Guide to the hip and laidback area Ari in Bangkok
It started with a Google search for "Cozy areas in Bangkok," and most recommendations pointed to one place: Ari (Aree). This neighborhood, primarily inhabited by middle-class Thais and expats, is renowned for its trendy coffee shops, diverse food spots, and creative pop-up concepts, making it a haven for food enthusiasts and Instagram influencers.
Lay Lao in Ari
Where to Eat
For a seafood-focused culinary delight, visit Lay Lao. Run by a family from Hua Hin, this restaurant offers some of the most inventive flavor combinations in Bangkok. The menu features Isaan classics and fresh seafood, with standout dishes like fish and crab curry served with fresh rice noodles, herbs, veggies, sprouts, and a spicy beef salad. If you're craving khao soi, an egg noodle soup in a curry broth topped with crispy fried noodles, Ong Thong Khao Soi, just a block away, is the place to go. Another Ari classic is the modernist restaurant Salt, which has been serving up Japanese and Italian flavors since 2010. Come here if you’re craving both pizza and sashimi.
Lay Lao
When you're fed up with the flavors of red curry and lemongrass, head over to Fishmonger for some deep-fried fish and fries, aka fish and chips. If you're in the mood for street-style Korean food, Joha is the spot to visit. For an array of street food stalls, explore the nearby alley, where you can find everything from acai bowls to noodle bars. Or for a bigger food court and mall, check out A One Ari.
NaNa Coffee Roasters, Ari
Where to drink
An area like Ari is not complete without some excellent coffee spots. The most popular, and for a reason, is NaNa Coffee Roasters. Looking like a coffee lab, these award-winning baristas prepare each drink like a science project. And the coffee will blow your mind. Try out the trendy coffee drink ‘dirty coffee’, an espresso poured over cold milk and cream. If you are looking for a more homely vibe, check out Poet House Café, just one street away. For cat cuddles, check out the cat café ‘Black Cat’ on Soi 1. Two other loved spots in the area are Kenn’s and Knock Knock Café & Bar.
When the sun is about to set, it’s the perfect time to enjoy a craft beer at O’Glee. But if you are more in the fancy cocktail mood, go to Baby Bar or The Key Room No. 72.
Where to hangout
If you brought your camera along and want to impress your followers on social media. Head over to the fun color-explosion Gump’s Ari, a community space in retro decor where you’ll find a man-size Thai tea, several photobooths, a ball pit and a donut shop all in pastel. Maybe you’re not in the mood for watching stylish Instagrammers posing for 20 minutes for the perfect picture, then instead, walk over to the green space Aree Garden and enjoy a cold drink in the shade. One of the most charming things about this area is the tiny tiny bakeries and cafés, more like a hole-in-the-wall kinda vibe.
Soi Ari 1 and the adjoining side streets are a great starting point, with spots like Qraft and Aribica Specialty Coffee serving thoughtfully brewed coffee, and quirky cafés and bakeries dotted along the way. Cross over into Soi Ari 4 (Fang Nua Alley) and you’ll find Roots for laidback coffee excellence, plus plenty of places to linger over lunch or an early dinner, like noodles at Thong Smith @Ari.
Beyond just those two streets, Ari’s network of side sois, like Soi 2 and Soi 3, and the leafy stretch of Phahonyothin Soi 7 are packed with laid-back eateries and coffee spots such as BAY Aree or European styled Bar Storia del Caffè, making for a perfect afternoon stroll with plenty of chances to stop, sip and soak in the hip yet relaxed local vibe.
Want to be first to know when we drop a new blog post? Subscribe to our newsletter.