This down-town residential haven has serviced studio apartment starting from as little as B4,500 a month at 1. Sathorn Saint View (Charoen Rat Soi 1 Yaek 9, 02-675-8921-27), while the modern rooms of 2. Sathorn Residence (Chan Rd, Soi Yenjit Chan Rd, 02-211-1232) are a little more expensive at B5,500-B6,200. 3. Baan Rim Sathorn (Sathorn Soi 13, 02-675- 8980-3) is another affordable option, offering 34-sq-meter rooms for B9,900 a month. Moving up the price scale, 4. Sathorn Grace Serviced Residence (Sathorn Soi 11, 02-286- 9989) charges B35,000 for serviced studio rooms; 5. Centric Sathorn-Saint Louis (Sathorn Soi 11, Hotline 1749) has spectacular views from B22,000 for one bedrooms; and 6. Sathorn Gallery Residences (Pun Rd, 02-637-8228) has spacious, high-ceilinged three and four bedroom penthouses at B80,000-140,000 per month. 7. The Diplomat Sathorn (Sathorn Tai Rd.) is a soon-to-be-finished KPN Group project. Contact them on 02-789-9000 for sales enquiries. We’ve heard of two-story shop-houses going for less than five figures, too.

 

Dive down this neighborhood’s sois and you’ll find a big change from the high-rises and fast-paced city atmosphere of Sathorn Road. A jumble of old-school shop-houses sprawls across most of the area, with narrow, tangled alleyways making the sois from Charoen Rat to Yen Chit feel like a maze. They can seem quite scary at night, but don’t worry; we’ve seen plenty of police patrolling around. The heart of the neighborhood is 8. Tae Chio Cemetery (St. Louis Soi 22), initially a Chinese cemetery that now serves as an all-in-one park and gym.

 

Stroll along Sathorn Tai Road for a taste of the area’s cosmopolitan side. 9. Blue Elephant (Sathorn Rd., 02-673-9353) is a Thai restaurant that needs no introduction, housed in a stunning colonial-style mansion, while 10. Chef Man (3/F, Eastin Grand Sathorn, 02-212-3741) is possibly the most popular place in the city for dim sum (starting at B99). For something more streetlevel, 11. St Louis Soi 3 and 12. Charoen Rat Soi 1 are packed with great local eateries. Don’t miss the somtam or super-intense duck laab at 13. Laab Ubon Kon Trakaan (085- 981- 5041)—an after-service favorite of the chefs at David Thompson’s Nahm. The old-school shop-house restaurant 14. Than Ying (Pramuan Rd., 02-236-4361) is another neighborhood highlight, offering a fine traditional lunch buffet of royal Thai recipes at B295.

 

 

A bit thin on the ground. There are a couple of hotel rooftop places with amazing views of the area (15. Swizzles at Eastin Grand and 16. The Roof at Mode Sathorn) though neither are anything remarkable. The real draw is 17. Jam (Charoen Rat Soi 1, 089-889-8059), a funky little place with a laid-back vibe that normally pulls in its biggest crowd on Thursday nights. You also have Silom, Suan Phlu, and Sathorn Soi 12 on your doorstep.

 

The Skytrain (BTS Surasak) is your primary option. The traffic can get crowded during rush hour. Motorbike taxis are plentiful for reaching deep into the sois. There’s also immediate access to the Airport Expressway at Charoen Rat Road. Sathorn Pier, on the Chao Phraya River, is also within walking distance.

 

There’s a lovely mish-mash of influences around here that really highlights Bangkok’s diversity. There’s a Hindu temple, 18. Wat Witsanu (St. Louis Soi 22); a Buddhist temple, 19. Wat Prok (St. Louis Soi 22); and the Christian 20. Sueb Sampanthawong Church (Soi Srivieng, 02-266-3836). And nearby on Silom you’ll also find 21. Wat Khaek (Pan Rd.), a Dravidian-style Hindu temple housing statues of Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

 

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WHAT ELSE?

22. Saint Louis Hospital, 27 South Sathorn Rd., 02-675-5200

 

23. Assumption Commercial College, 101 Sathorn Soi 13, 02-675-5075

24. Bangkok Christian College, 35 Pramuan Rd., 02-637-1852

 

25. Divana Virtue Spa, 10 Soi Srivieng, 02-236-6788

26. Health Land Spa and Massage, 120 Sathorn Rd., 02-637-8883