Best places to take your friends when they visit Bangkok

[CharlieH]

 

Nothing is as special as when friends come to visit you in Bangkok. And when they do, you want to take them to places that aren’t the run-of-the-mill touristy spots.

Of course, they should see the Grand Palace and the floating markets. Most of the time, however, they’d want to venture outside the perpetually tourist-heavy hub, and you’d want to impress them with your local knowledge. So, if you’re wondering where to go in Bangkok, here are some of the places best to check out in Bangkok beyond what is mentioned in travel guides. Rest assured, they’ll be worthy of your (and your guests’) time.

1. Show them Bangkok’s art scene

 

Bangkok’s art scene has come a long way in the last few years, with a growing number of excellent artists and galleries opening up all around the city. So, if you want to explore Bangkok’s art scene, where should you go? The 100 Tonson Gallery, which supports modern art and features pieces by Thai and foreign artists, is one of the most well-known private art galleries.

If you wish to exhibit your friend’s contemporary sculptures and paintings from various regions of Thailand, you should pay a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). The ATTA Gallery, which specialises in valuable modern art, craft, and design goods, is another stunning gallery worth seeing. The gallery hosts a variety of shows that rotate around every 1.5 months.

2. Check out the trendy cafes

PHOTO: Toby’s

Bangkok is teeming with cafes in every nook and cranny, but it can be hard to decide which one you should visit. For high-quality coffee, go to Host x AMBER at Central World. Besides fragrant coffee, the café also has an excellent selection of drinks, decadent desserts like croissants and chocolate fudge cakes, and a classy interior with a calm atmosphere.

Toby’s is a well-liked spot, particularly for brunch, especially for foreigners living abroad. Their menu features traditional favourites including pasta, avocado toasts, cereals, and pastries, all with an Australian influence. Do you want to get away from the buzz of Bangkok? Try The House On Sathorn’s alfresco afternoon tea, where you can relax in its spacious courtyard with a delicious pot of tea and Thai-inspired pastries and savoury dishes.

3. Sample the best Thai food

PHOTO: Jay Fai by Sais.isa via Wikimedia Commons

Besides trendy cafes, Bangkok is well-known for its delicious street food and Michelin Guide-approved restaurants. So taking your guests to the best places for Thai food is a must. If you don’t know where to go for Thai food, Jay Fai is an excellent place to start. It’s a Michelin-starred street food icon offering authentic Thai cuisine. Their signature crispy golden-brown crab omelette is not to be missed, and their stir-fried noodles with seafood and gravy will make you crave more.

If you want to impress your friends with awe-inspiring scenery, go to Rongros. The simple but elegant restaurant offers traditional Thai food on the banks of the Chao Phraya River with a striking view of Wat Arun. For a fine dining experience, the beautiful Phra Nakhon at Capella is a must-visit. It boasts a stunning river view and scrumptious authentic, regional Thai food with a twist.

4. Go bar-hopping!

PHOTO: Rabbit Hole Bangkok via Facebook

In Bangkok, a trip wouldn’t be complete without a bar crawl. Soi Nana in Chinatown is one of the most visited locations. Within walking distance are hip bars including Teens of Thailand, Asia Today, Black King Bar, TAX, and Ba Hao.

Out to wow your friends? Take them to the city’s fantastic rooftop bars, such as Vertigo at Banyan Tree Bangkok. At Vertigo, you can relax, sip refreshing cocktails, and soak up a full 360-degree view of Bangkok from above. If your friends want to explore Bangkok’s speakeasy bars, the dimly lit, industrial-chic Rabbit Hole and the unique Find The Locker Room in Thonglor are worth checking out.

5. Experience Bangkok’s wellness activities

PHOTO: Let’s Relax via Official Website

Bangkok is big on health and wellness. And after all that sightseeing and exploring around the city, you and your friends deserve a good pampering. Be sure to try authentic Thai Massage, which is known to reduce stress and tension. If you don’t know where to go for authentic Thai Massage, you should try the famous Let’s Relax or the Divana Divine Spa.

Bangkok also boasts amazing spas offering authentic Japanese onsen experiences. Two of the best places to go are the Yunomori Onsen and Spa and the Kashikiri Onsen and Spa. Are your friends curious about legal cannabis-infused spa treatments? Then try a luxury cannabis-infused experience at the Anantara Spa or head to the i. Sawan Residential Spa & Club for a delightful Cannabis Sativa Body Massage.

Whether you and your friends prefer sampling delicious Thai food, taking pictures in Instagrammable spots, or even just exploring the attractions rarely mentioned in travel guides, the places on this list will give you a unique glimpse of Bangkok. So, don’t be afraid if your friends ask you where to go in Bangkok because now you have the perfect answer!

