Bangkok: The City That Has Everything (And I Mean Everything)

Rooftop bars · Ancient temples · Shopping malls · Street food · A Louis Vuitton store that's also a cafe — Bangkok is sensory overload in the best possible way.

I've been to Bangkok multiple times now and every time I go, I discover a new layer. The first time I went for the temples and the chaos. The second time I went for the food and the rooftop bars. And every time, I leave with the same thought: this city is bottomless. You cannot exhaust Bangkok.

THE TEMPLES THAT STOPPED ME IN MY TRACKS

Let's start with Wat Arun. I know everyone talks about it but I don't care — it's earned the hype. The level of detail in the porcelain mosaic work is insane. Up close, the entire temple is made of tiny pieces of broken Chinese pottery and coloured glass. I went at golden hour and the way the light catches those fragments... it looks like the temple is glowing from within.

Ancient City (Muang Boran) is the one most tourists skip and it's a MISTAKE. It's basically all of Thailand's most famous landmarks recreated in one massive park. You rent a bike and cycle between them. I spent an entire day here and it wasn't enough. If you're short on time and can't see every temple in the country, this place gives you the next best thing.

Wat Saket — the Golden Mount — is my favourite for a different reason. The climb to the top is peaceful, and the 360-degree view of Bangkok from up there puts the city in perspective. You can see the chaos from above, and somehow that makes it beautiful instead of overwhelming.

And then there's the Temple of the Emerald Buddha inside the Royal Palace. The architecture is so ornate it almost doesn't look real. Every surface is gilded, mirrored, painted. It's the kind of place where you stand with your mouth open and forget to take photos.

ROOFTOP BARS — MY WEAKNESS

Bangkok's rooftop bar scene is genuinely world-class and I've made it my personal mission to try as many as possible.

Tichuca is the one that ruined me. A treehouse-themed rooftop bar with jaw-dropping views of the city skyline. The cocktails are creative, the interior design is unreal (massive tree-like structures growing through the space), and the sunset views... I took about 400 photos and every single one looks like a movie poster.

Akara Sky Hanuman is the fancy one. More refined, more expensive, incredible cocktail programme. The kind of place where you feel like you need to dress up — and I absolutely did.

Lamaya was a pleasant surprise — less known than the big names but the ambiance was perfect. Sometimes the less Instagrammed spots give you the best evenings.
THE OFFBEAT SIDE

Erawan Museum is one of the most visually stunning places I've visited anywhere in the world. A massive three-headed elephant statue with a museum inside that blends Buddhist, Hindu, and contemporary art. The stained glass ceiling alone is worth the trip. This is the kind of place that makes you wonder why it isn't on every Bangkok itinerary.

Space Time Cube — an immersive art installation that's trippy, photogenic, and completely different from anything else in Bangkok. If you like art that makes you feel like you've stepped into another dimension, this is it.

Chocolate Ville — a European-themed restaurant complex that sounds cheesy but is actually gorgeous. Think fairy lights, Tudor-style buildings, and a lake. Not "authentic Bangkok" but a genuinely lovely evening out.

Nasatta Light Festival — I stumbled onto this and it was magical. Thousands of lights, lantern installations, and illuminated art pieces. If you happen to be in Bangkok when a light festival is running, GO.

Ong Ang Walking Street — a canal-side night market that feels like the local version of Asiatique. Less touristy, great food, and the canal is lit up with colourful lights. This is where Bangkok residents actually hang out on weekends.

SHOPPING — FROM LUXURY TO CHAOS

IconSiam is the fanciest mall I've ever been to. Period. It's got a indoor floating market inside the mall, luxury brands, riverside dining, and a drone show over the river at night. Even if you don't buy anything, it's worth visiting for the architecture and the river views.

Chatuchak Market is the opposite energy — organised chaos. Over 15,000 stalls selling everything from vintage clothes to live plants to handmade jewellery. You will get lost. You will buy things you don't need. Budget at least half a day.

Terminal 21 is themed like an airport — each floor is designed as a different city (Tokyo, London, Istanbul). The food court on the top floor has incredible Thai food at local prices, which is unusual for a mall.

Platinum Mall is wholesale fashion heaven. Cheap, trendy clothes in bulk. The quality varies wildly but if you have a good eye, you can walk out with a new wardrobe for the price of one Zara top.

And obviously, 7-Eleven. Thailand's 7-Elevens are a cultural experience. The toasted sandwiches, the iced coffee, the onigiri, the sheer variety of snacks — I visited one almost every single day and I'm not ashamed.

THE FOOD VERDICT

Thipsamai — the famous Pad Thai spot — lives up to the hype. The orange blossom pad thai wrapped in egg is genuinely the best pad thai I've ever had. Go during off-peak hours because the queue can be brutal.

Jay Fai — the Michelin-starred street food legend — I'm going to be honest: it was overrated for the price. The crab omelette is good but it's not "wait in line for two hours and pay 10x street food prices" good. There, I said it.

Auntie Nid Coffee Shop — cute concept but the drinks were too sweet for my taste. Worth a visit for the aesthetic if you're into that, but don't expect great coffee.

What I WILL say is that Bangkok's best food isn't in the famous spots. It's in the random stall that has a queue of Thai people and no English menu. Follow the locals, not the blog recommendations.

ASIATIQUE & THE RIVER

Asiatique Riverfront is the one place I'd say is worth visiting despite being "touristy." The night market itself is fine — it's the Chao Phraya river cruise that makes it. We did a dinner cruise and the views of Wat Arun and the Grand Palace lit up at night from the water are stunning. There was a drone show too, which was unexpected and genuinely impressive.

WHAT I'D SKIP

The Floating Market — the one that every tourist goes to is a manufactured experience designed to empty your wallet. The boats are packed, the prices are inflated, and it feels more like a theme park than an authentic market.

Maeklong Railway Market — the famous market where a train passes through. It's a cool concept for a 30-second video and then you've seen it. The journey there takes ages and the market itself is small. Unless it's on your way somewhere, it's a lot of travel time for very little payoff.

Bangkok is the kind of city that rewards curiosity. Skip the checklist, follow your nose, and let the city surprise you. It will.