Bangkokโs most trendy neighbourhood
Ploenchit is a dynamic district in the heart of Bangkok, blending modernity and tradition. Once known for embassies along Wireless Road, it has evolved into a trendy hub with luxury malls like Central Embassy and the massive One Bangkok, now a hotspot for shopping and dining with countless restaurants inside. Langsuan Road, just nearby, has become Bangkokโs trendy dining street, featuring over 40 upmarket restaurants offering diverse cuisines. The area also includes Velaa Sindhorn Village, a stylish community mall, and Lumpini Park for a green escape. Ploenchit is perfect for exploring Bangkokโs vibrant culture, upscale dining, and modern city life.
Shopping in Ploenchit
Beyond the immense embassies, Ploenchit is home to many shopping malls. Among the oldest are the slowly vanishing Amarin Plaza and Erawan. Central Chidlom managed to stay in trend, especially since it connects to its luxury sibling Central Embassy. Gaysorn, just opposite CentralWorld (in the Siam area), has recently been renovated and gained a second life. The gigantic โOne Bangkokโ takes the Bangkok shopping experience to a new level next to Lumpini Park.
Central Embassy
Central Embassy can go into the list of the most luxurious shopping malls in Bangkok as it tries to cater to the local elite of Bangkok on the shopping mile. It started with only the most luxurious brands and invested much in hi-so events, especially since the exclusive Park Hyatt hotel is directly connected to the mall. It didnโt work too well initially, and they added a few mainstream brands and a great local food court with quality products from many well-established local restaurants. The result works pretty well, and Central Embassy is finally getting busy.
Address: 1031 Phloen Chit Rd, Khwaeng Lumphini, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330
Open: 10 am โ 10 pm
Phone: 02 119 7777
BTS: Ploenchit
Opened: May 2014
One Bangkok
One Bangkok has finally opened its doors, and the transformation from a massive construction site to a luxury shopping and lifestyle destination is impressive. Located in a prime spot between Lumphini Park and Wireless Road, this multi-building development is fast becoming the new focal point of Bangkok.
Access: Directly connected to the MRT Blue Line at Lumphini Station.
Address: One Bangkok Office, 19th Floor, Park Ventures Ecoplex, 57 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
Hours: 1o am โ 10 pm
Phone: +66 (0) 2 483 5555
Central Chidlom
Central Chidlom is one of the most well-known department stores in Bangkok. It first opened in 1973 and has always been a favourite shopping destination for Bangkok residents and tourists. Located right next to Chidlom BTS Station, itโs easy to reach and part of the larger Central shopping group, which includes CentralWorld and Central Embassy.
Address: 1027 Phloen Chit Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
Opened: January 23, 1973
Hours: 10 am โ 10 pm
Phone: 02 793 7777
BTS: Chid Lom
Floors: 7
Where to Stay in Ploenchit
Ploenchit and its nearby Soi Langsuan are among Bangkokโs most vibrant areas, offering a mix of luxury, convenience, and style. The Ploenchit neighborhood is home to many upscale hotels, all within easy reach of BTS stations Ploenchit, Chidlom and Ratchadamri, shopping malls like Central Embassy, and the vast Lumpini Park.
Soi Langsuan stands out with its great selection of more than 40 trendy restaurants serving from casual Thai food to fine international cuisine. After dinner, Ploenchit has several rooftop bars where you can enjoy creative cocktails with stunning city views, making it a great area to explore both day and night.
Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok
Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok boasts 274 oversized rooms and suites, each with a private balcony and a top location just minutes away from Lumpini Park. Rooms are spacious and luxurious, with amenities like freestanding bathtubs, walk-in closets, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Executive Club Room guests enjoy access to the executive lounge.
Address: 80 Soi Ton Son, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
Phone: 02 095 9999
Range: 5-star
Restaurants and bars: 4 restaurants, 1 bar
How many pools: 1
Closest BTS or MRT station: BTS Chitlom: 1 km
Check the rates
Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok
Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok is located at a prime location on Langsuan Road near Lumpini Park. Each of its 362 rooms, including 131 serviced residences, offers a stylish blend of Thai traditional motifs and modern design. The hotel boasts a luxurious spa, an infinity pool in a tropical garden setting, and a pet-friendly policy.
Address: 78 Soi Ton Son, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
Phone: 02 056 9999
Range: 5-star
Restaurants and bars: 3 restaurants, 2 bars (including A.Bar Rooftop Bar)
How many pools: 1
Closest BTS or MRT station: BTS Chitlom: 900 m
Check the rates
The Okura Prestige Bangkok
The Okura Prestige Bangkok is a 5-star hotel located at the intersection of Phloen Chit and Wireless Road in Bangkokโs Central Business District. The 240-room Okura Prestige Bangkok has 10 different room categories, including the opulent top-floor Imperial Suite, which spans 302 sqm and features a living area, dining room, kitchen, and access to the Okura Club Lounge.
Address: 57, Park Ventures Ecoplex 57 Witthayu Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
Phone: 02 687 9000
Range: 5-star
Restaurants and bars: 4 restaurants and 1 bar (including a rooftop bar)
How many pools: 1
Closest BTS or MRT station: BTS Ploenchit: 150 m
Check the rates
The Rooftops
Bangkok seems to have such a passion for rooftops that no new tall building would miss the opportunity to join the race. There are just a few in Ploenchit: Speakeasy at The Muse Langsuan, Char at Indigo Hotel on Wireless Road, Bar.Yard at Kimpton Hotel on Tonson Street and Sindhorn Midtown, as well as Langsuan. The Japanese Okura Hotel also features two rooftops, but most people miss them because they seem so exclusive, and one is part of a restaurant. There is a very high rooftop at the Grand Hyatt Hotel above the Central Embassy, but the tall glass walls make it difficult to enjoy significant views.
