Vol. 06 - Oct 2025

We always use Booking.com when planning our trips, it just makes everything easy. From family hideaways in the mountains to unique riverside stays, the site helps us compare options, read real reviews, and book in minutes.

And it’s not just hotels. You can book your flights, car rentals, and nice activities & experiences to do across Thailand all in one place.

It’s our go-to every time we explore a new corner of the country - simple, reliable, and made for travelers who love discovering as they go.

This edition felt like a mini-vacation inside the city of angels.
We spent a Sunday moving between two very different corners of Bangkok - the peaceful two Floating Markets, and Song Wat Road, one of the city’s most talked-about creative streets.

As we just moved here, we love showing our daughter Moana (6) that Bangkok isn’t just malls and traffic - it’s also trees, wooden bridges, and narrow alleys filled with murals, music and creativity.

📍 You’ll find all our favorite pins from this trip on the Insider Map, including the best canal spots and our favorite hidden gems at Song Wat.
🍹 We added Thai translations to make ordering easier.
✨ For our insiders, hidden gems await below, don’t skip the end!

NEW! ✈️ You can now book the hotels, flights and experiences straight from our articles!

Hope you enjoy this week’s journey,
Ploy & Jochem

A travel story

We wanted an easy Sunday morning - something calm, local, and real. So we crossed the river to Taling Chan Floating Market, one of those places where Bangkok still feels like it did 50 years ago.

The market sits quietly along a canal, shaded by big trees and wooden walkways. The air smells of Grilled prawns and sweet coconut pancakes, and the chatter of vendors mixes with the sound of long-tail boats sliding past.

We stopped by a small boat where an old uncle was brewing Thai tea and traditional Thai coffee. The drinks smelled incredible - rich, sweet, and strong - and he handed them to us with a quiet smile that said everything. It’s the kind of warmth you only find at local places.

We bought a small bag of bread and walked to the pier where locals were feeding the fish. Within seconds, Moana was at the edge, breaking pieces and tossing them into the canal. The water erupted with splashes as dozens of huge fish appeared. “They’re so big!” she laughed.

Then came a simple lunch by the water: grilled river prawns, smoky and sweet, and fried rice with chicken for Moana.

After eating, we joined a boat ride through the nearby canals. The boat takes a great speed, which was so much fun for Moana. We moved past wooden houses and banana trees dipping into the water. People on the shores waved happily, and Moana pointed out a big monitor lizard swimming in the water - “Look, a Jing Jok!” (a very small lizard) she said :)

We made a stop at Khlong Lat Mayom, a bigger floating market. On shore, we cooled down with coconut ice cream, that was served in a coconut shell (!) The sun filtered through the leaves, and the whole market slowed to an afternoon calm.

If you visit, go early, bring cash, and plan nothing - just sit, eat, watch the boats, and let the day unfold. That’s the beauty of floating markets: it makes doing nothing feel like exactly enough.

👉 Book your visit to Khlong Lat Mayom & Taling Chan Floating markets here.

Where travel meets lifestyle

By afternoon, we stepped into a completely different scene: Song Wat Road (ถนน ทรงวาด) - Bangkok’s creative heartbeat hidden inside Chinatown.

Once known for spice traders and hardware shops, Song Wat is now one of the city’s most happening streets, filled with design cafés, boutiques, and galleries living inside century-old shophouses. The contrast is what makes it exciting, heritage facades with new ideas inside.

We walked slowly, going into cafés for some iced coffee and making many stops to take pictures with the creative surroundings (this area is SO photogenic!). Many walls are covered with colorful street art; others still bear the original Chinese calligraphy from decades ago. It’s a place that feels young and old at once.

We ended the afternoon at a vintage café where a band of teenagers played Thai songs and English covers, sipping drinks and clapping along. It’s this mix of old charm and new energy that makes Song Wat so special, a place where Bangkok’s past and present come together.

1. Ba Hao Residence (Design-meets-Chinatown Cool)
Housed in an old shophouse with red neon and mid-century details, this stay is part boutique hotel, part art project. It’s small, stylish, and right in the heart of Chinatown.
📍 8 Soi Nana, Yaowarat | 👉 Book now: Ba Hao Residence

4. Ago Hotel Chinatown (Modern & Family-Friendly)
New, minimalist design with warm tones and an eco-friendly focus. Perfect if you want comfort with easy access to both Song Wat and Yaowarat.
📍 185 Yaowarat Rd | 👉 Book now: Ago Hotel Chinatown

Locals say this when a street feels pleasant to explore on foot, a perfect phrase for Song Wat Road :)

Songs for discovering Thailand: from scenic drives to hidden escapes. New vibes added every week .

Click on any of the tracks below to get in the travel mood.

