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Major Development
Thonglor Guide
F
ounded in 1999 by the Poolvoralaks family, the Major Development Public Company Limited is now listed in the Stock Exchange of Thailand (MJDProperty Sector) with a paid registered capital of 1,050 million baht. The company has a strong focus on high-end condominiums that deliver luxury, exclusivity and cutting-edge features—all of this in Bangkok’s prime locations, Hua Hin and Pattaya. Major Development’s first high-rise condominium launched in Thonglor Soi 10. Today, the empire has expanded to the best plots in Sukhumvit, Ladprao, Silom and more. But Thonglor remains at the heart of Major Development’s urban vision. Major’s latest project, M Thonglor 10, is itself at the very center of Bangkok’s most buzzing neighborhood and its most desirable area. Connecting Thonglor and Ekkamai, M Thonglor 10’s location is uniquely positioned to fulfill your every desire, whether it’s shopping at a cool vintage boutique on Soi 63, or dining on the finest molecular cuisine on Soi 55. The building itself is an architectural masterpiece. M Thonglor 10 rises to 22 stories, its glass-house concept and floating clubhouse delivering a sense of futurism and awe. M Thonglor 10 pre-sale starts on Nov 7-10 at Sales Studio.
Intro
Thonglor Guide
Rise & Shine
04
Get a Move On
06
Power Lunches
08
Sweet Delights
10
Wining & Dining
14
Thonglor: is it the coolest street in Bangkok? It certainly feels like it when you look at the sheer amount of edgy bars, delicious restaurants and cutting-edge boutiques that have chosen Sukhumvit Soi 55 as their home. It would be impossible to list them all, so we’re going to take you on a day trip to our favorite places, starting from a perfect cup of coffee (and a flaky croissant), all the way to that last craft beer surrounded by friends. Now just imagine living there, and being able to do it all every day of the year!
Party Soi
17
Essentials
20
LOGO
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4
Rise & Shine Thonglor Guide
Rise & Shine Nothing like waking up on Soi Thonglor, with the city’s best coffee, brunch spots and bakeries surrounding you. This is going to be an awesome day! And here’s where to get it started.
Tribeca Restobar
Calin Café
1
Crepes & Co.
2
G/F, Eight Thonglor, 88 Thonglor Soi 8, 081-586-7305. Open daily 8am-11pm.
G/F, Eight Thonglor, 88 Thonglor Soi 8, 02-726-9398/9. Open daily 9am-11pm.
Featuring lots of dark oak and a classic black-and-white chequered floor, Calin Café offers a French-influenced dining experience. Aside from the Parisian-style decor, the boulangerie serves up housemade croissants and brioches, while dishes include the likes of razor clam with garlic and chili, eggs benedict with salmon and zucchini and croque monsieur. Also on offer are six choices of coffee made from Cafés Richard beans.
Crepes & Co has remained a Bangkok institution since way back in 1996. Located in the shopping mall Eight Thonglor, this branch retains some of the charm of the original Sukhumvit 12 branch, and can be relied on for a simple and filling meal, offering pastas and tagines as well as both savory and sweet crepes. The plentiful sofas make it perfect for a long and lazy Sunday breakfast.
Roast
3
2/F, Seenspace, Thonglor Soi 13, 02-185-2866. Open Mon-Thu 10am-11pm; Fri-Sat 9am-11pm; Sun 9am-10pm.
Roast whips up excellent coffee roasted in-house. Whether you opt for the French press or the drip coffee, the beans are expertly selected, with the owner often taking trips to source new and intriguing varieties. They even have a pairing menu for coffee and dessert, such as a cup of Brazil French press coffee served with a brownie. For something more substantial, drop in for brunch dishes like eggs benedict or their famous burger.
Rise & Shine Thonglor Guide
5
Crepes & Co.
Tiny Cup Café
Roast
Starbucks
4
231 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-712-6019. Open daily 7am-10pm.
