Five Favorites in Bangkok

where to stay, shop, explore, and most importantly, eat.

The season finale of The White Lotus, set in Thailand, seems to be as good a time as any to release my guide to Bangkok, which has been sitting in my drafts. Enjoy!

Controversial statement incoming: Bangkok is one of my favorite cities.

Landing in busy Bangkok was my introduction to Asia. It was my first time traveling outside of Europe.

I can still feel that first breath of warm, humid air as I rolled down the taxi window to take in the energy, the traffic, the temples (!) dotting the view from the ride into the city from the airport. It was all so busy, so different from what I knew, so exciting.

Years later, after being back in Bangkok more often than any other city in Asia, I find myself feeling little to no culture shock. It’s a wonderful feeling to have adapted your worldview to include a place distinctly apart from what you grew up with. So, I love reflecting on how the city became a familiar little travel hub for me.

Whether it’s your first or your fifth visit to the Thai capital, you’ll likely feel some kind of way about it. Even though many skip or breeze through on their way to the islands, it’s become one of my favorite cities in its own right. (And that’s not just because of the street food.)

Here’s my list of favorites that I know will have you falling in love with it, too.

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Heads up! Most of this week’s travel edition is for paid subscribers only. Why, you ask? Travel writing includes more of my direct experience and expertise. Plus, you have my commitment that travel guides will be personally written and always ad-free and affiliate link-free.

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Before I dive into what to see, what neighborhoods to explore, or where to stay, it’s essential that we start with where (and what) to eat. Psst…if you plan most of your stay around food, this is the guide for you.

The beautiful thing is…you don’t have to. You can also just decide where to base yourself and what major sights you want to take in and still find great food all around you. Still, here are my favorites to bookmark — along with what (and why) to skip.

eating

Chinatown (Yaowarat)

• There are some food stalls throughout the day, but it really comes alive at night. My advice: pull up a plastic stool and choose whatever looks good to you!

• One stall I always recommend is Kuay Jab Nay Lek, which serves a spicy pork with noodles you don’t want to miss.