Over the last decade, a change has occurred in Bangkok. Where once the Sukhumvit Road area dominated the business and social scenes in the Thai capital, a new central business district has emerged as the dominant and most vibrant area in the city. This, of course, is the Sathorn and Silom area. Where Sathorn is home to the financial district and many impressive office buildings, it is on Silom Road where hotels are king.
What makes Silom such an excellent area for tourists in Bangkok is a mix of its convenient location, the influx of tasty new restaurants that have sprouted up, and the nightlife. While all of Bangkok is available should you choose to stay at a hotel on Silom Road, you may find that you never have to leave the area. For those considering a trip to Bangkok and are curious about a great in which to stay that provides the desired ingredients for a Thai experience, here is why you should choose Silom.
Location
Sathorn and Silom roads are parallel streets that spur out from central Bangkok and extend southwest towards the Chao Phraya River. On the north end of Silom Road, you have Bangkok’s largest and most visited park, Lumpini Park. Here Bangkokians love to run or ride their bikes around the serpentine 2.5km track or grab a blanket and relax on the manicured grass or in one of the many pavilions. In the winter months, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra arranges a free concert series in the park’s music pavilion, a beautiful experience for locals and tourists alike.
Silom is also flanked on its northwest side by Chinatown and the Old City. Almost all tourists in Bangkok have attractions such as the Grand Palace and Yaowarat Road on their itineraries, and the convenience of Silom’s proximity to those major tourist areas is not to be understated; tourists will soon understand Bangkok traffic!
Finally, the nearby banks of the Chao Phraya River are home to some of the best hotel sky bars and restaurants in the city. And since that area can be dense with traffic, navigating there from Sukhumvit can take over an hour for a few kilometers drive. To make the most of your time in Bangkok, one of the many hotels on Silom Road will be the superior choice.
Food and Fun
As Silom road has developed into a hub for foodies and nightlife seekers, more and more must-try shops have opened. Adjacent to Silom, which itself has a bevy of options, Surawong Road, Suan Phlu Road, and the many cross-streets between Sathorn and Silom house some of the most unique dining and nightlife options in the city.
Bar-goers will love spots like Revolucion Cocktail and Bright Young Things, both walking distance from your Silom Road hotel, whereas club fanatics can head over to Koi or Ce La Vi for a proper Bangkok club experience. As for food, you really can’t go wrong! If the hole-in-the-wall Thai and Chinese food doesn’t lure you in, you can dress up and head to the Commons Sala Daeng or Eat Me for an unforgettable culinary experience!
