bkk baddie
everything you could possibly need to have the hottest time ever in bangkok
i’ll update this list as it grows but for now - you’re welcome xxx
beauty treats
nails at om nut BTS station from 5pm-10pm - a sight worth seeing. super cheap and super high quality nail artists + right next to an epic food night market + cinema so you could easily turn it into a cute date night
do dream 3rd/4th - hairdresser in asoke - 700baht ($35) for a super nice wash, cut + style.
tattoo removal + piercings at bangkok ink in sukhumvit - 1000 baht for a piercing + 1000 baht for a small tattoo removal
bangkok smile for the dentist - always get a check up + teeth clean for like $40 aud
i get coloured braids/rats tails put in my hair on khao san road with lil beads and stuff in them
under eye filler for 12 000 baht ($550aud) at the Naholic clinic in asoke. super overwhelming trying to find a safe + affordable place to get injectable cosmetics such as these done in bangkok so if you want under eye filler then i’d go here for sure (i’ve been twice) as for other lil bits though, like botox etc i would shop around because i don’t LOVE this clinic i just return there because i know they can do what i need and i haven’t tried anything else!!! (so any recs please send my way)
tooth gems - from this girlie - in siam centre - 1300 baht for 2
massages
as a general rule - expect to pay 300baht per hour for a thai massage in the city… 200 is cheap and 550 is expensive. i never go anywhere fancy… you can very easily pay western (or close to prices) in this city for just about anything… so it does depend what your expectations are
your massage experience is usually entirely dependent on the specific masseuse you get and your own energy but below are some places i have specifically returned to
ccare massage and spa
ploenchit hatthasart
healthy massage sukhumvit 33/19
general advice
bolt is a lot cheaper than grab for transport generally, especially for motorbikes… but if you’re taking a long journey its best to check both
get sim card from 7/11 - SIM card should be 200 baht for 2 weeks of unlimited data - the airport deals are also ok and then you don’t have to stress about it.
anytime fitness has lots of gyms here so if you have a membership in aus like i do (as a van life girlie) then you can go to the gym here too!!!
buying weeeeds can actually be super expensive. being on my own i haven’t ventured into this much (finding cool spots) would actually love if anyone has some specific recs for vibey locations bc there are so many its overwhelming. if you’re not picky though, you can literally just go anywhere. i just paid 320 baht for a pre-rolled straight green j which lasted me the whole week
i am looking for collective/party recs - so if you’re reading this and know anyone who has this intel, please send them my way, and i can add the details to this list!!
outings / date night
i have thrown together a few lil combos that i love for a date night out or afternoon exploring the city
iconsiam - shopping centre - go super early in the morning for breakfast + work in a coffee shop with a view over the city - this place gets fucking packed so i highly recommend going super early so you can experience the crazy canals etc without a stampede
smoke a j and ride the ferry along the river
dinner in china town - take this suggestion with a grain of salt. i’ve been once before and had a super cute chill experience but it was hellish on my most recent trip. SO many people and higher prices etc etc that being said, its so beautiful with all the lights and i think if you come here knowing its going to be packed and maybe pick a cool chinese restaurant to escape into rather than just eating street food this would still be a cute date night
wat arun at sunset - watch from the other side of the river near the pier - super crowded and full of people that just won’t put down their phone but gorgeous anyway + combine this with post sunset trip to the grand palace… these places are too hot to enjoy during the day but at night they sparkle and have a super magical vibe. 300 entry… the laying buddha will change your life. i didn’t know it was there and it brought me to my knees
get your hair washed, cut and styled for $20 in a local hairdresser + then go out for a fancy dinner/to a rooftop bar in a pretty dress you’ve bought from the markets (yeah)
smoke a j and book a motorbike to a random place on the other side of the city - headphones on (i legit did this everyday lol)
MBK shopping centre - great for a daytime date to escape the heat. the 3rd floor is full of fake bags & shoes, which is super fun and very thailand coded + there are some epic sushi train restaurants in here so you can combine your trawl through dupes with a sushi lunch
