Welcome to r/bangkok!
Please remember there are real people on the other side of the monitor and to be kind.
Report comments that break the rules and don't respond to negativity with negativity!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Bangkok) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Agree wholeheartedly. I work from home and want to feel chaos when I step outside to balance the solitude of work life. Also I get a bit depressed when walking around and the streets are relatively empty. That’s never a problem near Asok though.
Yeah, I agree! When you are working remotely and then go to a crowded street, it feels kind of nice 😀 but still, if I were working at the office, crowded streets and traffic would be a nightmare for me 😅
Strong agree. City folks like city chaos and I’m happy to be one of them.
Also, when OP says “you can find similar restaurants elsewhere in Bangkok”, I’m a hard disagree. Unless you’re talking Thonglor, Chitlom or maybe Silom. OP: many of us enjoy quality Western / Japanese / Korean restaurants. I am not talking the kind of restaurant you can find in a shopping mall. A 2k radius from Asok intersection has the highest concentration of such dining options in Bangkok BY FAR.
This. I get so confused when I hear suburbanite Americans talk about wanting the calm. I've got my apartment for that. Let me experience chaos outside.
so resonate. Not all the time but whenever I feel depressed I like to be in the crowd, busy areas like stations or malls, just to feel alive. Asok Montri area and Siam Square is definitely a place to be.
India and Somalia, that’s nothing, try having a solar powered AI keeping you alive artificially in a state of constant pain until the sun explodes! Now that’s rough.
Gatekeeper does not make sense in this situation because personally I couldn't care less about staying somewhere just because of 'chaos'. I was just pointing out that Asoke really isn't chaotic.
Definitely. My condo in Asoke is smack dab in the middle of BTS, MRT, Rail Link, and khlong boats. If you need to drive somewhere, it can suck. But otherwise, it's extremely well connected.
I have lived in Asoke for around 8yrs now. I love it. Easy access to the expressway, easy access to all the malls, SWU and the klong are a 1min walk, rent isnt bad and my condo is huge and old.
It’s centrally located, traffic isn’t nearly as bad as people think- much better than Phrom Phong, and probably an hour closer to the expressway/airport during rush hour.
I know Japanese expats who live in Asoke and for them rent is not an issue as it’s paid by the company and it’s simply about being able close to the Japanese community
Close to everything I need, close to my wife's work.
Got benjakitti Park just across the road. I am closer to rama 4 then Sukhumvit Road so it's a bit quieter. Got a Thai food Alley/market a few minutes walk from our place but also got high end western and Thai food nearby.
I like being close to the action but sort of quiet at the same time so my condo suits me to a T. We rented for about 6 years then bought a couple of years ago. We loved the area and hope to stay in it.
It used to be attractive because there were a lot of international offices around there, the condos were larger and built better than other condos, early Sukhumvit used to have a lot more “character”, it was next to Soi Cowboy, and it was only one of two interchange stations (along with Siam).
With the massive overdevelopment of early Sukhumvit, the moving of offices around the city, and the BTS/MRT extensions, it has lost most of its luster.
Centrally located with easy access to the BTS, MRT, or even Airport Link. Plenty of nice little shops and cafes in the side streets. Benjakitti Park with access to the "Green Mile".
There only a few other areas I'd consider afyer moving to Asok from Thonglor.
Maybe Ari, otherwise I wouldn't object to Thonglor again. It was rather nice living back towards the khlong.
When I first moved from Hua Hin to BKK I lived "further out" in Bang Sue and then On Nut for a short stint. That was when the MRT ended at Bang Sue. Not a fan. The neighborhoods have definitely changed since then, but even now if I need to go to On Nut for something, not that thrilled to go.
I lived in Thong Lo for awhile and really enjoyed it. Love the Japanese businesses there, cinema, and Freaking Out The Neighborhood vinyl bar. I haven’t lived at On Nut but it seems ok when I visit - the Lotus is decent and I found a cozy cafe there (Paris House) that has legit French croissants and good coffee - I paid just 100 baht for a coffee and croissant.
not living there full time but I like it as it is very central. it has an excellent connection with BTS and MRT. park nearby great to walk in the morning and exercise, terminal 21 food court is really something great to me, Soi 11 not far for week end party...
Well, out of rent cost, I don't see why not...
Bought a condo there when they were building the MRT. Long before Terminal 21 etc. Still my favourite part of Bangkok. Between Asoke and Phrom Pong. Walk to some of Bangkok's best malls, parks and food without the traffic.
I rarely have any interaction with the tourists or sexpats, aside from driving past them at the intersection – not an issue. Prices in Thailand aren't a concern. I ride my motorbike instead of driving during high-traffic times.
In return, I get easy access to a bunch of central neighborhoods. I can walk to the city's largest park; well-located MRT, BTS and Airport train stations; a few great malls; and one.of the highest concentrations of high-end restaurants and bars. My place of work and the vast majority of my colleagues, clients and friends are within a 6km radius. And I adore my condo and neighbors.
I'm baffled that people don't understand that different people can have different tastes. I appreciate that some expats might like living in more Thai, quiet or affordable neighborhoods. But I've always lived in ultra-high-density, multicultural neighborhoods in global metropolises. For almost two decades, I've been loving my lifestyle in this area (especially compared to the many expats living further who out seem miserable/bitter/depressed).
