Thonglor is known as the trendy, modern area in Sukhumvit Bangkok, running from BTS Thonglor all the way north to Phetchaburi Road. It’s packed with cafés, izakayas, smaller malls, massage places and more nail salons than you’ll ever need. It’s a popular spot for foreigners to live, but if you’re visiting Bangkok as a tourist, is it actually worth your time?
I’ve visited Thonglor countless times, during the day and at night, and just a few months ago I moved to the quieter part south of the BTS. The main area runs along Sukhumvit Rd 55, which is a few kilometres long and super busy with traffic.
To keep it short, come if you want to visit a specific bar, café or restaurant, or if you’re choosing it as your base during your stay in Bangkok. There are plenty of hotels, it’s well connected with the rest of the city, and you’ll never have to go far to find a place to eat or drink a good coffee. Otherwise, don’t bother, cause there aren’t really any sightseeing activities.
In this guide I’ll share with you the things to do in Thonglor, where to eat, where to have an amazing cup of coffee, where to see live music and my favourite spots.
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Short on Time? Here’s My Quick Thonglor Overview
| Why visit | For a specific café, restaurant or bar you want to try, or as a well-connected base for your Bangkok stay |
| How to get there | BTS Sukhumvit Line to Thonglor station |
| Where to eat | Saphan for craft beer and pizza, Bartels for brunch, Kenjis Lab for Japanese |
| Where to drink coffee | BEANS Coffee Roastery, City Boy Coffee Stand, Bartels, Livid Coffee Roasters |
| Best things to do | Walk along of the soi, browse The Commons, get a massage at Divana Divine Spa, take the canal boat to skip the traffic, grab mango sticky rice at Mae Varee |
| Where to stay | $$ Hotel Nikko Bangkok |
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Get the maps · $12Visiting Thonglor: My Experience
I’ve been coming to Bangkok since 2014, and moved here full time last year. There’s always been some occasion that’s brought me back to Thonglor, not to see a temple or gallery, but to eat or drink. Is it the best area in Bangkok for dining? I don’t think so, but it’s surely the most expensive one.
There are music clubs with DJs or live music, cocktail bars serving unique signature cocktails, cafés and international restaurants where meals will cost you the same as back home, but also really pleasant community concepts with affordable prices and a pleasant vibe where you can easily spend a few hours. I believe you can really find what you want here.
But it’s not all hip and flashy, there are a few places with a cluster of street food stands serving the locals who work in the area and aren’t fortunate enough to spend 400 THB on lunch. One of these places is in a little soi right next to Beans café, and another is just opposite the blue Masjid Zhohirul mosque.
If the main road is too much for you, you can always turn right or left and disappear into much calmer streets and wander around.
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Where Is Thonglor?
Thonglor is located in the eastern part of Bangkok, along the famous Sukhumvit Road, which starts at the Ploen Chit intersection and stretches all the way to the Cambodian border. It sits between Phrom Phong and Ekkamai, with plenty of small sois branching off the main road, some hiding cafés and restaurants you’d never spot from the street.
There’s also a smaller pocket of cafés and restaurants around Sukhumvit 36, just south of the BTS. I recommend Rangoon Tea House, which serves modern Burmese meals. Then ME THAI COFFEE for some Chiang Rai coffee and very cheap meals, and Livid Coffee Roasters, which does the best iced cappuccino I’ve had in the city and also sells really nice furniture.
This is technically a separate little stretch, and honestly not worth a dedicated trip on its own, but worth knowing about if you’re already in the area.
How to Get to and Around Thonglor
By BTS
Take the Sukhumvit Line to Thonglor station, which is the easiest and quickest way in, and it’s how I’d always recommend arriving given how bad the traffic gets on the main road.
➞ Read my guide How to Get Around Bangkok: Transport Guide & Costs
By Grab
Bear in mind that Thonglor’s traffic is some of the worst on this stretch of Sukhumvit, so while it’s doable, especially if you can’t be bothered dealing with the heat and public transport, be aware that it might take some time to get where you have to be.
➞ Read my guide How to use Grab in Thailand
By Tuk-Tuk
My new favourite way to get around Thonglor and between the neighbouring areas is the app MuvMi. These are affordable electric tuk-tuks with designated pick-up and drop-off points. Just download the app, top up your account with some money, and use it, though you’ll need data on your phone to be able to do so. I’ve been using the Saily eSIM, which is super easy to use and always reliable.