The original Bangkok branch of the world’s most well-known coffee chain offers a neat and quiet spot for a cup of joe. This Thonglor branch definitely feels less generic than other Starbucks around town, and benefits from a cozy outdoor terrace that’s well shaded from the main road by mature trees. Pop open your laptop, and you’ve got the best office in town.
Tiny Cup Café
5
411/2 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor) between Thonglor Sois 21 and 23, 02-712-5112. Open daily 7am-7pm.
Run by the people behind the cutesy Café Buttercup, Tiny Cup Café has made itself at home in Thonglor with its vintage vibe adorned with knickknacks and wooden furniture covered with patterned cushions. The brunch-focused menu spans fare like the full English breakfast, with Joe Sloane's sausages, cheese omelet and egg and chorizo. Desserts like the raspberry tart are definitely worth the calories.
Tribeca Restobar
6
Nihonmura Mall, Thonglor Soi 13, 02-712-9209. Open daily 9am-10pm.
New York-inspired restaurant Tribeca Restobar does brunch-friendly dishes and comforting basics in a stark yet cozy setting that features brick and marble touches. The all-day brunch-themed menu consists of everything from eggs benedict with pancakes and the healthminded granola and yogurt parfait to Mexican huevos rancheros and carbonara with pork belly. As for drinks, you can enjoy Bellinis, Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Don’t skip desserts, particularly the amazing flourless chocolate cake and New York cheesecake. LOGO
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Get a Move On Thonglor Guide
Get a Move On There’s always something to do in Thonglor, whether it’s getting a haircut at a super edgy salon, shopping for some old vinyl, or breaking a sweat at a fitness studio.
Hidden Tracks Records
8 Musique
7
Eight Thonglor, 88 Thonglor Soi 8, 02-713-8366. Open daily 11am-9:30pm.
This music store stocks both CDs and vinyl, with plenty of collectible box sets from the likes of The Smiths and The Beatles. The vinyl side focuses on indie-rock albums, whether it’s hot new international bands, selected local artists, or secondhand classics. Prices aren’t too steep, starting from just B500, and what better way to spend a lazy Sunday than digging through crates of musical gems.
Black Amber Barber Shop & Tattoo 8
Hidden Tracks Records 9
Black Amber, Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), between sois 5 and 7, 081-869-9393.
M Place, Thonglor Soi 13, 085-970-0076. Open daily 11am-8:30pm.
Run by the colorful character behind The Circus Bangkok absinthe bar, this independent barbershop feels like a gentleman's club. Located on the first floor of an old four-story shophouse, there's great attention to detail, with each cut taking up to 45 minutes. Customers are also offered a complimentary single malt, and you can bring your own cigars and smoke inside. There are also big brand pomades available, plus coffee, tea and chocolate.
This little store used to be in Terminal 21 but has found a new home in Thonglor next to Seenspace. It provides a wide range of imported vinyl, with a focus on reissues and electro pop, indie-pop, rock and R&B records. As well as vinyl, they also carry some musical hardware, including portable players from Crosley and Numark.
Get a Move On
Thonglor Guide
8 Musique
Black Amber Barber Shop & Tattoo
HML Salon Thonglor
10
Grass, 264/1 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-392-2030. Open daily 11am-9pm.
Run by veteran hair stylist Manool "Ton" Likittananukij, known as the go-to hairdresser for many Thai celebrities, this cool-looking salon at the back of Grass Thonglor specializes in natural treatments. It also looks after the wellbeing of its customers’ scalps, opting for organic herb solutions over chemical-based products used elsewhere. Be sure to call and reserve in advance, as Ton’s schedule is often jam-packed with returning customers.
Ratchadamnoen Singha Muay Thai Academy
Holistic Yoga
11
G/F, Eight Thonglor, 88 Thonglor Soi 8, 02-714-7888. Open Mon-Fri 7am-10pm; Sat-Sun 8am-9pm.
