6 of the best places to live, eat, shop and party in Bangkok

With the tallest tower in Southeast Asia about to make its debut in the area, this bustling neighbourhood in Bangkok is ready to make a splash

A place where business meets leisure, Rama 9-Ratchada’s burgeoning reputation will undoubtedly be enhanced by the construction of a giant ‘Super Tower’—set to be Southeast Asia’s tallest. Not that there aren’t already a surfeit of reasons drawing people to the district. There’s Royal City Avenue (RCA), with its famed nightlife; the huge Central Plaza Grand Rama IX shopping complex, north of Rama 9 Asoke, for retail therapy; performing arts space Thailand Culture Centre for entertainment; and a new Chinatown that’s adding to the variety of cuisine options beyond the traditional Thai favourites. Increased transport links—a new MRT line connecting Bangkok from east to west—have vastly improved accessibility.

One9Five

Sitting just a few minutes’ walk from Phra Ram 9 MRT station, this multi-award-winning scheme by TC Development offers nearly 2,000 luxury apartments. The striking 61-floor high-rise provides magnificent views of the city, with the two towers joined at the base by a communal urban oasis, elevated out of the bustle of the city, complete with a 100-metre long infinity pool. Choice amenities include a residential lounge with superb panoramic views, theatre, private meeting rooms, and dedicated children’s play area with separate yard and kids club. The fully equipped wellness facilities comprise a state-of-the-art fitness centre, private spa, and cutting-edge golf simulator. Property buyers may opt for one-bed, two-bed, three-bed and penthouse configurations, all featuring contemporary design, excellent storage facilities, and a lot of natural light.

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The Esse at Singha Complex

This ultra-modern mixed-use development offers over 300 generously cut condos including 1-bed, 2-bed, and luxury penthouses. Located ideally for the modern urbanite, with culture, shopping, schools, and nightlife establishments all within walking distance, this originally designed 39-storey building has excellent transport links including a direct connection to the Phetchaburi MRT station, the Airport Rail Link (ARL), expressway, and express boat. Offering a sweeping view of sin city is the sky terrace where residents may take a dip in the pool, relax in the residence lounge, or indulge in the onsen spa. The wellness facilities include a private spa and salon, fully kitted-out gym complete with private exercise room, boxing ring and rock-climbing wall, as well as a communal green amphitheatre and hidden pavilion. All elegantly decorated apartments provide security and privacy, are well-lit by floor-to-ceiling windows, and come with automated appliances and furnishings.

Onyx Nightclub

Set in the heart of Rama 9-Ratchada, Royal City Avenue is Bangkok’s place to party into the early hours. Veteran bars and clubs like Route 66 and Tha Beatlounge remain crowd pleasers. Another winner is Onyx, which opened in 2014 and is by far the largest and one of the best in the city. With an emphasis on EDM and house music, this 2,500-capacity, multi-level club with tiered balconies brings the big-room, mega-club style seen in dance meccas such as Ibiza. The decks are often graced by top-level international DJs, with a range of VIP options that offer superb views of the DJ booth.

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Central Plaza Rama 9

Located in the Ratchadapisek area, this modern, seven-storey family hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment is the perfect one-stop plaza for everything from fashion to food and electronics. Accessible by bus, car, taxi or directly through the Rama 9 stop of the MRT, Central Plaza offers a wide selection of affordable and high-end fashion shopping, as well as beauty salons, cafes, finance, books, and computer stores. Robinson’s department store offers five floors that include homeware, sports and children’s toys, while Tops Market has a huge range of groceries and provides takeout food options. Level 6 is home to numerous in-house dining options including some excellent Japanese and Thai restaurants.

Ratchada Train Night Market

Bangkok’s night markets are famed as much for their atmosphere as the chance to pick up a bargain, and this contemporary, arty addition to the city’s open-air shopping experiences is no different. Right next to the Thailand Cultural Centre MRT stop, this bazaar known locally as the Rot Fai Market runs until midnight, making it the ideal place for evening browsing of well-lit stalls filled with vintage fashion, Asian antiques, beauty products, modern pop-up boutique clothes, and all manner of knick-knacks. This is not just a place for shopping, with numerous snack stalls selling seafood and local delicacies, vibrant bars serving beers, wine and cocktails, and late-night services such as hairdressers. Adding to the buzzy atmosphere are live music and street entertainment.

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Bliss Italian Kitchen

The award-winning Anongrat Meklai, a.k.a. Chef Piak, delivers fine-dining Italian cuisine that fuses traditional fare with a modern sense of style. Set in the elegant Belle Grand Rama 9, a sophisticated and welcoming mood runs throughout Bliss Italian Kitchen. The menu encompasses authentic Italian classics, with bread and pasta made in-house, and the best ingredients sourced from around the world. An excellent selection of European wines complements this celebration of the best of Western cuisine. ‘Location, location, location’ do not even figure into diners’ decisions to eat at the restaurant, as despite being away from city centre, it is so in demand it’s best to book ahead.

This article originally appeared in Issue No. 153 of PropertyGuru Property Report Magazine