Silom: Bangkok's Business District by Day, Street Food and Nightlife by Night
Explore Silom and Bang Rak, from the colorful Sri Maha Mariamman Temple and lunchtime street food to Patpong's night market and Lumphini Park at dawn.
Silom is Bangkok's main business district, and it is also one of the city's most varied and interesting neighborhoods. By day, the streets are filled with office workers, banks and high-rise towers, with lunch stalls spilling onto the pavement in every lane. By evening, the same streets change character, with the Patpong night market and its nightlife, LGBTQ+ bars on the sois and a steady flow of people heading for dinner. Within a few minutes' walk you can see a Hindu temple, a Chinese shrine, a mosque, a historic hotel and a riverside pier, which makes it one of the best places in Bangkok to see the city's mix of cultures.
Silom Road runs from Charoen Krung Road near the river east to Lumphini Park, and the neighborhood spreads out on either side. Sathorn Road runs parallel to the south, with embassies and tall towers, and the area around Bang Rak, close to the river, is older and more characterful, with historic shophouses and some of the city's best traditional restaurants. BTS Skytrain stations at Sala Daeng, Chong Nonsi and Surasak, and the MRT Silom station, make the area very easy to reach. Almost everything is within walking distance, though the heat and the traffic can be wearing.
Lunch in Silom is a Bangkok institution. From about eleven in the morning, food stalls and small restaurants fill the lanes off Silom Road and Convent Road, serving noodles, curries, rice dishes and grilled meat to hungry office workers. This is one of the best places in the city to eat cheaply and well, and you will find some of the longest queues for a simple plate of food. Come on a weekday, arrive before noon and be ready to share a table. Our <a href="/guide/bangkok-street-food-safety-what-first-timers-get-wrong/">street food safety guide</a> covers how to choose a stall.
Culture is easy to find. The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, on Pan Road, is one of Bangkok's most colorful sights, a South Indian-style Hindu temple with an elaborate, brightly painted tower and a busy daily schedule of worship. It was built in the 19th century by Tamil migrants and remains an active centre for the Hindu community. Visitors are welcome, with shoulders and knees covered, and shoes are removed at the entrance. Nearby, a few small mosques and Chinese shrines show how many communities share the area.
| Time of Day | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Early morning | Locals exercise in Lumphini Park, and the streets are quiet |
| Lunchtime | Street-food stalls and small restaurants fill the lanes, busiest from noon to 1 pm |
| Late afternoon | Offices empty, markets set up and the Patpong night market begins to open |
| Night | Bars, restaurants and nightlife on Patpong and the Silom sois |
Take the BTS Silom Line to Sala Daeng, Chong Nonsi or Surasak, or the MRT Blue Line to Silom station, which connects with Sala Daeng. Chao Phraya Express boats stop at Sathorn pier, a short walk from the Bang Rak end. Taxis and Grab are available, but traffic is heavy at rush hour.
At the eastern end of Silom Road, Lumphini Park is the city's green heart and a wonderful place to visit early in the morning. Locals walk, jog, practice tai chi and exercise in groups, and large monitor lizards sunbathe by the lakes. The park is free, shaded and relatively peaceful, and it offers a very different side of Bangkok from the dense streets around it. In the evening, the park is also popular for walking and running, although it can be crowded.
Patpong, a short walk from Sala Daeng station, is best known for its night market and its bars. The market sells clothing, souvenirs and accessories, and is lively in the evening, though bargaining is essential and quality varies. The bars on the side streets are the part of the area that gives it its reputation, and many visitors come just to look. It is safe to walk through, but be careful with drinks and prices, and do not follow touts into bars. Silom Soi 2 and Soi 4 are also well known for LGBTQ+ nightlife, with a friendly and lively atmosphere.
Practical advice helps. Dress for the heat in light clothing, and carry a scarf for temples. Office workers eat lunch at the same time, so go earlier or later if you want a quieter meal. Evening traffic can be severe, and the BTS is by far the fastest way to move around. The area is generally safe, although pickpockets operate in crowds and on the BTS, and tourists should be careful with tuk-tuk drivers who quote high fares. A river trip from Sathorn pier is a good way to get a fresh view of the city.
Silom suits travelers who want a central, well-connected base with lots of food and transport options, and anyone interested in the city's mix of cultures. It is less suited to travelers who want beaches, quiet or old-town atmosphere, and the area is more commercial than charming at first glance. Many visitors stay here for a few nights and use the BTS and river to reach the old city sights. For where to stay, see our guide to <a href="/guide/where-to-stay-in-bangkok-sukhumvit-vs-silom-vs-old-city/">Sukhumvit, Silom and the old city</a>.
The Bang Rak end of Silom, close to the river, is the city's older face. The Mandarin Oriental, originally the Oriental Hotel, has hosted travelers and writers on the riverbank since the 19th century, and the nearby Assumption Cathedral is one of the city's most notable Catholic churches. Small streets around Soi Charoen Krung hold old shophouses, antique shops, art galleries and some of Bangkok's best traditional restaurants, and the riverside piers offer an easy way to continue to the old city by boat. It is a rewarding area to walk in the late afternoon, when the heat eases and the light turns golden over the water.
For other neighborhoods, see our guides to Yaowarat Chinatown, Khao San Road and Thonglor. For food, try our guides to tom yum goong and mango sticky rice, and for lodging, see the top 10 hotels in Bangkok.