This yoga gym in Eight Thonglor is a much sleeker operation than most of the ad hoc studios around town, with an elegant brown-tone waiting room and equally well designed training room. Courses are offered for a variety of different yoga styles with sessions adapted to suit different ages and abilities, including kids. They also offer Bollywood dance training.
Ratchadamnoen Singha Muay Thai Academy 12 3/F, Seenspace, 251/1 Thonglor Soi 13, 02-185-2384. Open daily 9am-9pm.
Located in the middle of Thonglor, this trendy muay Thai academy offers a wide range of courses designed for different age ranges, abilities and levels of dedication. The gym may look fancy, but the training is deadly serious, carried out by lead muay Thai coaches from Ratchadamnoen Stadium. They also cater for private groups and wannabe pros.
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8
Power Lunches Thonglor Guide
Power Lunches As you well know, Thonglor has the best restaurants in town. Come high noon, it’s a tough choice you’re going to have to make: American comfort food, Asia’s best ranked female chef or a casual bistro bite?
Bangers
Bangers
13
NEW
Bo.lan
14
159/10 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), between sois 7 and 9, 02-392-1556. Open Mon-Sat noon-1am; Sun noon-midnight.
24 Sukhumvit Soi 53, 02-260-2962. BTS Thong Lo. Open Tue-Sun 6-11pm; Thu-Sun noon-2:30pm.
Located across from Eight Thonglor, Bangers is all about hot dogs. The menu spans sausages, shakes and craft beer for those looking for a pre-clubbing bite or a post-party binge. There's also a brief list of signature shakes including the Blah Blah Berry Shake (raspberry, cassis, strawberry, cherry and rum), plus some intriguing beers like Hia Witte, Kostritzer and Rodenbach—oh, and a pool table on the second floor.
Chef couple Bo and Dylan have brought what they learnt working at David Thompson’s Michelin-starred Thai restaurant, Nahm, in the UK, back to Thailand. This is a traditional approach to Thai food, presented in a contemporary style. The chefs strongly recommend the Bo.lan balance, a degustation menu that regularly changes to reflect seasonal products. It’s all served in a stylish house-turned-restaurant that prominently features dark wood and has a ceiling covered with kradong (flat baskets).
Greyhound Café (J Avenue) 15 G/F, J Ave., Thonglor Soi 15, 02-712-6547. Open Sun-Thu 11am-11pm; Fri-Sat 11am-midnight.
Like its sisters, this branch of Greyhound Café combines urban cool and comforting dishes. Most of all, Greyhound is reliable: same menu, same attentive staff, same reasonable prices and same touches of creativity that don't you take you out of your comfort zone. This being Greyhound, and this being Thonglor, the restaurant is also a particularly fun spot for people watching.
Power Lunches Thonglor Guide
Bo.lan
Zoulviet
Supanniga Eating Room
Palm Cuisine
16
522/2 Thonglor Soi 16, 02-391-3254. Open daily 11am-10pm.
This decade-old establishment started off as a spa before adding a Thai restaurant. The ambience conveys a relaxing, natural vibe with wooden furniture and some trees around the glass dining room, while the food is authentic Thai, which means there's no compromise on the strong, spicy flavors in their tom yam gai baan kai on yod makam (sour chicken soup with chicken ovary and tamarind leaf) or namprik makam sod pla salid tod (spicy tamarind paste served with vegetables and fried leaf fish).
Supanniga Eating Room
Zoulviet 17
160/11 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-714-7508. Open Tue-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-11:30pm.
This is arguably the best Thai restaurant in town. The cozy-yet-chic dining room serves up a menu based on dishes the owner's grandmother used to cook— Thai food that borrows both from her hometown on the Eastern seaboard, Trat, and where the family now lives, Khon Kaen. Do try the moo cha muang (pork with Guttiferae tree leaves) and pla too tod (deep-fried mackerel), along with the cocktails and mocktails made with intriguing local ingredients.
