Song Wat Bangkok – 25 Things To Do Guide + Photos
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Bangkok has many hip neighborhoods like Ari and Thonglor but Song Wat is often seen as the trendiest. It is buzzing with cool kids, charming cafes and traditional Chinese-Thai restaurants that have been around for decades.
A marvelous mix of the old and new, Bangkok’s Song Wat has seen somewhat of a resurgence in recent years with warehouses and jaded shops transformed into craft shops plus buildings adorned with some of Bangkok’s best street art.
Many artists and creatives have also moved to the area, to help form the local movement “Made in Song Wat”, which you’ll see advertised in numerous coffee shops, murals and stores like ‘Road of Cinnamon’.
A former Chinese settlement and one of Bangkok’s oldest neighborhoods, there are so many things to do in Song Wat – it is also a great place to combine with Chinatown and / or Talat Noi.
From bao buns to braised goose, coffee shop crawls to cool murals, here is our 2026 guide to Song Wat Road, Bangkok’s latest hipster hangout with photos. We last visited Songwat in Summer 2026.
June 2026 update – just to mention we’ve been coming to Song Wat for many years now but in the last year or so, it has gotten super popular and busy. The weekends here are manic (many photoshoots and annoying influencers) so if you hate queues and crowds, try to visit Song Wat on a weekday.
This article was originally published on 19 August 2024.
You might like – Things to do in Ari, Bangkok >
Table of Contents
How to get to Song Wat Road
Located close to the Chao Phraya River and nestled between historic Talat Noi and Chinatown, Bangkok’s Song Wat Road is walkable from either Wat Mangkon MRT station or Hua Lamphong station.
Alternatively, take a Grab taxi or get a river shuttle from the old Lhong 1919 site. Another way to get to Song Wat Road is to take the Chao Phraya Express to Marine Department, alight and walk through Talat Noi to Song Wat.
Check out this Bangkok bike tour near Song Wat >
You might like these Bangkok neighbourhood guides:
Sukhumvit
Ari
Talat Noi
Silom
Song Wat
Thonglor
SKIP TO THE LIST OF THINGS TO DO IN SONG WAT >
Recommended Bangkok accommodation near Song Wat Road
The Quarter Chao Phraya by UHG
Across the river is one of favourite places to stay in Bangkok – The Quarter Chao Phraya, a hotel overlooking the river with a huge swimming pool.
We took the river shuttle boat across the Chao Phraya and walked from River City mall to Song Wat. Check rates and availability on booking.com, expedia.com and agoda.com
Read our review / guide to Chao Phraya Quarter hotel here >
The Quarter Hualamphong by UHG
Another branch from the same Quarter hotel chain – The Quarter Hualamphong is conveniently located in Talat Noi which is just A 10 minute walk from Song Wat.
Facilities include a spa, restaurant and swimming pool, plus awesome views of Hualamphong station from many of the rooms, and views of Wat Traimit temple from the communal deck.
Check rates and availability on booking.com, expedia.com and agoda.com
PhotoHostel
The highest rated and most central accommodation in Talat Noi. Given how beautiful the inside is, we’ve also included Photohostel as one of the top things to do in Talat Noi later on. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Ago Hotel Chinatown
A 3 star hotel with affordable prices that is a short walk from Talat Noi and the riverside. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Thailand checklist
We love using booking.com and agoda.com for researching and booking all our hotels. Use the Agoda code TAIWANDERERS for a discount.
For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator or Klook.
Things to do on Song Wat Road, Bangkok
1. Song Wat street art
As one of Bangkok’s trendiest neighborhoods, it is no surprise that one of the best things to do in Song Wat is just wander around discovering random street art.
Like any blank canvas, you never know what you are going to see and each time we revisit, something new has appeared or replaced old artwork.
On our most recent visit to Song Wat Road in Bangkok in mid 2026, there were around a dozen huge murals located on the buildings along Song Wat plus more to discover in the side-streets.