 

 

[KhunLA]

Bangkok & Thailand is a hard sell as a world class tourist destination ... IMHO

 

1. Art ... NO

2. Knocking around town ... YES

3. See #2, and not Q'ing up for overpriced food, that's silly

4. Maybe if the bar has a view, but alcohol is not tourist attraction

5. A day at the spa ... nothing special and don't need to travel for that

... Cannabis Sativa Body Massage ... 

[OneMoreFarang]

#5

If I can rub the sand on her back that might be interesting. 😉 

[OneMoreFarang]

Recently I met a friend of my sister who was a few days in Bangkok.

We met in Terminal 21, and she wanted to know which places and areas she should avoid... 

[bkk6060]

The most popular thing to do is go to the malls.  Not much in the way of interesting history places, especially for westerners. 

They could really use a family oriented amusement area or park.  But, probably would not be properly taken care of and would quickly be out of business.

[KhunLA]

27 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

The most popular thing to do is go to the malls.  Not much in the way of interesting history places, especially for westerners. 

They could really use a family oriented amusement area or park.  But, probably would not be properly taken care of and would quickly be out of business.

Brother & sis coming in Feb 2025 (advised against), and thankfully we'll meet up with them at end of the 'tour' of TH, in Bangkok, for last few days.    Thinks we're going to just chill pool side, oops, water probably too cold.

 

Only thing I can think of, is ICONSIAM, and just knocking around town, which depending which day, might not be easy.   Nighttime is out, as I won't deal with the congestion, all aspects.   Plus we can't leave the dog too long in the hotel by herself.

 

They're the most worldly travelers I know, and got a feeling they are really going to be disappointed with TH, especially in February.   They listened to their "OMG, you have to go to TH" friends.   Except the Amazing Thailand they talking about, you're not going to see pass the smog.  Did Nam & Cambo a couple months ago, and don't think they were impressed 

 

I suggested late May or late Oct/Nov, but nobody listens to me 

[digbeth]

Malls and Night Markets are quite beginner friendly enough, taking the ferry to iconsiam can be a spectacle itself, EmSphere always have some decent street food in their event space and various cuisines from the restaurants and well decorated enough to not be a boring western mall

 

the street food scene like Chinatown or Chula univ area while good are just as unauthentic as malls or tourist focussed night market, most of the shops there are brand new, 

 

For day out with culture there's either a walk around Koh Kret or Bang Krachao for the 'rural' feel

Malls are probably the most authentic feel to how the real Bangkokian lives, more than any floating market or elephant ride, if you want to try living like a Thai, riding the Saen Saeb canal boat in stinking sewer to 'The Mall' in Bang Kapi is probably the closest you'll get to living working/Middle class Bangkok Thai lives 

[NativeBob]

for many years this question came back again and again. and the answer "for the sake of your friend's well being don't go anywhere. there's nothing worth looking at in Bangkok" 

[marin]

1 hour ago, NativeBob said:

for many years this question came back again and again. and the answer "for the sake of your friend's well being don't go anywhere. there's nothing worth looking at in Bangkok" 

Funny that 23,000,000 visitors disagreed with you in the year 2023

 

Known for its vibrant street life, rich cultural heritage, and mouthwatering cuisine, Bangkok has rightfully earned its reputation as the most visited city in the world. With an estimated 22.78 million visitors in 2023, it's no wonder that travelers from all corners of the globe flock to this enchanting city.

[NativeBob]

12 minutes ago, marin said:

Funny that 23,000,000 visitors disagreed with you in the year 2023

 

Known for its vibrant street life, rich cultural heritage, and mouthwatering cuisine, Bangkok has rightfully earned its reputation as the most visited city in the world. With an estimated 22.78 million visitors in 2023, it's no wonder that travelers from all corners of the globe flock to this enchanting city.

Vibrant? die from raging motorcyclist? Hit by illiterate driver? very vibrant!

Cultural heritage? carbon-copy cathedrals, few elephants and four headed dudes? What heritage?

mouthwatering cuisine? that made by those who have no idea about basic hygiene? overloaded with glutamate, sugar and salt? I'd say rather colon watering cuisine

rightfully? ok, I don't know what does it mean seriously.

Enchanting? if "filthy" means "enchanting" that ok, "very enchanting". Air quality seems never goes belong "dangerous" level since 2018

 

 

[marin]

23,000,000 to one, keep fighting. 😂🤣

[Denim]

3 hours ago, KhunLA said:

4. Maybe if the bar has a view, but alcohol is not tourist attraction

 

You can get a view of flying ping pong balls. That's bound to impress them.

[CallumWK]

I don't see the Royal palace on the list, is it closed?