18
J Ave., Thonglor Soi 13, 02-712-9435. Open daily 11am-11pm.
Set in the old spot occupied by Yuu Shabu, above After You in J Avenue, the intriguingly titled venue is a good fit for those seeking solid Vietnamese food like spring rolls and banh cuon (steamed rice crepes), rounds of drinks or both. A lively ambience is provided by splashes of bright blue and red while hanging lamps and bare brick walls add an industrial edge to the place.
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Delights 10 Sweet Thonglor Guide
Sweet Delights We hope you saved room for the most important food group: desserts. You’re spoiled for choice in Thonglor, with all of Bangkok’s favorite bakers and patissiers represented. Indulge!
Nikko Café
Coffee Bean by Dao
Storia
19
Mr. Jones' Orphanage
20
Storia
21
Casa Viva, Ekkamai soi 12, 02-713-2504/8. Open daily 11am-midnight.
G/F, SeenSpace, 251/1 Thonglor Soi 13, 02-185-2378. Open daily 10am-11:30pm.
1/F, Eight Thonglor, Thonglor Soi 8, 02-714-7718. Open daily 8:30am-8:30pm.
Coffee Bean by Dao has long been a top destination for Bangkok dessert enthusiasts. The pastries and cheesecakes are all excellent, and guaranteed to satisfy any sweet tooth. There’s also a long list of main dishes that, although conventional, is so varied that you won’t be hard pressed to find something you like—the juicy sirloin steak comes highly recommended.
Designed by the renowned Ashley Sutton, this quirky pastry venue combines elements of country kitchen, Catholic church and Santa's workshop. While the fairy-tale aesthetics and Disneyland-like atmosphere may be enough to make you squeal in childish glee, do be sure to try out their baked sweets, including the intriguingly named Chocky Mud Pie and Custard Cow's Poo.
This compact, neo-Victorian shop in Eight Thonglor started when five friends decided to create something reminiscent of Japan's zakka stores, which look more like a living room where everything is for sale than a traditional shop. Shoes, wallets, bags, porcelain, glasses and small accessories—there's a huge variety of treasures to be collected here, many of them picked up by the owners during trips abroad. But there's a local touch, too, with Thai high-end bag brand Container available.
Sweet Delights 11 Thonglor Guide
Coffee Bean by Dao
Boyy Café
Mousses & Meringues 22 J-Avenue, 323/2 Soi Thonglor 15, Sukhumwit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-712-6053. Open daily 10am-10pm.
The very French décor of this little bakery is cute and inviting (at least for ladies who lunch) and the cakes are irresistible (even if you’re a hardboiled macho man). We highly recommend the coffee cake with almond nuts for a bit of crunch and the richy strawberry cheese cake for pure comforting pleasure. Added bonus: they serve Lavazza coffee to cut through all that sweet, creamy goodness.
Boyy Café
23
Grass, 264/1 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-715-9412. Open daily 7:30am-10:30pm.
The flagship store of this pioneering New York-meets-Bangkok fashion brand features a downstairs Café with a classy vintage vibe. It’s fun enough just coming here to watch the crowd, with bicycle hipsters sitting side by side with wellheeled women and well-dressed guys. But the food and drinks are also great. Sip a refreshing cocktail accompanied by one of the excellent pastries. The almond croissant is particularly good.
Nikko Café
24
Ekamai Soi 12. 02-381-5291. BTS Ekkamai. Open daily from 10am-midnight.
This hip Zen-inspired coffee shop on Ekkamai Soi 12 transforms into a cocktail bar at night. The wood-dominated twostory venue has all the feeling of a comfy home office with the added bonus of an airy outdoor terrace and second-floor balcony. You can pick from a wide range of drinks, from coffee and green tea to cocktails and craft beer, plus an expansive menu which covers sandwiches, udon and Thai favorites.