khao san road at night - has to be seen to be believed. if you’re on a cute holiday with friends or a lover, come here with the intention of being a total mess and you’ll have the best time ever. its outrageous, loud and makes no sense. but i always love walking through it at least once when im in bangkok… maybe one day ill have someone to be silly there with too. combine this with an afternoon exploring the soi ramburriti area. good massages, lots of cute places to eat and fun souvenirs
pratunam night market… i still can’t really wrap my head around this area tbh. its the “fashion district”.. but i think for more fast fashion + wholesale stuff so i’ve never found it to be super inspiring… but its CRAZY scale, like shopping centres just full of clothes…. streets + streets of them… so its fun to check this out during the day… then head WALK rooftop bar for sunset and back down onto the street for the night market. mostly souvenirs and shit but still fun… i always eat at donita thaifoods and then go to number one massage for a 1 hour foot + shoulder massage for 250…. the perfect evening
a rooftop bar near asoke for sunset followed by a crazy japanese restaurant (this is the ‘japanese region’ so there are so many crazy fun ones) a few shots of sake and then a trip to soi cowboy…. and maybe a ping pong show?
where to stay
i will never forget the first time i flew into bkk, watching the hundreds of skyscrapers pass underneath me… an endless city. it inspired an internal awe usually reserved for mammoth nature. on the ground, the effect is similar. sprawling is probably its most accurate description. while i do not claim to be an expert on this crazy city these are the areas i would suggest you stay and why.
sukhumvit - asoke / nana
this is where i always return to. kinda the city centre? maybe? i really don’t know but there’s a lot going on here. lots of expats and sex tourism. big city energy, doesn’t have the charm of the old town but has access to western luxury (rooftop bars, pools, malls etc)
two three a homely hotel - was $100 a night with my ex boyfriend, super nice pool, gym + hotel breakfast. big rooms. uninspiring in every other way.
home sixteen - i’ve stayed here 4 times. always return. its cheap and chill and comfy with a cute lil garden and on such a great street just down from the bts. lots of massage parlours + street food as well as expat-friendly bars + resources (and anytime fitness is a 5 min walk). $15 for a dorm bed + $30 for a private.
airbnb - if you’re sharing with someone, there is no better option. cheap, usually gives you access to a tall building with a rooftop pool + gym + views which is kinda why you stay here. msg me if you want my specific recommendations.
khao san/the river/china town /talat noi
i’ve never stayed here but would love to next time just for a more authentic/south east asian adventure kinda vibe. no high rise, cute canals, street food - way more touristy. some great airbnb options in these areas too with a more vibrant authentic feel. again, i have collected quite a list so message me if you’d like it.
coffee shops
very little attention is given to these guys here because 7/11 coffee is GOATED - 35 baht for a iced americano literally on every corner. its one of my favourite (and the most dangerous) parts of the city
but there are a few cuties i’ll add in if spending some intentional time in a cute coffee shop is what ur after
arabica bangkok empire tower - the 55th floor - my experience here was dystopian af - sat with my kindle and my coffee and an incredible view, surrounded by a zoo of people taking photos. with hat, no hat, sunglasses on, holding coffee, no coffee, smiling, tiktok, upside down, dance routine. im going to kill myself! such a cool concept but insufferable. next time im going to try and come again but at 6am to avoid the crowds and actually enjoy the experience of a coffee on the 55th floor.
ittha boutique cafe
unfashion cafe
table of contents - below hangles thrift
kuppa coffe
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cupc coffee
nina pocket garden
restauarants
cheap eats
im chan - don’t know if I rec this anymore, have not enjoyed my food these last two times i’ve been there but it’s one of the only cheap thai eats in the area
soi 38 - sukhumvit
suda
khao san road place
donita thaifoods
honestly, i’ve been to very few nice restaurants in bangkok. being alone, i eat mostly street food but i’ve come across so many gorgeous places that i aspire to eat at one day
tensui japanese (beautiful building near my hostel) - this place has the most ethereal gardens and building… it looks quite fancy so i would suggest an occasion?