➞ Read my guide Best eSIM for Thailand Review: Why I Use Saily
By Local Red Bus
If you arrive by BTS and need to get toward the end of Sukhumvit 55 Rd, you can do so by hopping on the local red bus. Once you’re off the BTS, walk a few minutes on the left-hand side of the road and you’ll spot a small red bus usually parked in front of a 7-Eleven.
Get on, wait for it to fill up, pay a few baht, and it’ll take you all the way to the end of the road. Just ring the bell when you want to get off. You can take it back the same way.
By Canal Boat
You can also reach Thonglor by boat! At the very north end of Thonglor, where the road meets the canal, there’s a pier where you can catch a boat for a few baht all the way to the Old Town (and back). This is the most underused way to skip the traffic entirely, and so much more pleasant than the BTS during rush hour.
What To Do In Thonglor: What I Actually Recommend
Walk the length of the soi
If you want to really see Thonglor, walk along the main road, ideally starting at the BTS and heading north toward Phetchaburi Road, stopping along the way for drinks and food. Just a heads up: crossing the road is painful, so plan your walk so you don’t have to hop from one side to the other all the time.
Take the local red bus
Bangkok’s red buses are iconic, and this one is one of the easiest to use. You can do a short ride, or take it all the way to the end and walk back.
Stop for a drink at The Office Thonglor
Turn into Soi Thong Lo 10 and head to The Office Thonglor, which is a group of bakery, restaurant, juice bar, bar and coffee shop. The biggest highlight is the outdoor seating, which has a proper beach resort vibe, just minus the beach.
There’s also a café called CUM, which was all over social media, primarily due to its name. However, this word apparently means something completely different in Thai than what you might be thinking.
Browse The Commons
For me, this is one of the best stops for food, especially if you’re in a group and everyone fancies something different. This contemporary shopping complex has lovely outdoor seating with fans, shops selling gym clothes, ice cream shops, and stands serving Korean, Mexican, Lebanese and other cuisines.
They also do craft beers, wines and coffee, making it a good midpoint break if you’re walking the whole road.
Get a massage at Divana Divine Spa
This spa is located on the same road as The Commons. I went for a facial massage and treatment, and it was divine. The spa building is surrounded by lush greenery, and the interiors are in classic Thai colonial style. It’ll make you forget for a while that you’re in the busiest part of Bangkok.
Do a class at Pilates Plus Bangkok
If you want to keep your routine going while you’re travelling and are looking for a reformer pilates class, then visit Pilates Plus Bangkok. I was actually pleasantly surprised by how many reformer pilates studios there are around Thonglor, but this is the one I keep coming back to.
They have classes all day long, and the price is 800 THB per class, or you can book through ClassPass app.
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Sample one of the best mango sticky rice in the city
Just a few steps from the BTS exit, you’ll find Mae Varee, a shop famous for its delicious mango sticky rice. Apart from that, you can also pick up all kinds of coconut and pandan desserts, as well as fresh mangoes and their homemade ice cream, which comes in flavours like mango, coconut, coffee with almonds etc.
Take the canal boat
If you end up at the north end of the road, don’t skip the pier, just wait a few minutes and a boat will show up. Be aware that at that one pier, there are boats going in both directions, so make sure you head west.
You’ll pass places like Asok, Siam, Chidlom and Jim Thompson’s Museum, but I’d recommend going all the way to the final stop, Panfa Leelard Pier, in the Old Town, just a few steps from Wat Saket Mountain temple.
My Favourite Cafés in Thonglor
- BEANS Coffee Roasters: Located on the main road, with amazing coffee, good pastries and a proper vintage-style interior.
- City Boy Coffee Stand: A tiny stand at Thonglor Soi 4. It’s a small spot, easy to miss, but the coffee’s excellent.
- CUM Coffee: Worth a stop if you’re passing, perfect for relaxing in comfy sofas.
- Livid Coffee Roasters: Over in Sukhumvit 36, a proper micro-roastery that also sells furniture.
- ME THAI COFFEE: Also in Sukhumvit 36, with coffee beans from Chiang Rai and very affordable meals.
Where to Eat in Thonglor
- Saphan: Located at the northernmost point on the road, right across the canal. They do craft beers alongside Thai and international meals, and the pizza in particular is very good.
- Missing Buro: Really good Mexican food with outdoor seating, fairy lights and a restaurant made out of three shipping containers.
- Bartels: They have a few locations in Bangkok, but the one in Thonglor is my favourite. It’s got a green, almost Bali-like design, great for brunch or a late lunch, and the sourdough sandwiches are genuinely good.
- Kenji’s Lab: Japanese restaurant that does delicious fresh seafood and genuinely good pasta.
