Postcard from Bangkok
We say that someone from the Local Foreigner team is always on the road, visiting destinations across the globe - but we really mean always. Our monthly Postcard takes you along for the ride, and this month, we're just back from Bangkok.
Thailand's capital, a frenetic, jigsaw puzzle of skyscrapers, motorcycle taxis, and crowds, can be an overwhelming place to navigate, but charm is tucked away on quaint side streets and in back alleys and narrow waterways. Though chaotic, it remains one of the most fulfilling destinations in Asia, with endless historic sites, one-of-a-kind cuisine, awesome shopping, and welcoming locals.
Home to fifty districts (khet) and occupying more than 600 square miles, Bangkok gets its unique personality from the constant intertwining of history with budding futurism and technology. At points, it seems to defy the rules of physics, with plants springing horizontally from towering buildings, and swarms of motorbikes moving in a flow state, like so many colorful minnows. This is a city for people who love cities, who love discovery, and who love to travel.
The best time to visit Thailand depends on the combination of destinations you'd like to visit, but generally November through February will offer the most temperate climes country-wide.
The Siam
A high-design oasis on the Chao Phraya River, The Siam is a total escape from the chaotic urban scene. Lauded by many as one of the world’s best city hotels, Bill Bensley’s eclectic hallmark is apparent across the property, where local antiques live alongside quirky international memorabilia. The atrium lobby, where birds of paradise sprout 15 feet from a central reflecting pool, is the hotel's photogenic centerpiece. But The Siam isn’t all good looks – the hotel offers an incredible array of amenities, including three restaurants, on-site cooking classes, a decadent spa, an outdoor pool, and Muy Thai boxing lessons. | View the hotel
Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Praya River
There's no soft landing quite like a Four Seasons bed, so when the brand opened in the Thai capital in 2020, arrivals after a long flight got that much sweeter. The Four Seasons is no bare-bones city hotel - think of this as an urban resort, a place to recover after long days exploring. Indoor-outdoor lounging spaces, cascading pools, and miles of windows mean the wonders of the city surround you, and the work by local artists in the lobby and major flavor across the six dining outlets mean you're soaking in the best it has to offer before you even leave the property. | View the hotel
Capella Bangkok
Among the temples of the Charoenkrung district, overlooking the action on the Chao Phraya River, Capella Bangkok stops time - a major feat in a city as frenetic as Bangkok. There are 101 suites and villas (yes, villas!) with views of the river, each decked out in soothing tones and textures and imbued with the personality of a boutique pied à terre. Add to that a jazz bar, a tropical meditation garden, the Auriga Wellness spa, and two-Michelin star Côte, and the result is a property one of our advisors calls "one of the top urban hotels I’ve ever stayed at - especially when it came to the service." | View the hotel
Aman Nai Lert Bangkok
Amid the skyscrapers of central Bangkok, Thailand’s first urban Aman hotel rises from the greenery of Nai Lert Park (encompassing a 120-year old tree, which sprouts through the floor of the pool deck). Aman loyalists can now stay in-brand for a complete Thailand trip by pairing Nai Lert with the legendary flagship Amanpuri. Rooms are soothing and start at 1,000 square feet, and the calming influence extends to the very large spa, which is the perfect place to get jet lag kneaded our of your lats. | View the hotel
Siri Sala Private Thai Villa
White Lotus fans will recognize Siri Sala from season three's penultimate episode, when Rick confronts the man he thinks killed his father. Outside of Hollywood, however, Siri Sala is a picture of serenity, woven into riverside life and the surrounding community in its local Bangkok neighborhood. With six bedrooms and plenty of space for entertaining across the three reimagined wooden stilt houses, it's a perfect place for a multigen group starting their Thai adventure. | View the villa
Chon Thai
The beautiful restaurant at the Siam Hotel is composed of three renovated teakwood houses, which provide a beautiful atmosphere to relax. Enjoy perfectly prepared thai favorites in a lush setting, offering a peaceful view of the Chao Phraya River.
Blue Elephant
Blue Elephant's Bangkok outpost is a fixture of the local culinary scene, helmed by chef Nooror Somany Steppe and a cadre of expertly-trained staff. Set in a stunner of a three-story colonial-style home (famous for its cooking school), it fills with out-of-towners and locals here to partake of the colorful and delicate traditional menu.
BKK Social Club
A super refined cocktail bar dedicated to the flavors of Mexico from a Berlin-born bartender, housed inside the Four Seasons? This is the sort of creativity that feels like it can only happen in Bangkok.
Find The Locker Room
You'll know immediately upon reading this sentence if Find the Locker Room is for you: It's a speakeasy hidden behind a wall of graffitied lockers, where the cocktail menu comprises drinks inspired by Nike Air Maxes and Pokemon.
Sorn
Raised on his grandmother's cooking, Chef Supaksorn 'Ice' Jongsiri's unique approach involves infusing diverse southern Thai cultures into his dishes. Three-Michelin-starred Sorn is known all across Thailand for their impeccable service that communicates a story with each bite.
Gaa Bangkok
With a tasting menu of novel Indian dishes based on fan-favorite street foods, Chef Garima Arora's exquisite cooking combines old-school comfort with modern techniques and avant garde presentation. The juxtaposition continues as the traditional building houses a contemporary, minimalist interior. Book the chef's table to get up-front views of the action.
Bangkok Nightlife Tour
Your nocturnal Bangkok experience begins with not-to-be-missed local food, followed by a cocktail in a niche spot, then ending with a jaunt through Bangkok's fascinating historic districts and colorful market stalls. You'll use a variety of local transportation (think tuk-tuks and skytrains) to seamlessly navigate the city. Your evening will conclude with a nightcap at a riverside rooftop bar with glittering views of Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, or for a more intimate experience, in the charmingly-narrow alleys of the Na Na neighborhood.
Bangkok by Private Longtail Boat
Using the Chao Phraya River as your launch point, sail in the steps of early Bangkok merchants, wondering at the architecture, neighborhood shops, and tucked-away temples. By boat, the city glides past like a reel of film, displaying the riverside communities unique to the city's early development. A special highlight: you'll get to make a stop at Thonburi, Thailand's capital eons ago, where artisan villages, markets, and artist communities thrive.
Private Thai Cooking Class
Don your apron and prepare for a culinary adventure that'll unlock a whole new world of colors and flavors. In this hands-on experience, you'll visit the market to explore the universe of Thai produce and spices. If you're new to the world of cooking, don't fear: the chef will walk you through the process of preparing your own delectable Thai meal step by step.
Thai-tinerary
A comprehensive trip through Thailand merits at least 10 days, with stops in Bangkok, the jungles and rice paddies of the north (Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai), and the islands and beaches of the south (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui, and more.)
Angels and Dragons
It's less than three hours from Thailand's capital to Paro, Bhutan's international airport. The energy of Bangkok makes a fascinating contrast to the soaring heights of the Eastern Himalayas.
Flavortown(s)
Foodies would be hard pressed to come up with a tastier travel pairing than Thailand and India, which can be combined in less time than it takes to fly from LA to New York. Pack elastic-waist pants.