One fairly new Song Wat street art mural unveiled in 2024 is a massive mural of a lady holding a fan by Belgium based artist Kitsune Jolene, commissioned to celebrate Thai Belgian relations.
Also make sure you see the falling elephants painted by Roa plus awesome alley artwork all around the area. Song Wat also has lots of art and sculpture pop-ups.
You might like – Our guides to getting a Grab Taxi from Bangkok airport or our guide to the Bangkok Airport Rail Link
2. ‘Road of Cinnamon’ Gift Shop
This gorgeous gift-shop is a highlight of Song Wat Road, which we think is called ‘Road of Cinnamon’ – but we could be wrong.
We went in here to buy a Song Wat Road tote bag, complete with ‘Made in Song Wat’ branding you’ll see plastered all over the walls and on posters around the various side-streets.
There are also a series of beautifully designed ‘Made in Song Wat’ books which showcase various cafes, bakeries and business owners in the local areas.
This Song Wat gift shops packs an awful lot of old, new and vintage goods into a very small space – so crammed, we were a little scared we might make something. It is a nice respite from the usual elephant pant and magnet stores you see elsewhere in Bangkok.
3. Bad Poutine
In fact, this is rather good! A little bit of Canada in Bangkok, this is where to get your cheese curd, gravy and chips with a variety of toppings – it’s nice eh (yes, that was our finest Canadian impression)!
One of the Song Wat pioneers, Bad Poutine was one of the first eateries to open up way before Song Wat became very hipster and popular – the fact it is still here when so many places open then close is a good sign
Recently we grabbed some Bad Poutine with buttermilk chicken bites on top for 150 THB a portion (correct as June 2026) and it was excellent. We sat in stripey deckchairs eating our gravy covered chips next to some street-art and we thought – this is SO Song Wat – other topping choices include bacon, pastrami, pulled pork or fried fish.
4. Naam 1608
This has to be one of the best places in Songwat for riverside food and drinks – tucked away from the main hustle and bustle of Song Wat, here your view is lots of longtail boats and views across the river.
There are lots of new bars and riverside restaurants popping up in Song Wat now but this classic restaurant in an old wooden house is still one of the best.
We ate at Naam 1608 Songwat one weekday afternoon in summer 2026 and we were lucky enough to bag a coveted riverside seat – the restaurant was always busy, with patrons a mix of Thai workers and families, tourists and expats.
The food quality at Naam 1608 was really good, service was great plus prices were really reasonable especially given the riverside setting. Recommended and we will return here for sure next trip.
You might like – the best cafes and coffee shops in Song Wat >
5. Terroir.BKK Coffee
On our latest trip to Bangkok in summer 2026, we visited Song Wat several times both on weekends and weekdays (how dedicated are we?) – we’d heard about how cool Terroir.BKK Coffee was but we had to admit defeat when we first tried to visit on a weekend, and we revisited again on a weekday. It is a small coffee shop with limited seating so it can get often be full.
As a coffee roast, the inside of Terroir.BKK smells divine and the interior is kind of industrial chic with graffiti galore – and the coffee lives up to its reputation. We grabbed an Americano and a Terroir Special latte, sat back and watched the world go by.
With seasonal specials, Single-origin espresso and cool beans (which can be bought for takeaway too from the Terroir Laboratory), Terroir.BKK is a top stop for Song Wat coffee connoisseurs.
6. Local Boys Coffee
Similar to Terroir.BKK Coffee in terms of its popularity and uber cool interiors and coffee blends, we actually think Local Boys was a slightly better experience.
With its bright orange exteriors and vibrant coffee cans, Local Boys in Song Wat is hard to miss – although it can genuinely be quite the challenge to enter, what with all the people posing outside the store-front (it was just NUTS)!
We managed to get a seat inside overlooking the counter (it is kind of small inside) and went for their peanut butter iced coffee served in a can (160 THB – it sounds gimmicky but it was really good) plus their 195 THB Coco Box Coffee – and yes, it actually came in a chocolate box you could eat. Soooooo good!