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13
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& Dining 14 Wining Thonglor Guide
Wining & Dining Deliciousness awaits in all shapes and sizes on Soi Thonglor. Dinner can be a high-wire act at the molecular-focused Water Library or a refreshingly rustic yakiniku experience at Gyu-Maru. Here are our top picks.
Kaze Fresh Japanese Restaurant
4 Garcons
25
1/F, Oakwood Residence, 113 Thonglor 13, 02-713-9547. Open daily 11:30am-11pm.
Four men with respectable day jobs in the high flying fields of law, medicine and finance decided to partner up and open a restaurant on Thonglor. Although cooked by a Thai doctor, this is classic French fare, such as Burgundy escargots with garlic and parsley and their in-house pate de campagne. Mains are hearty dishes like duck confit with mustard sauce, mashed potatoes, and, the big-seller, tender oxtail stew. A great alternative to many of the stuffy, expensive French restaurants in town.
8 Owls Japanese Dining Bar 26 3/F, Nihonmura Mall, Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-185-3385. Open Sun-Thu 5pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 5pm-1am
Headed by Chef Noriyuki Sugie, 8 Owls attempts to present creative and artsy dishes like scallop ceviche, toro tartare (minced caviar with truffle oil and white and fatty tuna) and oyster shooters (oyster with quail egg, spicy daikon and ponzu) in a bar-vibe decorated with steel and wood—all making for a cozy hangout. Wash the food down with draft Hitachino Nest Beer.
Amalfi Bistro
27
58 Thonglor Soi 5, 02-712-7817, 088-965-5169. BTS Thong Lo. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-11pm.
Italian restaurant Amalfi Bistro is situated in a modern house. There is proper seating for some serious dining inside and a more relaxed vibe out by the pool. The menu contains all the classic dishes, from pizza to pasta and steak. Signatures include the lobster spaghetti, penne with amartriciana sauce and T-bone steak.
Wining & Dining 15 Thonglor Guide
4 Garcons
Amalfi Bistro
Gyu-Maru
28
2/F, Nihon-Mura, Thonglor Soi 13, 02-185-2781. Open Mon-Fri 5-10:30pm; Sat-Sun 11:30-2:30am.
Head up a small flight of concrete steps and enter a narrow space divided by a row of wooden booths to the side. We love how they give you cute little bibs to protect you from the hissing yakiniku grill. More importantly, all their ingredients are clearly fresh and high quality—and it's a pleasant, genuinely smoke-free environment. On the yakiniku section, the menu is extensive and mostly sticks to classic choices like plates of tender Gyu-Maru karubi (boneless beef rib), or the garlic butter rosu (pork loin), which is wonderfully fatty and melts in the mouth.
Harvey
129 Thonglor Soi 9, 02-712-9911. Open daily 11:30am-2pm, 6:30-11pm.
Kaze Fresh Japanese Restaurant
The upstairs private rooms at Harvey are often fully booked by the rich and famous, and the downstairs dining room and bar is usually buzzing with beautiful people and bossa nova. The trained staff glide between tables in the slightly minimalist glass and concrete dining room. As for the food, billed Californian, it encompasses interpretations of American, French and Italian, including clam chowder, beef cheeks and double chicken consomme.
This stylish restaurant looks like a classic sushi bar and has a menu to match. A mix of marble and wood, warm lighting and an open kitchen make the dining room an inviting place to sit and partake in traditional Japanese food. Highlights include the lightly battered tempura moriawase, fresh fish like otoro, anago, engawa and uni, and beef sourced from Kagoshima.
Harvey
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30
318 Thonglor Soi 10, 02-392-3544. Open daily noon-2pm, 5-10:30pm.
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& Dining 16 Wining Thonglor Guide
Soul Food Mahanakorn
Little Beast
Little Beast
31
44/9-10 Thonglor Soi 13, 02-185-2670. Open Tue-Sat 5:30pm-1am; Sun 11am-4pm.