[steven100]

Nana and Soi Cowboy 

[JimTripper]

7 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Recently I met a friend of my sister who was a few days in Bangkok.

We met in Terminal 21, and she wanted to know which places and areas she should avoid... 

Did your answer involve ping pong balls?

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, JimTripper said:

Did your answer involve ping pong balls?

No, it was more like: Don't walk on Sukhumvit at night and wonder how many of the women are women and why they are there.

[GammaGlobulin]

I don't know about my friend.

But, I would like to find the same amazing Thai food that I enjoyed in 1998, at some restaurant suggested by my hotel.

I cannot recall the name.

 

Anybody Know?

I haven't had really great Thai food since before the turn of the century.

At the time, I was visiting a True Value Hardware store outlet in BKK to take a look.

 

And then, i visited a great restaurant

Here in Chiang Mai, they don't really have much Thai Food.

 

So, can anyone tell me where I was then?

Apparently, it was considered one of the best Thai food places in town, and also one of the more expensive places...back in 1997.

Any help, much appreciated, as always.

 

Maybe you can tell your friends about this place, too.

 

I recall it was OUTSIDE, and there was water nearby, if this is any help.

 

Could have been THIS one, but my mind is now just too foggy to recall that distant memory.

Sure that the water gave me pad-gra-pao, though....

 

 

Please help.

Thank you.

 

Note:  I clearly recall typing "waiter" in the body of the comment above.  But, the AI changed it to "water".  No idea why....

 

 

[chickenslegs]

I had some friends come to visit recently. I recommended ...

An all day pass on the skytrain green line, getting off at various points of interest (including JJ Market).

An all day pass for the tourist river ferry, again off/on at points of interest

A half day at the Royal Palace/Wat Phra Kaew.

A dinner cruise on the river on their last night.

They had a great time and can't wait to come back.

 

My granddaughters are due to visit next year. They are dog lovers, so I will take them to the Husky Cafe (True Love at Neverland) in Phaya Thai. My wife, daughter and I had a great afternoon there last year (to my surprise, as I am not really a great dog lover).

 

[dingdongrb]

11 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

They could really use a family oriented amusement area or park.  But, probably would not be properly taken care of and would quickly be out of business.

There's a few in BKK.....  Here's one:

 

https://www.dreamworldbangkok.com/

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I don't know about my friend.

But, I would like to find the same amazing Thai food that I enjoyed in 1998, at some restaurant suggested by my hotel.

I cannot recall the name.

 

Anybody Know?

I haven't had really great Thai food since before the turn of the century.

At the time, I was visiting a True Value Hardware store outlet in BKK to take a look.

 

And then, i visited a great restaurant

Here in Chiang Mai, they don't really have much Thai Food.

 

So, can anyone tell me where I was then?

Apparently, it was considered one of the best Thai food places in town, and also one of the more expensive places...back in 1997.

Any help, much appreciated, as always.

 

Maybe you can tell your friends about this place, too.

 

I recall it was OUTSIDE, and there was water nearby, if this is any help.

 

Could have been THIS one, but my mind is now just too foggy to recall that distant memory.

Sure that the water gave me pad-gra-pao, though....

 

 

Please help.

Thank you.

 

Note:  I clearly recall typing "waiter" in the body of the comment above.  But, the AI changed it to "water".  No idea why....

Plenty of good Thai food, most everywhere.   Though I never seem to remember the name.  But know where and why, which items I usually order.

 

Had a nice Crispy Pork GraPao the other day.  Have couple spots that put out nice Kaeng Khiao Wan (green curry).   Panang & Massaman are favorites also, the latter hard to find, especially beef.  Yum Woon Sen is another.  If none available, always fall back on a Sweet & Sour or Ginger Chicken/pork/shrimp

[BobDobbs]

The article is pretty much rubbish and something you would read on TripAdvisor. Probably written with AI at that

 

 

I have a friend coming to BKK and he's looking for a massage joint doing happy endings. He's visited before but just stop over for two nts. Now he's coming for a few weeks. I'm married and no clue. I'm sure I could guess a dozen of them, but whether the experience is a good one no idea. He'd visited a few times before when I'd lived in Pattaya almost two decades ago. I think many of these places just clip joints tbh. Massage up on Ratchada won't work for him.

 

Aside from a few important temples, palace and maybe a rooftop bar for a sunset snapshot .. I really find that Bangkok has little to offer. Maybe I've just been here too long but just seems all of the mystery and exoticism is long been washed out of the place

 

I understand the market in Ampawa is crap now. Chatachak finished

[BobDobbs]

22 hours ago, steven100 said:

Nana and Soi Cowboy 

 

Eldercare facilities and I'm not talking about the punters

[steven100]

after their holiday your friends will be saying  :

 

if I see one more bloody temple  .....