Bangkok's Best Kept Secret?

The Bamboo Bar is prob what she meant. It's been there since the 50s, jazz every night, dark wood and rattan, feels like stepping back in time. Not exactly secret anymore but locals still treat it like one, and the cocktails are legit. Ask for a seat near the band, order the Oriental Sling, and you'll get the vibe your grandma was talking about.

arrow_drop_up 15 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

One thing nobody's mentioned, the old bars at the Oriental weren't just about drinks, they were where the journalists and shipping agents hung out during the Vietnam War era. The secret door your grandma remembers might've been the staff entrance off Soi Charoen Krung 40 that guests used when they wanted to slip out without going through the lobby. That soi's still there, and if you walk it at night you get a weird flash of what the area felt like before all the condos went up. Ask the bell captain about the Charoen Krung side, not the river side, that's where the real stories are.

arrow_drop_up 5 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

Worth knowing the old wing your grandma remembers was actually two shophouses the hotel bought in the 1870s, and the riverfront bar she's describing was probably what staff called the "Riverside Bar," a low-ceilinged room with no signage that poured until 2am for guests who knew to ask. That structure came down in the 1976 rebuild, so the physical room is gone, but the hotel's own 150th anniversary book has a photo of it on page 63 if you want to see what she saw. Ask the front desk for the heritage book, they keep a copy behind the counter and most guests never bother.

arrow_drop_up 4 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

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.

arrow_drop_up 5 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

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.

arrow_drop_up 4 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

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

arrow_drop_up 2 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply