The Only Bangkok Art Walk You Need

This is a love letter to my favorite walk in Bangkok, filled with more art and magic than you can imagine. It starts at Sapan Taksin BTS Station and ends on Yaowarat Road in Chinatown, leading you to art galleries, incredible street art, unique architecture, and stunning Chao Phraya river views, enveloped in the rich, earthy smells of apothecaries and motor oil.

Is it even possible to articulate how much I love Charoenkrung, Talad Noi, and Chinatown? Every centimeter of this walk is picture-perfect.

It's a maze of zig-zagging streets that get narrower with each adventurous turn. Streets so narrow they feel like a warm hug. It's the joyful sound of people laughing on plastic chairs next to food carts under a hot midday sun. It's the theatrical show of spoons clanking oversized woks and oil sizzling into a dazzling orange flame, whoosh! It catches your attention just in time for the dramatic flick of chili's so hot you can feel it burn your eyes and throat.

I live for the patterns and textures, the intricate metal gates protecting homes, the weathered cement building walls uncovering layers of change, the small tropical jungles framing the colorful entrances, the eye-catching street art, and the retro signs (especially at night!).

I have included the map below. This itinerary is a full-day walk with lots of stops build in for drinks, snacks, and short rests. I would start around 11am, and make sure you have a portable charger, extra camera batteries, comfy shoes, sunglasses, and an umbrella (if it's rainy season).

The purple stars correlate to everything in this article and I included a few that are 2-4 minutes off the path that are totally worth checking out.

Before we start our epic walk, let’s eat! Broccoli Revolution Charoenkrung is a minimalist, plant-filled art gallery with super delicious plant-based food. Today I had fermented tea leaf salad (lahpet thoke) and beet juice. It’s one of my absolute favorite dishes, tangy and crunchy, and I order it every time I see it on a menu. They all differ slightly, and I enjoy trying the variations. 

Broccoli Revolution has fresh juice, smoothies, coffee, breakfast, traditional Thai dishes, pizza, burgers, and dessert! While you wait for your food, check out the two-floor art gallery. Hours: Open every day from 11am-8pm, except Monday. 

After brunch, walk towards Lebua State Tower, that iconic building with curved balconies, pass the shiny gem and crystal shops, all the way to the East Asiatic Company Building, a historic Venitian-inspired Renaissance Revival constructed in 1900 by Italian architect Annibale Rigotti.

Keep walking towards the pier to see 'Zero' by artists Elmgreen and Dragset. Part of the 2018 Bangkok Biennale, 'Zero' symbolizes the loss of public spaces and the unfortunate trend of private developments where you must pay to enjoy things that were once free, like swimming pools. As you can see, I've been many times!

Next, we'll go to Central: The Original Store. Built in 1950, it has been beautifully remodeled and reopened to the public. I always like to start at the top and work my way down. The top floor has excellent views of Bangkok, then take the stairs to the art gallery, keep going down to a really neat museum where you walk through the pages of history, a library, a vintage bookshop, and a jazz bar cafe. Hours: Open every day from 10am-6pm, except Monday. 

Exit via the back door through Siwilai Sound Club and walk to Warin Lab Contemporary. This not-to-miss space addresses current issues in the hopes of bringing awareness through art and stimulating change. Plus, they always have fantastic exhibitions! Hours: Open every day from 10:30am-7:30pm, except Sunday and Monday. 

Next, we'll walk through Haroon Mosque Community, a cozy Muslim neighborhood filled with street food, street art, an abundance of cute kitties, and Islamic art inside the 122-year-old Haroon Mosque. It begins where you see the 4-story mural by Alex Face, a Bangkok street artist known for his pieces of a three-eyed child dressed in a furry rabbit costume inspired by his daughter Mardi.

Back on Charoenkrung Road, you'll see the Grand Postal Building and Thailand Creative Design Center (TCDC) on your left. Soon you'll arrive at Fotoclub BKK, a super rad space with a photography gallery, shop, darkroom, and cafe. If you're into analog photography and looking for film, or great art books and magazines, this will be your favorite place in Bangkok! Hours: Open every day from 11am-8pm.

The alley of street art next to Warehouse 30 is not to be missed! I was a frequent visitor during my three years in Bangkok and loved to watch it evolve! Many of these pieces were painted in 2016 during the BUKRUK Urban Arts Festival. Make sure to walk all the way to the pier at the end of the block.

Warehouse 30 is a beautifully renovated historical building filled with art galleries, shops, and cafes. The original wooden floors and many interior features like exposed beams and steel structures remain in place, giving it a lot of character.

It's a mixed-use space that often hosts exciting events and pop-ups, drawing you back often. I especially love Aurum Gallery, an urban street art gallery curated and owned by Goldie, a British DJ, and artist. 

A Coffee Roaster by LI-BRA-RY Cafe is the perfect spot to take a people-watching break. I especially love Chocolate On The Beach, a decadent drink with chocolate and coconut milk. Hours: Open every day from 9am-8pm.

