What are Some Places in Bangkok that [Died Down/were Permanently Changed/Killed-Off] because of Covid?

oh man the old ratchada train market was such a vibe, i remember going there in 2018 and it was packed with people just wandering around eating and drinking, the whole energy shifted when they moved to jodds fair, it feels more like a mall food court now.

another place that really changed is the area around ari, used to be this super chill neighborhood with random bars and street food stalls that felt like a secret spot, now its all instagram cafes and overpriced cocktail places, the old charm is kinda gone.

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yeah the Ratchada Train Market move to Jodds Fair really split the vibe, the original spot had a raw energy that the new one just cant replicate. Nana Plaza is another one that feels different, before covid it was this chaotic 3-story circus of bars with people spilling onto the soi, now it's cleaner and quieter with way less of that loud, sweaty charm. I remember walking Soi Cowboy in 2019 and the street was packed wall to wall with tourists and working girls, now it feels half empty even on a friday night, theres a few go-go bars that just never reopened.

honestly the whole Sukhumvit soi 11 scene died a bit too, places like Levels and Mixx used to be packed every night but now the crowds are thinner and a lot of the big clubs have been replaced by more low-key lounges. For me the biggest loss was the old RCA clubs like Route 66 and The Club, they had that massive outdoor space where everyone would just hang out and drink between songs, now RCA is more focused on expensive bottle service and the energy is just gone.

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the old rama 9 soi 19 area where the original huai khwang night market used to be, that whole stretch was wild back in 2018-2019, you'd have street food stalls and tuktuk drivers everywhere but now it's just a construction site for those new condos, the vibe totally got sanitized

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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