Our love for Bangkok begun over 20 years ago! After many trips, we moved to the city, and now we live on the Chao Phraya River, across Talat Noi. We can see the coolest neighborhood in Bangkok from our balcony!
Talat Noi represents the best of Thailand. Multicultural, beautiful, and very Thai, it offers superb architecture, fantastic shops, and great eateries of all kinds. We prepared the following guide to help you discover the area. You will have a blast!
Brief History
Talat Noi’s history goes back 200 years! In fact, it’s almost as old as Bangkok. The Portuguese were the first to settle in the area. They fled after the destruction of the grand Kingdom of Ayutthaya, in the late 18th Century.
Chinese families settle soon after, and the hood became the first port in Bangkok. As such, it attracted people from all over the world. The Small Market (Talat Noi) became the center of European trade in the late 19th Century.
The Corner House Bangkok
Begin your walk in Bang Rak (we eat there frequently). The first building you will notice is the Corner House. The 113-year-old compound was fully refurbished and now homes delicious restaurants, coffee houses, and shops. They host all types of events and open till late.
Cross the Charoen Krung Road and have coffee while reading a book at the House of Commons – Book Café’ & Space (HOC). Please note that you can also access Talat Noi from Chinatown or from Hua Lamphong metro station, and follow this list from bottom to top, beginning at Wat Pathum Khongkha temple.
River City
Walk along Soi Rong Nam Khaeng 1 all the way to the river front. You will go past our favorite bagel shop SYDNY Bagels. Don’t rush and look out for the graffiti on the walls and buildings. Walk for a couple of blocks till you reach River City.
The contemporary building homes the best antique dealers in the city, and lots of art galleries. Explore and enjoy fantastic Thai works of art. You can eat or have coffee on the river front, admiring the views.
Holy Rosary Church
Soi Wanit 2 begins behind River City. It’s the neighborhood’s main drag. The first building you will see is the Holy Rosary Church. The Portuguese first built a church in 1787, replaced by another one in 1822, and again in 1838. The church we can see today is from 1897.
The temple is alive, so be respectful. Mass is held here every day in Thai and Chinese. The Samphanthawong District Office building is behind. The 1970s building is impressive, but mistakenly labelled by many as brutalist.
Transformers
The area around the District Office building is absolutely unique! You will see historic buildings that host motorbike repair shops. People from all over the city come here to fix their bikes. Several of these shops use spare parts to create cool art.
Continue along Soi Wanit till you reach the first Transformer. The massive Bumblebee statue is on a tiny roundabout. There are two other transformer sculptures in Talat Noi: Megatron is on the corner of Soi Wanit 2 and Soi Charoenkrung 22 and Optimus Prime on Thanon Khao Lam Circle.
Siam Commercial Bank
Go back to the river front to see one of our favorite buildings in all of Bangkok: the Siam Commercial Bank. The riverfront property sits on a lovely garden with stunning tall trees. The views from the garden over the river will take your breath away.
You can go inside the 1910 Beaux Arts building, it’s gorgeous. Go back to Soi Wanit 2 and check out 965bkk. Our neighbor refurbished this historic house and turned it into a coffee shop and small museum. Their Thai tea is delicious.
Street Art
As you will notice, Talat Noi is full of street art. Enter Soi Chao Sua Son (in front of Megatron) to see the Dragon Wall Photo Spot. Fun pictures and art cover the walls of derelict houses, workshops, and river side aisles.
Walk all the way through the small alley where photo spot is to Trok San Chao Rong Kueak Street. This is where most of the art is. The 130-year-old Horseshoe Shrine is there too. Tiny, but beautiful. Our favorite coffee house is in front: Mother Roaster Cafe, inside an ancient house.
So Heng Tai House
The art continues along the walls that border Trok San Chao Rong, parallel to the river. Pay 50 baht to go inside the historic So Heng Tai House. The crumbling building has a garden and a pool, use your entrance ticket for a drink.
Keep walking along the street and you will see huge banyan trees. We love this area full of nature and buildings in ruin. Check out the Antique Turtle car. Have some chocolate at 32Bar X.
Historic Houses
Historic mansions dot the area around Duang Tawan Alley. Baan Chim Cha in an old house has superb cheese cake and fantastic views from its 2nd floor. Turn right on the small alley next to Citizen Tea Canteen and walk to Chow Sue Kong Shrine.
The 200-year-old temple will take your breath away. You have 3 grand mansions to explore. Tantivejkul’s House is now an art gallery. Hong Sieng Kong a coffee house, and Vanich House a shop.
Talad Noi Museum
A short walk to the riverfront takes you to the Talad Noi Museum. The refurbished old wooden mansion sits on a garden with tall banyan trees and a memorable view over the river. Locals dance here in the evening. Sit on a public bench and enjoy!
The museum itself is interesting. Though small, it features lots of interactive displays, old photos, and art. Entrance is free. We especially liked the video presentation at the entrance.
Wat Pathum Khongkha Ratchaworawihan
Finish (or begin) your walk at the incredible Wat Pathum Khongkha Ratchaworawihan. Locals call it Wat Pathum. It’s next to the river. Though the original temple dates back to Ayutthaya times, a fire destroyed most of it.
King Rama V renovated it entirely in the early 20th Century. The temple may not be as grand as Wat Arun, but its peaceful and authentic. Again, locals visit to pray, so be respectful and enjoy the vibe.
The Warehouse Bangkok
You can also visit Talat Noi at night. There are all types of bars and restaurants, some with live bands. All you have to do is bar hop and find the one you like. Our favorite is Warehouse Bangkok, on Charoen Krung Road.
It’s actually a community center. There are several bars, a disco, and spaces for art and events. We go there all the time with our friends. Be sure to check out what’s going on there when visiting Bangkok. The views from the rooftop are awesome.
Where to Stay in the Neighborhood
The Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel Bangkok is the best place to explore Talat Noi. It has 2 fantastic pools, a spa, and a top-notch restaurant. Every single room has river views. The hotel has a private boat that takes you along the river!
If you want to stay in the middle of Talat Noi, book a room at the River View Residence. It faces the river and has a rooftop terrace with epic views. The rooms are comfy and great value for money.
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