This small restaurant takes after New York-style gastro bars, serving New American cuisine and creative cocktails in a 1920s atmosphere. The CIA-trained chef Rangsima Bunyasaranand turns out dishes with a nose-to-tail focus like the homemade charcuterie plate (pork rillete, head cheese terrine and pork and veal) and jerk chicken hearts with pineapple salsa. Recommended cocktails include the rum-heavy Smokey Morning and fruity, vodka-based Femme Fatale.
Soul Food Mahanakorn
The Water Library Thonglor
32
The Water Library Thonglor 33
56/10 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 085-904-2691, 02-714-7708. Open daily 6pm-midnight.
Grass Thonglor, Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-714-9292. Open Mon-Sat 6pm-1am.
Soul Food dishes out very strong (double pours, actually) original signature cocktails like the Bun Bang Fai (a mix of tequila, lime, chilli, almond syrup and egg white) as well as a brief menu of perfectly executed Thai regional dishes like khao mok kai, tamarind ribs and pad krapao made with Australian lamb. The combo has a heady, infectious effect, and the place is packed almost every night of the week.
At the growing Water Library chain’s most spectacular venue, diners sit at a long bar that can hold a maximum of 10 people, and everyone is served simultaneously at 7:30pm. There’s an element of theater to being seated right across from your own personal brigade of chefs, who can explain dishes as they prepare them. Produce is imported from all four corners of the globe and the menu changes constantly.
Party Soi 17 Thonglor Guide
Party Soi
Come nightfall, the city’s most beautiful converge on Soi Thonglor, packing the myriad clubs and bars here. But if the thumping beats of Badmotel are too much for you, you can always just sip a cocktail at Gossip or a beer at Brew.
Brew Beers & Ciders
Badmotel
Badmotel
34
Next to J-Ave., Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), between Sois 15 and 17, 02-712-7288. Open daily 5pm-1am.
This inventive creation by the Mellow Restaurant & Bar people is housed in a run-down three-story building on the other side of Thonglor. The onceabandoned interior has been left with plenty of imperfections in stark contrast to its sleek white paint job with neon accents. Regular music events take place on the second floor, while the sizable downstairs garden is great for the cooler months. Both the cocktails and food come with signature Thai touches.
Bottoms Up!
35
Badmotel
Brew Beers & Ciders
36
888 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-381-8020. Open daily 4pm-1am.
G/F, Seenspace, Thonglor Soi 13, 02-185-2366. Open daily 4pm-11am.
Brightly lit and decorated with bold wall murals of a London bus and the Statue of Liberty, Bottoms Up! is hard to miss—not least because of the row of supercars regularly parked outside at night. But don’t let that scare you. The eclectic menu of European-style dishes (with the odd Thai favorite) is pretty affordable, emphasizing the fact that this is a casual place, as much about drinking as it is dining.
Brew is run by the same guys as HOBS down the road, but has far more to offer than its neighbor, with a staggering 300 imported labels at any given time, including 10 different draughts. The decor looks like a contemporary version of a Western saloon, with upturned giant casks for tables as well as a few booths. Gourmet pizzas are available from Clouds next door—what a clever arrangement.
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Soi 18 Party Thonglor Guide
The Iron Fairies
Glam
37
Gossip
38
HOBS
39
2/F, Opus Building, 139 Thonglor Soi 10, 02-714-8946. Open daily 6pm-2am.
Thonglor Soi 15, 02-185-3093. Open daily 4pm-midnight.
G/F, Penny's Balcony, Thonglor Soi 16, 02-392-3513. Open daily 11am-11pm.
Taking over the space on the second floor of Opus Building (what used to be Spot On Beach Bar & Lounge), Glam is run by a group of fresh graduates from Chulalongkorn University who like to get a little crazy with their shisha. The clear shisha bottles glow in the dark thanks to LED lights, while the inside is packed with ice and fresh fruit, with some choices mixed just like a cocktail, to top up the flavor.
