Hi-
Just won the Westin Grande on Priceline and I'm wondering about the area. It's right next to the Asok skytrain station.

First, I'd love a restaurant recommendation close to the hotel. We arrive at the ariport 10:30AM and I'm hoping to find some place good for lunch near the hotel if we're not too tired. I'm interested in small local places or even food courts/street stalls.

Second, I've never stayed in this part of Bangkok before so any recommendations on sightseeing while here would be appreciated. My guess is that we'll focus on shopping (MBK, night bazaar,etc) while here. But I assume we can go anywhere given that we're at the intersection of the skytrain and the subway.

BTW, we'll be staying here for the first 2 nights of our trip and at the Peninsula for the last two nights so we can hit the areas near the river while at the Pen.

Thanks!

The Westin is in a pretty good spot, although there's not much in the immediate area sight-seeing wise. The biggest attraction is the Siam Society, which is right around the corner.

At night there's a huge street market to rival Silom/Patpong along Sukhumvit, heading down towards the expressway.

For dining, there are almost too many options to list. Le Dalat on Soi 23 is an old favorite. Then there's Cabbages & Condoms down Soi 12(?), which is more or less across the street. Bei Otto down on Soi 20 is another Bangkok institution. Charley Browns is in that area as well.

Hi Kristina,

I just moved to the area this week (Suk Soi 20), but know him long time (I used to live on Soi 18 4 years ago)

If you looking for nice restaurants -

1. Bai Otto - The best German restaurant on Soi 20.
2. Senior Picco - Mexican inside the rembrandt hotel in Soi 18.
3. Koi - New Hi-So Japanese restaurant in Soi 20.
4. Don't know the name - a small vietnam restaurant in Soi 18 (between the windsor and the rembrandt hotels.

and the list can go on and on...

one thing is for sure - you will never be hungry in Bangkok...

Ben, I get a chuckle out of your restaurant recommendations - none of them are Thai!

Sorry...

Thai food i eat at home...\/

Thanks for the ideas everyone.

Can anyone recommend any Thai restaurants in the area? I just can't imagine eating German food in Thailand.

How about any particular Sois with good street food?

Thanks!

Best "soi food" in BKK by far is located on Sukhumvit soi 38. Not walking distance but just a couple of stations on the sky train. Take the "On Nut" direction train and get off at "Tonglor" station. Use exit number 4 and you drop right on soi 38. Dozens of stalls selling all kinds of noodles and rice dishes, Sataym snacks, sweets and other local delicacies. Most are opening late afternoon only though. Very busy at dinner hours and jam packed between midnight to 2AM...

Since you are right by the Skytrain, any of the great restaurants on the skytrain route are readily accessible to you. Some favorites of mine: (Sorry, you'll have to check the adrresses, all are on the Nancy Chandler map, all are on sois just off Sukhumvit):

Lemongrass, located in an old teak house. They've been there forever. They have some wonderful Thai
green ccurries.

Face: Some of the best Thai food I've had in Bangkok. Lanna Thai is the Thai portion, open lunch and dinner. (You may also want to try their spa - we loved it.)

For a fancier meal, try Mahanaga. Beautiful setting, lovely food. They call it Thai fusion, but everything we ate was Thai.

Guenmai recommended Basil, which is in the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit.

(Ben, since you live in Bangkok, I thought your food priorities were different...)

Hi Kathie,

Well, lets say that in one week there are 14-21 meals...i would say that 12-15 out of this number are Thai ffod based meal.

I just don't go to Thai restaurant that much, since i have my "personal Thai Cheff" at home...(you can ask Gal how good she cooks...)

When we'll know each other a bit better, i'll invite you to the best Thai restaurant in BKK - MY KITCHEN...

the skytrain station is right in front of your hotel as is the subway....the sheraton is right across the street....basil in sheraton is said to be very good (guenmai)...

lemongrass is near by....

cabbages and condons might be a good choice and you could go next door to crepes and co for dessert (one of my favorites)

on soi 23 is baan khanitha which probably will require a reservation

face on soi 39 is excellent, both thai and indian

you will love this location....the hotel lobby is weird but the rooms are nice

Thanks for the replies.

Magical-I will definitely look at Soi 38. Sounds like my kind of place! Any specific recommendations for that Soi? I'm always looking for good duck/noodle or duck/rice dishes...

Bob-I've read a little about Baan Khanitha-it sounds nice, though I noticed that in the restaurant recs you sent me you didn't have a good experience there?

I know everyone seems to recommend Cabbages and Condoms but every time I've been in BKK I've resisted going there. It just seems to "gimicky" for my taste. For the same reason I'm not interested in Bed Supperclub. If I want that type of "experience" dining, I can get that here in Los Angeles.

i had the wuntun min with a side order of roast duck at mk at the paragon mall. it was excellent.

i too, will ck out soi 38.

Kristina...No real specific recommendation for that soi...Its packed with food stalls on both sides making everything you can imagine. some with a few tables to sit, some only take-away (although its not a problem to sit at one place, order something and have a different delicacy from another vendor to your table). just wander around, enjoy the sights and smells and pick your fancy. Alright then, 2 specific ones...right on the entrance corner to the soi (your right hand side if you face the soi) there is a guy making Pork Satays. and very very good ones. they are smallish, so get 10 of them , for the princely price of 25 Baht, deep them in the peanut sauce and yummy...And if you want to finish up with something sweet, cross over sukhumvit to soi 55 (tonglor, right opposite soi 38), about 40 yards in on the left hand side there's a lady doing the best Mango with sticky rice in town...Enjoy

Magical-
Thanks for the specifics. Funny what you said about vendors and tables. I had a different experience years back. I wanted Pad Thai and my Mother wanted some Tom Yum soup but the soup vendor would not serve us if we sat at the Pad Thai place. However, the enterprising Pad Thai cook said she'd make it for us and gave her daughter/helper money to go get the ingredients. Now that's customer service!

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE BED IN LA, I DON'T THINK....ITS A BIT UNIQUE..

i had a bad time at baan khanitha on rudee ruan.....not the soi 23 one or the new one on sathorn....the soi 23 one is quite good...

i have not had that good a food at cabbages, but we do love crepes and co next door, but you wanted thai...its not all that gimicy (sp)

Bob-
Well maybe not exactly like Bed here in LA, but still "high concept". That's not the type of restaurant I look for when I go to Thailand. Plus, I've read very mixed reviews.
Granted, I can get very "authentic" Thai food right here (LA has the largest Thai population in the world outside of Thailand), but still, when in Rome...;-)
It's just a personal preference of mine; if it's a short trip (under 2 weeks) I try to eat the local cuisine as much as possible. After that, I start to crave other options, but in 8 days I don't think I'll get tired of Thai food. I may just try the crepes place for dessert however. Thanks!

Do yourself a favor and find out the location of Polo Chicken. I am sure someone here can point you to it. It is quite a hike but some of the best chicken I have ever had.

brj-
Yes, I've read about Polo Chicken and we may try to find it.

Can anyone recommend a spa or a decent place to get Thai Massage in this area (NOT in a hotel)?

Thanks!