7. Rong Klan Nuea
Could this be Bangkok’s best beef noodles? This Song Wat noodle shop is certainly one of the better ones we’ve been to – their menu is quite limited which means they are very good at what they do.
We spent a couple of weeks recently in the Quarter Chao Phraya hotel and went to Song Wat via Talat Noi most days. Every lunch time and at weekends, Rong Klan Nuea had a queue outside (it only has about 6 tables inside) so we returned one weekday afternoon at 3pm and managed to get a spot. The interior is cool and the tiled floor is beautiful.
The beef noodles at Rong Klan Nuea are banging – we both opted for ‘standard’ size beef noodles which were only 95 THB a bowl and they were delicious. You can choose your noodle type too plus grab cold beers. Rong Klan in Song Wat is recommended.
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8. Pink Rabbit Coffee Shop
A cool little coffee shop on the main Song Wat thoroughfare, we popped into Pink Rabbit for a caffeine pick me up one hot summer afternoon in Bangkok.
Kind of like a retro tea-room, the interior furnishings are eclectic to say the least and they serve up some mighty fine pieces of cheese-cake and chocolate cake.
Inside, there are about five tables plus a secret little curtained back-room – very Twin Peaks! Always popular, Song Wat’s Pink Rabbit coffee shop is well worth a visit, if just to enjoy the air-conditioning and sit down.
The Rabbit cake and coffee shop is a chain by the way with several branches dotted around this and other neighborhoods.
9. Gu Long Bao Artisan Bun Shop Song Wat Branch
Located at 983 Song Wat Rd, we could rave about the old school Gu Long Bao buns in Song Wat Road all day long – we’d recommend grabbing a couple as a snack before exploring Song Wat’s side alleys or having a seat in a nearby restaurant.
Various flavors are available including sesame, taro, BBQ pork (plus plant based meat) plus several sweet fillings – prices start from 17 THB for a smaller bun up to 28 THB for a big bao (we like BIG baos and we can’t deny).
Note the minimum order at the Gu Long Bao Artisan Bun Shop is 3 baos and the popular flavours like BBQ pork seem to sell out early doors.
We had 3 pork BBQ buns for 51 THB and they were juicy and joyful – prices correct as of our visit in January 2025.
Also check out the sublime long bao bun street art in the side-alley; what a sign-post!
You might like – Our guides to Bangkok’s Benjakitti Park or Lumpini Park
10. Soul Songwat Community Hub
One of the biggest changes we noticed on our 2026 trip to Song Wat compared to our previous trip is how many of the old warehouses overlooking the river have been turned into community centers or artisan shopping centers.
One of the latest such warehouses to be converted to a chic center for shops, cafes and restaurants is Soul Songwat – the history of the site has been preserved well and it is nice hotchpotch of original fixtures and wooden interiors with a central square combined with an amazing terrace looking out over the Chao Phraya.
Based over two storeys, Soul Songwat has fashion shops and vintage threads on the upper levels like House of Vintage, Alice& Co and 30_6, whilst the ground floor is a mixture of cafes, bars, a pizza place and pop-ups.
11. SSS Online Co Ltd – Song Wat souvenir shop
For a stupendous Song Wat souvenir shop, sashay to SSS (try saying that after several Singhas) – this cute as a button gift shop stocks everything from prints to postcards, magnets to Song Wat merch (map).
Some of the items we’ve never seen before like a cartoon 7-Eleven toasted sandwich bag – take all our money now!
SSS Online also has a free souvenir stamp area where you can collect ink stamps representing the local area.
12. Talat Noi neighbourhood
One of the most historical neighborhoods in Bangkok, Talat Noi (aka Talad Noi) is an epic and endearing enclave full of hidden alley-ways, and is where Song Wat Road begins.
It is packed with sublime street art, cool coffee shops, riverside views and some of Bangkok’s best restaurants.
A creative hub and industrial area that is fast becoming a hipster hangout, Talad Noi (which is translated as ‘small market’) is one of the oldest areas of Bangkok, with a large Chinese community.