sol + luna - rooftop restaurant for a romantic dinner
the norm - fancy, rooftop
spring and summer
koi
kwanchitr
sailom sainam
food markets (night time)
the train markets have a pretty epic food/bar scene, especially if you like sushi + seafood - i always go out here for the vintage but it has become increasingly expensive and less creative/more curated so if you’re pressed for time i would prioritise this one
china town
khao san road
banthathong
jod fairs ratchada
chatachuk weekend market - the clothes are replaced by food after 7pm and its great
food markets (day time)
I LOVE THESE MARKETS SO MUCH - they exist mainly to service workers and open from like 7am-2pm weekdays only. (timing is also tbc) the food is so fking good. think fresh salad, grilled chicken breast + salmon steaks + fruit treats + freshly squeezed juice. so cheap and changed a lil everyday
khlong toei - biggest wet market in the city
thanapoom market
whale market
samyan market
ruam sab market
rooftop bars
these are my favourite at the moment, unfortunately the churn out of rooftop bars mean that they are cool for a second until tiktok takes over and then they are run like prison camps with rules and drink tokens and the vibes are totally non existant - my best rec would be to trawl the internet for the most recently opened bars when you arrive bc this is your best bet for getting a chill, authentic bar experience
red square
mojito
vanilla sky
celio - cute for a romantic dinner in a booth if you book
aether - the coolest rn
distil bar - this building is pretty wild - expensive and good to book ahead
wine bars
la petite vaneria
no bar wine bar
bangkok seaview
barblah
the beach
pier 92
modern day culture
fun things
you can pay $70 aud to use the pool at 137 pillars in sukhumvit + work from one of their conference rooms. a super nice thing to do for the day if you’re staying in cheap accom with no pool - best to book online before you go
learn thai massage
go to art galleries
the history museum
tea house in china town - al majlis tea room + peace oriental teahouse
soi cowboy
wat paknam
wat arum
grab/bolt motorbikes - my fav thing about this silly city
get passport photos taken for fun
climb wat ratchanadda
folk museum
askra theatre / traditional dance at night
orchid farm
explore the talat noi region on foot
places to shop
so i know a lot of you are probably here to see where i do all my sourcing. i’ll list the obvious places (which are still epic) but keep some of the more intense ones to myself… primarily because this is my job lol, and designers don’t go sharing their dressmakers details online ahah… BUT if you are heading to bkk and would love some more direction please just message me and i’ll be more than happy to share my itell, just don’t want to hand it over on a silver platter for anyone to save with the tiktok of it all u know? some things must be kinda sacred-ish.
sampheng market - china town - epic for cheap fun souvenirs + sewing materials
chatachuk weekend market - the classic - totally overwhelming and truely amazing
the red building across the road from chatachuck… i think called bangsue - open everyday so cool to come to midweek and its air-conditioned - not cheap but INCREDIBLE quality and collections.
5th floor at megaplaza near chinatown for second hand film cameras + digicams
hangles thrift - don’t go out of your way to go here but if you’re in the area its a super cute vintage store with a gorgeous cafe underneath. next time i go i’ll work from downstairs for the morning
MBK shopping centre - fake stuff - handbags + shoes + beauty tings - air conditioned - trashy af
siam centre - lots of local designers - i got a tooth gem here - funky and a bit more pricey but worth a look for the vibes (next to MBK)
pratunam market / platinum fashion mall - more wholesale fast fashion - can find some cool stuff but more of a fun place to explore if you have time rather than a priority
treasure factory - chain of thrift stores
shinjuku outlet - chain of thrift stores
rong kluea market - not actually in bkk - on the border of cambodia… i havne’t been yet but aspire to go in the future. meant to be crazy, sorting centre of all second hand in SEA - the size of a suburb
train night market - not great anymore but still fun for a night out - only thursday-sunday