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Guide to Charoenkrung: Here’s Why This is Bangkok’s Coolest Neighborhood to Capture Your Imagination!
- Welcome to Charoenkrung
- Where is Charoenkrung?
- What is the main street in Charoenkrung?
- How to Get to Charoenkrung
- What to See and Do in Charoenkrung
- Hop between Charoenkrung Road’s popular cafes & dessert spots
- Visit the Thailand Creative & Design Center
- Check out the unique art exhibits at River City Bangkok
- Admire the colorful street art along Talat Noi
- Stroll around Warehouse 30
- Try numerous activities at The Corner House Bangkok
- See the Optimus Prime statue along Charoenkrung and Khao Lam Road
- Where to Eat and Drink in Charoenkrung
- Sarnies
- Sweet Pista Bangkok
- Wua Tong Pochana
- Where to Shop in Charoenkrung
- Central: The Original Store
- Robinson Bang Rak
- Woot Woot Store
- Where to Stay in Charoenkrung
- Capella Bangkok
- Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok
- Unplugged at Bangrak
- FAQs about Charoenkrung
Welcome to Charoenkrung
Deeply rooted in Bangkok’s rich history, Charoenkrung Road was built during the reign of King Rama IV some 150 years ago. It’s the country’s first concrete road so it’s instrumental to the bustling capital city everyone knows and loves today.
Charoenkrung diminished in significance over the years as Bangkok’s business center expanded to other areas. But the relocation of the Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC) recently has made the street the “creative center” of the capital.
Today, this 8.5-kilometer road is home to numerous shops, restaurants, exhibits, and attractions—some dating back to the 19th century. With modern buildings, it has become a melting pot of culture and commerce with a timeless charm.
Where is Charoenkrung?
Charoenkrung is to the right of the Chao Phraya River in central Bangkok. It runs from the Rama III Road – Tok Road intersection to the roundabout in front of the Territorial Defense Command building.
What is the main street in Charoenkrung?
Charoenkrung Road covers this entire neighborhood, so it’s your gateway to all its must-visit attractions. This includes the numerous alleyways and sidestreets along this historic 8.5-kilometer road.
How to Get to Charoenkrung
Taxi: Metered taxis are all over Bangkok, so it’s not difficult to find one that can take you to Charoenkrung. For convenience, you can also use taxi-booking apps like Bolt and Grab, so you don’t have to flag a taxi on the side of the road.
Train: Bangkok’s train system is accessible, so you can use it to get to Charoenkrung without a hitch. The closest BTS train station to Charoenkrung Road is Saphan Taksin on the Silom Line.
What to See and Do in Charoenkrung
Hop between Charoenkrung Road’s popular cafes & dessert spots
Media from homudessert
Charoenkrung Road was already an established cafe-hopping hotspot in Bangkok before Silom and Sukhumvit were even in the picture. That makes it a great place for cafe lovers and tourists with a sweet tooth.
Here, you’ll find some of the city’s best cafes like Sarnies, Homu Dessert, Hong Sieng Kong, Sweet Pista, and La Cabra. They’re perfect for cafe lovers who want to try the desserts and artisan coffees that put Charoenkrung on the map during its golden days.
Visit the Thailand Creative & Design Center
Media from tcdc.thailand
Address: Central Post Office, 1160 Charoenkrung Road, Bang Rak
Phone: +66 2 105 7400
Pricing: 100 baht
Operating Hours: 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Tuesday – Sunday)
The place to go if you’re into arts, fashion, and architecture. Thailand Creative & Design Center or TCDC is a learning center, so expect to see a massive library with countless books that will blow the minds of any aspiring creative, artist, or designer.
Aside from that, they hold art, fashion, and design exhibits which are definitely worth checking out if you’re an art student or an artist looking for inspiration. Even if you’re only a casual traveler, we think their exhibits are still worth a look.
In fact, our team enjoyed exploring TCDC for its artsy interiors alone. So, if you enjoy taking photos of pleasant-looking designs and displays, you’ll likely have a blast touring the place.
Check out the unique art exhibits at River City Bangkok
Media from rivercitybangkok
Address: 23 Soi Charoenkrung 24, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong
Phone: +66 2 237 0077
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Daily)
River City Bangkok is great for art fans who want to see unique exhibits for free. This place has numerous art studios, so there are plenty of art exhibits to see while you’re strolling around.
Some of the curated artworks are even for sale, so you can come here if your goal is to take home a local art piece. But that’s not all—River City Bangkok is a mall, so you’re also covered for your shopping, food, and entertainment needs.
Since this mall in Charoenkrung is next to the Chao Phraya River, you’ll even find ferries that offer romantic dinner cruises for couples.