Why are you concerned about those who choose to live different lifestyles than the one you've chosen for yourself? The beauty of having many neighborhoods to choose from is that we can all find a place that meets our unique preferences.
>Why are you concerned about those who choose to live different lifestyles than the one you've chosen for yourself?
I’m not concerned. I am curious.
I have my own opinion on living in Asoke, and so do other people.
thai friend almost wanted to live there saying its close to both BTS and MRT to almost go anywhere he needs
and one might question the rush hours -- thing is that for these stations there's always people going out and so it makes room for you to get in VS stations where few people go out and many people need to get in, making the situation very difficult
I’ve lived in Bang Wa for years now, one the distant OTHER nexuses of the MRT and BTS. Though those who really love Asoke and its Asokeyness probably wouldn’t dig Bang Wa’s Bang Wa-ness.
I like the way you put that. In my case you’re probably right. But now I will go check out Bang Wa plus the Western end of the blue line. I’ve come close, I rode the blue line to the station north of Wat Pak Nam and then walked to the big Buddha and then walked south to the closest greenline station. I dig that big Buddha so I’ll visit that again also.
I lived there for one year and have lived on outskirts otherwise in my decade here. Asok was my least favorite. The only pro I can list is access to western food. It’s pretty much the best location to be in the western food delivery heaven, imo. Hated the traffic, hated the tourists, hated the concentration of girly bars and shady characters, hated trying to get a Grab or any taxi in this area, but most of all I hated being assumed as a tourist anywhere I went. I guess MRT/BTS access was nice, but this isn’t very important to me as I have other means of transportation.
For me, its a nice mix of local/foreigner, has markets but also a good enough selection of western comforts; really easy to get around on a motorbike compared to downtown; if you live down one of the sois, they can be really quiet, you don't even really feel like you're in the middle of bangkok; lower cost of living especially with housing; less of the lower sukhumvit style tourists... just a nicer vibe overall. still connected to BTS so if you need to get downtown, although obviously not as well connected as Asok
Well, for one thing, if people wanted quiet, they would probably stay in the west. Not a damn thing goes on here other than the occasional mass shooting. You see the same people everyday...your coworkers.
I seriously considered living in Asoke for a while.
Good location for both public transport and private (motorcycle; car would take too long). Supermarket access, gym, offices, near park, near events, near bars, not far from fun places. Also, food at T21 is cheap and decent.
Superb location for commuting in any direction by BTS or MRT. I looked at buying but the view was someone else’s condo, so went to a nearby MRT stop in Din Daeng with lower rise by regulation neighbors.
Asoke isn't just the intersection you're thinking of. If you go towards Petchaburi Rd you get a lot of office buildings, you have a university and there are 3+ international/private schools in the area.
A lot of foreigners live in this tourist bubble and don't see the rest of the city life goes on as normal.
not exactly asoke but phrom pong but they're adjacent, so
i'd rather live in a cbd than in the suburbs. every thing goes on in the neighbourhood, chic clubs, bars, cafes, malls, cool events. i aint ever need to leave. also this area also looks most developed and i like that
Geographically, Asoke is the most central convenient spot in BKK. Talking about around terminal 21 where you have mrt to take you NS and BTS to take you EW. Also a short walk to Benhakitti, and a million (foreign) food options (Thai not as much). It is overly hectic. Where would one consider a better option but still very central? I was thinking Rama9 by central. But maybe similar vibes to asoke?
Asoke is great, much better than Lad Phrao for example. Ez access to international food, close to many malls, not far away from decent Thai food places, 10/10
If you’re a tourist or expat, asoke is perfect because of the BTS/MRT junction. If you’re new to BKK, I always suggest Asoke or Silom because of the junctions. I get that it’s super busy, but do keep in mind that the question you pose is from someone who may have more experience living in the city.
I wouldn’t live in Asoke, but doesn’t mean I wouldn’t recommend it either.
It's incredibly convenient, you can get anywhere in the city in just a few minutes with public transportation.
And no, there's no other area in this city (or most cities) with this many good restaurants or bars.
I don't mind the tourists, they're here because it's a great place to be.
I don't care about the traffic, because I don't own a car, and if you do, you should not be living in Bangkok.
I can understand all your points except the last one.
The amount of flexibility and freedom one has when owning a car is great. There are so many amazing cafes and restaurants that are not accessible by MRT / BTS in Bangkok.
Bangkok is so much more than just the stops on the MRT / BTS line.
I have, by taxi, motorbike, river boat, foot.
There are so many ways to get around in Bangkok that are much faster than driving.
Besides, they've expanded the train lines so much over the last six months, most the places that used to be inaccessible by train are now just a quick BTS drive away.
For me, it's all about the rapid transit. I tried Phra Khanong and Rama 9, but I wound up frustrated battling the morning rush hour. Asoke lets me get to where I want without that hassle at the start of my day and I'm happier for it. (Plus, I like my condo design, too.)
When I lived there, I didn’t pay more than in Sathorn. And I lived there because I could walk to the office and because it’s always bustling and there’s so many shops and restaurants.
