Updates for
Nancy Chandler's Map of Khao San & Old Bangkok,
December 2009
by Nima Chandler
Updates are organized in order of the map
index's table of contents for your convenience. To jump ahead
to any particular section, click on any of the following:
Please note that we do not accept advertising
or 'tea money' for mention on this site or on Nancy Chandler's
maps. All contents are chosen for their interest to us and
our readers.
HOTELS
NEW RIVERSIDE HOTELS
On Phra Athit Road next to Tha Phra Arthit (B3) is the new Navalai River Resort with rooftop pool and opening rates from B 2,100+. Tel: 02-280-9955. www.navalai.com. Opposite, you can’t miss seeing the striking new Praya Palazzo with 17 rooms in a recently restored mansion accessible by river only. Rooms B 6,500+. www.prayapalazzo.com. Tel: 02-883-2998.
NEW GUESTHOUSES IN THE KHAO SAN AREA
The spanking new Sleep Withinn at 76 Rambuttri near Tup Tim (D4) has a pool, and rooms from B 1,500+. 02-280-3070. www.sleepwithinn.com. Two blocks north is the Hello Guesthouse at 147/5-6 Kraisi (D2-E2). Tel: 02-629-5770.
NEW GUESTHOUSES AND HOTELS ON SAMSEN
The Baraburi (I1-2) is now The Four Inn in between Samsen Sois 1 and 3 with room rates at B 1,290+. Tel: 02-280-0601. www.TheFourInn.com. Nearby on Samsen Soi 3 is the Penpark Place with spartan clean rooms from B 260-660 a night. Tel: 02-281-4733. On Samsen Soi 5, look for the cozy Samsen 5 Lodge on Samsen Soi 5, with 3 rooms prices from B1,200-2,000 a night. 02-628-9799. http://Samsen5LodgeBangkok.multiply.com.
ELSEWHERE IN OLD BANGKOK
The Siamese Views Lodge hotel has opened at 211/21-23 Soi Damnoen Klang Nua on the stretch of this lane behind what was the Museum of Jade on Rajadamnoen Klang (I2-J2). Rooms are B 900+. Tel: 02-629-1441. Down the same soi is the new Sourire @ Rattanakosin Island boutique hotel with inroom wifi and rates B 1,500+, 02-280-2180 ext. 100.
NAME CHANGES
Welcome Sawasdee Inn --> Sawasdee Welcome Inn, Rongmai (A4).
New World Lodge --> New World City, Samsen Soi 2 (D1-E1).
CLOSED
Tham-Na Home, Samsen (I1) - Now a restaurant only.
SIGHTSEEING
FREE BIKE TOURS OF OLD BANGKOK CANCELLED
The Bangkok Tourism Authority has cancelled its Bikes for Rent program for the time being. It if relaunches, we’ll let you know here.
CHANGES / CORRECTIONS
The Wat Po Thai Traditional Massage School, off Maharat (H4) has changed its telephone number to 02-622-3550.
SHOPPING
ART GALLERIES
The 44 Arts gallery on Chakkrabong (C5-D5) is now the Jazz Gallery lounge bar which plans to reopen the gallery space in 2010. Nearby on Khao San however is the Prakorb Art Gallery in a neat old house behind Prakorb’s House (D5). Tel: 02-281-1345. In Old Bangkok, PS or People Space Gallery has opened in a tiny shophouse admist the cafes of the Phraeng Phuton neighbourhood (H3-I3). Tel: 081-549-1002.
BOOKSHOP UPDATES
Closed: Bookazine branches on Chakkrabong (D5-6) and Sunset St, Khao San (D4-E4); Shaman Books branch on Tanao (E4-F4).
IN FASHION
Closed: Nero, Khao San (D4-5).
NAME CHANGES
Buddy Silver Trade Centre --> Buddy Shopping Plaza (E4)
DINING
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Drop by Mister Pas’ (opposite Phra Sumen fort on Phra Athit) for dinner while in the area and you may well book a table for brunch the very next day. It only has four tables, but the food is five star international without a hint of pretension. Prices are very reasonable. Open Tue-Sun noonish to 10.30pm.
NEW PALACE DINING
The historic Chakrabongse Villas on Maharat (A2) now offer non-guests the opportunity to dine within the former palace grounds along the river. Traditional Thai set lunch and dinners are B 2,000. Reservations required. Tel: 02-622-1900.
CAFES
Starbucks on Sunset St (E4) no longer has classical music and ska in front Thu-Sun nights. Closed: Nero Bakery, Khao San (D4-5); On Art@Phra Athit (B2-C2).
AMERICAN
The new 999 West, which replaced the long running Susie Pub (E4), now offers an interesting Americana menu, unlike anything else available on Khao San.
INDIAN
Closed: Indian Spice, Rambutri (B4).
INTERNATIONAL
Closed: Gulliver’s 2 sports bar, Mayompuri, Chakkrabong (D2).
ISRAELI
Closed: Mish Mish, Trok Mayom (D5).
ITALIAN
Closed: Nero, Khao San (D4-5); Scoozi Pizza, Sunset St, Khao San (D4-E4).
