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Upper Sukhumvit is one of the poshest areas of Bangkok, but if you don’t live here you might not know that it’s also home to some of the best under-the-radar restaurants, cafes, shops and residences.
From Phrom Phong to On Nut, local and expat communities intermingle in leafy residences, condos and apartments. Thanks to the multi-cultural vibes you’ll find more diverse cafes, art galleries and international restaurants than pretty much any other area of Bangkok. And there’s so much to do. Go people watching at Benjasiri Park, take a walk down the sophisticated streets of Thong Lor, or sip craft beer at an outdoor bar in Ekamai. It’s all here in our neighborhood guide to Upper Sukhumvit.
PHROM PHONG
We start our journey at the district’s pinnacle of fashion, food and vertical gardens, EmQuartier. This shopping center is no mere mall. Banish the thought! Besides containing every brand, Thai and otherwise, you could ask for, EmQuartier also takes care of all your food and beverage needs.
One of the most unique spots in EmQuartier is Chairman by Chef Man. It’s a casual Cantonese deli/diner perfect for tucking into delicious morsels of interesting Chinese dishes.
Chairman by Chef Man (Photo: Facebook)
The labyrinth of Upper Sukhumvit sois are home to a thriving Japanese expat community, which means amazing food, desserts, cafes and the most orderly queues in the whole city. Le Blanc is a French style Japanese bakery in Soi 39 with some of the best patisserie in town. For authentic ramen head to Ra-Men Bankara, also on Soi 39. After a big bowl of miso ramen with kurabuta pork belly, get your whiskey fix at Japanese bar Hanakurata. The impressive selection of whiskey is made even better by the elaborate bar – you’ll need a really tall ladder to reach the top shelf stuff.
Ramen Bankara (Photo: Facebook)
Soi 39 is truly a gem for foodies. It’s also home to one of the city’s most underrated, yet high quality, Thai restaurants, Gedhawa. Specializing in northern Lanna cuisine of the Chiang Mai region, the restaurant serves home cooked dishes in a friendly and unpretentious atmosphere. Just check out the cute handwritten menus.
Phrom Phong’s official hangout for afterwork wine, known as K Village, has another key selling point: the monthly Farmer’s Market. K Village’s Farmer’s Market takes place on the second weekend of each month. With fresh produce, artisanal dishes and arts and crafts, it’s THE place to stock up on all things organic.
K Village Farmer’s Market
Take a break from life in Bangkok’s fast lane and enjoy Benjasiri Park right next to Emporium. Lie on the grass, exercise, join in a game of volleyball or basketball, or just take a moment to appreciate nature before returning to this concrete jungle we call home.
Continue your leisurely afternoon by browsing the massive selection of second hand English books at Dasa Book Cafe between Soi 26 and 28. This bookstore has been a Sukhumvit fixture for ages, and their brownies aren’t bad either.
For a caffeine fix worthy of an Instagram post, head to Pacamara Coffee at Rainhill Sukhumvit 47. This boutique coffee roaster has outlets in Chiang Mai and Bangkok and their slow bar offers one of the best drips in town.
Pacamara (Photo: Facebook)
THONG LOR
RSM Academy
Thonglor is one of the city’s trendiest and most cosmopolitan spots. The neighborhood is filled with young families and expats from all over the world. What does everyone have in common? The need to stay fit. Get your box on at RSM Academy with Muay Thai classes for everyone from beginners to kickboxing fanatics. This elite academy is located at the top floor of Thonglor’s see-and-be-seen hot spot, aptly named Seen Space.
One of the best places for authentic, yet refined Thai food is Soul Food Mahanakorn. The restaurant is a converted shophouse close to the top of Soi Thong Lor. Try the smoked eggplant salad, lamb samosas and deep fried banana flower fritters.
Soul Food Mahanakorn
Thong Lor is Bangkok’s undisputed weekend hub for chilling, brunch, coffee and drinks. What better place to accomplish all of this than The Commons? It’s where you’ll find all the trending names of city’s food and bev scene in one delightfully stylish space. For coffee start at Roots Coffee Roaster, and for something more substantial try the Mexican food at Barrio Bonito or the organic salads and pasta at Sourced.
The Commons (Photo: Facebook)
Thong Lor is also famous for hidden dining experiences. Discover unique culinary fun at Tiny Room, near the top of Soi Thonglor, where a single amazing chef cooks her specialty menu, or J Boroski, where unique (and potent) cocktails are carefully concocted just for you.
Thong Lor won’t leave you wanting when it comes to fashion either. With high-end kicks at Knock (next to J Ave) and glam vintage duds for girls and guys at Again & Again (Tops Marketplace) it’s no wonder that street style photographers often head to this neighborhood for the best shots.
For a view of Thong Lor from above, and a great happy hour, check out Octave Rooftop Bar and Lounge. The circular bar at the very top of the Marriott Grand Sukhumvit has spectacular sunset views over the Bangkok skyline.
Octave Rooftop Bar and Lounge
EKAMAI
Mikkeler Bangkok (Photo: Facebook)
Ekamai is as eclectic as it gets when it comes to Bangkok neighborhoods. More offbeat and unassuming than Thong Lor, it attracts a trendy, young crowd. They might love old clothes and slow coffee, but don’t call them hipsters. To see them in their natural habitat head to (Un)fashion Vintage, a vintage shoe shop and cafe that recently expanded into a full-menu restaurant.
Mikkeler put the elegance back in beer drinking when the Danish transplant opened it’s doors, and 30 beer taps in Ekamai in 2014. Sip stouts and IPAs in Mikkeler’s lush garden and let the stress of work and traffic slip far, far away.
Conkey’s Bakery makes appearances at Farmer’s Markets and other food festivals around Bangkok, but if you’re craving a high quality ciabatta or a bite of baguette in between events where do you go? Thankfully, Conkey’s newly opened bakery is a beautifully landscaped house located down a quiet residential soi between Sukhumvit Soi 63 and Soi 71.
ON NUT
In the up-and-coming district of On Nut, everything Upper Sukhumvit has to offer is laid out before you, making it one of the most coveted addresses in Bangkok. It’s developed but still authentic, convenient but still private. And the best place to experience the urban lifestyle of On Nut is T77.
T77 is a new neighborhood designed by Sansiri right in the heart of Sukhumvit Soi 77. The cosmopolitan district features serene residential areas and a cutting edge retail experience complete with co-working space, eateries, gyms, cafes, restaurants and bars.
T77 embraces nature to balance the urban location with trees, ponds and greenery. The iconic Samran Bridge is the site of the annual Winter Market Fest, which celebrates the outdoors, cool weather and holiday spirit every December.
Sansiri Winter Market Fest
A new retail space, Habito, is set to open with eclectic coffee houses, restaurants (including new branches of our favorites, Chef Man and Teien Sushi Bar) and stylish shops. Accessibility is key, with the BTS On Nut a short walk away and shortcuts between Sukhumvit 71 and 77 and the expressway entrance all within a couple minutes’ drive.
A stand out feature of Habito’s retail area is HUBBA-TO, a flexible co-working space and hub for creative thinkers from tech entrepreneurs to fashion designers.
T77 encompasses 5,000 residential units across six unique properties, including high-rises, London-esque townhouses and the low-rise waterside residence hasu HAUS.
Click here for more information about T77 and to discover what the Upper Sukhumvit lifestyle really means. And for more info on Habito, Sukhumvit’s newest retail experience, click here.
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