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In the latest of our series of ‘A local’s guide to…’ blog posts, Fai from Bangkok tells us about her favourite places in the city and her top tips.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Sawasdee Kha (Hello) I’m Fai from Thailand. My favourite hobbies are food, travelling, photography and rock climbing!
How long have you lived in Bangkok?
Haha! I was born in Bangkok so… it’s my 26 years in Bangkok now! 🙂
If a traveller only had one day in Bangkok how would you recommend they spend it?
For a one-day trip, you should take a sightseeing tourist boat cruise along Chao-Praya river for 50 THB. Then stop by the Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) and the Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha). Next, walk down to the Grand Palace, then Golden Mountain and end the day by enjoying some nightlife in the most popular backpacker area – Khao San Road. That should enough for a day!
Where is your favourite place to eat in Bangkok?
I have a lot of favourite places for food haha! So if I want to eat street food I would highly recommend Convent Road in Chinatown. The neighbourhood of Ari is one of my favourite places to find good food, and it is very hipster with many quirky cafes and restaurants.
What is your favourite local food dish in Bangkok?
As I’m Thai, I have so many favourite local dishes haha, but the one I most enjoy is Liang vegetable fried eggs. It is a street food dish, you guys can google it to see what it looks like!
What is the best thing to do outside of the city?
Ayutthaya, I highly recommended any visitor to take a trip out there. It is my favourite historical place and also one of Thailand’s hidden archaeological gems. You can take the train from Bangkok and it takes roughly 1.5-2 hours to get there.
Where is your favourite spot for sunset?
Golden mountain… best for sunset, highly recommended!
Where is your favourite area in Bangkok?
Ari is the coolest neighbourhood in Bangkok! This district has plenty of beautiful cafés and restaurants – some are minimal and boutique in style. Ari is a great place to stay and relax, if you don’t like a messy spaces.
If you are a coffee lover, you find lots of good coffee shops here. My favourite and highly recommended is “SATHI Coffee bar” – besides the great coffee and their slow-bar, it is a beautifully decorated shop and worth a visit if you want a cool Instagram shot.
Moreover, Ari has plenty of delicious fusion restaurants – Thai food, western rood or Japanese food – plenty of choice. So in just one day you can spend a good time in Ari.
What is your favourite market in Bangkok?
Absolutely JJ Market (Chatuchak weekend market) is always popular for locals and travellers. I’ve been visiting here since when I was a student because there are so many cheap things to buy – clothes, sneakers, everything! Other than that, the second hand stuff is also really good, if you love hunting for vintage stuff (furniture, bags, shoes) you must go there.
The other night market I highly recommended is “Train Market at Srinakarin” aka Rot Fai Market. If you looking for a night out, this market you should go here because there are loads of street food vendors and bars here – plus everything is much cheaper than JJ Market.
Is there anywhere / anything you think is overrated or would recommend to avoid?
Oh! That could be Nana, Soi Cowboy and Patpong Sliom soi 3. During the day time it is fine but at night everything is crazy and busy (but I guess you might want to try anyway haha).
Best coffee shop in Bangkok?
SATHI Coffee bar in Ari and Blue Whale Coffee in Phra Nakhon. OMG so many great coffee shops here in Bangkok and two sentences are not enough for me haha) but these two are the best to try.
What is the best way to get around the city?
Tuk Tuk is my best way to get around Bangkok. They are so much fun and you can feel the wind in your hair!
Any other tips for visitors?
Avoid travelling during rush hour around 6-8am / 5-7pm. Everything will busy, especially transportation. Plan your day accordingly to avoid travelling during these times.
If you need to use a taxi, I would recommend you guys use the “GRAB” app which is similar to Uber. It is cheap, easy to use and you won’t be disappointed with them. The rest just chilllax and keep smelling. You will love Bangkok 🙂
Thanks Fai for all your amazing Bangkok recommendations!
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