Now you get to enjoy my absolute favorite piece of street art in Bangkok, by Portuguese street artist, Vhils. For five days in 2017, he carved, scratched, and chiseled his first work in Thailand, honoring Thailand's people and the connection between Thailand and Portugal. The way he uses the environment to create texture by uncovering a multitude of layers is a masterful way to tell a story. I encourage you to get close and connect with this beautiful piece, then slowly walk backward to watch it unfold.

Keep walking, and on your left, you'll see River City, a building comprising four floors of art galleries, MODA (Museum of Digital Art), antiques, restaurants, shops, and river views. If you're only in Bangkok for a short holiday, definitely pop in and look around, but if you have more time, I'll link the article I wrote so you can enjoy it another day. Just past River City on your right is a yummy piece of street art about food! Just look up!

Now we are heading into Talad Noi, meaning Little Market, my favorite neighborhood in all of Bangkok. There's more magic packed into these tiny streets than all of Bangkok combined. I desired to live here for three years and finally made my dream come true by staying at River View Residence during my last three weeks in Bangkok.

Our first stop is the 200-year-old Instagram hotspot Patina Cafe. A few years ago they opened it to the public during Design Week, and now it's the most charming cafe in Talad Noi. If only the peeling paint on these walls could talk, they would tell the most vivid tales of yesteryear. The outside wall on the side alley is one of my favorite spots to photograph in Bangkok. There's something so alluring about this historical curve. Hours: Open every day from 9am-5pm.

Exit Patina Cafe and turn left down a street lined with photographs from the neighborhood and an abundance of street art! Don't miss the impressive collection of enormous metal springs and discarded wheels that beckons you into Mother Roaster Cafe, or the century-old bright red Hon Wong Kung Shrine.

Now it's time for a much deserved cocktail made with local ingredients (my favorite is N1 Shiny, with Thai herbs) or a delicious snack while you lazily watch the boats drift by. Baan Rim Nam is a 200-year-old hidden gem with the best views of the Chao Phraya River and a lush tropical garden. It's the most chilled spot on this walk and might quickly become your Bangkok go-to hotspot. Baan Rim Nam is also one of my favorite places to watch the sunset. Hours: Open Thursday to Sunday from 12pm-9pm.

Now that you've had a rest, let's continue! On the right you'll find the outstanding door to 200-year-old So Heng Tai mansion, a beloved tree, and the infamous old car.

Meander your way to Citizen Tea Canteen run by Thai artist Saran Yenpanya. You can't miss the eye-catching orange and black entrance, the artisanal fair-trade tea, the hip traditional Thai crafts, stylish clothes, or his collection of nude needlepoints on the second floor. Hours: Open Friday to Sunday from 10am-6pm.

Next door you'll find River View Residence, where I spent my last three weeks in Bangkok. It was perfect. I highly recommend getting a riverside room on the top floor because the balconies have unobstructed views, perfect for watching the sunset light up the sky and the massive barges crawl up the river. The hotel has bikes you can borrow and a lovely rooftop restaurant. The staff is super friendly, helpful, and patient, especially when you order dinner and the Grab driver keeps getting lost, as it can be pretty tricky to find the first time. But the best part is the location! You're surrounded by so much culture and can walk to so many incredible places in 5-15 minutes. If I could live here forever, I would!

Now you'll pass Hong Sien Kong Cafe, all the hardware shops, and some neat buildings en route to another piece of iconic street art in Bangkok. It's located on the building wall next to a parking lot, so turn around to see it when you arrive! Belgian street artist ROA painted these lifelike elephants to bring awareness to the endangered species and to the sad and brutal reality of elephant tourism. It should be around dusk by the time you arrive here, or perhaps the sun has just set.

Here are some other pieces of street art to look for while walking through Talad Noi.

I could wander just to look at buildings in Talad Noi and Chinatown for hours and hours.

And the patterns you’ll encounter are so, so , so wonderful!

By now, the sun has set, and it's the perfect time to walk along Yaowarat Road and view the vintage neon signs bursting with color. Welcome to the hustle and bustle of people, food carts, multiple modes of transportation, and super long lines for the 'best' food finds. It's a noisy, bright, and truly dazzling part of Bangkok. Walk down one side, and back up on the opposite side to experience the full effect.

Yes, you can find a few vegan options on Yaowarat Road, but I prefer to walk to Soi Nana and have dinner at Bā hào, shophouse no 8, a stylish 1970's style Chinese restaurant. They have a couple of vegan options on the menu, but I keep going back for Tan Tan Noodles smothered in thick peanut sauce, coriander coconut ice cream for dessert, and their fantastic cocktails. If you're a Negroni fan, I recommend Opium, mixed with Chinese Ginseng and Herbs. Hours: Open every day from 11:30am-Midnight.

You're on Soi Nana in Chinatown, one of the hippest streets in Bangkok. After dinner you can bar hop and explore the nearby alleys for more street art. After the epic art walk you've had, you deserve a little break!

This is the ultimate guide to the best art walk in Bangkok. I hope you enjoyed exploring my favorite part of Bangkok with me.