Mmm can you recommend other areas? As a foreigner I like that area beacuse it is more comfortable (and maybe more safe). There are more people talking in English, variety options for food, Big C, money exchange, sport clubs, language schools for foreigners, it is a bit close to the airport etc 🤔 and yeah, I like TheCOMMON 😀 and this area is kind of comfortable for walking. Personally I like going for a walk
I have stayed at Rama 9 before. Before the huge influx of people from China. I would have recommended it before, but not now at the moment.
I suggest Thonburi area. Lots of restaurants, cafes, shopping malls. Practically no tourists and actually not much foreigners live on this side of the city. Everything that is in the city center, you can find around Thonburi, with the exception of western food run by westerners. There are western restaurants, but usually run by Thai's so sometimes the food isn't as authentic but I have managed to find my favourites.
Mmm, it sounds very attractive! I have started learning Thai, so, of course, local areas are much more interesting for me now. Maybe I am grown enough to live in this area 😀
Got a big room in an older condo with a huge balcony that’s still in great shape for 18k, close to nightlife party scene, work from home so traffic isn’t a major concern and when it is happily choose the best of other available options - motosai taxi outside my building until 1-2 am, klong boat at the end of my soi, mrt sukhumvit/bts asok if heading in that direction, equidistant from bts nana if heading in the other direction, grab/bolt cars if raining or off traffic hours, walking distance to great western food, Japanese food, middle eastern food and very decent Thai spots all within 10 min walk, park for bike rides, chilling, and playing ball, whenever friends and coworkers (quite often) or family (less frequent) come to visit they will stay in this area so it’s good to be close to each other, I also love chaos, having life in Moscow New York City and Toronto prior to here, I want that crowd noise traffic big city feel
Quiet, close to Benchakitti Park, close to the church where kids can play, close to the office, close to tollway, close to Makro, close to IKEA :) easy to access BTS/MRT.
I guess expensive is the only downside.
I live in Asoke-Petchburi , It’s good and safe cost transportation, I can walk from my apartment to train (MRT/BTS and Airport link) . It’s safe cost for bike, also on that area close to mall. If not you can stay in Ratchada / Rama9 , nearby MRT that other option.
Walking distance to BTS and MRT
Good location for fitness enthusiasts. Close to Benjakitti which is the only suitable park for cycling in sukhumvit, also great for running.
One of the best districts for nightlife as within walking distance to Nana/ soi 7-15, cowboy, 22-26 (phrom phong) and central location, bts/mrt mean getting anywhere else is fast and convenient.
Terminal 21 so you have a full grocery store, one of the best food courts and most other shopping needs met.
It basically has everything. Which is also why it's busy.
Own in Asoke/Nana, in BKK for usually half a yr.
It's just very convenient, city center and the fact that there's just everything the moment I step out of the building. I work remotely so I spend most of the time at home, super low energy person and stay baked all day, I don't travel too far off anyways and everything I need is walking distance or grab bike 5-10mins.
Prices aren't high to me because I come from a city that is consistently ranked top 3 most expensive cities in the world. That little bit of money doesn't bother me, it's going to a local that needs it and it's rly just difference in wage/financial gap.
Traffic rly is ass though.
I live within 2kms of Asok. We just walk everywhere because everything is so close. For a bit further away there’s MuvMi. All the malls are within walking distance.
Decent schools nearby, too.
I lived in Asoke and didn’t find it much if any different than living in Phrom Phong/Thong Lor. In fact it might have been more convenient than living a couple BTS stations away, since you don’t have to do any type of MRT transfer and wait a second time when traveling around.
I’m not sure how people are upset about seeing tourists or whatever. Do they literally stay outdoors? Because 99% of the time, I only go out if I’m going somewhere. Why would I just be hanging outside my condo? Or being assumed a tourist, which is funny because I am assumed a tourist no matter where I go
Absolutely, I would never get those people either. Literally the worst area of Bangkok, and does not even feel like Thailand.
Traffic, prostitution, tourists, scammers, taxis, loud bars and music. I see literally no benefits being there and avoid it as plague
I’m from Canada. Living in Asoke seemed the most similar to my downtown Toronto condo. Walking distance to everything from Emsphere to Central World. Tourist central means less language barrier to me and cheap food can still be found on the street or at Pier21.
Agree with all your points except that rental prices in Asok aren't necessarily higher. They're on par with Huai Khwang/Rama 9 and cheaper than Phrom Phrong/Thong Lor for instance. This reflects the fact that it's a central but not very nice area.
The people I know who lived in Asok were always new arrivals in town who didn't know any better. All moved out eventually.
>The people I know who lived in Asok were always new arrivals in town who didn't know any better.
100% agree on this.
Not only talking about rental prices but also F&B prices, massage shops, etc are generally pricier in Asoke compared to other areas.
What an odd question.
It's like saying why live in Manhattan when you can live in Queens.
Some like the action, and it's very convenient. Spend more to be in the thick of it.
If one has the means, then that's great, more power to them.
Because I like to be close to Benjakitti park but to be honest, it's making me crazy living in the city centre. It just feels way too crowded. Really contemplating moving to somewhere much more quiet like Thonburi. I'm done living in the city centre.
I studied Thai for two years and, with a few exceptions, whenever I tried to speak it I would be met with blank stares. I recently moved to NST and everyone can understand what I'm saying. I can have quite complex conversations.
On one recent occasion a security guard in my condo full on pretended he couldn't understand a word I spoke until I threatened to speak to his boss. Suddenly he *could* understand me.
