Categories > Guides and Tips
All about Ari: Our Favorite Bangkok Neighborhood
- Best Time to Visit Ari
- Things to Know
- How to Get to Ari, Bangkok
- What to See and Do in Ari, Bangkok
- Hop between the famous cafes in Ari
- Hit the food stalls below the Ari BTS Station
- Eat your way through Ari's streetside night market
- Check out the art exhibits around Ari
- Find a Korean photo booth and take cute selfies
- Go club-hopping with friends after dark
- Drop by Lawson Ari to get some tamago sando
- Shop around La Villa Ari
- Where to Eat in Ari
- Thanee Khao Moo Daeng
- Phan Zen Noodles
- Ong Tong Khao Soi Ari
- Where to Stay in Ari, Bangkok
- Bangkok Patio Serviced Apartment
- Bangkok Voyage Boutique
- The Yard Hostel Bangkok
Ari is a ray of morning sunshine when you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. It can easily be the best neighborhood by a mile with hip laid back culture, and trendy establishments to wow you.
But Ari is still within Bangkok so you’re never too far from the capital’s iconic sights and attractions. That’s why it’s a breather for travelers who like all kinds of activities, from cafe-hopping to food adventures, clubbing, or art tours.
What’s more, as we’ve done the legwork, this guide should allow you to hop into Ari and navigate it like it’s the palm of your hand, with all the adventure your heart is longing for. Read on!
Best Time to Visit Ari
Ari is best to visit between December and February if you want to enjoy exploring it without any worries. These months will give you optimal weather conditions, so you don’t have to monitor the weather forecast for possible rainfall.
That also means strolling around the neighborhood will be fun the whole day. You can enjoy all the day and night activities to your heart’s desire.
Things to Know
Time Zone: Indochina Time (UTC/GMT+7)
Currency: Thai Baht
(Check the current exchange rate)
Language: Thai (Central Thai)
Calling Code: (+66)
Location: แขวงพญาไท Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Nearest Airport: Suvarnabhumi Airport (33.6 km)
Operating Hours: 24/7
How to Get to Ari, Bangkok
Taxi: Ari is in the heart of Bangkok so the best way to get there is by boarding a taxi from anywhere in the capital city or its neighboring cities and provinces. With a taxi ride, you’ll be dropped off in this exact neighborhood.
Plane: If you’re traveling from a faraway province or another country, the fastest way to reach Ari is by boarding a plane to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. From the airport, you can hire an airport taxi to Ari.
Ari is only 30 minutes away from the airport.
Bus: A cheaper method to get to Ari is by boarding a public bus to Bangkok’s Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal. This bus station is only 4 kilometers south of the Ari neighborhood so you can ride a tuk-tuk and enjoy sightseeing during this 10-minute trip.
Public buses from cities and provinces like Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Kanchanaburi, and Chiang Mai have daily trips to Bangkok.
What to See and Do in Ari, Bangkok
Hop between the famous cafes in Ari
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There’s no shortage of excellent cafes in Ari, and this makes it a great place to visit for coffee, tea, pastries, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and other typical cafe snacks.
Our team’s coffee addicts particularly love going to Nana Coffee Roasters in Soi Ari 4 for its exquisite selection of specialty coffees.
Aside from that, you can also visit other famous cafes in the area like Porcupine Cafe, Bay, Hor Hidden Cafe, Puritan, Landhaus Bakery, Poet House Cafe, and many more.
You’ll even find unique ones like Kid Mai Death Awareness Cafe. It’s a cross between a coffee shop and a horror house, so expect to get your daily caffeine fix next to a skeleton or inside a coffin!
Hit the food stalls below the Ari BTS Station
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Address: Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Operating Hours: 6 a.m. – 12 a.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: 0 2617 7300
Website: https://www.bts.co.th/index.html
This alleyway under the train station in Ari is a haven for foodies. It’s dotted with food stalls and restaurants serving various snacks, drinks, and Asian dishes from Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, The Philippines, and more.
Some of the most popular food stalls in the alleyway are Fan Tuan, Japan 9, Flash Coffee, ING Teahouse, and Cha King. Going here means you’re covered for coffee, tea, rice balls, seaweed wraps, dim sum, sandwiches, ice cream, etc.
Eat your way through Ari’s streetside night market
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Though the streets in Ari are packed with food stalls and restaurants, there are vendors who only open at night. During this time, the area becomes livelier with the numerous affordable street foods you can choose from.
Expect to see street food staples like pla plao (grilled fish), Isan pork sausage, mango sticky rice, pad Thai, and khao soi noodles. Aside from that, you can also find alfresco food places that sell classic Thai dishes.
Think green curry, massaman curry, panang chicken curry, tom yum goong, basil chicken, fried rice, and fried egg.
Check out the art exhibits around Ari
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For the cultured, Ari offers plenty of places to see and appreciate local art pieces. In fact, this part of the capital city is home to numerous art exhibits, galleries, and theatres like Numthong Art Space, People of Ari, and Manycuts Art Space.
Going to these places lets you admire paintings, sculptures, handicrafts, and literary works by local artists. People of Ari, in particular, is a solid pick if you like activities involving art, music, dance, film, well-being, and theater.
It’s a theater where local artists can share their talents and crafts. It’s well-known for its diverse events consisting of mini jazz concerts, vinyl sessions, solo violin and cello acts, meditation, dance performances, and sound and light shows.
Find a Korean photo booth and take cute selfies
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Korean photo booths are common sights all over Bangkok, and it’s no different in the Ari neighborhood. You can easily find them near the malls or at the Ari BTS Station, so they’re definitely worth checking out if you want to take cute selfies with your friends.