Admire the colorful street art along Talat Noi
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Address: 1172 Soi Charoenkrung 22, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong
Operating Hours: 24/7
If you’re a bigger fan of street art, Talat Noi is the place for you. This neighborhood along Charoenkrung is dotted with colorful street wall art and murals, so it’s popular among tourists who want to see and experience the local art scene.
Plus, going here gives you plenty of chances to capture Instagrammable photos. Aside from wall art and murals, you’ll also see numerous photo displays and junk art pieces.
Stroll around Warehouse 30
Media from warehouse30.bkk
Address: 48 Charoenkrung 30, Bang Rak
Phone: +66 2 237 5087
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Daily)
This shopping and art complex is a popular hangout spot along Charoenkrung, so it’s definitely worth visiting if you want to go sightseeing. This place has cafes, restaurants, art galleries, studios, shops, and a spa, so there’s plenty to do while you’re here.
That’s why it’s one of the trendier spots in Bangkok that attract local and foreign crowds. A fan favorite here is Woot Woot Store which sells all kinds of products, from fashion items to collectibles, furniture, military supplies, toys, tools, home decor, and more.
Try numerous activities at The Corner House Bangkok
Media from thecornerhouse.bangkok
Address: 951, Chai Phatthanasilp, 35 Charoenkrung Road, Khwaeng Talat Noi, Samphanthawong
Operating Hours: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. (Tuesday – Sunday)
For fun-seeking travelers, this community center is an excellent hangout place with plenty of activities and event spaces to offer. Think art exhibit, games room, DJ booth, vinyl music room, skateboarding zone, and cafe.
That’s why it’s a popular place for friends and families to visit, especially during weekends. It’s also pet-friendly, so you don’t have to leave your fur babies behind just to come here which is a massive plus.
Just know that some of the zones inside The Corner House Bangkok are free while others require an entrance fee. Paid zones are usually for small events leasing a space for a limited time.
See the Optimus Prime statue along Charoenkrung and Khao Lam Road
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Address: 471, Charoenkrung – Khao Lam Intersection, Samphanthawong
Operating Hours: 24/7
This impressive Optimus Prime statue is located at a small roundabout along Charoenkrung Road. Here, the Autobot leader is holding his iconic Sword of Justice which appeared in two Transformers films: Age of Extinction and The Last Knight.
That makes it a must-see for diehard fans of this popular franchise. It even has lights at night, so we think it’s definitely worth checking out after sundown.
In case you didn’t know, the roundabout used to have a statue of Bumblebee before it was replaced with Optimus Prime.
Where to Eat and Drink in Charoenkrung
Sarnies
Media from sarnies.bkk
Address: 101, 103 Charoenkrung 44 Alley, Khwaeng Bang Rak
Phone: +66 65 816 1655
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Daily)
Good to know: Good for breakfast
Sarnies is arguably the most popular cafe in Charoenkrung, so every tourist who frequents this part of Bangkok knows about it. It’s particularly famous as a breakfast and brunch spot that serves Australian-Asian fusion cuisines.
It’s the ideal place for kickstarting your Charoenkrung trip with an excellent breakfast set and coffee. Our top pick here is the classic fry-up with free-range eggs, home-cured bacon, Thai sausage, baked beans, roasted tomatoes, hash browns, and sourdough.
They even let you choose how you want your eggs cooked: fried, scrambled, or poached. Be sure to have it with their featured coffee of the day for a distinctive caffeine fix.
Sweet Pista Bangkok
Media from sweetpistabangkok
Address: 52 Warehouse 30, Soi Charoenkrung 30, Bang Rak
Phone: +66 62 335 2866
Pricing: ฿฿
Operating Hours: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Tuesday – Sunday)
Good to know: Great for burger lovers
Sweet Pista is a famous fusion restaurant in Warehouse 30, a shopping and art complex in Charoenkrung. Though it’s most popular for its confectionaries, this place has a massive menu, so you have plenty of food options to try.
Our foodie staffers say that burgers are the biggest hitters. They particularly like the restaurant’s signature Sweet Pista burger with onion rings, iceberg lettuce, and extra thick bacon slices which they think is nothing short of amazing.
Aside from that, we also tried their avocado cheeseburger and triple cheese mushroom burger. The flavor combinations are spot on and we enjoyed the well-seasoned juicy patties the best.
Wua Tong Pochana
Media from wuatongpochana
Address: 14, 16 Soi Charoenkrung, 45 Khwaeng Si Phraya, Bang Rak
Phone: +66 97 260 5305
Pricing: ฿ – ฿฿
Operating Hours:
- 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Sunday – Thursday)
- 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Friday – Saturday)
Good to know: Good for budget travelers and Chinese food lovers
Wua Tong Pochana is our go-to restaurant for delicious and affordable Chinese food in Charoenkrung, and we think tourists should try it as well. This place is well-known for its beef noodles and spicy mala beef BBQ which we also highly recommend.