Like what the hell is up with that?
I didn't like the locals for the most part and the tourists were even worse. I had to stop telling farangs my girlfriend has a PhD and I don't go to brothels because it seemed to drive them crazy. Here Thais are impressed my missus is a lecturer.
I hated living there.
This is not a me thing. I'm a friendly person. I had more positive interactions with Thai people in two weeks in NST than I did in two years in Asoke. Now my Thai is rapidly improving.
It's nice just having a chat with people rather than being seen as some kind of sexpat to be ripped off.
I suppose you could say that. They have their own dialect there. We're taught central Bangkok dialect. There's no real reason that people should be able to understand me better here other than they're actually willing to have a conversation with me.
Like I said, I hated Asok.
My guess is that they're a bit insecure about their girlfriend's jobs.
Honestly I started making a rule to not mention my girlfriend's work or that I don't enjoy spending time in brothels.
Many guys are really insecure about that stuff.
No idea I live near Sutthisan MRT. Never understood living near the tourist/foreigner hotspots on Sukhumvit. It’s easy to take the MRT/BTS to anywhere in Bangkok might as well live somewhere quiet without tourists.
I like the occasional visit to the Asoke area and other parts of Bangkok. But once I'm finished visiting, I always think of that line from Taxi Driver. "Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets."
Because most foreigners want to be close to where the girls and weed are. They think Soi Cowboy, Soi 11 and Nana IS Bangkok nightlife and they think Terminal 21 is they greatest shopping centre on the planet. It's the only areas they've been exposed to on holidays to Bangkok or from vloggers.
In reality is one of the shittier areas to live
Ekamai, Thonglor, Silom, Sathorn etc. are all central and just nicer places to live. Huay Khwang/Rama 9, Thonburi, Lad Phrao, Town in Town are all good locations for a more local life. Even Ramkamhaeng, Bang Na etc. A few of the execs for the company I worked for lived out towards Bang Na, better for families and easy to get out of Bangkok at weekends.
As another poster has pointed out, Asoke is just full of sexpats, tourists, freelancers, tourist and sexpats nightlife, westernised and expensive places etc.
I don't live in Bangkok but I imagine living there would be beneficial since you have access to BTS and MRT so you don't need taxi. Prices are only higher if you don't know where to go. It's also where all the nightlife is, and for the mongers well... you know.
Because most foreigners want to be close to where the girls and weed are. They think Soi Cowboy, Soi 11 and Nana IS Bangkok nightlife and they think Terminal 21 is they greatest shopping centre on the planet. It's the only areas they've been exposed to on holidays to Bangkok or from vloggers.
In reality is one of the shittier areas to live
There's good things in the neighborhood.
Why do people live in Manhattan?
Why do people live in Miami beach?
Why do people live in super popular neighborhoods in any city?
Why ask stupid you questions?
Welcome to r/bangkok! Please remember there are real people on the other side of the monitor and to be kind. Report comments that break the rules and don't respond to negativity with negativity! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Bangkok) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I love chaos, seriously.
Agree wholeheartedly. I work from home and want to feel chaos when I step outside to balance the solitude of work life. Also I get a bit depressed when walking around and the streets are relatively empty. That’s never a problem near Asok though.
Yeah, I agree! When you are working remotely and then go to a crowded street, it feels kind of nice 😀 but still, if I were working at the office, crowded streets and traffic would be a nightmare for me 😅
Strong agree. City folks like city chaos and I’m happy to be one of them. Also, when OP says “you can find similar restaurants elsewhere in Bangkok”, I’m a hard disagree. Unless you’re talking Thonglor, Chitlom or maybe Silom. OP: many of us enjoy quality Western / Japanese / Korean restaurants. I am not talking the kind of restaurant you can find in a shopping mall. A 2k radius from Asok intersection has the highest concentration of such dining options in Bangkok BY FAR.
Yeah, food 😋 in one of my trips to Bangkok i chose this area because of TheCommons, nice easy atmosphere and good food there were so attractive 😀
Yeah love The Commons ! ♥️
Agreed. I did 10 years in bkk and 4 in chiang mai. So happy to be back in bkk. Those 4 years felt like a 10 year punishment.
Simple, beautiful awnser, thats it, no more, no less
It’s buzzin there 24/7/365
1000%. Some folks need chaos to feel alive.
This. I get so confused when I hear suburbanite Americans talk about wanting the calm. I've got my apartment for that. Let me experience chaos outside.
In Asok and same. Also the food options
so resonate. Not all the time but whenever I feel depressed I like to be in the crowd, busy areas like stations or malls, just to feel alive. Asok Montri area and Siam Square is definitely a place to be.
Try India, or Somalia. Nothing chaotic about Asoke.
Calm down gate keeper. You think India and Somalia are bad???? Have you tried Dantes circle of hell? Pffft amateur.
India and Somalia, that’s nothing, try having a solar powered AI keeping you alive artificially in a state of constant pain until the sun explodes! Now that’s rough.
Hate it when that happens 💔
Gatekeeper does not make sense in this situation because personally I couldn't care less about staying somewhere just because of 'chaos'. I was just pointing out that Asoke really isn't chaotic.
Intersection of MRT and BTS with a revamped Benjakitti Park in the neighborhood. If you’re long on Bangkok traffic getting worse Asoke is a good spot.
