BARS

1. Junker and Bar

Run by mixologist Bard Passapong (W Hotel), this cozy one-year-old bar serves  quality craft cocktails like the From Another Red Flower (bourbon whiskey, Cinzano rosso, rose syrup and lime). Bard keeps his specials board ticking over with limited-run drinks featuring home-infused liquors, while you can also get a pretty cheap and cheerful meal of American comfort food, too.    
 
454 Suan Plu Soi 1. 085-100-3608. Open Tue-Sun noon-midnight         

2. Smalls

Just a few steps from Junker and Bar is this small nightlife spot which opened earlier this year. It’s the baby of David Jacobson, the guy formerly behind Q Bar on Soi 11, but the moodily-lit bar is more reminiscent of Le Derriere (the absinthe bar he opened behind Q Bar). Order some green fairy and nestle in for the live blues and jazz on Thursday and Friday.   
 
186/3 Suan Plu Soi 1., 081-819-6808. Open Wed-Mon 8:30pm-2am 

RESTAURANTS

3. Uncle John

This Suan Plu institution still packs in the punters looking for a cheap, but consistently decent, French meal. Take your pick from the original restaurant, with its open kitchen out front, or the newer dining room about 10 meters further down the soi. It’s rare you find dishes like lobster bisque flambé (B109) and duck with berry and orange sauce (B229) at such down-to-earth prices. 
 
279/2 Suan Plu Soi 8., 081-373-3865. Open daily 6:30pm-1am 

4. Breizh Crepes

Another venue that blurs the line between proper dining and street eats. Breizh Crepes upped sticks from Sri Nakarin and moved to town earlier this year, much to delight of the many French expats in Sathorn. Sit under the stars and try their galettes, which use real buckwheat flour, such as the tasty fusion Tuk-Tuk (lamb merguez, tomatoes, eggs and emmental cheese, B189).
 
459/59 Suan Plu Soi 8. 02-679-3393. Open daily 10am-10pm

5. Street Food on Suan Plu Soi 8

While Suan Plu Soi 1 is all about drinking, Suan Plu Soi 8 is a huge hub for food. Starting around 5pm, the long list of street bites range from large potions of Isaan staples like somtam poo maa (somtam with king crab) to pork satay (B40 for 10), guay jub (rice noodle soup), rad na (stir-fried noodles in gravy) to coconut ice cream (B17).  

6. Nando Kitchen

Next to the Breizh Crepes, the open-air Nando Kitchen is quite possibly the best street-side Italian in town. Pizza like the basic margherita (B190) or hot and spicy Romeo Bello (B240) as well as the must-try cotoletta (Italian schnitzel) are all hearty and homespun.
 
495/60, Suan Plu Soi 8. 097-065-1216. Open daily 1-11pm.

7. 24 Café Think Tank

Within easy walking (and biking) distance of the main drag, this 24-hour coffee shop and co-working space boasts comfy bean bags for you to plop down on and get some work done—oh, and enjoy a slice of cheesecake (B85) or coconut cake (B75) while dreaming up your next startup. They also have a private room that can fit 6-8 people at B100 per hour.
 
Narathiwas Soi 17 086-784-9384. Open daily 24 hours