
Although Bangkok has always been a go-to stop for world travelers, it may be that one of its own districts is now in a position to upstage it on the world stage. Bangrak, one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, is getting a reputation as the place to be in Thailand. A sort of Bangkok SoHo, the lure of low-cost apartments has proved an irresistible draw for the young, the hip and the innovative.
Of late, the area has become the dwelling place for chefs, musicians, designers, artists and would-be entrepreneurs, anxious to make their mark.
Now known as the “creative district,” the area also encompasses Bangkok’s China town and neighboring districts, Talat Noi and Yaowarat. Special features of the area include Thai-Fusion cuisine, hip local bars, and urban street art.
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“My father, however, had better ideas. He and I would show up, make our rounds politely, then decamp to the nearby Oriental hotel, now the Mandarin Oriental (doubles from $420), his old friend Nelson in tow. Over cocktails, the men would hatch outlandish plans.”