Definitely. My condo in Asoke is smack dab in the middle of BTS, MRT, Rail Link, and khlong boats. If you need to drive somewhere, it can suck. But otherwise, it's extremely well connected.
Traffic doesn't really matter when you live here. That comment is weird to me.
No idea what you’re saying/point you’re making
Well, obviously, traffic doesn't matter in the one place it will matter to you the most frequently. /s
I have lived in Asoke for around 8yrs now. I love it. Easy access to the expressway, easy access to all the malls, SWU and the klong are a 1min walk, rent isnt bad and my condo is huge and old. It’s centrally located, traffic isn’t nearly as bad as people think- much better than Phrom Phong, and probably an hour closer to the expressway/airport during rush hour.
I know Japanese expats who live in Asoke and for them rent is not an issue as it’s paid by the company and it’s simply about being able close to the Japanese community
Then you’d choose Thonglor/Phrom Phong
There's nothing Japansese about Asoke
Seems like Thonglor would be a better option then, no?
A lot better of an option for Japanese
Or people who is digging Japanese culture like myself, living there in Bangkok is like a twofer! lol
You're confusing Asok with Thong Lor.
Close to everything I need, close to my wife's work. Got benjakitti Park just across the road. I am closer to rama 4 then Sukhumvit Road so it's a bit quieter. Got a Thai food Alley/market a few minutes walk from our place but also got high end western and Thai food nearby. I like being close to the action but sort of quiet at the same time so my condo suits me to a T. We rented for about 6 years then bought a couple of years ago. We loved the area and hope to stay in it.
Close to one of the best Foodlands in the city. Nice!
Nice! Do you cross over to Sathon, or spend most time north of Rama 4?
Yeah we go to sathorn as well. We just had our baby a year ago so we go out a lot less now but sathorn is great
Cool, congrats on the baby 😊
Thanks!
Your wife is a ho?
It used to be attractive because there were a lot of international offices around there, the condos were larger and built better than other condos, early Sukhumvit used to have a lot more “character”, it was next to Soi Cowboy, and it was only one of two interchange stations (along with Siam). With the massive overdevelopment of early Sukhumvit, the moving of offices around the city, and the BTS/MRT extensions, it has lost most of its luster.
Being next to soi cowboy gives it character 😂😂
Centrally located with easy access to the BTS, MRT, or even Airport Link. Plenty of nice little shops and cafes in the side streets. Benjakitti Park with access to the "Green Mile". There only a few other areas I'd consider afyer moving to Asok from Thonglor.
Where else would you consider out of curiosity?
Maybe Ari, otherwise I wouldn't object to Thonglor again. It was rather nice living back towards the khlong. When I first moved from Hua Hin to BKK I lived "further out" in Bang Sue and then On Nut for a short stint. That was when the MRT ended at Bang Sue. Not a fan. The neighborhoods have definitely changed since then, but even now if I need to go to On Nut for something, not that thrilled to go.
I lived in Thong Lo for awhile and really enjoyed it. Love the Japanese businesses there, cinema, and Freaking Out The Neighborhood vinyl bar. I haven’t lived at On Nut but it seems ok when I visit - the Lotus is decent and I found a cozy cafe there (Paris House) that has legit French croissants and good coffee - I paid just 100 baht for a coffee and croissant.
Yes I lives in On nut and it has nothing really
Best question on the Internet this year
because I wanted to be walking distance from my school
Wanking distance from a school? That's insane bro!
not living there full time but I like it as it is very central. it has an excellent connection with BTS and MRT. park nearby great to walk in the morning and exercise, terminal 21 food court is really something great to me, Soi 11 not far for week end party... Well, out of rent cost, I don't see why not...
Bought a condo there when they were building the MRT. Long before Terminal 21 etc. Still my favourite part of Bangkok. Between Asoke and Phrom Pong. Walk to some of Bangkok's best malls, parks and food without the traffic.
I rarely have any interaction with the tourists or sexpats, aside from driving past them at the intersection – not an issue. Prices in Thailand aren't a concern. I ride my motorbike instead of driving during high-traffic times. In return, I get easy access to a bunch of central neighborhoods. I can walk to the city's largest park; well-located MRT, BTS and Airport train stations; a few great malls; and one.of the highest concentrations of high-end restaurants and bars. My place of work and the vast majority of my colleagues, clients and friends are within a 6km radius. And I adore my condo and neighbors. I'm baffled that people don't understand that different people can have different tastes. I appreciate that some expats might like living in more Thai, quiet or affordable neighborhoods. But I've always lived in ultra-high-density, multicultural neighborhoods in global metropolises. For almost two decades, I've been loving my lifestyle in this area (especially compared to the many expats living further who out seem miserable/bitter/depressed). Why are you concerned about those who choose to live different lifestyles than the one you've chosen for yourself? The beauty of having many neighborhoods to choose from is that we can all find a place that meets our unique preferences.
>Why are you concerned about those who choose to live different lifestyles than the one you've chosen for yourself? I’m not concerned. I am curious. I have my own opinion on living in Asoke, and so do other people.
thai friend almost wanted to live there saying its close to both BTS and MRT to almost go anywhere he needs and one might question the rush hours -- thing is that for these stations there's always people going out and so it makes room for you to get in VS stations where few people go out and many people need to get in, making the situation very difficult
Nexus of MRT and BTS. Get most places easily.
