Silom-Sathorn

Silom and Sathorn form Bangkok's primary CBD, a cluster of glass towers, embassies, and luxury hotels anchored by the Chao Phraya River to the west. The area's dual identity is what makes it interesting: on weekday mornings the pavements fill with office workers, and by evening the same streets transform into a food and nightlife destination of real quality. Patpong — one of the world's most famous entertainment districts — sits between Silom and Suriwong roads, while a ten-minute walk in any direction reaches excellent Thai and international restaurants, the Lumphini Park running track, and riverside piers connecting to Rattanakosin and beyond.

Sathorn Road runs parallel to Silom and carries the heavier commercial and diplomatic weight — many embassies cluster here, and the road is lined with some of Bangkok's finest luxury hotels including the Banyan Tree, the St. Regis, and the Lebua (home of the Sky Bar). The BTS Sala Daeng and MRT Silom interchange make the area excellent for getting to other parts of the city. The Chong Nonsi BTS station further east is surrounded by newer office development and good street food.

For visitors, the main draws are quality rather than quantity: the neighbourhood has fewer tourist attractions than Rattanakosin, but the dining scene is genuinely excellent (Sri Lankan, Indian, and Chinese communities have left a distinct culinary stamp), the hotels outstanding value relative to their quality, and the Lumphini Park — Bangkok's equivalent of Central Park, complete with monitor lizards — accessible for anyone who wants greenery within the concrete. The river pier at Sathorn (Central Pier) is the embarkation point for ferries to Asiatique, Ko Kret, and Ayutthaya day trips.