Akara Sky Hanuman Bangkok
Akara Sky Hanuman is one of the most impressive rooftops Iโve visited lately. Perched on the 61st floor of One City Centre in Ploenchit, right across from Central Embassy, the view is nothing short of spectacular โ you get nearly a full 360-degree panorama over Bangkok. Itโs the second-highest rooftop in the city after Mahanakhon, but the atmosphere is completely different. While Mahanakhon feels like a tourist checkpoint, Akara is spacious and more relaxed, but it still feels a little undiscovered. Thereโs plenty of seating, and if you can, grab a spot near the edge to take in the skyline fully. Siam is in front of you, and Sukhumvit is behind.
Address: Room 58-01, 58-02 One City Center Building 58, 61 floor, Phloen Chit Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
Hours: 5 pm โ 2โฏam
Phone: 092 888 6332
Floor: 61st
Closest BTS: 100 m (direct access)
Bar.Yard Rooftop at Kimpton Hotel
Bar.Yard is a rooftop I really enjoy for its personality. Perched on the 40th floor of the Kimpton Maa-Lai Hotel, itโs not the highest in Bangkok, but it stands out for being fun, casual, and very different from the usual sleek rooftops. The terrace doesnโt face west, so you wonโt get a sunset view โ but the wide angle over Ploenchit and Wireless Road makes up for it.
Hotel:ย Kimpton Maa-Lai
Address: 78 Soi Ton Son, Lumphini, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330
Closest BTS/MRT Station: BTS Ratchadamri: 470 m
Open: 4 pm โ 12 am, Monday closed
Phone: 02 056 9999
Floor: 40th
Char Rooftop Bar
Char Rooftop Bar is on the 26th floor of Hotel Indigo in the Wireless Road area, and while itโs not one of the tallest rooftops, it has a cosy atmosphere that Iโve always liked. It feels more personal than many of the big hotel bars, and the location gives you a nice view over the Ploenchit skyline, with a mix of city towers and tree-lined streets below.
Hotel: Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road
Address: 81 Witthayu Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330
Closest BTS/MRT Station: BTS Pleonchit: 380 m
Open: 6 pm โ 11 pm
Phone: 02 207 4999
Floor: 26th floor
Where to Eat in Ploenchit
The list of restaurants to try around Ploenchit is endless, including a dozen Michelin mentions or even Stars, from local eateries (Polo Fried Chicken) to modern cuisine (Paste) and some extravagant dining experiences (Royal Osha). Donโt miss the ever-growing dining street of Bangkok with our Langsuan Road Dining Guide.
Tonkatsu Aoki
Tonkatsu AOKI just opened at Velaa Sindhorn Village, and itโs already drawing queues every day, especially at lunch and weekends. I dropped by recently and waited almost 40 minutes before getting a table โ and even then, it was a tight squeeze inside. The place isnโt big, but itโs nicely done with warm wood panels and an open kitchen, so you can watch the team working like clockwork. You can tell theyโve done this before.
Cuisine: Tonkatsu
Phone: 092 254 6588
Hours: 10 am โ 10 pm
Price: Moderate
Ma Maison
Ma Maison is still one of those hidden treasures we love finding in Bangkok. Tucked in the garden of the Nai Lert Park Heritage Home, right behind Central Chidlom and Central Embassy, this beautiful Thai restaurant feels like a peaceful escape youโd never expect in the middle of the city. Just a few minutesโ walk from BTS Chit Lom, yet you step into a vast green space shaded by giant old trees, with a glasshouse restaurant nestled right inside.
Cuisine: Traditional Thai
Phone: 02-655-4773
Address: Nai Lert Park Heritage Home, 4 Soi Somkid, Phloen Chit Road
Hours: 11 am โ 3 pm, 6 pm โ 10 pm
Price: High
Shabu Baru
Shabu Baru is one of the most popular restaurants in Velaa Sindhorn Village on Langsuan Road. It serves the ever-popular shabu in individual pots placed around a central counter instead of the usual central cooking pot shared by up to four guests. The place is beautiful, but the price is a little high, especially for meat, to compete with other shabu around town. Good to know: the cheapest meat set is the best.
Address: Velaa Sindhorn Village, 87 Langsuan Rd, Bangkok 10330
Hours: 11 am โ 10 pm
Phone: 061 528 8288
Things to Do in Ploenchit
Lumphini Park
Lumphini Park, located between Bangkokโs lively Ploenchit and Silom neighbourhoods, is a 142-acre urban retreat that dates back to 1925. Surrounded by shopping malls, hotels, office towers, and rooftop bars, the park offers a peaceful escape from the busy city life. Itโs also a popular place for outdoor exercise, especially in the early morning and after work. Locals and visitors come here to run, walk, practise yoga, do Tai Chi, or use the free outdoor fitness equipment. The wide paths, large green areas, and fresh air make it a favourite spot for anyone who wants to stay active in the city.
Address: Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
Hours: 4.30โฏam โ 10 pm
Entrance: Free
Parking: yes (free)
Created: 1925
Area: 142 acres (57 ha)
Map of Ploenchit