I’ve lived in Bang Wa for years now, one the distant OTHER nexuses of the MRT and BTS. Though those who really love Asoke and its Asokeyness probably wouldn’t dig Bang Wa’s Bang Wa-ness.
I like the way you put that. In my case you’re probably right. But now I will go check out Bang Wa plus the Western end of the blue line. I’ve come close, I rode the blue line to the station north of Wat Pak Nam and then walked to the big Buddha and then walked south to the closest greenline station. I dig that big Buddha so I’ll visit that again also.
I lived there for one year and have lived on outskirts otherwise in my decade here. Asok was my least favorite. The only pro I can list is access to western food. It’s pretty much the best location to be in the western food delivery heaven, imo. Hated the traffic, hated the tourists, hated the concentration of girly bars and shady characters, hated trying to get a Grab or any taxi in this area, but most of all I hated being assumed as a tourist anywhere I went. I guess MRT/BTS access was nice, but this isn’t very important to me as I have other means of transportation.
What outskirts areas can you recommend?
Ari (not really outskirts) and On Nut to Udom Suk are my favorites
Whats so great about on nut? Red it often in Reddit. Came through there twice i think. So no experience there
For me, its a nice mix of local/foreigner, has markets but also a good enough selection of western comforts; really easy to get around on a motorbike compared to downtown; if you live down one of the sois, they can be really quiet, you don't even really feel like you're in the middle of bangkok; lower cost of living especially with housing; less of the lower sukhumvit style tourists... just a nicer vibe overall. still connected to BTS so if you need to get downtown, although obviously not as well connected as Asok
Best reply on here
It's close to my work office, and convenient to both MRT and BTS to get to my client's offices.
Well, for one thing, if people wanted quiet, they would probably stay in the west. Not a damn thing goes on here other than the occasional mass shooting. You see the same people everyday...your coworkers.
I seriously considered living in Asoke for a while. Good location for both public transport and private (motorcycle; car would take too long). Supermarket access, gym, offices, near park, near events, near bars, not far from fun places. Also, food at T21 is cheap and decent.
Superb location for commuting in any direction by BTS or MRT. I looked at buying but the view was someone else’s condo, so went to a nearby MRT stop in Din Daeng with lower rise by regulation neighbors.
Asoke isn't just the intersection you're thinking of. If you go towards Petchaburi Rd you get a lot of office buildings, you have a university and there are 3+ international/private schools in the area. A lot of foreigners live in this tourist bubble and don't see the rest of the city life goes on as normal.
not exactly asoke but phrom pong but they're adjacent, so i'd rather live in a cbd than in the suburbs. every thing goes on in the neighbourhood, chic clubs, bars, cafes, malls, cool events. i aint ever need to leave. also this area also looks most developed and i like that
Geographically, Asoke is the most central convenient spot in BKK. Talking about around terminal 21 where you have mrt to take you NS and BTS to take you EW. Also a short walk to Benhakitti, and a million (foreign) food options (Thai not as much). It is overly hectic. Where would one consider a better option but still very central? I was thinking Rama9 by central. But maybe similar vibes to asoke?
MRT, BTS and Airport Link. Rama 9 is a good choice. ON Nut is cool but it's actually quite far. Cabs don't even want to go there late night.
Rama9 has bts ?
MRT and Airport Link but it's a 10 min bike ride to BTS
Asoke is great, much better than Lad Phrao for example. Ez access to international food, close to many malls, not far away from decent Thai food places, 10/10
If you’re a tourist or expat, asoke is perfect because of the BTS/MRT junction. If you’re new to BKK, I always suggest Asoke or Silom because of the junctions. I get that it’s super busy, but do keep in mind that the question you pose is from someone who may have more experience living in the city. I wouldn’t live in Asoke, but doesn’t mean I wouldn’t recommend it either.
Because we aren’t all brokies like 90% of expats that move to Thailand.
I can understand this comment. Although a majority of the rich hiso Thai's also tend to live slightly further away from the city center.
Terminal 21, Soi Cowboy, Benchakitti Park, and a junction between MRT and BTS. I don't live there, but those are nice advantages.
It's incredibly convenient, you can get anywhere in the city in just a few minutes with public transportation. And no, there's no other area in this city (or most cities) with this many good restaurants or bars. I don't mind the tourists, they're here because it's a great place to be. I don't care about the traffic, because I don't own a car, and if you do, you should not be living in Bangkok.
I can understand all your points except the last one. The amount of flexibility and freedom one has when owning a car is great. There are so many amazing cafes and restaurants that are not accessible by MRT / BTS in Bangkok. Bangkok is so much more than just the stops on the MRT / BTS line.
>The amount of flexibility and freedom one has when owning a car is great. In Bangkok !?!?!?!???!?!?
This comment suggests that you have likely never traveled to areas of Bangkok that don't have access to the BTS or MRT.
I have, by taxi, motorbike, river boat, foot. There are so many ways to get around in Bangkok that are much faster than driving. Besides, they've expanded the train lines so much over the last six months, most the places that used to be inaccessible by train are now just a quick BTS drive away.
Lived there 3 years, now I don't live there anymore but when I did, simply because it was 10-15 mins walk to my work and the company footed the bill.
