Ko Rattanakosin
Street food, cafes, bars, you name it
Street food, cafes, bars, you name it
Bangkok is so big, we’ve split it up into areas, select one of the below for detailed accommodation and food listings in that area. Sights and general overviews for Bangkok as a whole can be found via the icons above. Don’t know where to start? Read an overview of Bangkok’s different areas.
Go back to Bangkok main page »
Nuttaporn Ice Cream in Banglamphu is more proof that trendy promotion and shiny shopping malls are no match for an extraordinary product served from a weathered old shophouse. We’ve previously covered several spots in Bangkok to sample a more new-age mix of frozen goodies, but when it comes to old-fashioned, Thai-style ice cream, no place matches... Read our full review of Nuttaporn Ice cream.
A great and convenient option for sampling old-style Chinese-Thai vegan food (ahaan jay) is Arawy Vegetarian Restaurant near Democracy Monument and a 10-minute walk from Khao San Road. If you’re in the mood for cheap and authentic meat-free dishes in a no frills set-up, look no further than... Read our full review of Arawy Vegetarian Restaurant.
Known locally as Pad Thai Phratu Phi after the ‘ghost gate’ neighbourhood where it’s located, Thip Samai has had 50 years to perfect the recipes and techniques for its signature pad Thai, often cited as the best in Bangkok. It may be the city’s most famous place to try the best known Thai dish in the world, but does Thip Samai deserve the... Read our full review of Thip Samai.
Thailand's northeastern region — better known as Isaan — produces what we find to be the most addictive food in the kingdom. If you’re in Bangkok’s historic Rattanakosin district and get hit with an Isaan food craving, Bunthon Restaurant serves the real... Read our full review of Bunthon Restaurant.
Touristy areas tend to send “foodies” scrambling down some “secret” alley in search of the nearest “authentic” restaurant. Situated directly across from the Grand Palace, however, century-old Ming Lee Restaurant‘s front-and-centre location has allowed it to slip under the noses of many Bangkok food “experts”. A local told us to try out Ming Lee’s Chinese-Thai comfort food, and... Read our full review of Ming Lee .
Thai households have raised their own fruits, veggies and chickens while naturally aiming for self-sufficiency for countless generations. But in modern times, urbanisation has forced many Thais to give up on gardening. Close to Bangkok’s largest flower market, Farm to Table Organic Cafe bridges the gap between an old agricultural lifestyle and a modern enthusiasm for organic... Read our full review of Farm to Table Organic Cafe.
Like many of Bangkok’s most beloved restaurants, Krua Apsorn‘s nonchalant blue-and-white frontage doesn’t beg for attention. With a great reputation built on carefully prepared central Thai comfort food that was favoured by King Bhumibol’s late mother, this Banglamphu mainstay has no need to... Read our full review of Krua Apsorn.
It’s always lovely to find a good, friendly independent coffee shop after you’ve been trudging around in the heat of Bangkok. Whether you’ve been exploring the Grand Palace or Sanam Luang, Cafe Velodome offers just such respite in the form of a lovely air-conditioned space with park views, delicious cake and a lengthy coffee menu.... Read our full review of Cafe Velodome.
No matter where you happen to be in Bangkok, chances are that a vibrant market is buzzing away nearby. But unless you’re brave enough to wander into the city’s innumerable alleys just to see what might be there, finding them can be tough. For decades, Trok Mor morning market has been going strong right under the noses of travellers in the historic Rattanakosin... Read our full review of Trok Mor morning market.
Feeling a little slow-minded after that long-haul flight? Or maybe you’re just an unusually sophisticated zombie? Either way, you need a bowl of Thai Tham Pig’s Brain Soup. Opened in 1957, the hole-in-the-wall shop is a favourite of Chinese-Thai locals who need a little mental... Read our full review of Thai Tham Pig's Brain Soup.
Since 1957, Methavalai Sorndaeng Restaurant has served traditional Central Thai food in a classic fine dining setting. The atmosphere might be too stuffy for some, but it’s tough to argue with the authentic and reasonably priced fare. A direct view over Democracy Monument isn’t too shabby... Read our full review of Methavalai Sorndaeng.
If you enjoyed this article and would like to support independent travel writing on Southeast Asia, please subscribe to Travelfish—it’s just A$35 per year (less than A$1 per week)!