These photo booths are popular among teenagers, so expect them to have fun and colorful designs. Think of them as a trendier version of public passport photo booths.
Instead of the plain old headshot photos, you can add cute stickers and effects to your selfies before printing them.
Go club-hopping with friends after dark
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Though Ari isn’t on the same level as Silom, its nightlife scene shouldn’t be taken lightly. After all, the neighborhood is home to some of the capital city’s liveliest music bars and nightclubs.
This includes places like O’glee, Feeling Bar, Mikkeller Bangkok, Dok Kaew House Bar, and House of Beers. That means you’re already covered for beers, cocktails, comfort food, live bands, and live DJ sets.
Going to Dok Kaew House Bar was particularly a fun experience for our team’s beer fanatics. This bar offers a great selection of craft beer that goes well with their special Thai fusion food.
Drop by Lawson Ari to get some tamago sando
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Address: แขวงพญาไท Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Daily)
Website: http://www.lawson108.com/
This Japanese convenience store is a great place with affordable meals and snacks. We especially enjoyed snacking on their tamago sando or Japanese-style egg sandwich.
This sandwich features two soft milk bread slices with a buttery egg filling. In case you didn’t know, Lawson is particularly well-known for its affordable and delicious tamago sando.
In fact, these sandwiches were a favorite of the late Anthony Bourdain, which is why we think it’s definitely worth a shot. Lawson Ari is located at the Ari BTS Station, so you can stop by before or after boarding the train.
Shop around La Villa Ari
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Address: 356 Phahonyothin Road, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Operating Hours: 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 91 818 4196
La Villa Ari is a well-known shopping mall for those who frequent this neighborhood in Bangkok. This place is an excellent hangout spot with numerous shops, cafes, restaurants, beauty salons, and a supermarket.
It even has a garden area with lush greenery, tall trees, and a fountain. That’s why the mall attracts diverse crowds of local families and expats looking for a relaxed spot amid the bustling capital city.
It’s next to the Ari BTS Station, so you won’t miss it even if it’s your first time in Bangkok.
Where to Eat in Ari
Thanee Khao Moo Daeng
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Address: Phahonyothin Road, แขวงพญาไท Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 2 278 3987
Website: https://www.facebook.com/supertanee/
Prices: ฿ – ฿฿
A visit to Ari isn’t complete without sampling the succulent roasted pork in Thanee Khao Moo Daeng. It’s the restaurant’s famous pork belly dish with a crispy crust and fat that just melts in your mouth.
They serve it with a secret red sauce, which can be paired with rice or egg noodles. It’s best to order on a platter with Chinese-style sausage if you’re eating with friends for the best value for your money.
Phan Zen Noodles
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Address: Phahonyothin Road, แขวงพญาไท Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Operating Hours: 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 86 066 1000
Website: http://www.facebook.com/1000zenaree
Prices: ฿
Phan Zen Noodles is a trendy restaurant near Ari BTS Station known for its modern take on Thai noodle dishes. Unlike most noodle shops, they let you customize your order from the noodles to the topping and broth.
You can choose between 16 types of noodles, 19 toppings, and 3 broths. Aside from that, you can order your noodles dry if you want to skip the broth.
Given the number of possible combinations, most likely, you’ll find one that suits you best.
Ong Tong Khao Soi Ari
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Address: 31 Phahonyothin Soi 7, แขวงพญาไท Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 2 003 5254
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ongtongkhaosoi/
Prices: ฿ – ฿฿
This popular khao soi restaurant in Bangkok has multiple branches including one in the neighborhood. Its khao soi noodles are traditional, so expect it to be as authentic as khao soi from Northern Thailand.
That’s why the khao soi served here comes with a rich and creamy coconut broth. It pairs well with classic toppings like crispy pork and sai ua, a traditional northern Thai sausage.
Where to Stay in Ari, Bangkok
Bangkok Patio Serviced Apartment
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Address: 14 Soi Phahonyothin 3, แขวงพญาไท Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Contact Number: +66 2 617 1717
Website: http://www.bangkokpatio.com/
Prices: ฿฿
Bangkok Patio Serviced Apartment is a top pick for accommodations in Ari because of its spacious rooms with a great view of the neighborhood.
Since it’s a serviced apartment, it operates like a hotel and you can check out whenever you like. It even has typical hotel facilities like an outdoor pool, fitness center, and a massive lounge.
Bangkok Voyage Boutique
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Address: 10, 27 Soi Phahonyothin 5, แขวงพญาไท Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Contact Number: +66 22 705 570
Website: https://www.bangkok-voyage.com/
Prices: ฿฿
If you like artsy accommodations, Bangkok Voyage Boutique is the place to go. It’s a converted twin townhome, so expect to see combinations of modern and antique designs and motifs.
The rooms in Bangkok Voyage Boutique are all uniquely designed. That makes it ideal if you like to pick your accommodation based on your design preferences.
It has seven different rooms, so you’ll likely find one you like best. Just be sure to book ahead of time.
The Yard Hostel Bangkok
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Address: 51 Soi Phahon Yothin 5, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Operating Hours: 2 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Contact Number: +66 65 328 5999
Website: http://www.theyardbangkok.com/
Prices: ฿฿
This bohemian hostel is an excellent option for free-spirited travelers. It feels more like a homestay lodging, so it’s perfect if you enjoy meeting new people during your travels.
It also has a lush garden area. That makes it ideal if you want to escape the bustling capital city without actually leaving its borders.
Guests often hang out here for outdoor barbeque, yoga, and other social gatherings. It can also be a peaceful place to enjoy reading a book when nobody’s around.
