleyway, Tavee Guest House is our favourite among four long-running guesthouses clustered behind National Library in the low-key Thewet area. Each are owned by members of the same family, but Tavee’s soothing common areas, quality rooms and reasonable rates make it the standout. Tucked down a lovely little lane. At first glance, the narrow alley with laundry hung out to... Read our full review of Tavee Guest House.
Another longstanding National Library area guesthouse run by the same family who own Tavee, Shanti and Sawatdee (older brother, sister, younger brother, respectively), the Sri-Ayutthaya has a tasteful design but was lacking on the friendliness when we last visited. Traditional Thai-style wood panel walls, wooden floors, floor cushions, old motorcycles and plenty of plants in the ground-floor cafe... Read our full review of Sri-Ayutthaya Guest House.
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