Our top 10 places to stay in and around Silom
More of a homestay
Sharing a quiet side lane with a few other budget haunts, Madam Guesthouse occupies an old two-floor wooden house that possesses a certain rustic charm.
With more of a homestay feel than its slightly pricier neighbours, Madam is part of a dying breed of old-style Thai guesthouses where guests sleep, eat and live in close quarters with the resident family.
The woman in charge (that would be Madam) can seem a little blunt at first but she is quite friendly if you respect her by not being too loud or wearing your shoes in the house. Guests are welcome to hang with her and other family members in a ground-floor living room, and Madam will whip you up a home-cooked Thai meal if you ask nicely. The setting is quiet thanks to the location well away from the traffic and bars found on nearby Soi Sri Bamphen.
Corridors and stairs are small to say the least, and it’s up to the individual to draw the line between cosy and cramped. Fan-cooled rooms are small but well kept and just fine for the dirt-cheap rates. Clean and functional shared bathrooms are bucket flush and cold water only. For the lucky few, pretty balconies and good views can be found, but otherwise guests can relax on the Thai-style benches surrounded by orchids and potted trees out the front.
This is one of the least expensive guesthouses found anywhere in Bangkok and quite possibly the cheapest in the Sathorn/Silom area. The private rooms at Madam go for considerably less cash than most dorm beds, making this a go-to spot for bare-budget backpackers who don’t mind a pokey atmosphere. Madam only has a handful of rooms that are often full; head next door to Sala Thai or Lee Travel Inn should that be the case.
Madam has virtually no online presence -- it’s not even on Tripadvisor! You could try calling ahead, but most guests simply show up and inquire as walk-ins.
Address: 11 Soi Saphan Khu, off Soi Sri Bamphen, Bangkok
T: (02) 286 9289; F: (02) 213 2087
Coordinates (for GPS): 100º32'52.68" E, 13º43'14.81" N
See position in Apple or Google Maps: Apple Maps | Google Maps
Room rates: Under 600B
What we were quoted as a walk-in.
| Sgl fan share bathroom | 170 baht | 170 baht |
| Dbl fan private bathroom | 230 baht | 230 baht |
Reviewed by
David Luekens
David Luekens first came to Thailand in 2005 when Thai friends from his former home of Burlington, Vermont led him on a life-changing trip. Based in Thailand since 2011, he spends much of his time eating in Bangkok street markets and island hopping the Andaman Sea.
Our top 10 places to stay in and around Silom
