Where have all the coworkers gone?

You're right that a lot of the coworking scene shifted hard toward private offices after covid. I think a big part of it is that the old model relied on a constant flow of short-term visitors who'd hang around and chat, and that crowd just hasn't come back in the same numbers. The places that survived, like The Hive on Thonglor or Hubba in Ekkamai, now feel more like quiet libraries or just backdrops for people taking Zoom calls.

I've found better luck at coffee shops that double as work spaces, honestly. Kaizen Coffee on Ekkamai 10 has a solid table setup and actually gets a regular crowd of freelancers who know each other by sight, even if they aren't doing organized events. There's also a spot called Casa Lapin on Soi Phrom Phong that has a coworking annex in the back where people actually talk to each other sometimes.

For the social stuff you're after, you might have better luck hunting for specific meetups rather than relying on the coworking itself to host them. Bangkok Digital Nomad meetups still happen at different venues around Sukhumvit, and the Facebook group for it is reasonably active. The coworking spaces themselves just aren't curating that vibe anymore.

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I think you're running into the difference between what coworking spaces were selling in 2019 versus what they're selling now. Most of the places that survived the pandemic realized they could make more money renting private offices to Thai startups and small teams than they ever did selling day passes to travelers. The coworking floor becomes an afterthought, a loss leader to get people in the door.

If you want the social element, look for spaces that deliberately resisted that shift. There's a place called ProSpace on Soi 26 that still has an open layout and actually hosts regular Friday evening drinks for members. It's smaller than the big chains, maybe 40 seats on the coworking side, but people actually know each other's names there. The monthly rate is around 4,500 baht, which is reasonable for what you get.

The other option is to work from the common areas of some of the newer condo buildings around Ekkamai and Thonglor. A few of them, like the one above the Donki Mall on Thonglor 10, have lobby spaces that function as de facto coworking for residents and their guests. You'll need to know someone who lives there to get past security, but the vibe is closer to what you're remembering.

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yeah the nomad scene definitely cratered after covid. most of those people either went home or shifted to cheaper places like Chiang Mai or Vietnam. the coworking places that are left cater mostly to local freelancers and small businesses now, not the transient digital nomad crowd

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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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