Where to live in Bangkok?
In many ways, Sukhumvit Road has always served as the face of Bangkok and a true barometer as to where the city is heading. This storied thoroughfare starts in Bangkok and runs 400 kilometres to just short of the Cambodian border. The section of the road which is best known, runs within the boundaries of metropolitan Bangkok.
Until World War II, the Bangkok section of Sukhumvit went through rice fi elds. Since its fi rst building boom in the 1960s, the road has steadily developed into a multi-faceted thoroughfare with just about every product, facility, service,and institution that one would expect to fi nd in a world-class metropolis: four- and fi ve-star hotels, apartments, and condominiums, major offi ce buildings, lifestyle shopping malls, local markets, chic eateries, coffee houses, night clubs, international schools and hospitals, and public parks.
The BTS SkyTrain runs directly over Sukhumvit from Soi 1 (Ploen Chit station) to Bang Na (Bearing station),which makes the entire stretch totally accessible even when there is stand-still traffi c congestion below. The MRT subway also connects with the BTS at the Sukhumvit-Asok intersection (Sukhumvit station).
Many of the sois along Sukhumvit have their own unique identity and story to tell. Soi 3 has a large Middle Eastern population and a section called Little Arabia; Soi4 is known for its expat nightlife venues; Soi 11 is packed with chic pubs, wine bars, restaurants, discos, after hoursclubs and an increasing variety of short- and long-stay accommodation; Soi 21 is the crossroadsof Sukhumvitin many ways and home to Exchange Tower, Interchange21, Terminal 21, Benjakitti Park, the Queen Sirikit NationalConvention Center, and the sultry Long Table restaurant which has the world’s longest existing restaurant dining table; sois 18, 20 and 31 are quiet but wonderful residential sois with a bit of greenery; Soi 24 has many plush, new serviced residences and condominiums, as well as a famous seafood restaurant, day spas, pet grooming outlets, and Japanese noodle shops. Emporium Shopping Complex, Benjasiri Park, and Villa Market are all close by too. And plans are already under way for Emporium 2 and 3 across from and next to Emporium 1!
Many Japanese nationals choose to reside in the area in and around Soi 24, Soi 33, Soi 39, Soi 55 (Thong Lo), and Soi 63 (Ekkamai). As such, there are many businesses geared to service this particular demographic, including UFM Fuji Super (Japanese supermarket with four branches – 1 each on Soi 33/1 and Soi 49, and 2 on Soi 39) of), Gateway Ekamai (Japanese lifestyle community mall connecting to the BTS Ekkamai), J Avenue (lifestyle mall on Thong Lo 15), and countless Japanese restaurants.
Thong Lo and Ekkamai have long been extremely desirable locations for young upscale Thais and those in the entertainment industry, and that is refl ected by the preponderance modern residences, name brand boutiques, chic eateries, and sophisticated nightlife venues which cater to their whims.
On the heels of Thong Lo and Ekkamai, are the rapidly developing residential pockets around Phra Khanong (Soi 71), On Nut (Soi 79) and Bang Na