The riverside neighborhoods of Rattanakosin and adjacent Banglamphu are a great starting point, with their famous temples like Wat Po, plus the Grand Palace complex, old forts, sunny parks, and the backpacker zone of Khao San Road. If you’re a fan of stiff drinks and sharp suits, visit Thonglor—often compared to Brooklyn—where a heavy Japanese expat community has resulted in great omakase joints, cool vintage purveyors, and a collection of high-end tailors. This is also the city’s nexus for hot new cocktail spots.
Chinatown’s tiny lane, Soi Nana, gets global nods for its handful of craft libation and beer bars, all cutting-edge but delightfully ramshackle. This neighborhood could take you a week to fully explore, jam-packed as it is with 300-year-old Taoist temples, darling coffee houses, serious dim sum, great shopping, and a maze of old-world food markets. If shopping and art are on the agenda, head to Siam, where you’ll find the city’s largest art museum, as well as a range of malls.
