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Pratunam Grand Diamond, Petchburi Rd

The Grand Diamond is a new condominium / serviced apartment complex only a couple of minutes walk away from Centre Point (above).  Therefore, location-wise it has all the same benefits.

Apart from the slightly higher cost  - rooms are from 1,900 baht/night, the main difference is that as the Grand Diamond is newer, only completed around 3 years ago, so it was built with a more airy feel.  it's easy to recognise the blocks that were put up in the 80s as the windows are smaller and any balconies have high concrete walls.  More modern buildings such as this have floor to ceiling windows. 

See if you can get  a high floor and you'll be rewarded with great views over the city centre.  (I used to live on the 27th floor of a city centre condo, in the darkness the illuminated city looks beautiful.)  If not, then the pool on the 9th floor will provide you with a nice urban view as you enjoy a swim.

 

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Centre Point, Saladaeng

Saladaeng is a side street which links the main Silon & Sathorn Roads.  As such it's in the heart of the CBD and the area is full of shopping possibilities plus loads of good restaurants, bars, and cafes.  Expect to pay from around 3,000 baht/night.  In addition, this is also a relatively new building so, as above, it's bright and airy.   

You don't have to look for good eateries they are all around.  Anna's Cafe on Sladaeng is my favourite place in bangkok for desserts.  Their menu mixes mainly Thai main courses with western deserts.  The Thai food is Ok, I used to just go for the desserts.  An American friend commented that this was one of the few places where you got service as good as you'd get in an upmarket American restaurant. (Thai waiter service can be  a bit hit and miss at times.)

At night the street markets of Silom are only a 5 minute walk away as are the bars and clubs of Patpong.  Patpong isn't all sleaze, it's cleaned up it's act a lot.  You'll find a few good clubs where girls keep their clothes on. Nearby, on Silom Soi 4, there are a dozen small hole in the wall bars playing the latest dance music - this is predominantly a gay hangout but anyone is welcomed.  Good place for a fun, friendly beer or two - especially good for people watching.

Prices here are higher due to the proximity of Lumpini Park, the only green space in the city centre which is also a 5 minute walk away to the north.  More small restaurants and bars line the walk to the park.  These mainly cater to staff in a couple of very large office blocks nearby.  So expect cheap food & drinks in trendy surroundings plus lots of street food. Jim Thompson has a small cafe in a converted house near here - very quiet & a lovely place for a quiet lunch. 

 

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Centre Point, Langsuan

As with the Sladaeng apartment, this one is located near Lumpini Park.  The differenc ebeing that this development is to the north of the park.  Langsuan is a street lined with luxury condos and hangouts for Bangkok's urban party goers.  If you want to see where the middle class Thais go to let their hair down then head here.  Most places combine a restaurant with a live band and makeshift dance floor.  Expect big groups of Thais all having a laugh and very few foreigners.   Definitely not an area that's on most tourists maps.

However, the location is pretty good.  It's a 15 minute walk to the skytrain station at the north of the street and if you like to keep fit then you can join the locals running in the park early in the morning and in the evenings.  The park has a paved running track around the perimeter. (Be there at 8am or 6pm and you'll see everyone freeze, statue-like, as the national anthem is played over loudspeakers, and then resume their exercise.  It's as though time stands still for a minute. Wierd the first time you experience it.)  However, there aren't any shopping malls within an easy walk, so you might have to hail a taxi if you're loaded down with bags.

This is a good place for anyone who wants to experience Bangkok city centre living from an expat, rather than tourist, point of view and you'll find yourself dining in any one of dozens of great places with virtually no other tourists in sight. 

 

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