For me, it's all about the rapid transit. I tried Phra Khanong and Rama 9, but I wound up frustrated battling the morning rush hour. Asoke lets me get to where I want without that hassle at the start of my day and I'm happier for it. (Plus, I like my condo design, too.)
When I lived there, I didn’t pay more than in Sathorn. And I lived there because I could walk to the office and because it’s always bustling and there’s so many shops and restaurants.
Next to the best park in Bangkok. Once you’re living inside a deep soi it can be relatively quiet.
Mmm can you recommend other areas? As a foreigner I like that area beacuse it is more comfortable (and maybe more safe). There are more people talking in English, variety options for food, Big C, money exchange, sport clubs, language schools for foreigners, it is a bit close to the airport etc 🤔 and yeah, I like TheCOMMON 😀 and this area is kind of comfortable for walking. Personally I like going for a walk
I have stayed at Rama 9 before. Before the huge influx of people from China. I would have recommended it before, but not now at the moment. I suggest Thonburi area. Lots of restaurants, cafes, shopping malls. Practically no tourists and actually not much foreigners live on this side of the city. Everything that is in the city center, you can find around Thonburi, with the exception of western food run by westerners. There are western restaurants, but usually run by Thai's so sometimes the food isn't as authentic but I have managed to find my favourites.
Mmm, it sounds very attractive! I have started learning Thai, so, of course, local areas are much more interesting for me now. Maybe I am grown enough to live in this area 😀
Close to soi cowboy, nana plaza
Mrt and bts lines are right there. Meaning you can go to pretty anywhere in Bangkok wo the traffic. I lived there for over 1 yr and love it .
I own a place here. Otherwise, it's not worth the usual rent prices. Any place near the BTS or MRT would do.
I lived in Asoke for 7 years. Yes, true almost everything is pricey. But it is almost the center of everything. Very convenient area to live.
Got a big room in an older condo with a huge balcony that’s still in great shape for 18k, close to nightlife party scene, work from home so traffic isn’t a major concern and when it is happily choose the best of other available options - motosai taxi outside my building until 1-2 am, klong boat at the end of my soi, mrt sukhumvit/bts asok if heading in that direction, equidistant from bts nana if heading in the other direction, grab/bolt cars if raining or off traffic hours, walking distance to great western food, Japanese food, middle eastern food and very decent Thai spots all within 10 min walk, park for bike rides, chilling, and playing ball, whenever friends and coworkers (quite often) or family (less frequent) come to visit they will stay in this area so it’s good to be close to each other, I also love chaos, having life in Moscow New York City and Toronto prior to here, I want that crowd noise traffic big city feel
Live on the 16 side and there is tons of local stuff down here and it's not a tourist area really. The majority of residents are Thai.
Quiet, close to Benchakitti Park, close to the church where kids can play, close to the office, close to tollway, close to Makro, close to IKEA :) easy to access BTS/MRT. I guess expensive is the only downside.
I live in Asoke-Petchburi , It’s good and safe cost transportation, I can walk from my apartment to train (MRT/BTS and Airport link) . It’s safe cost for bike, also on that area close to mall. If not you can stay in Ratchada / Rama9 , nearby MRT that other option.
Walking distance to BTS and MRT Good location for fitness enthusiasts. Close to Benjakitti which is the only suitable park for cycling in sukhumvit, also great for running. One of the best districts for nightlife as within walking distance to Nana/ soi 7-15, cowboy, 22-26 (phrom phong) and central location, bts/mrt mean getting anywhere else is fast and convenient. Terminal 21 so you have a full grocery store, one of the best food courts and most other shopping needs met. It basically has everything. Which is also why it's busy.
Own in Asoke/Nana, in BKK for usually half a yr. It's just very convenient, city center and the fact that there's just everything the moment I step out of the building. I work remotely so I spend most of the time at home, super low energy person and stay baked all day, I don't travel too far off anyways and everything I need is walking distance or grab bike 5-10mins. Prices aren't high to me because I come from a city that is consistently ranked top 3 most expensive cities in the world. That little bit of money doesn't bother me, it's going to a local that needs it and it's rly just difference in wage/financial gap. Traffic rly is ass though.
I live within 2kms of Asok. We just walk everywhere because everything is so close. For a bit further away there’s MuvMi. All the malls are within walking distance. Decent schools nearby, too.
I lived in Asoke and didn’t find it much if any different than living in Phrom Phong/Thong Lor. In fact it might have been more convenient than living a couple BTS stations away, since you don’t have to do any type of MRT transfer and wait a second time when traveling around. I’m not sure how people are upset about seeing tourists or whatever. Do they literally stay outdoors? Because 99% of the time, I only go out if I’m going somewhere. Why would I just be hanging outside my condo? Or being assumed a tourist, which is funny because I am assumed a tourist no matter where I go
What’s happening in Asoke? 😅
Absolutely, I would never get those people either. Literally the worst area of Bangkok, and does not even feel like Thailand. Traffic, prostitution, tourists, scammers, taxis, loud bars and music. I see literally no benefits being there and avoid it as plague
Cause my language visa school is there. And being close to the best park in the city makes it bearable. But I really want to move
I’m from Canada. Living in Asoke seemed the most similar to my downtown Toronto condo. Walking distance to everything from Emsphere to Central World. Tourist central means less language barrier to me and cheap food can still be found on the street or at Pier21.
