Thonglor & Ekkamai

If lower Sukhumvit is where tourists stay, Thonglor (Soi 55) and Ekkamai (Soi 63) are where stylish Bangkok actually goes out. These two parallel sois, a few BTS stops east of Asok, form the city’s trendiest district — a dense, ever-changing landscape of speakeasy cocktail bars, Japanese izakayas, design-led cafes, contemporary Thai restaurants, craft-beer taprooms and lifestyle malls. This is the heart of Bangkok’s affluent young creative scene and its large Japanese expat community, and while there are few “sights” in the tourist sense, the food and drink here are genuinely world-class. Come hungry, come thirsty, and come in the evening.

Thonglor — the cool soi

Thonglor (Sukhumvit Soi 55) is a long, leafy artery running north off Sukhumvit, lined end to end with the kind of places that get written up in design and food magazines. The bar scene is the headline: hidden speakeasies behind unmarked doors, rooftop lounges, natural-wine bars and slick cocktail dens, many among the best in Asia. Interspersed are upscale Thai and fusion restaurants, sleek cafes and lifestyle complexes like The Commons — an open-air, community-focused food-and-drink hub that’s a great first stop for the uninitiated. The honest caveat: Thonglor is long, and the soi’s traffic is bad, so you’ll hop between venues by Grab or motorbike taxi rather than walking the whole strip. See the Thonglor and Ekkamai guide and Thonglor nightlife guide.

Ekkamai — Japan-meets-Bangkok and craft beer

One soi east, Ekkamai (Soi 63) is Thonglor’s slightly more laid-back sibling, with a strong Japanese flavour — izakayas, ramen shops, sushi counters and Japanese bars cluster here, reflecting the area’s large Japanese community. Ekkamai is also a hub of Bangkok’s craft-beer movement, with taprooms and beer bars pouring local and imported brews. The Donki Mall (a Japanese discount-store complex) and various lifestyle malls add daytime appeal. It feels a touch more relaxed and less see-and-be-seen than Thonglor, which many people prefer. A guided rooftop and speakeasy nightlife tour is a good way to sample the area’s hidden bars without hunting for unmarked doors.

The dining scene — Bangkok at its best

For food, Thonglor and Ekkamai are among the best neighbourhoods in the city. The range is enormous: refined contemporary Thai restaurants reinventing regional cooking, top-tier Japanese of every kind, Korean, Italian, brunch spots, dessert cafes and street food on the side sois. This is where you eat if you want to understand where modern Bangkok dining is heading. Several Michelin-listed and Bib Gourmand spots sit in the area. For pointers see the best Thai restaurants guide and the rooftop restaurants guide. To cook Thai food yourself, the nearby Sukhumvit cooking class with market visit is an easy add.

The bar and nightlife scene

Nightlife is Thonglor-Ekkamai’s defining feature. Beyond the speakeasies, there are clubs, live-music venues, rooftop bars and late-night spots that draw a stylish local-and-expat crowd, busiest Thursday to Saturday. It is more sophisticated and less raucous than the Khao San or Nana scenes — think cocktails and DJ sets rather than buckets and go-go bars. The speakeasy and rooftop pub crawl and the bar and club crawl are good entry points. For the full picture see the nightlife guide and best rooftop bars guide.

Cafes, brunch and wellness

By day, the area is cafe central. Thonglor and Ekkamai have some of Bangkok’s most beautiful design-led cafes and the city’s best brunch scene — perfect for a slow weekend morning. The area is also home to upscale spas and wellness studios; the Divana Divine Spa in Thonglor is one of the city’s most lauded luxury-spa experiences, ideal after a heavy night out. For more wellness options see the best spas guide and the wellness guide.

A great base for longer stays

Thonglor and Ekkamai are popular with digital nomads and longer-stay travellers who want to live like cool, local Bangkok rather than tourist Bangkok. There are serviced apartments, condos, co-working spaces, gyms and an endless food-and-drink scene, all on the BTS. The trade-off versus lower Sukhumvit is fewer big hotels and a bit more distance from the central malls and the airport link — but for atmosphere and quality of life, many prefer it. Neighbouring Phrom Phong (family-friendly malls) and up-and-coming On Nut and Phra Khanong are a stop or two away. See the Sukhumvit guide and where to stay.

Practical tips and honest caveats

The big practical reality: Thonglor and Ekkamai are long sois with bad traffic, and the best spots are scattered along their length, far from the BTS station at the mouth. Budget for Grab or motorbike-taxi hops between venues, especially in the evening. Prices here are well above Bangkok’s average — this is an affluent area — though still a bargain by Western standards. It is also more of a scene than a sightseeing destination, so come for the food, drink and atmosphere rather than monuments. For couples wanting a stylish night out, see Bangkok for couples.

Getting there and around

By BTS: Thong Lo and Ekkamai stations on the Sukhumvit Line sit at the mouths of their respective sois — a few stops east of Asok.

By Grab or motorbike taxi: Essential for getting up the long sois and between scattered venues; motorbike taxis are fastest in traffic. See the Grab, taxi and tuk-tuk guide.

On foot: Fine near the station mouths, but the sois are too long and traffic-choked to walk end to end comfortably.

For getting around the wider city, the BTS Skytrain guide covers the line that links these neighbourhoods to the rest of Bangkok.

Frequently asked questions about Thonglor & Ekkamai

What are Thonglor and Ekkamai known for?

They are Bangkok’s trendiest neighbourhoods — home to the city’s best speakeasy cocktail bars, design-led cafes, Japanese izakayas, craft-beer taprooms and contemporary Thai dining. This is where affluent young locals and the Japanese expat community go out, so the food and drink scene is genuinely world-class.

Is Thonglor or Ekkamai better?

Thonglor is the flashier, see-and-be-seen soi with more speakeasies and upscale dining; Ekkamai is slightly more laid-back, with a strong Japanese izakaya and craft-beer flavour. Many visitors enjoy both, hopping between them by Grab. If you want polished cocktail bars choose Thonglor; for relaxed izakayas and beer, Ekkamai.

Is Thonglor a good area to stay in Bangkok?

It is a great base for foodies, nightlife lovers and longer-stay travellers or digital nomads who want stylish, local-feeling Bangkok rather than the tourist core. It has serviced apartments, co-working spaces and an endless food-and-drink scene on the BTS. The trade-offs are fewer big hotels and a bit more distance from the central malls and airport link.

How do I get around Thonglor and Ekkamai?

Take the BTS to Thong Lo or Ekkamai station, but be aware the best venues are scattered far up the long sois, which have heavy traffic. You will hop between them by Grab or motorbike taxi rather than walking the whole strip. Motorbike taxis are fastest when the road is jammed.

Are Thonglor and Ekkamai expensive?

By Bangkok standards, yes — this is an affluent district and prices for cocktails, dining and accommodation run well above the city average. That said, the quality is high and it is still a bargain compared with bar and restaurant prices in most Western cities.

Is there anything to see in Thonglor besides bars and restaurants?

Not in the traditional sightseeing sense — there are no temples or monuments here. The draw is the lifestyle: design cafes and brunch by day, lifestyle malls like The Commons and Donki Mall, luxury spas, and an outstanding bar and dining scene by night. Come for the atmosphere and the food, not for sights.