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Dining ★★★★
Lay Lao
Casa Azul
There once was a time when Ari’s dining scene could be derided as cute coffee shops and fusion Japanese-slash-Italian eateries—not anymore. Classics like
Salt (Ari Soi 4) and
Pladib (Ari Samphan Soi 7) remain to serve pizza and sashimi to the beautiful people amid raw, modernist settings. But there’s now much more diversity, from the street-style Korean food at
Joha (59 Ari Soi 2) and Mexican of
Casa Azul (Phahon Yothin Soi 7) to the solid Isaan bites of
Lay Lao (65-67 Phahon Yothin Soi 7). Nestled in the backstreets is
Rock Restaurant and Bar (7/1 Phahon Yothin Soi 9), whose flavorful Asian fusion has made it a fixture in our annual
Top Tables guide. Streetlevel hipster favorites include the grab-and-go grilled sandwiches of
Bush by Paper Butter (Ari Soi 1) and the seafood platters of food truck pioneer
Summer Street (Phahon Yothin Soi 2), while you’ll also find plenty of delicious street food at the entrance to Soi Ari—we recommend the som tam and
guay tiew stalls. Of course, Ari wouldn’t be Ari without the cafes. Aside from a branch of the ever-growing
Casa Lapin chain (Noble Reform, Phahon Yothin Soi 7), our top picks are
Common Room x Ari (Phahon Yothin Soi 5), which serves top quality beans from local roasters like Ceresia and Brave, and
Sutdrip (128/10 Phahon Yothin Soi 2), whose drip coffeespecializing barista just won big at the National Thailand Brewers Cup competition—find her inside bike store-slash-cafe
Aran Bicicletta (128/10 Phahon Yothin Soi 2).
Sutdrip
Accommodation ★★★
Noble RE:D
Rhythm
Although there are still a lot of old houses in Ari, more and more developments and high-rises dominate the neighborhood. (Some locals often complain that Ari's renowned peace and quiet has been replaced by the sound of jackhammers.) At the luxurious end of the scale you have
Noble RE:D (
goo.gl/V9Cpvo) by Noble development, located only 80 meters from BTS Ari, which rents at B25,000-B55,000/month or sells from B4.8 million, and
Rhythm Phahon-Ari (
goo.gl/z52Q0K) by Asian Property (AP), which rents for B16,000-60,000/month, and sells from B4.1 million. Even more high-end is
Le Monaco Residences (
www.le-monaco.com) by UPMOST, which rents for B45,000-B110,000/month, and sells from B9.4 million. Move further away from the BTS line to discover more economical options, including Pruksa Real Estate’s
The Seed Phaholyothin (
goo.gl/UhdKx4, rent for B10,000-B16,000/month; buy from B3 million). Cheaper, older "court" accommodation is available deep down Aree Samphan—try
Boonareya Court (
www.boonareyacourt.com, from B18,000/month for a studio).
Community ★★★★
With its mix of houses, new condos, and retro “court” accommodation, Ari is home to a real mix of young and old, with lots of families. Some have been here generations, while others have arrived more recently seeking out that elusive Ari lifestyle. As for expats, you can expect a healthy presence of young professionals and ever-rotating NGO crowds.
Transportation ★★★
On top of the very convenient BTS station, which can whisk you off to Sukhumvit in no time, Ari is also accessible on over 20 buses such as the A2 (between Don Mueang International Airport and Victory Monument) and the infamous bus number 8 (between Bang Kapi and Memorial Bridge—not recommended if you don’t have great balance). It’s also perfect for biking as there are many shaded residential trails. Traffic generally is not as bad as in Sathorn and Sukhumvit, which can even make taxis a bit more accommodating, too. The nearest high entraces can be accessed through Rama 6 Road and Phahon Yothin Soi 2.
Nightlife ★★
Salt
Aree
Ari isn’t exactly known for its nightlife, but that’s not to say you can’t enjoy a chill tipple. Much of the action centers on the corner of Ari Soi 4, where
Salt offers an elegant outdoor drinking spot complete with a decent selection of wine and cocktails. Across the road, the same crowd of affluent 20-somethings can be found at
Aree (Soi Ari), a popular spot for afterwork drinks owned by the same people as Salt. The style here is more throwback Thai—live cover bands and bottles of whiskey. Beer lovers can head to Ari Soi 1 for
O’Glee, an Irish bar that feels more like a friend’s house. Props go not only to the craft beer selection, but also the indie soundtrack featuring The Smiths and The Cure.
O’Glee
Environment ★★★
Aree Garden
Ari’s streets are certainly leafy, but that doesn’t exactly mean there’s lots of green space. You won’t find too many parks or public spaces here, though there is something of a hidden gem opposite the Revenue Department at the back-end of Soi Ari, where oldies gather to exercise. Elsewhere,
Aree Garden mall (Ari Samphan Soi 11) combines classy architecture with a spacious grass lawn, while
The Yard hostel (51 Phahon Yothin Soi 5) has a similarly charming green setting. Just don’t be fooled by Banana Family Park’s name—you won’t find any trees or grass here.
Work & Play
For those looking to live the digital nomad dream, there are many, many cafes and co-working spaces dotted around the neighborhood. Here are a few of our favorites—and more:
Art spaces
Puritan
Puritan (Ari Soi 5, 02-357-1099)
Co-working spaces
FabCafe
FabCafe (77/1 Ari Soi 1, 083-619-9983)
Workout Facilities
Ari School of Fitness
Ari School of Fitness (6 Ari Soi 3, 093-956-3624)
Yoga and Me (La Villa, Phahon Yot h i n R d . , 02-619-0051)
Shops and Community Malls
Tokyobike
La Villa (356 Phahon Yothin Rd., 02-619-2197)
Hospitals
Phyathai 2 Hospital
Vichauyuth Hospital (114/4 Set S i r i R d . , 02-265-7777)
Phyathai 2 Hospital (943 Phahon Yot h i n R d . , 02-617-2444)
BK ASKS
San Teekasab, owner of Ari School of Fitness
What do you love about Ari?
It’s easy to commute from Ari to other places in Bangkok. There are expressways and the BTS, but it’s not as chaotic as Sukhumvit. Ari is like the capital of northern Bangkok—you don’t have to endure the traffic and still have everything you need. There’s a very low crime rate, too.
How is the community?
The people here are very chill and kind. My family has been here since I was a kid, so I know my neighbors pretty well. For example, I go to Pladib for a Sunday breakfast and I always see someone I know. My clients also live close to here, so there’s a community for Crossfit, too.
What does Ari lack?
There are a lot of new condos, but we are lacking office buildings. Most people who live here don’t actually work here—they have to go downtown. We also need more schools.
Sutida Srirungthum, owner of Sutdrip
How has Ari changed recently?
I think it’s more pretentious now. There are so many “hip” restaurants and cafes. When I was younger I used to think of it as a place where my friend’s houses were, but now it’s all “let’s meet at this chic restaurant.”
Drew Strobridge, filmmaker, living in Ari for 2.5 years
Why did you choose to live in Ari?
We visited a lot of areas and Ari felt the most home-like to us. It's a convenient location that still feels small and quiet. There are many families living in the area and quiet sois that can feel like you're not in a big city. There are also plenty of great food and coffee places too.
