Guide to celebrating the good life with friends in Ratchaprasong

Take your time with a lazy breakfast (or brunch) because you’ll need a lot of energy to explore Ratchaprasong. 

You can start nice and slow at the posh Gaysorn Village, which invites ogling at fine watches and jewelry, and elegant merchandise by European design houses and local labels. The mall is also known for its selection of beauty shops and wellness centers such as Panpuri Wellness, where you can get a rejuvenating spa treatment or soak in an onsen-like hot bath.

Right across Gaysorn Village is centralwOrld, a massive mall with a wider range of lifestyle offerings. Spare at least three hours to discover what it has to offer, including books at the country’s largest Kinokuniya, delicious coffee at Kyoto-born %Arabica, and nifty gadgets at the Apple store. 

You can also walk a few hundred meters to Siam - Pathumwan and burn more holes in your pocket at Siam Paragon or the row of cute boutiques in Siam Square.

Feasting is an essential part of the Ratchaprasong experience. The area’s food scene covers everything from white tablecloth dining to quick noshing on a plastic chair at a streetside restaurant.

If you want to blend in with the locals, try Go-Ang, the Michelin-approved shop in Pratunam that specializes in rice topped with soft-boiled chicken and a flavorful sauce. There’s also Feel Restaurant, which proclaims itself as the only restaurant in the city that serves authentic Burmese cuisine. At centralwOrld, you can have filling meals at beloved boat noodle shop Thong Smith or legendary hot pot restaurant COCA.

Step up your epicurean game at the swankier establishments in the neighborhood. One-Michelin-starred Paste will introduce you to ancient Thai recipes, while IGNIV Bangkok, another one-Michelin-starred restaurant, appeases your hunger with European-style sharing plates. Burger & Lobster from the UK can satisfy your seafood cravings, while Cantonese house Hei Yin fulfills hankerings for dim sum and fried rice.

Show some love to your friends (or yourself) with sweet treats from the handful of specialty food stores in Ratchaprasong. On top of the list is Paradai Crafted Chocolate & Café at BACC, the award-winning brand known for selling unconventional flavors like tom yum soup and betel leaves, as well as seasonal gift-worthy chocolate truffles. (If you’re staying at JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, there’s also a Paradai popup on the ground level.) You may also want to consider the locally grown macadamia at DoiTung, which has countless branches in the area, including one at Siam Paragon (4/F), Siam Discovery (3/F), and Central Chidlom (5/F).

Or you can gather friends together and recharge over afternoon tea at 1823 Tea Lounge by Ronnefeldt at Gaysorn Village, or The St. Regis Bar where you’ll enjoy an elegant afternoon tea with expansive views of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. Don’t forget to try Siam Mary or the Bangkok take on the original Bloody Mary created by The St. Regis Bar New York in 1934.

Bangkok is home to some pretty amazing ragers and it only gets better into the night. For pure unadulterated fun, come to House of Heals, a popular drag show venue which has found home on the top floor in the same building as the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel. Thailand’s famous drag artist Pangina Heals holds court here, and she and her army of talented drag queens take turns entertaining the audience. 

The Renaissance has just launched a room package called 'Prey & Play,' offering you the best of both worlds with a stay in a Studio Suite that includes a guided tour to visit nearby god statues and vouchers to savor street dishes. Click here to check it out

From Ratchaprasong, you can travel easily by tuk tuk or BTS Skytrain to Bangkok’s more party-appropriate districts. Go wild at one of Nana’s massive dance halls in Lower Sukhumvit or shimmy the night away at one of Silom’s, er, all-inclusive clubs. In case you have plans to visit during April, be ready to dance until you drop at the gay-exclusive GCurcuit party.

If campy entertainment and dancing to EDM music is not your idea of a good time, then immerse yourself in stylish vibes at popular Japanese restaurant-slash-bar Zuma Bangkok.

To assure more happy moments with the gang, take the whole party to town at some of Bangkok’s best hotels in Ratchaprasong.

Bathe in Thai-inspired hospitality and elegance at The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok. Only 5 minutes away on a tuk tuk from the Ratchaprasong intersection, this centrally located hotel showcases a blend of contemporary and traditional Thai and European influences in its design. Cozy up in one of its spacious rooms or suites before indulging in The Luxury Collection’s Epicurean Hub experience where you can travel through the world via its various international dining rooms. Collect more memories over a scrumptious meal at Japanese restaurant Kintsugi by celebrated chef Jeff Ramsey or by sharing refined Cantonese dishes at Silk Road. You can also learn more about Thai flavors at The House of Smooth Curry. Or why not host an intimate gathering at one of the hotel’s spacious suites or the rooftop sky garden?

Nestled on the main luxury hotel row of Ratchadamri, right next to the bustling Ratchaprasong intersection, is The St. Regis Bangkok. This elegant hotel seamlessly blends New York luxury with a refined sense of place, providing an unforgettable experience with well-appointed rooms, top-notch amenities, and The St. Regis' renowned butler service. Enhance your stay with indulgent spa treatments at Clinique La Prairie, a delightful brunch at Viu, an unforgettable dinner at the one-Michelin-starred IGNIV Bangkok, and not to forget the evening Champagne sabrage ritual at The St. Regis Bar. Here, you'll witness the art of opening a Champagne bottle with a saber, a tradition created by Napoleon Bonaparte.

If you're seeking a stay that offers a touch of the unexpected, consider choosing Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel. Situated just a few steps away from the Ratchaprasong SkyWalk, which provides easy access to the neighborhood's top attractions, this lifestyle hotel boasts a lavish lobby and spacious rooms with city views that are perfect for a rejuvenating sleep. Afterward, venture out to enjoy inventive cocktails at R Bar or indulge in one of the finest Peking ducks in Bangkok at Fei Ya.

Travel tips from Marriott Bonvoy

“The Ratchaprasong area can get busy and packed with traffic, so we’d recommend walking along the convenient skywalk, which provides a stress-free way to explore this bustling quarter from Ratchaprasong to MBK Center in Siam. Spend the whole day in the neighborhood, strolling from the many luxury hubs at this bustling intersection to offering prayers at some of the city’s most sacred god statues, including the much-revered Erawan Shrine. Afterward, strut down the street to the more casual spots in Siam Square and Pathumwan. In the evenings, take a tuk-tuk from Siam to Ban Tad Thong to get your fill of great street food. At Renaissance, we have an expert team of Navigators who can offer an array of pleasures and guide you to connect with local experiences.” - Amarin “Ama” Preechavuttinant, Chief Navigator

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