Ekkamai Bangkok: My Guide to Things to Do, Food & Cafés

Ekkamai is a long, leafy stretch of Sukhumvit full of cafés, restaurants and little sois where I like to wander every time I’m on a mission to reach my 10,000 steps a day. I’ve lived in Ekkamai for a year, so in this guide I’ll share with you everything you need to know about this cool Bangkok neighbourhood plus everything you can actually do here.

So is Ekkamai worth visiting? If you want to get away from the touristy areas, do a little café-hopping, buy some nice ceramics, try local food, visit a temple with buffalos and have a relaxed evening over a cold beer, then yes, completely.

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Short on Time? Here’s My Quick Ekkamai Overview

• Why visit: for its independent cafés, excellent Isaan food, laid-back bars and a real neighbourhood feel away from the tourist crowds
• How to get there: BTS Sukhumvit Line to Ekkamai station
• Where to eat: Somsak and NEUA.NEUR.BKK for Isaan, Here Hai for crab, Phed Mark for pad kaprao
• Where to drink coffee: Cone Number 9, Keen House, Plynn House, Pacamara, Coffeas
• Best things to do: wander the sois, visit Wat Pha Si temple (the one with buffalos), shop ceramics at Cone Number 9, catch a movie at Major Cineplex
• Where to stay: Tierra Residences — modern apartments, quiet street, close to the BTS

A Day in Ekkamai: My Experience

Having spent a year here, I’ve explored every corner at least twice. One afternoon I set off from Gateway Ekkamai mall, crossed the road and followed Ekkamai 63 all the way down. It’s super busy with traffic, but at least it has pavements. By the time I reached Cone Number 9 I was ready for a break, so I ordered an iced latte, opened my laptop, worked on my projects and spent a good while checking out their new ceramics.

Hunger hit me fast after that, so I ducked into the building next door and had a quick chicken pad kaprao at Kaeng-Baan-Ekkamai, which was pretty decent for 80 THB. Then I followed the road all the way to the end, where you can turn left for Wat Pha Si temple (the one with buffalos).

I’d been a few months before, so I skipped it, took the overpass instead, thankfully, because crossing this road without one is genuinely a matter of life and death. I passed the popular Kaizen Coffee and kept going until I reached Plynn House, where I sat with an iced matcha with coconut water, noticing a rotating cast of influencers use the white sofa as a prop for their latest Instagram shoot.

And that’s kind of the point of Ekkamai, though. There’s always somewhere to sit, something decent to eat nearby, and no particular reason to hurry. On my way home I came across Nowhere bar just around the corner from the big Big C with a good looking rooftop, so I immediately added it to the list. I always seem to leave Ekkamai with more places to go back to than when I started.

Where Is Ekkamai?

Ekkamai is built around Sukhumvit Soi 63 (Ekkamai Road), in the upper, more residential part of Sukhumvit. It sits right between Thong Lo and Phra Khanong, with its own BTS Skytrain stop, Ekkamai station, on the Sukhumvit Line.

That puts you a quick, traffic-free train ride from the rest of central Bangkok — Siam and Asok, Phrom Phong and the Em District malls are just a few stops away.

Like the rest of Sukhumvit, Ekkamai is organised by sois (side streets) branching off the main road. Some of these sois have big impressive houses and some of them even hide really nice cafés and restaurants.

Ekkamai vs Thong Lo: Which Should You Pick?

I’ve noticed that this is the question many visitors ask. These two neighbouring areas are right next to each other, but they have different personalities.

Thong Lo is the polished, see-and-be-seen side with glossier restaurants, cocktail bars and speakeasies, a wealthier and more international crowd, and higher prices.

Ekkamai is more laid-back and local, with good coffee during the day, cold craft beer at night, and gentler prices.

I personally prefer Ekkamai as it suits my personality more, and no rat has ever sprinted across my bare feet here. Thong Lo after dark is a different story, here cockroaches and rats seem to own the place.

➞ Thonglor Bangkok: My Guide to Things To Do, Food, Cafés & Bars

How to Get to Ekkamai

Getting to Ekkamai is super easy and you have a few options:

By BTS

BTS is one of the best modes of transport the city has, and luckily it also reaches Ekkamai. Take the Sukhumvit Line to Ekkamai station, the Skytrain runs right above Sukhumvit Road, skips the traffic, and connects you to Asok, Siam and beyond in minutes. This is what I usually do, unless I’m walking from Thong Lo.

➞ For the full picture, see my Bangkok Transport Guide and How to Get Around Thailand.

By Grab

For door-to-door transport use the Grab app, where the fare is fixed. Just make sure you allow extra time, because the Sukhumvit traffic is genuinely slow.