JAPANESE
The House of Sushi has opened on Chakkrabong just below Pannee Lodge (C5-D5). Meanwhile, the original Japanese restaurant on Khao San, Taketei, has moved into the former premises of the Funk Bar (E3) on Soi Rambuttri. Open daily 4pm to midnight with an all you can eat buffet at B 399 and set meals at B 120. Tel: 02-629-0173.
KOREAN
Two new Korean restaurants have opened on Rambuttri behind the wat. Closed: Dong Dea Moon, Rambutri (C3).
SEAFOOD
Fisherman’s Seafood (G2-3), Maharat Road has been replaced by Venice Vanich, which offers a seafood buffet downstairs and open air dining above and a great riverside view. Tel: 02-222-8082.
VEGETARIAN
Tham-Na Home, Samsen (I1) is now called Tham-Na Hometaurant and no longer offers rooms for rent, but still serves friendly veggetarian only.
ENTERTAINMENT
FOR CLUBBING EVENTS
Check out www.khaosanroad.com which has started not only posting special club night promotions but tipping people off on discounts available to specific club nights. Meanwhile, the Khao San Pub Crawls we plugged on this page in early 2009 are sadly no longer happening.
FOR LIVE MUSIC
The Austin Bar (E4-5) off Khao San which became Destination of Satisfaction is now Zest... Meanwhile, Buddy Beer on the 2nd floor of Buddy Lodge (E4) has now become Mulligan’s Irish pub, with the multi-talented troubadour Lee Shamrock performing on Thursday nights from 9.30pm and a great band comprised partly of motorcycle taxi drivers every Saturday night. The 44 Arts gallery (C4-D4) on Chakkrabong in the Khao San Area is now the Jazz Gallery lounge bar with live music nightly as well. If heading up Samsen (I1), there are a number of new small live music venues there worth checking out as well, including Common Ground which reportedly hosts Reggae Night on Thursdays from 9.30pm on.
OTHER NIGHTLIFE UPDATES
The Diamond Hotel on Samsen (D1) no longer has a rooftop bar, but the staff seems happy to sell drinks on the ground floor and allow non-guests access to the rooftop where several lounge chairs are laid out under the stars. For those looking for something a bit more wild, the Bangkok Bar on west Rambutri has moved into the former premises of Bay Ta Ra - Bar Ta Le on east Rambutri (B4) opp. the Viengtai. The Cave, Khao San (E4) is now The Tempo (with live music, no rock climbing wall anymore). The long-running Susie Pub (Ef) has also been transformed, now an Americana theme bar called 999 West, with live music Thu-Sun. Closed: Dong Dea Moon, Rambutri (C3), Gulliver’s 2 sports bar, Mayompuri, Chakkrabong (D2), Immortal, Khao San (E4).
NEW IRISH PUB ADDS TO THE SCENE
Buddy Lodge’s ambitious new Mulligan’s Pub offers multiple sports tvs, happy hours 4-8pm and 1-3am, as well as buffet breakfasts at 6am and live music (see above for details). For more information, see www.mulligansthailand.com.
PLANNING A HEN'S NIGHT ON KHAO SAN?
Let us help. We've helped organize many a hen's night / bachelorette party / stagette do in Bangkok and on Khao San and have the pictures (and video) to prove how much fun this location can be! Sorry we cannot share the proof online! For the guys, we'd also be happy to help with plans for bachelor parties / stag nights for those who want to avoid the seedier side of town. Just email us at sales@nancychandler.net and we'll get back to you shortly!
LIVING
NEW THAI COOKING SCHOOL
The D&D Inn, Khao San (D5) has opened a dedicated cooking school behind its hotel called Khao Cooking School in the D&D Inn. Tel: 089-111-0947.
DOCTOR ON CALL
The Bangkok International Clinic on Rambuttri (C3) is now open 9am-8pm with an English speaking doctor available 10am-7pm.
SPORTS
ROCKCLIMBING ON KHAO SAN NO MORE
The Cave, Khao San (D4), has shut down its rockclimbing wall.
|
|
Share Your Best Finds!
| Keeping our maps up-to-date is not easy. As places
come and go, and new services are introduced without
publicity, we do our best! We couldn't do as well as
we do without reader contributions, however. To let
us know of special places you've found, email nancy@nancychandler.net.
If it is something we haven't heard before, we'll be
in touch! |
Nima and Nancy Chandler
Photo by Siri Chandler
|
SEASONAL SPECIALS
NEW YEARS ON KHAO SAN
December 31, 2009
If it is a peaceful and quiet ringing in of the New Year you are after, avoid Khao San. As one of the top three venues for revellers, it will be packed with people celebrating!
KHAO SAN ELECTRONIC MUSIC FESTIVAL
February 20, 2010
Head to Khao San before 10pm for free entry to this annual electronic music fest, featuring three areas outdoor, indoor and on the roof and more than 15 DJs. Tickets cost B 200 (including 1 beer) from 10pm on at the Suksabai Bar, located opposite the Vientai Hotel on Rambuttri (B4).
|
|