Run by a new management team led by Firm Hongsananda of the Gaysorn family, the refurbished Gossip now serves up a brighter, more relaxing vibe plus a jazz band. The food remains pretty similar but there are several new dishes such as pan-seared foie gras with Nutella, pistachio crust and croutons and braised Black Angus beef cheek and tail stuffed with cannoli and roasted potato. Don't go without trying the spinach risotto with pumpkin and truffle popcorn.
The open-air bar at Penny’s Balcony is the original venue of the beer-centric franchise credited with sparking Bangkok’s Belgian beer trend (who doesn't serve Hoegaarden these days?). But despite growing competition, the outdoor space at HOBS is still pretty homey—a chilled evening spot to enjoy the choice of five imported beers on tap (from B220/pint) and long list of bottles.
Party Soi 19 Thonglor Guide
Wanderlust
The Raw Bar
The Raw Bar
40
440/9 Thonglor Soi 14, 02-713-8681. Open daily 5:30pm-1am.
This shophouse-turned-bar near The Iron Fairies belongs to Belon Oyster & Raw Bar on the ground floor of Seenspace. Pull up a stool at the seafood bar downstairs to select the day’s fresh offerings, or grab one of the standalone tables upstairs by the DJ booth. The menu is all about raw food, whether its oysters, carpaccio (thinly sliced raw meat), tartarki (thinly sliced seared raw meat) or ceviche (Spanishstyle sashimi salad).
Wanderlust
Glam
41
5/F, Nakiya Japanese Restaurant Building, Thonglor Soi 13, 086-655-5328. 3w Open daily 5pm-2am.
This rooftop space above Nakiya Japanese restaurant is part-run by the family behind the now-defunct Woodstock Bar, and the menu of barbecue ribs and burgers reads like old Woodstock favorites. Heineken is the only beer on tap but they also offer bottles including Beerlao and Sapporo. A mish-mash of music plays on the stereo, from old pop-rock like Keane and Coldplay to hits from the Met 107 chart.
The Iron Fairies
42
404 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-714-8875. Open daily 6pm-2am.
Designed by Bangkok nightlife mogul Ashley Sutton, the Iron Fairies is like no other bar in Bangkok—a Dickensian factory with crumbling brick walls and a scattering of ancient, industrial machinery that by day is used to make miniature metal fairies. After relocating to much larger premises in 2013, the bar has set up a solid list of live blues and jazz bands who perform nightly. Be sure to try the powerful signature cocktails.
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20 Essentials Thonglor Guide
Essentials
In between your shopping sprees and fine-dining marathons, you may need to attend to the basic necessities of urban life. The city’s two best supermarkets are at hand, as is the number one hospital.
Villa Market (J Avenue)
Villa Market (J Avenue) 43 J Ave., Thonglor Soi 15, 02-712-6000. Open daily 6am-noon. Conveniently located in J Avenue Thonglor, this supermarket is popular among the area’s expat community for stocking up on their favorite overseas groceries, from cartons of Cornflakes to six packs of Corona. The store also offers fresh produce, including organic fruit and veg, imported meat and fish, and a fairly decent range of bakery items. The excellent wine selection ranges from sub-B500 plonk to serious five-figure bottles.
Foodland (Thonglor)
44
Samitivej Hospital
45
Room 88/1, Eight Thonglor, Thonglor Soi 8, 02-390-1188. Open 24/7.
133 Sukhumvit Soi 49, 02-711-8181. Open 24/7.
Like Villa Market, this supermarket boasts imported food items from various countries, from meat and poultry to lines of obscure cereal brands. Unlike Villa, however, Foodland is open 24 hours, and is also home to the Took Lae Dee (Cheap and Healthy) Caféteria, which offers cheap and cheerful dishes—both Thai and foreign—in a comfortable, airconditioned setting.