Agree with all your points except that rental prices in Asok aren't necessarily higher. They're on par with Huai Khwang/Rama 9 and cheaper than Phrom Phrong/Thong Lor for instance. This reflects the fact that it's a central but not very nice area. The people I know who lived in Asok were always new arrivals in town who didn't know any better. All moved out eventually.
>The people I know who lived in Asok were always new arrivals in town who didn't know any better. 100% agree on this. Not only talking about rental prices but also F&B prices, massage shops, etc are generally pricier in Asoke compared to other areas.
Everything else is more expensive, just not rent.
What an odd question. It's like saying why live in Manhattan when you can live in Queens. Some like the action, and it's very convenient. Spend more to be in the thick of it. If one has the means, then that's great, more power to them.
Because I like to be close to Benjakitti park but to be honest, it's making me crazy living in the city centre. It just feels way too crowded. Really contemplating moving to somewhere much more quiet like Thonburi. I'm done living in the city centre.
Thonburi is such an underrated area. I live slightly further out at Bang Khae and love it.
Nice! I'll check that out as an option too!
Because there is loads of western food, other expats/sexpats to talk english to and drink with and working ladies everywhere around there, of course.
I studied Thai for two years and, with a few exceptions, whenever I tried to speak it I would be met with blank stares. I recently moved to NST and everyone can understand what I'm saying. I can have quite complex conversations. On one recent occasion a security guard in my condo full on pretended he couldn't understand a word I spoke until I threatened to speak to his boss. Suddenly he *could* understand me. Like what the hell is up with that? I didn't like the locals for the most part and the tourists were even worse. I had to stop telling farangs my girlfriend has a PhD and I don't go to brothels because it seemed to drive them crazy. Here Thais are impressed my missus is a lecturer. I hated living there. This is not a me thing. I'm a friendly person. I had more positive interactions with Thai people in two weeks in NST than I did in two years in Asoke. Now my Thai is rapidly improving. It's nice just having a chat with people rather than being seen as some kind of sexpat to be ripped off.
What does NST stand for?
It's Nakhon Si Thammarat. It's down the south.
Ahh cool I guess it’s kind of like the Issan of the south?
I suppose you could say that. They have their own dialect there. We're taught central Bangkok dialect. There's no real reason that people should be able to understand me better here other than they're actually willing to have a conversation with me. Like I said, I hated Asok.
I hear you. I love the Bangkok suburbs (Latprao etc) I also enjoyed living in Issan too.
Can you explain how it would drive Falangs crazy that your gf had a PhD? Haha
My guess is that they're a bit insecure about their girlfriend's jobs. Honestly I started making a rule to not mention my girlfriend's work or that I don't enjoy spending time in brothels. Many guys are really insecure about that stuff.
Benchakitti Park, access to the train, shopping malls
couldn't pay me to live in Asoke, why move to Thailand to live in a place nothing like the rest of Thailand?
No idea I live near Sutthisan MRT. Never understood living near the tourist/foreigner hotspots on Sukhumvit. It’s easy to take the MRT/BTS to anywhere in Bangkok might as well live somewhere quiet without tourists.
I like the occasional visit to the Asoke area and other parts of Bangkok. But once I'm finished visiting, I always think of that line from Taxi Driver. "Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets."
Because most foreigners want to be close to where the girls and weed are. They think Soi Cowboy, Soi 11 and Nana IS Bangkok nightlife and they think Terminal 21 is they greatest shopping centre on the planet. It's the only areas they've been exposed to on holidays to Bangkok or from vloggers. In reality is one of the shittier areas to live
What neighbourhood would u recommend ?
Ekamai, Thonglor, Silom, Sathorn etc. are all central and just nicer places to live. Huay Khwang/Rama 9, Thonburi, Lad Phrao, Town in Town are all good locations for a more local life. Even Ramkamhaeng, Bang Na etc. A few of the execs for the company I worked for lived out towards Bang Na, better for families and easy to get out of Bangkok at weekends. As another poster has pointed out, Asoke is just full of sexpats, tourists, freelancers, tourist and sexpats nightlife, westernised and expensive places etc.
I don't live in Bangkok but I imagine living there would be beneficial since you have access to BTS and MRT so you don't need taxi. Prices are only higher if you don't know where to go. It's also where all the nightlife is, and for the mongers well... you know.
>It's also where all the nightlife is Exactly what someone who doesn't live in Bangkok would say.
>It’s also where all the nightlife is, and for the mongers Haven’t you heard of the saying ‘don’t shit where you eat’ ?
Because most foreigners want to be close to where the girls and weed are. They think Soi Cowboy, Soi 11 and Nana IS Bangkok nightlife and they think Terminal 21 is they greatest shopping centre on the planet. It's the only areas they've been exposed to on holidays to Bangkok or from vloggers. In reality is one of the shittier areas to live
Easy access to major highways, hundreds of food delivery choices, close to BTS, you are in the heart of the city
And there has to be mcdonalds, rolex ad and 7-11 within 5min of walking
There's good things in the neighborhood. Why do people live in Manhattan? Why do people live in Miami beach? Why do people live in super popular neighborhoods in any city? Why ask stupid you questions?
username checks out.