- Rangoon Tea House: Modern Burmese cooking, over in Sukhumvit 36. The interior is stunning, and the food’s delicious. They currently do a daily lunch menu for just 180 THB, which includes a starter, main and small dessert.
- The Commons: If you’re not sure what you want, come here. I’m sure the huge variety of cuisines (including Thai) will satisfy everyone.
- Market Place Thonglor: If you want just a little treat, check out this place. Apart from a supermarket with international products, there are food stalls selling juices, smoothies, Japanese cheesecake, focaccia sandwiches, doughnuts and many other delights.
- Breakfast Story: Ideal if you crave some proper American-style breakfast.
- Esan Bar and Restaurant: Perfect spot to try some food from Northeastern Thailand.
Bars and Nightlife in Thonglor
Thonglor is a great place to come in the evening if you fancy a rooftop bar, cocktails or live music.
- TT Rooftop Bar: Very low-key bar, right by the BTS, perfect for watching the skytrain and the world go by.
- Tichuca Rooftop Bar: The Instagram-famous skybar with incredible views. It gets very crowded and is full of tourists.
- Sanctuary: Stunning rooftop bar on the 34th floor.
- Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar: Located on the 49th floor, with a DJ and a minimum spend of 1,000 THB per person.
- Black Cabin Bar: This place does live concerts, food and great cocktails.
Where to Stay in Thonglor (and Is It Worth It?)
If you’re considering Thonglor as your base, my honest advice is: only book a hotel within walking distance of the BTS. Anywhere further and you’ll be relying on Grab through some of the worst traffic on this stretch of Sukhumvit, which defeats the point of staying here in the first place.
Here are a few of my hotel picks with rooftop pools, great reviews and close proximity to the skytrain:
My Tips for Visiting Thonglor
- Make sure you have both cash and card on you. Some places, like BEANS Café, don’t actually accept cash.
- If you plan to walk around, wear comfortable shoes and bring a fan, hat or umbrella to shade you from the sun.
- When the main road gets too overwhelming, turn into one of the small sois. They’re quieter, greener, and you’ll usually stumble on something worth stopping for.
- Take proper care crossing the main road. I really don’t enjoy it, as it’s busy and there isn’t always an easy place to do it. There’s a zebra crossing by the BTS and then another one towards the end of the road, by the mosque.
FAQ about Thonglor Bangkok
Is Thonglor worth visiting?
Thonglor is worth visiting if you have a goal in mind, meaning you want to visit a specific place, or fancy a night out. It’s also a well-connected base for your Bangkok trip, but if you’re specifically after sights or landmarks, skip it, as there aren’t any.
What is Thonglor known for?
Thonglor is known for its cafés, rooftop bars, music bars, izakayas and craft beer bars, plus a big concentration of malls, spas and massage places along the main soi. It’s also one of Bangkok’s pricier neighbourhoods.
Is Thonglor safe for tourists?
Yes, I feel totally safe here. The only real thing to watch out for is crossing the roads as traffic doesn’t really stop for pedestrians. The one thing that might catch you off guard is the sheer number of rats and cockroaches on the pavements in the evenings, though that’s more Bangkok-wide than a Thonglor-specific issue.
Is Thonglor expensive?
It can be, but it comes down to where you decide to eat and drink. You can get a lovely meal at The Commons for under 300 THB (9 USD). The craft beers are on the pricier side, somewhere between 300–400 THB per pint, and cocktails at the rooftop bars run around 500 THB (15 USD) once you include VAT and service charge.
There are also high-end restaurants like Spanish Luma, where you’ll spend a few thousand THB per meal.
What’s the difference between Thonglor and Ekkamai?
Thonglor is the more polished, expensive side, with flashier restaurants and bars. Ekkamai, one BTS stop away, is calmer, more local and easier on the budget. Read my full comparison in my Ekkamai guide.
Is Thonglor a walkable area?
Compared to the rest of Bangkok, it’s one of the most walkable areas in the city. There are pavements on both sides of the road, with occasional trees or columns in the middle, but in general it’s easy to walk. The adjacent sois don’t have any pavements, but they also have less traffic.
Final Thoughts on Thonglor Bangkok
To sum it up, you’ll enjoy Thonglor if you come with a specific plan. If you just want to wander around and see hidden gems and sights, then I’d advise to rather head to Chinatown, Talad Noi, Song Wat Road or Talat Phlu.
➞ Fancy a day away from Bangkok? I took a day trip to Nonthaburi, here’s how I planned it.
