The Charoen Nakhon side of the river always has an air of artsy-cool-meets-swank vibe about it. Trendy art galleries and lifestyle hubs, glitzy riverside condos, five-star hotels, ICONSIAM and the brand new BTS Gold Line are making this neck of the woods one of Bangkok’s most happening ’hoods—a perfect blend of old and new. With so much to see, do and eat, make a weekend out of it by grabbing a hotel for a night or two. 

Eat

Photo: Flow / Facebook

Charoen Nakhon is home to a shocking amount of good food, even by Bangkok’s lofty standards. A visit to the area isn’t complete without trying the legendary duck noodles at Hung Heng Ped Yang Ped Palo or the khao mun gai at local favorite Jaruwan Khao Mun Gai. If you want to soak in that riverside breeze while piling plates high with all manner of cuisines, from Thai and Chinese to European and Indian, head to Flow for all-day dining (or hit up Sunday brunch for slow cooked roasts, live music, and a mimosa or two). 

Stay

Photo: The Millennium Hilton Bangkok / Hilton Hotels

There are plenty of stays in the area for all price points, but one of the best all-rounders in the neighborhood (good food, drinks, river views, plush digs, and proximity to ICONSIAM and the main drag) is The Millennium Hilton Bangkok. The hotel has been an icon on the river skyline for nearly two decades, and still boasts some of the best city views around if you climb to one of the two bars on the rooftop—they’ll even let you wander up to the helipad if you want. Rooms start from just over B7,000/night, but those sleep up to three so it becomes economical for families and couples pretty quickly. You can luxe that up to a Family Suite (B12,000/night) or Panoramic Executive Suite (B13,000/night) for near-apartment-sized rooms with swooping corner windows that offer surreal glimpses at the skyline. 

Shop

Photo: ICONSIAM / Wikimedia

When ICONSIAM opened, Charoen Nakhon became one of the most talked about areas of the city—at least tangentially. Each day, the mall is packed to the brim with both travelers and locals who spend afternoons snooping through the lower level market Sooksiam (our personal pick if you visit) or climbing up to the higher floors to catch riverside views and a pricey bite of food. While the main road is a little intense for some, you will be rewarded for venturing out of the BTS alcove near ICONSIAM and into the side sois to visit the likes of SENA Fest community mall for cheap fashion finds or Chaw Cher for affordable, high-quality Japanese interior decor items (forget Muji).

Drink

Photo: Ale House / Facebook

If you are a beer geek, you have plenty of options here. Save Our Souls keeps it simple with ten taps of rotating local and imported craft beer (they have bottles in a back fridge as well). If live sports and river views are more your thing, Ale House has one of the biggest sports screens in town at the moment—and boasts a huge tap selection filled with local and imports. For something fancier, you can scoot right upstairs to Three Sixty Lounge at the Millennium Hilton for jazz, delicious cocktails, and panoramic views of the city. 

Thinking about where to lay your head during your visit to Charoen Nakhon? Book your stay at The Millennium Hilton Bangkok and get easy access to the neighborhood’s best attractions, shopping, and restaurants. Check out the website for more details.