While it’s always fun to spend Friday night checking out the city’s newest, hippest club, we’d argue that some of Bangkok’s most interesting spots are actually the ones that look to the past. If you’re the kind of person who loves getting a first-hand look at a city’s cultural history, a general vintage enthusiast, or just someone who wants to explore shopping options in Bangkok that are more interesting than the usual mega malls, here’s a short list to get you started:
For vintage car lovers
We can’t see being able to afford a highly sought-after collectable vintage car in our future anytime soon, but that’s the whole point of window shopping, right? Auto Vintage is a vintage automobile lover’s haven, with rows and rows of sleek, shiny vehicles parked on display. But the fun doesn’t just stop at the cars — take a walk around the shop and check out the various model cars and car-branded home accessories (e.g. a Ferrari fridge) and furniture repurposed from car parts, like a desk made from a Mercedes bonnet.
For bookworms
Located directly on Sukhumvit Road (between Soi 26 and 28), Dasa Book Cafe is a book lover’s haven. Their website is updated three times a week with their full inventory, but as with all of the shops on this list, we highly recommend going there in person and perusing the shelves for yourself. It looks small upon entry, but there are three packed floors, including a small cafe on the ground floor and chairs in various corners across the shop if you just want to sit and read. They carry fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, and even books in translation (and a lot more).
Photo: Pexels
For general vintage perusers
Anyone who’s spent some time in Bangkok will have heard of Papaya Design Furniture & Studio. It’s a little out of the way, and you’ll either love or hate the haphazard warehouse-style design. If you’re looking for Vintage with a capital V, though, this is a must-visit. It’s part-museum (some of the items aren’t actually for sale, although nothing is clearly labeled) and part-store with thousands of vintage items on display, with no real map to guide you. Personally, we say embrace the maze-like mess! If you do want to buy something, snap a picture (like we said: no labels, including price tags) and hunt down a salesperson who will check the price for you — and then good luck returning to actually locate the item!
For foodies (or anyone who needs to rest and recharge after a day of vintage hunting)
Bangkok’78
Photo: Bangkok’78
Located inside the Sindhorn Midtown Hotel Bangkok, Vignette Collection, Bangkok’78 is a contemporary homage to 1970s Bangkok. The sound of chilled ’70s music will greet you through the speakers as you make your way through the eclectic interior made up of multi-pattern retro tiled walls and floors. Parched after hours of lugging your new vintage finds around the city? Cool down with a tall glass of chrysanthemum and pandan iced tea or an oliang for that much-needed caffeine kick.
The true star here, though, is the food menu, which, in collaboration with Saneh Jaan, a one-Michelin star Thai restaurant, features several Thai cuisine classics, including street food favorites like shrimp meatballs, a warm and filling hotpot with fluffy steamed egg and minced pork and seafood, or a betel leaf-infused crab meat and prawn curry served with a side of rice noodles. Even the biggest dessert-holics will be satisfied by the coconut ice-cream which comes with sweet sticky rice and syrup-covered cassava, or for something lighter, the aloe vera compote with butterfly pea syrup and lime juice or (of course) the mango sticky rice.
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