➞ Read my guide How to Use Grab in Thailand

By Tuk-Tuk

When I’m in the Sukhumvit area, I like to use tuk-tuks. But instead of flagging a random one on the street, I use the MuvMi app, which is perfect for shorter rides. You can either share it or book a private one, it’s cheaper than the regular ones and I like that they’re electric!

Eastern Bus Terminal

Ekkamai is also home to the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai Bus Terminal), the departure point for Thailand’s east-coast beaches like Pattaya, Rayong, Ban Phe (for Koh Samet) and also Hua Hin. So I think Ekkamai is a great base for your Bangkok stay if you’re planning a further trip to any of these locations.

What To Do In Ekkamai: What I Actually Recommend

Ekkamai is mostly residential, so it’s not a sightseeing neighbourhood, but there’s more to do than you’d think.

Shop at Gateway Ekkamai

Ekkamai isn’t a big-mall destination, unlike Phrom Phong, but it does have a Japanese-themed mall right by the BTS station. It has a few floors, and inside you’ll find plenty of restaurants, my favourite is Katsuya, which does really good chicken katsu with rice and shredded cabbage. On the ground floor you’ll find a lot of food and drink stands, so great for getting a little treat.

When it comes to shopping, you get bookshops, the beauty store Boots, NITORI (an affordable Japanese home decor shop), some clothes shops and a supermarket, Max Valu, in case you want to buy some dried fruit, curry paste or coconut cosmetics.

Visit Wat That Thong

This Buddhist temple is located right by the BTS station, with a large golden Buddha inside and outside. The roof of the temple literally sparkles once the sun goes down, so every time I walk past it I think of Christmas. It dates back to the 1930s and it’s also a popular place for funerals.

Get a coffee and shop ceramics at Cone Number 9

I discovered this place back in 2025, before I moved to Bangkok, when I was staying in Thong Lo. It’s a bit further down Ekkamai Road and it’s one of my favourite spots for doing some work on my laptop. Apart from serving coffee and meals, they also sell ceramics and I believe they organise pottery classes.

It’s a very calm, not-too-busy environment with lovely furniture. In the back of the café is a TRUFFLE+/ORIGINALS shop selling Japanese fashion.

Visit Wat Pha Si

If Wat That Thong is located at the beginning of Ekkamai Road, then Wat Pha Si is at the very end, right by the canal from where you can take a boat all the way to the Old Town. This temple has so much character, mainly due to its colourful statues and decorations. There was literally no one during our visit and they even had buffalos and some other animals on the grounds.

Go to see a movie or play bowling

One of my favourite cinemas is located in Ekkamai, right at the BTS station inside the Major Cineplex. They show international as well as Thai movies, and it’s an easy, air-conditioned escape from the afternoon heat. Apart from the cinema there are of course cafés, restaurants, a few shops and even ice skating (Sub-Zero), arcades and bowling with karaoke on the top floor.

Get a massage

Ekkamai has some of the city’s better-known spas. Health Land Ekkamai is a reliable pick for a proper Thai massage at a fair price. I used to go to Sakura Spa & Massage, which was hit or miss as they have a lot of staff, but in general I always check the reviews before I go to a new place, and if they are good, it’s generally good.

➞ For a full day plan, see my Things to Do in Sukhumvit guide

My Favourite Cafés in Ekkamai

Ekkamai has some great independent coffee shops loved by locals. Not only do they serve great coffee, but they’re also very visually pleasing, you’ll find everything from serious specialty roasters to dreamy, plant-filled spaces made for slow mornings.

If you don’t want to follow any specific list, just wander off the main road and get lost in the small streets called sois, they’re not so busy with traffic, are more green and usually hide some hidden gems.

• Keen House: Delicious coffee, seasonal drinks and an interior that looks like you just stepped into an art gallery.
• PLYNN HOUSE: A very calm café perfect for working, with a white plush sofa that’s very popular among local influencers.
• Coffeas: A little hidden café with no WiFi and the most lush entrance I’ve ever seen.
• Pacamara Coffee Roasters: This café chain is all over Bangkok and also in the Ekkamai Corner building. The coffee is tasty and strong, my personal favourite is the Americano screwdriver.
• TAI HONG Coffee: Located in a quiet soi to the south of the BTS, this café is small with only 3 tables but the coffee’s delicious and costs only 60 THB, which is very affordable in this area.

➞ Love a good coffee? See my 13 Best Cafes in Bangkok guide

Where to Eat in Ekkamai

Ekkamai is one of the best parts of Bangkok for food, and it’s especially known for Isaan (Northeastern Thai) cooking. I have two favourite restaurants specialising in this type of cuisine, and of course a few more places I can already vouch for.