For every instagrammable coffee shop or bubble tea kiosk in Talat Noi, you’ll also see a grimy garage or huge warehouse of car-parts with locals hard at work – it is such a diverse area to explore and amble around the side-streets.
From the peaceful surroundings of riverside shrines to warehouse cafes, here is our guide to the best things to do in Talat Noi >
Try this – Bangkok street art and street food walking half day tour or a street art e-scooter tour of Chinatown and Talat Noi.
13. BARBON
Looking out over the Chao Phraya River located above a hostel, BARBON is one of the original cocktail bars in Songwat, offering sunset sips and snacks overlooking the Chao Phraya River.
With a wide range of cocktails and craft beers starting from 200 THB and up, whilst not the cheapest bar in the area, it does have one of the best views.
Sit inside or grab a seat on the small terrace outside – be sure to get there early if you want to secure a sunset spot. Please also note Song Wat BARBON is closed on Mondays.
14. The Old Breadshop
We loved this cute cafe along Song Wat Road – chintzy AF inside with sweet treats and decadent desserts, we were drawn in by the promise of a very special signature drink.
Song Wat Old Breadshop serves up the most dainty drink ever in the form of a teddy bear cocoa malt and sesame drink ice drink – great on a super hot day in Bangkok and almost too cute to drink. Almost…
Sweet treats include orange cookies, super soft carrot cake and cranberry cream cheese bread and you can sit inside the small vintage dining room area hidden away in the back of the store.
15. Ristr8to Song Wat
Ristr8to is now open in Song Wat, one of our favourite coffee shops and roasters from Chiang Mai (originally from Nimman).
They are an award winning coffee shop that has come up with some incredible coffee and cold-brew creations. Ristr8to really does brew cups of amazing coffee that are works of art and taste damn fine.
Whilst you can go for ordinary coffee served in normal cups, you can also go for more unusual servings like coffee test tubes or a 5.5oz coffee served in a skull (a Ficardie)
Many say award-winning Ristr8to serves the best coffee in Chiang Mai so head over to this Bangkok branch to check it out for yourself.
16. Kiss Me Doll Songwat
A wonderful woven experience, Kiss Me Doll is currently one of the hottest shops in Song Wat – opened in May 2026 and located in a newly open alleyway of shops located in old warehouses, Kiss Me Doll Bangkok specialises in scarves and vintage style apparel.
Brought to you by accessory maker 29december.co, we visited Kiss Me Doll the week it opened so the store looked gorgeous and full of sparkle. It also has lots of embroidery patches which you can add to your own items or buy a set of patches and something to attach them to.
You might like – the best cafes in Song Wat and the best cafes in Talat Noi
17. Wanjai Cafe House
Time for a Song wat mango sticky rice session! Tucked away in an alleyway just off Song Wat Road, Wanjai Cafe House is one of the oldest businesses in the neighborhood and still family run today.
Many people online rave about the Wanjai Cafe House sticky mango rice, whereby the Nam Dok Mai mangoes are peeled to order so they don’t spoil- inside, you find vintage stylings and a taste of Thai nostalgia.
And as the sign outside says, they may look good but “Please Don’t Touch the Mangoes”!
18. Chinatown and Yaowarat Road
Song Wat is on the cusp of Bangkok’s Chinatown, but just a little more under the radar (and so much quieter and calmer).
Chinatown is busy any time of day but it comes alive at night and transforms into a neon soaked nirvana of sublime street food, gourmet goodness and Speak-easy style bars. Centered around Yarowat Street, Bangkok Chinatown is a whole district dedicated to food vendors and outdoor tables and chairs.
We love wandering the streets in Chinatown at night with no particular plan in mind – we just follow our noses and seek out where the locals get their night-time snacks.
Check out these Bangkok Chinatown tours with Viator >
You might like – 40+ Things to do in Bangkok at night >
19. Rong Khom Lane
Like taking a step back in time, this is the best way to go between Chinatown and Song Wat – a small alley full of old school shops, family run restaurants and cool cafes, Rong Khom Lane brings you out into one of Chinatown’s busiest markets.
