What to Do in Thonburi in Bangkok?
Thonburi is a historic, less hectic area in Bangkok that is known for its cultural charm and traditional way of life. It was once the capital of Thailand and is home to many temples, including Wat Arun, which is famous for its stunning spires. Thonburi offers a glimpse into Thailand’s past, with narrow canals, called klongs, winding through the area and traditional wooden houses lining the waterways. Visitors can take a longtail boat ride along the canals to experience the local lifestyle and visit the temples and floating markets that give Thonburi its unique character.
Wat Arun
Wat Arun, or the Temple of Dawn, is one of Bangkok’s most iconic sights with its glittering spires and majestic riverside setting. Wat Arun is easily spotted on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River with its 82-metre prang (tower) adorned with glazed porcelain tiles.
IconSiam
IconSiam is a high-end shopping centre set on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Thonburi. In addition to its variety of luxury brands, local handicraft shops, and retail stores to browse, Icon Siam is a dining haven with dozens of restaurants, cafes, and food stalls offering a great range of Thai and international flavours.
Three Sixty Rooftop Bar at Millennium Hilton
The Three Sixty Rooftop Bar at Millennium Hilton Bangkok is superb but under-appreciated. This might be because, seen for far, the bar seems to be inside an indoor panoramic cupola. This indoor bar has fantastic views as it seems to hang high above the busy Chao Phraya River, but it would not qualify as a rooftop if there were no outdoor area.
Taling Chan Floating Market
Taling Chan is a small and modest market just 14 kilometres outside Bangkok. Built on the riverside at the intersection of the river and the railway’s bridge, it used to feature more than a dozen boats used as floating kitchens to cook fish, meat skewers and prawns for the guests of their restaurants.
Popular Tours in Thonburi
Where to Stay in Thonburi
The Peninsula Bangkok
The Peninsula Bangkok is a luxurious 370-room hotel set on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River. The hotel’s design is a vision of classic elegance with optimal views of the river throughout, especially from its lovely three-tiered swimming pool. Among the luxurious touches to enjoy at The Peninsula are a fabulous 9-course culinary experience at the hotel’s Mei Jiang restaurant, spa treatments, and spacious silk-swathed guest suites.
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Avani Plus Riverside Bangkok Hotel
Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel is a modern city sanctuary located on the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River. The fashionable 5-star hotel has 250 rooms and suites, each providing unobstructed river views from floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel’s pièce de résistance is its dazzling 28-meter rooftop infinity pool on the 26th floor, with panoramic views of Bangkok’s skyline that take your breath away.
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Ten Six Hundred, Chao Phraya, Bangkok by Preference
Ten Six Hundred, Chao Phraya, Bangkok by Preference is a fashionably cool boutique riverside hotel in Bangkok’s old Khlong San district, near the Chao Phraya River. The 5-star hotel boasts two stunning swimming pools—a riverside infinity pool and a quaint rooftop oasis—backed by a modern fitness centre and the trendy Ambrosia Restaurant with international cuisine and vegetarian and diet-sensitive dishes.
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Where to Eat in Thonburi
Somsak Pu Ob
Somsak Pu Ob is a legendary street food restaurant in Thonburi, Bangkok. It’s known for its signature Pu and Goong Ob Woon Sen, which is glass noodles with either prawn or crab. They have 2 branches, walking distance apart, so if one’s busy, you can just take a 5-minute walk to the other branch. We recommend the Latya branch, which is the new, air-conditioned one. Though not the original branch along the roadside, it is very similar in quality. This spot is popular among locals as it has earned a Michelin guide for many years in a row.
Cuisine: Thai
Phone: 089 494 1000
Hours: 3 pm – 9 pm
Price: Moderate
Be My Guest Restaurant
Be My Guest restaurant is one of those places you’d probably miss if you didn’t know it was there. Tucked between two giants, the Millennium Hilton and the colossal IconSiam shopping mall, this small white wooden house looks almost out of place. But that’s part of its charm. It’s been here for years, long before the glittering IconSiam towers rose behind it, and it still feels like a hidden pocket of old Thonburi.
Cuisine: Thai
Phone: 081 645 2404
Hours: 4 pm – 11.30 pm
Price: Moderate
The Never Ending Summer Restaurant
Never Ending Summer is one of the most stylish restaurants along the Chao Phraya River (Thonburi side), set inside a beautifully repurposed warehouse just next to the Millennium Hilton, and not far from IconSiam. From the outside, it still looks like an old factory, but once you step in, you’re greeted by a warm and modern industrial vibe: bare brick walls, high ceilings, dangling lamps, ferns, and polished concrete floors.
Cuisine: Thai
Phone: 061 641 6952
Hours: 11 am – 10 pm
Price: Moderate
Thonburi Map
Bangkok Neighbourhoods
