Hi guys,

 

I'm staying a few nights at a hotel in Phaya Thai - can any of you knowledgeable guys recommend any decent bars, restaurants or things to do in the area?

 

Cheers.

Edited May 4, 20197 yr by SteveK

https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionsNear-g293916-d9572576-Phaya_Thai-Bangkok.html

If you're interested in heritage, you can walk through the Ban Krua community, which dates back to the reign of King Rama I, who allocated the land for Cham troops and their families from Cambodia to settle down. 
You can reach it by walking along the soi adjacent to the Asia Hotel; you can google for a map. Very colorful history, and a strong community that held its ground 20 yrs or so ago when it was threatened with eviction in favor of expressway ramps (no expressway anywhere near, was another proposition to favor vested interests). 
This BP story from earlier this year gives a little insight https://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/in-thailand/1604506/a-hidden-gem-in-bangkoks-heart

COCO WALK by Ratchatewi BTS has some thai bars and restaurants

Thanks. Platinum was basically rack after rack of very cheaply-produced women's clothes, panthip plaza seems to be suffering from the shopping mall equivalent of cancer, and the traffic is insane - will stay somewhere with a bit more going on next time!