We visited Song Wat on a very hot afternoon so even the local cats were seeking respite in the fridges along Rong Khom Lane and you could see families huddled around their huge fans, watching TV – truly a unique place in Bangkok.
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20. Lao Pun Tao Kong Shrine
So this obviously isn’t on the scale of Wat Arun but Song Wat has a small neighborhood Chinese style shrine called Lao Pun Tao Kong dedicated to the deity Pun Tao Kong.
It is located in the grounds of a Chinese Language school and is free to visit – enter through the large red gate at the front or via the side entrance in Rong Khom Lane. Please be respectful of local worshippers and ensure you are dressed modestly.
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21. Luang Kocha Itsahak Mosque
Hidden away in one of Song Wat’s side-streets, the bright yellow Luang Kocha Itsahak Mosque is a quiet place away from the hustle and bustle (and mopeds) of Song Wat Road.
The mosque architecture is colonial in style and when we visited on Sunday morning, there was a small group of children in a school room by the mosque learning prayers.
You might like – Things to do in Sukhumvit, Bangkok or our Silom in Bangkok neighborhood guide
22. Nuury Chestnut Ice-cream
A n-’ice’ thing to do in Song Wat, Nuury Chestnut Ice-cream is a family-run, home-made ice-cream shop and very different from your normal dessert places. Firstly, the entrance to the store is very subtle – it kind of feels like a cross between an office and a living room.
Secondly, the ice-cream is served in tubs straight from the freezer which the owners then add toppings too like chestnuts – when we ate here, a small tub of ice-cream was 50 THB, available in coffee, coconut and chocolate flavours.
You can eat inside or take the little seating spot outside the store tucked away in Trok Saphan Yuan – as we sat there eating our ice-creams quickly (it melts quick in Bangkok heat), someone strolled past us walking their cat in fluorescent clothes – that is so Song Wat!
Nuury Chestnut ice-cream has been around since 2000 and is open from 8am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 11.30am on Sundays.
23. Song Wat Coffee Roasters
Song Wat is never short on cool coffee shops but one of the busiest and most popular is Song Wat Coffee Roasters, located down Rong Khom Lane.
Housed in a restored shophouse, half the challenge is trying to get into the store without ruining someone’s photograph outside – there is so much posing going on (just drink your coffee)!
The storefront is indeed very Instagrammable but stick around for damn fine iced latte or their signature Viennese coffee – there are also lots of coffee bean choices from all over the world plus decadent desserts like pandan canales (oh la la)!
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24. Lim Lao Ngow Fishball Noodle
Reputedly some of the best fishball soup in Bangkok (with lots of competition from nearby Yaowarat Road), Lim Lao Ngow Fishball Noodle is a heavenly hawker stall with an outdoor seating area consisting of red plastic seats and little else (other than fine fishy flavors).
A Michelin Bib Gourmand recognised restaurant, Lim Lao Ngow Fishball Noodle stall is open from 3pm to 9pm daily and costs around 60 THB a bowl – many say the fish wonton soup is the best dish so work your way through the menu.
We went early on a Saturday evening to Lim Lao Ngow Fishball Noodle and the outdoor eating area soon filled up, a rich mix of locals and tourists. The noodles are hearty and served quickly – Song Wat street food at its finest!
You might like – Our guides to Chatuchak Weekend Market or Asiatique Night Market (open 7 days a week)
25. Urai Braised Goose / Urai Han Palo
One of the most famous Song Wat Chinese restaurants to dine in, you may want to arrive at Urai Braised Goose early as it often sells out quickly – grab a seat outside, graze on goose and watch the world go by along Song Wat Road.
Prices are reasonable and locals have been coming here for over 50 years – a small stewed goose bowl serving 1 to 2 people costs 250 THB plus 70 THB for goose soup or 10 THB for a bowl of rice, best served with a cup of Chinese tea.
Try this – Bangkok by night: temples, markets and food tuk-tuk tour >
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