Public House

Worth getting out of bed for

Public House likes to think outside the box when it comes to keeping guests entertained. Its ever-changing events calendar could see you sipping herbal brews in a tea workshop, getting inked by vintage-tattoo artists (or just learning how to sketch, tattoo-style), and taking a The Hangover II-inspired tour of the infamous filming spots. There’s always something artsy going on, whether it’s an anime exhibition, graffiti display, or meet-and-greets with local artists. 

Beyond the hotel’s multi-sensorial walls, Bangkok’s bustling district of Sukhumvit is on your doorstep. Set aside a few hours for some retail therapy at EmQuartier, a luxury shopping mall which is home to designer stores and more affordable brands – or Terminal 21, an airport-themed complex where you can shop your way around London, Paris, Rome, and more international hubs (with eateries to match each destination on every level). Stroll between Nana BTS and Asok BTS stations every evening (from 5pm to midnight) to browse the Nana Market stalls (also known as the Sukhumvit Street Market) for souvenirs, before hitting one of the many swanky clubs along Sukhumvit Road. You might be in a skyscraper-scattered area known for its nightlife and shopping scene, but amidst the high-rises you’ll find Kamthieng House Museum – a renovated teakwood house which gives visitors a glimpse into rural Thai living. Another tranquil spot to escape the city’s chaos is Benjasiri Park, with its leafy walkways, lake, and sculpture-dotted grounds.

Local restaurants

You might recognise Bo.Lan from Netflix’s Chef’s Table series, a much-celebrated restaurant which elevates Thai street food and traditional home-cooking to edible art. The restaurant closed during the pandemic, but reopened as a food centre with a kitchen entirely supplied by local farmers, fishermen and foragers. A limited number of tasting menus are released each month, so you’ll need to book ahead. As its name suggests, Cuisine de Garden Bangkok is a nature-inspired restaurant with woodland-themed interiors (exposed tree-trunks, twinkling fairy lights in dangling branches) where Nordic, French and Thai flavours are brought together on whimsically styled plates. The tasting menus change with the seasons, just be sure to save room for something sweet, like the Amazake ice-cream drizzled with Japanese honey and fruits of the forest.

Local cafés

Chic Okonomi café in Soi Sukhumvit 38 champions Japanese minimalism, simplicity, and mottainai (‘no waste’). The generously-portioned breakfast bowls (shoyu-koji salmon, an onsen egg, mizuna, and other Japanese herbs on a bed of multi-grain koshihikari rice) are a seriously wholesome way to start your day.

Local bars

Bangkok is buzzing by day, but really comes alive after dark – especially in upbeat Sukhumvit, with its go-go bars and red light districts. One of the swankiest rooftop spots in the city, Marriott’s Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar towers 40-something floors above trendy Thonglor. Graze on prawn sliders and torched ponzu-marinated salmon scattered with sesame and wasabi flakes, washed down with fruit-packed cocktails.