Ekkamai

เอกมัย — Thonglor's cooler sibling

Thonglor's quieter neighbour: indie cafés, live music and the Eastern Bus Terminal for the coast.

One soi east of Thonglor, Ekkamai does the same things with the volume turned down and the prices trimmed. Garages have become cafés, shophouses have become listening bars, and the Japanese families who anchor the area keep the food serious. The Eastern Bus Terminal makes it the launchpad for Pattaya and the islands; the rest of the time it's a neighborhood for people who like Thonglor's orbit but not its bill.

Don't miss

• ๑Wattana PanichRestaurant

  The beef-noodle broth that has been simmering, famously, for half a century.

• ๒Gateway EkamaiMall

  Japan-themed mall at the BTS — supermarket, restaurants, everyday errands.

• ๓Bangkok PlanetariumMuseum

  Charmingly retro science museum, straight from another era; the star dome is closed for renovation.