Visting Bangkok

Food/dinning:

Le Dalat (Vietnamese)
47/1 Sukhumvit Soi 23

Baan Kanitha (Thai)
Sathron Road on the corner of Soi Suan Plu

Baan Lao (Lao/Thai)
49 Sukhumvit Soi 36 ,

Le Lys (Thai)
Soi Phra Pinit off of Suan Plu

Sala Rim Nama (Thai)
Across from Oriental Hotel same side as the Peninsula Hotel.  

Mahanaga (Asian Fusion)
2 Sukhumvit Soi 29. Tel: 02-662-3060.

The Face (Indian/Thai)
29 Sukhumvit Soi 38.

Suda (Thai)
Soi 14, Sukhumvit Road , Bangkok , 10110 Thailand

Harmonique (Asian Fusion)
22 Soi 34, Charoen Krung Road, Soi 34, Near Wat Muang Kae, towards the express boat pier on the right, Bangkok, 10500 Thailand

Sirocco
State Tower Bangkok, 63rd floor, 1055 Silom Road , Bangkok , 10500 Thailand – Go for the view.

The Sites (What to See):

Jim Thomason's House

Floating Market

Muay Thai Boxing at Lumpinee

Boat Cruise on the Chao Praya River

Thai Cooking Course

Emerald Buddha & Grand Palace

Wat Pho

Phya Thai Palace,
Ratchawithi Road near Victory Monument BTS Station.

MR Kukrit's Historical House 
Open 10am-5pm weekends and holidays only at 19 Soi Phra Pinit or by special appointment (Tel: 02-286-8185).

JIM THOMPSON'S TEXTILE MUSEUM
in the Jim Thompson's House compound, near the National Stadium BTS Station. Open 9am-5pm daily. No entry charge.

Entertainment:

Kao San Road - good bars like: The Club and Susie's

Bed Supper Club Bar
26 Sukhumvit Soi 11; Nana Stn (02-651 3537)

NORIEGA
106-108 Soi 4, Silom Rd ; Saladaeng Stn

Q Bar
34 Soi 11, Sukhumvit Road
(next to the Global Club)
Bangkok , 10110

Bangkok Bar
In Banglampoo
149 Soi Rambutri
(Just off Chakrapong Road , next to Sawasdee Guest house) Bangkok , 10200

Shopping:

Weekend Market (Chatuchak Market)

River City - antique shops

Suan Lum (Lumpinee) Night Bizarre

Where to Stay:

Expensive
The Oriental Hotel
Peninsula Hotel
Conrad Bangkok
The Sukhothai Bangkok
Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok

Middle
Sheraton Royal Orchid Hotel & Towers
JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok
Shangri-La Hotel
The Davis Bangkok
Banyan Tree Bangkok
Evergreen Laurel Hotel

Cheap
Silom City Inn
Town In Town Hotel Bangkok
Narai Hotel

Additional Insight about Bangkok:

* Starting off in Bangkok makes sense but I would limit the amount of time you spend in the city to 1-2 nights unless you have specific things you would like to do or people to see. As I am sure you know, Bangkok is primarily a night life town with a pretty narrow range of daytime activities, all of which can be seen in a day or two.

* Places to stay:  

- The Davis (www.davisbangkok.net). Located in a pretty swanky part of Sukhumvit 24 down the road for Emporium, a high end shopping mall where they have a terrific movie theater and there are always a lot of hi-so cuties milling around. The Davis is in the range of US$60-70 per night. They may have a few cheaper Studio rooms in the Corner Wing but I recommend you skip them as they are no where near as nice as the Design or whatever the standard rooms are called and are only a little bit cheaper. If you are looking for something really killer The Davis also has 2 bedroom villas around their nice pool that are really sunny and great. That part of the hotel is like a little oasis but it's a little pricey for Bangkok -- the villas are in the range of US$200+ night.

- A third place to consider is President Park serviced apartments (www.presidentpark.com) which is just across the street from The Davis. They have a range of room types and the ones for US$100 are big and good for parties if you're thinking of bringing people back to your room.

* There is an interesting display celebrating Thai fashion / art design going on just up the street from the Davis on the 5th floor (6th?) of the Emporium shopping center. It's on the same floor as the movie theater. Highly recommended if you're got 30-60 minutes at some point.

* One strong recommendation:  Get as many massages as you can while you are in Thailand . Traditional Thai massage is super cheap and really excellent. One friend described it as "like someone doing yoga for you." Two hours of massage will cost you somewhere between 5 and 15 bucks (outside of a hotel) and will leave you feeling wonderfully relaxed. Unless you want more than a massage be sure to seek out traditional Thai massage place ("nuat phaen boran" in Thai) or you will

* The standard Bangkok tourist activities I consider worth doing are the following:  

- Grand Palace .  Be sure to hire one of the guides out front. They know a lot about the history and meaning of the place and will make your visit much more meaningful for 5-10 bucks. Do not listen to anyone who says the Grand Palace is closed for a special occasion, etc. Also do not accept a ride in any tuk-tuk or taxi near this area that offers to take you to a gem shop or on a tour of any kind. This applies for Wat Po as well.

- Wat Po. Walking distance from the Grand Palace . Large, beautiful temple worth the visit.

- Long tail boat ride through the canals. At the Phra Athit water taxi pier (and also the one closest to the Grand Palace ) you can rent a long tail boat and driver to take you up and down the canals that run through the Thon Buri side of Bangkok . These canals (or "khlong" in Thai) used to be one of the primary forms of transportation for the entire city of Bangkok and cruising along the remaining ones gives you a good view of some traditional Thai lifestyles.

- Jim Thompson's House.  I didn't visit this until I had already lived in Thailand for many years and I was impressed. The house is beautiful and the tour is well done. They also have a nice cafe if you feel like a snack or drink.

- Wat Arun.  The Temple of the Dawn. It's located right on the banks of the Chao Phraya river and the design and location make it one of the more beautiful temples in Bangkok .

- Chatuchak Market. Massive open-air market with everything from lemurs to used jeans to antiques to raw meats. Open only on Saturday and Sunday. Somehow manages to be both hip and traditional at the same time. Highly recommended.

* Restaurants to consider:

- Somboon. Very popular string of Thai seafood restaurants. Excellent, fresh seafood. Highly recommend the crab curry dish (I prefer it with the bones removed  but people who are super into seafood like it with the bones becuase it's more fresh. Also recommend "hoi lai phat phrik phaow" a mussles dish that is excellent. The branch I know best is on the corner of Surawong and Narithiwat Roads but there is probably one closer to the Davis .

- Vertigo.  Located on the roof of the Banyan Tree hotel this restaurant has gorgeous views of all of Bangkok . It's a steak / continental restaurant with pretty good food but the main reason to go is the view. They also have a bar if you're not up for dinner.

- The Face. Located in a complex of georgous traditional Thai houses on Sukhumvit 38. The have Indian and Thai food. Very swanky bar inside too.

- 100 Club. Group of restaurants and bars located on Rachadamri overlooking the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. Very chick these days.

- To Die For. Located at the end of Tonglor (Sukhumvit 55). Hip young place with good food.

- Baan Khaniha.  Very popular Thai restaurant that is very comfortable, easy to find that despite these characteristics (which often result in mediocre food) manages to serve authentic, good central Thai food. Tel. 02-675-4200.
- Khrua Wiangchan.  Traditional decor and good, authentic Northeastern Thai food. Located on Sukhumvit 38, not far from the Davis .

- Street Food in China Town .   China Town is popular for both Thai and Chinese food and is especially crowded late at night.