• Somsak: Located in Ekkamai Corner right by BTS Ekkamai, it has colourful, funky interiors and really tasty Isaan meals with a kick. Try the meat on sticks with guava salad and roselle juice!
• NEUA.NEUR.BKK: I’ve visited this one a few times for their Khao Soi, which is quite spicy, and recently I’ve been ordering their Australian Wagyu steak on beef fat fried rice via Grab. Yum! Plus they have Thai craft beer to wash it down.
• Here Hai: The Michelin-listed restaurant specialising in crab dishes. It’s pretty small with long queues at lunchtime so I recommend going early.
• Phed Mark: A very popular eatery owned by YouTuber Mark Wiens. It’s not a proper restaurant, you have to queue to order and then wait quite a long time for your food. They specialise in Pad Kaprao, and even though people complain it’s too expensive, the taste is totally worth the money.
• Johnny Market Ekkamai: Okay, I haven’t been to this one yet, but it has great reviews and I’m definitely going soon. It’s an open market, perfect if you’re in a group and everyone wants something different. They do Thai food, Vietnamese baguettes, sushi and much more. It’s right next to the Ekkamai Bus Station.

My tip: There’s a place on Ekkamai Road called Wattana Panich that is famous for its beef broth simmering non-stop for over 50 years.

➞ Find more food nearby in my Best Restaurants in Sukhumvit and Where to Eat in Bangkok guides.

Bars and Nightlife in Ekkamai

Ekkamai really isn’t a clubbing district, it’s more of a place to go for a calm drink or a craft beer. There are a few English pubs and cocktail bars to choose from, and if you want something more, you can always head to nearby Thong Lo, which has flashier bars and music clubs.

• Modern-Day Culture: Record Bar: A little bar with a live DJ and great signature cocktails, about a 10-minute walk from the BTS.
• Sanctuary: Not really on Ekkamai Road, but more in between Ekkamai and Thong Lo BTS. This rooftop bar is on the 34th floor and has stunning design.

Where to Stay in Ekkamai (and Is It Worth It?)

If I were visiting Bangkok for the first time, I’d happily choose Ekkamai as my base, but only if the hotel is within a short walk of the BTS. In that case it offers great connections to Asok, Siam, Chinatown and the Old Town, and even across the river, with calm evenings and plenty of food options.

Before I moved into our first condo in Ekkamai, I stayed at Tierra Residences and can only recommend it. They have modern, spacious apartments in a quiet street with all the facilities: gym, pool, common area and even a massage salon.

➞ Compare Ekkamai and Sukhumvit hotels in my Where to Stay in Sukhumvit guide.

My Tips for Visiting Ekkamai

• Wear comfortable shoes and download the MuvMi app for short-distance tuk-tuk transport.
• Arrive by BTS — in a taxi you’ll most likely get stuck in the Sukhumvit traffic.
• Carry cash: smaller cafes, local eateries and street stalls don’t always take cards.
• Pair Ekkamai with Thong Lo, they’re one BTS stop apart, or you can easily walk between them via the small sois.

FAQ about Ekkamai Bangkok

Is Ekkamai a good area?

Yes, I honestly like Ekkamai because it’s very residential compared to busy Asok, and it has great options for food and cafés. The main Ekkamai Road is of course busy with traffic, but overall it feels very safe and you can always turn off down any soi, wander around and find a random place to stop for a drink.

What is Ekkamai known for?

Ekkamai is known as one of Bangkok’s coolest café neighbourhoods, with a strong independent coffee scene, excellent Isaan (Northeastern Thai) restaurants, craft beer bars and a laid-back, residential feel. It’s often described as Thong Lo’s calmer, more local sibling.

How do I get to Ekkamai bus station?

It’s super easy, just get off at BTS Ekkamai station, exit on the same side of the road as the Gateway mall (not Ekkamai Corner), you’ll pass a 7-Eleven on the corner, then cross the street and you’ll be at the bus station.

How far is Ekkamai from Suvarnabhumi airport?

It’s about 28 km and by taxi it can take as little as 38 minutes, depending on traffic. Whenever I’ve taken Grab to the airport in the early morning hours, it’s been super quick. During the day it was nearly an hour, and in bad traffic it can take double that.

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Final Thoughts on Ekkamai Bangkok

To sum it up, Ekkamai won’t wow you with big sights. It’s the neighbourhood I’d send anyone who wants to feel like they’re living in Bangkok rather than touring it. Come see for yourself and let me know how it was.

Check Out My Other Bangkok Guides

• Best Things to Do in Bangkok: My Favourite Sights, Markets & Hidden Gems
• Bangkok Travel Guide for First-Timers: Everything You Need to Know
• Bangkok 3 Day Itinerary: A Realistic First-Time Route + My Tips