Should you ever find yourself in need of medical attention, Samitivej Hospital is one of the best facilities in Thailand. The hospital boasts 270 beds and 400 specialists across a full range of different wards, as well as multilingual staff catering to various nationalities. There are now Samitivej hospitals across the country, but the Sukhumvit branch, opened in 1979, was the first.
Sukh
hum
umv
Index 21
it 49
Thonglor Guide
vit 5
3
G
3
glor 33
(Ekk
18
ama
i)
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Tho
Thon
19 Wanderlust 41 16 The Water Library
09 Zoulviet
24
i 12
it 63
22 20
Z
11 Nikko Café
umv
43
W
N Sukh
Soi 1
glor
20 Villa
11 Mousses & Meringues 10 Mr. Jones’ Orphanage
44
6
6
V
31
M
F
glor
05 Tribeca Restobar 05 Tiny Cup Café 5
Thon
16 Little Beast
Samitivej Hospital 45 Soul Food Mahanakorn 32 Starbucks 4 Storia 21 Supanniga Eating Room 17
T
Thon
L
19
30
20 16 05 10 09
0
15 Kaze
04 Calin Café 1 10 Coffee Bean by Dao 04 Crepes & Co. 2
S
Soi 1
K
42
12
Thon
19 The Iron Fairies 36
C
20 Foodland
Soi 9
I Soi 8
Black Amber 8 Bo.lan 14 Bottoms Up! 35 Boyy Café 23 Brew Beers & Ciders
Harvey Hidden Track Records 9 HML Salon Thonglor 10 HOBS 39 Holistic Yoga 11 29
glor
13
07 06 17 11 17
19 The Raw Bar 40 04 Roast 3 07 RSM Boxing Gym
Thon
15 06 07 18 07
16
R
15
ai So
34
09 Palm Cuisine
glor
t 55 B (17Th oBadmotel nglo 08 Bangers r)
Glam 37 Gossip 38 Greyhound Café Gyu-Maru 28
H
glor
27
Thon
14 Amalfi Bistro
Soi 5
glor
Soi 1
7
Thon
A
18 18 08 15
25
kam
14 4 Garcons 06 8 Musique 14 8 Owls 26
P
Soi 1
0-9
22 Map Thonglor Guide
14
27
32 8 13
Marketplace
1/2/7/11 /21/44
Major Cineplex
Calin Café Crepes & Co. 3 Roast 4 Starbucks 5 Tiny Cup Café 6 Tribeca Restobar 7 8 Musique 8 Black Amber 9 Hidden Track Records 10 HML Salon Thonglor 11 Holistic Yoga 12 RSM Boxing Gym 13 Bangers 14 Bo.lan 15 Greyhound Café 16 Palm Cuisine 1
2
Supanniga Eating Room 18 Zoulviet 19 Coffee Bean by Dao 20 Mr. Jones’s Orphanage 21 Storia 22 Mousses & Meringues 23 Boyy Café 24 Nikko Café 25 4 Garcons 26 8 Owls 27 Amalfi Bistro 28 Gyu-Maru 29 Harvey 30 Kaze 31 Little Beast 17
17 Eight
32 Soul Food Mahanakorn 33 The Water Library 34 Badmotel 35 Bottoms Up! 36 Brew Beers & Ciders 37 Glam 38 Gossip 39 HOBS 40 The Raw Bar 41 Wanderlust 42 The Iron Fairies 43 Villa 44 Foodland 45 Samitivej Hospital
Thon
glor
Map 23
Thonglor Guide
45
29 31
Seen Spac e
41
25 26
9
38
Niho
nmura
6/28
4
J Ave
nue
18 30 37
40
15/22/ 36/43 34
42 10/ 23 33
39 16
Pen Balcony’s ny
5 35
Camillian Hospital
Police Station Liberty Building 24
19