The 6 best reasons to head back to the riverside this weekend
Dinner cruises, design centers and new boutiques are making Bangkok's riverside hot.
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Crafty ceramics and comfortable indigo cotton-wear are the go-to pieces at this hip store in the riverside shopping complex. It is the result of a collaboration between two local brands—Cone Number 9 (ceramics) and Kasa’ Maya (indigo-wear)—that brings a collection of dreamy designs in charmingly imperfect patterns. Expect to find trendy clothing and bags at affordable prices, while the ceramics range from coffee cups to vases, and are just as wallet-friendly.
1/F, River City Shopping Complex, 24 Charoen Krung Rd., 091-697-4223. Open daily 10am-8pm
Horselegmarking’s artist-and-founder Chalisa Pornmuttawarong turns everyday Thai culture into vivid prints for sneakers. The brand made its debut two years ago showcasing its ethical product design at Japan’s Rooms Trade Show, and is now back in town for Bangkokians to enjoy. The first collection takes inspiration from rod-e-taen, the Northeastern Thai all-purpose truck, and comes in three eye-popping patterns: butterflies and flowers, hawks, and diamonds. The sneakers are made from extra-soft cotton handprinted with silk-screens, rubber sole and suede waxed cotton lace. Available as both high- and low-ankle kicks, at prices starting from B3,290.
320 Maharaj, 081-470-9895. Open 9:30am-7pm
The riverside ThreeSixty Lounge offers one of the most arresting views of the Chao Praya. Perched atop the 32-floor Millenium Hilton, this dramatic observatory overlooks all of Bangkok from behind a sweeping expanse of uninterrupted bay windows. Sophisticated and moody, the lounge’s interior is ably supported by an outdoor garden that offers a more relaxed take on the sunset drinks experience. There, you’re encouraged to kick back on a lounge chair while sipping on cocktails by the Hilton F&B Masters national prize winner. The best way to enjoy it all? From Thu-Sat, 7-10pm, tuck into picnic hampers for two (B1,800 per couple) featuring nachos, sashimi, pasta, lobster spring rolls, chicken skewers and more. And after you’ve nibbled your way through that, you can always retreat to the bar for the smooth sounds of jazz singer Avis Ellis. The globetrotting performer from L.A., who has an album released under Motown Records, takes the stage from Tue-Sun starting at 8:20pm.
Millenium Hilton Bangkok, 123 Charoen Nakhon Rd., 02-442-2000. Open daily 5pm-1am
After closing at Emporium late last year, the new TCDC (Thailand Creative & Design Centre) is all but ready to open on Charoenkrung Road, with an official opening weekend with live music and a creative market on May 5-7. The new TCDC brings back the original's wonderful library of design books and resources, along with co-working space, 3D printing facilitis and a "material room" where designers can select the very best local materials.
General Post Office Building, 1160 Charoenkrung Rd., 02-105-7400. Open Tue-Sun 10:30am-9pm
Set to open the new Riverside Plaza complex, Dreadnaught is the first project in too long from Bangkok's go-to name for high-concept, steampunk cocktail bars, Ashley Sutton (Iron Balls Gin Distillery, Iron Fairies, J. Boroski Mixology). The Dreadnaught back story is that the bar is actually a spacheship used to service the mining industry on distant planets. What that means is lots of moody rusting aztec wall motifs and no doubt plenty of cocktails heavy on gin (Sutton brews his own).
Riverside Plaza, 257 Charoen Nakorn Rd. Opening date TBC
Departing from the revamped River City, this stylish little cruise ship just big enough for 40 diners is hoping to woo you, cynical Bangkokians who wouldn’t be caught dead eating afloat on the Chao Phraya. The galley is currently being trained and run by Supanniga Thonglor’s chef—a restaurant that made the Top Tables Top 10 a couple years back. The ship is entirely open-air, comfortable and compact—there’s the feeling of being in a little floating salon, hovering above the water.
Book ahead at 02-714-7608 or www.supannigacruise.com
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Flanked in every direction by slanted glass windows, guests can look out across all of central Bangkok from the less-visited Thonburi side of the river while sipping on a cocktail or glass of wine. On top of that, they have recently welcomed jazz singer Avis Ellis from LA, who performs all over the world and even has an album released under Motown Records.
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