If you liked this week’s edition, here’s how we’d spend a day in Bangkok combining tradition with a hip & creative neighborhood.

• 8:00 am : Start your morning at Taling Chan Floating Market - sit by the canal with a bowl of rice porridge (Khao Tom ข้าวต้ม).

• 9:00 am : Feed the big fish at the wooden pier, then hop on a long-tail boat for a high-speed canal ride to Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market.

• 10:00 am : Explore Khlong Lat Mayom, tasting local snacks and tropical fruit before returning by boat to Taling Chan.

• 12:30 pm : Lunch by the canal - grilled river prawns or fried rice with chicken are highly recommended. But there is plenty to choose from!

• 3:00 pm : Cross the river to Song Wat Road - Bangkok’s hip, creative street in Chinatown. Wander through old shophouses now turned into cafés, art spaces, and boutique stores.

• 4:30 pm : Stop for Thai iced coffee, have fun and take photos of the murals, and explore the mix of old architecture and modern art at a slow pace.

• 6:00 pm: Sunset drinks at a riverside or local café - we visited a vintage café with a local band (one kid played amazing saxophone!), but you can also relax near the Chao Praya river.

• 7:30 pm: Riverside dinner at Baan Rim Naam (Song Wat) - enjoy local Thai cuisine while lying back on floor cushions (traditional thai style), the perfect time to talk about the amazing experiences you had today ✨

• Grilled prawns (กุ้งเผา goong pǎo) : Like eating smoky and sweet mini-lobster. Super delicious! TIP: 🌶️ For a spicy edge, ask for the green seafood dip (น้ำจิ้มซีฟู้ด (náam jîm see-fôod).

• Sweet (and small) coconut pancakes (ขนมครก kà-nŏm krók) : They’re bite-sized, crispy-edged treats made from coconut milk and rice flour - and melt in your mouth straight off the pan.

• Thai tea (ชาไทย (cha thai) : Thai tea is the classic orange-hued drink made from strong black tea, sugar, and condensed milk. Best served over ice on a hot day.

• Fried rice with chicken (ข้าวผัดไก่ kâao pàt gài) : Thailand’s go-to everyday meal, warm jasmine rice stir-fried with egg, garlic, and tender chicken. TIP: Fried rice is best eaten with a squeeze of lime on top. Enjoy! 🍋‍🟩

• Coconut ice cream (ไอศกรีมกะทิ ai-sa-greem gà-tí) : Made from rich coconut milk, slightly salty for balance, and often served in a coconut shell with roasted peanuts or sticky rice on top.

Taling Chan / Khlong Lat Mayom and Song Wats best spots that should not be missed during a visit here:

• Taling Chan Floating Market (ตลาดน้ำตลิ่งชัน): Authentic weekend market with canal lunch tables and boat vendors.

• Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market (ตลาดน้ำคลองลัดมะยม): A short long-tail boat ride from Taling Chan brings you here, a lively market with lush greenery, local food stalls, and friendly canal-side cafés. Perfect for a slow morning adventure.

• Song Wat Murals (สตรีทอาร์ต ถนนทรงวาด) : Every alley hides a new mural. Perfect for photos and slow afternoon walks.

• Warehouse 30 & ATT 19 (โกดัง 30 และ เอทีที) : Converted Chinatown warehouses with design stores and galleries. It’s only a 10-minute walk from Song Wat.

• Shunn: Sneeze & Sound (ชัน: ซีท แอนด์ ซาวด์) in Song Wat : Just opened! The first place (we encountered) where the DJ plays music inside, for the crowds outside to dance. Eat thai and international food, while enjoying the beats.

• Hit the Road (ฮิต เดอะ โรด) : A hidden gem in a side alley of Song Wat, half café, half gallery. Every weekend live music, discover new bands while drinking an ice-cold Singha beer.

• A Pink Rabbit Bakery + Bob (อะ พิงค์ แรบบิท เบเกอรี่) : Charming little café and bakery known for its delicious cakes and cozy atmosphere.

Every week we drop new pins onto our Local Secrets Map - special spots you won’t always find in the guidebooks. Street stalls tucked down alleys, rooftop bars only locals know, temples that feel like they belong to you alone.

This map is just for Insiders, and it grows with every edition - a living guide that keeps unlocking Thailand, piece by piece.

👉 Tap the link on your smart phone or computer, and choose “Open in Google Maps” for the full interactive experience.

That’s this week’s adventure. Next week we’ll take you on a trip to Khao Yai National Park, where we hope to spot some wildlife! 🐒 🐘 🐆 🌿

We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Thai List. If you did, please share the love by inviting your friends and family to join us. Each week we uncover local secrets, hidden escapes, and the best food and drinks Thailand has to offer. Don’t miss out on the journey.

Wishing you save travels,

The Thai List - Your weekly postcard from Thailand.