The beef noodle bowl, in particular, is a solid pick since it has rich aromatic broth, firm noodles, and large tender beef slices. We enjoy it best with a side of Chinese radish meatballs and wonton which we think goes well with the noodle broth.
Meanwhile, the mala beef BBQ is perfect for tourists who enjoy sweet and spicy grilled meat. It’s certainly the best food on their menu to have with beer.
Where to Shop in Charoenkrung
Central: The Original Store
Media from central.theoriginalstore
Address: 1266 Charoen Krung Road, Bang Rak
Phone: +66 2 267 0412
Pricing: ฿ – ฿฿฿
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Tuesday – Sunday)
Good to know: Good for families and art fans
This shopping mall along Charoenkrung Road is perfect if you want to do some shopping and sightseeing. It has a souvenir shop, bookstore, cafe, art exhibit, and jazz bar, so there are plenty of things to keep you busy.
The bookworms on our team say it’s the best place to shop for rare and old editions of books and magazines. That’s why it’s popular among avid book collectors.
Robinson Bang Rak
Media credit: rebirth416
Address: 1522 Charoen Krung Road, Bang Rak
Phone: +66 2 238 0052
Pricing: ฿ – ฿฿฿
Operating Hours: 10:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (Daily)
Good to know: Good for families
If you plan to take your family out shopping, we suggest going to Robinson Bang Rak. It’s the quintessential department store so you can shop here for groceries, home supplies, tools, clothes, accessories, toys, beauty products, and more.
That makes it ideal for families since you can find all kinds of shops that appeal to everyone. It also has a food court and numerous restaurants, so you have many options for food if you get hungry while shopping.
Woot Woot Store
Media from wootwoot_store
Address: Warehouse 30 Charoen Krung 30, Bang Rak
Phone: +66 62 442 4695
Pricing: ฿ – ฿฿
Operating Hours:
- 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
- 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Weekends)
Good to know: Good for vintage goods shopping
Woot Woot Store is a unique shopping spot in Charoenkrung. It sells a wide range of vintage items so it’s a great place to shop for things you won’t typically see in other stores around Bangkok.
This includes vintage clothes, props, jewelry, home decor, furniture, kitchen utensils, stationeries, signage, and more. It’s a great place to visit if you don’t have a particular list of goods to shop for and want to be surprised.
Where to Stay in Charoenkrung
Capella Bangkok
Media from capellabangkok
Address: 300, 2 Charoenkrung Road, Yan Nawa, Sathon
Phone: +66 2 098 3888
Pricing: ฿฿฿
Operating Hours: 3 p.m. (Check-in) & 11:59 a.m. (Check-out)
Good to know: Good for couples and families
Capella Bangkok is a luxury hotel along Charoenkrung Road, so it’s a great option for tourists who want a place that offers top-of-the-line facilities. Here, you can get an ultra chic room, suite, or private pool villa offering numerous features.
This includes a garden, a whirlpool tub, a sizable living space, a decked-out minibar and kitchen, and a balcony overlooking the Chao Phraya River. The hotel also has a full-service spa, gym, tea room, outdoor pool, and two restaurants you can check out.
Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok
Media from fsbangkok
Address: 300/1 Charoenkrung Road, Yan Nawa, Sathon
Phone: +66 2 032 0888
Pricing: ฿฿฿
Operating Hours: 3 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Good to know: Good for couples
This high-end hotel next to the Chao Phraya River is perfect for travelers who want spacious modern rooms and a vast lakeside pool area. That makes it ideal if you plan to spend a day relaxing on a sun lounger while soaking in the pleasant river view.
The property is also lined with trees, so you feel close to nature even in the heart of Bangkok. Aside from standard rooms with all the basic amenities, Four Seasons Hotel has elegant modern suites with sizable living rooms and terraces.
Moreover, the hotel has other notable features like an upscale French cafe, two International restaurants, a fancy spa, outdoor infinity pools, a bar, a gym, and more.
That means you get plenty of facilities to enjoy during your stay.
Unplugged at Bangrak
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Address: 15 Charoenkrung 50 Alley, Bang Rak
Phone: +66 90 972 6490
Pricing: ฿
Operating Hours: 3 p.m. (Check-in) & 12 p.m. (Check-out)
Good to know: Good for budget and group travelers
Unplugged at Bangrak is a solid budget-friendly accommodation with an excellent location, so tourists should definitely check it out. It’s close to Robinson’s Department Store and Saphan Taksin Public Park, so you’re covered for shopping and sightseeing.
Since this hotel has plenty of room options, you can easily find one that suits your budget. That also means they can accommodate various guests, from solo travelers to couples, friends, and families vacationing together.
Aside from that, this hotel is surrounded by numerous local street vendors which makes it the perfect place for foodies. Plus, it has a friendly English-speaking owner who’ll let you in on the hidden gems to visit along Charoenkrung Road.
