This week, the New York Post published “The ultimate guide to Bangkok’s coolest neighborhood,” but their choice in hip enclaves was a bit dated.
Their pick? Thonglor, which they called “Bangkok’s Lower East Side.” Umm, the mid-Sukhumvit neighborhood might have been the city’s coolest five years ago, but that’s hardly the case now, when BKK’s hippest have flocked to Old Town addresses on Charoen Krung, Soi Nana and by the riverside.
As for the comparison to the LES, no dice there either. Whether you dig it or not, Thonglor has long been a playground for the rich — both Thai and farang. The LES is a former working-class ‘hood that was taken over by punks, artists, and junkies in the 70s and 80s and still retains an artsy aura.
The article goes on to praise the area’s many community and lifestyle malls, the fact that it has a Crossfit facility, and the Thai massages you can get at Asia Herb Association.
We were hoping for a good recommendation for where to get pad thai but none was forthcoming. Maybe in part two.
