Because ten would be so mainstream.
At these nine venues around the city the cool kids will feel right at home in artfully ripped jeans, mirrored shades and imported Panama hats.
9. Phra Arthit Road
Just far enough from Khao San Road to attract a totally different crowd, you won’t find Internet dens full of dreadlocked backpackers, checking off Lonely Planet sites here. Phra Arthit’s art cafes and bars are next to Santichaiprakan Park, where capoeira classes have been known to occur. Check out the vintage treasure trove at The Trapeze Swingers Store off of Phra Arthit Road. Make your own cocktail at Escapade Burgers or try to Roti Mataba that’s practically an institution.
8. Siam Square
No list of hipster hangouts is complete without Siam Square, the location that’s been churning out generations of hipsters for years. People watch hipsters in the making here, as school kids shop for accessories to bling out their uniforms. If you’re lucky you might just see some real life Hormones drama unfolding before your eyes.
7. Victory Monument
The streets are buzzing in the evening with things to eat and buy. Make your way around the roundabout to Soi Rangnam where restaurant tables spill out on to the sidewalk, making for lively Friday and Saturday nights. One of the most chill rooftop bars, Skytrain Jazz Bar, has soulful live music, good food and cheap drinks.
6. Thonglor Art Village
More of a miniature maze of shops than a village, this little alcove houses a bike shop, vintage menswear store Sun & Co., Hattori Shokudo a retro, pared-down Japanese eatery and a mini version of Casa Lapin. You won’t want to leave without an espresso at the wooden coffee bar, i.e. the ultimate hipster kitchen. Open and airy but cozy enough to encourage chit chat with strangers, it’s for legit hipsters who miss real coffee culture found overseas.
5. Ekamai Soi 10
This strip of shops is truly a paradise for vintage lovers. Cruise over on a fixie and spend an entire day here going from Bangkok Burger Factory to shopping at VTG and (Un) Fashion, find fashion trends at Liberty Area One before they blow up, and top if off with Sangsom Cokes at Happy Monday.
4. Chatuchak Section 5
This is where a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt that may be from a concert in the 60’s or Urban Outfitters in the 00’s can cost upwards of THB 3,000. Either way there’s a huge premium for anything with a good chance of authenticity, making it a must visit for Bangkok hipsters. Stay late on a Saturday night to knock back Leos and rest your weary Chuck Taylor-clad feet.
3. Siam Center
It was a grand opening so spectacular, so hip, so hi-so, that even American celebs made an appearance. It’s not a boring old mall, silly; it’s a fashion exhibition/creative design space. Siam Center is accessible enough for mainstream shoppers and cool enough to catch the attention of the hipster populace.
2. Talad Rod Fai
Even though it’s moved to a new location on Srinakarin the Train Market still keeps its name, most of its vendors (plus some newbies) and its signature thrift store style. Macklemore got nothin’ on this place. No other thrift shop in Bangkok has as much vintage stuff piled in one location. A mishmash of décor, fashion, food, giant tin shop signs, Coca-Cola memorabilia, and car and bike gear, it’s got something for everyone. Plus, the prices are cheap and negotiable, magic to the ears of any budgeting hipster.
1. The New Markets
A new crop of American-influenced trendsetters is quickly redefining Bangkok’s market scene. K-Village has Art Markets and Baan Ekamai’s flea market was a brief hit last year. Just last weekend Made by Legacy held it’s second installment of the Brooklyn Flea-inspired extravaganza. Don’t expect to score cheap clothes, rare brands, or too many freebies though. These markets are heavy on the see-and-be-seen and light on the variety and bargains. This is mainly because vintage items are imported and carefully curated by up and coming Thai brands, meaning they demand a premium and go fast. But keep these new markets coming and the selection and quality of products will only improve as sellers’ see demand increasing.
