EXPLORING BANGKOK’S CREATIVE DISTRICT

EXPLORING BANGKOK’S CREATIVE DISTRICT

Bangkok’s vibrant energy, fun nightlife, great shopping and big-name hotels give visitors plenty of reasons to return again and again but with the recent formation of a ‘Creative District’ to the city, as well as a burgeoning Design Week, we’re now even more keen to jump on a flight to one of our favourite Asian capitals. 

David Robinson has been instrumental in helping to support the area around the Charoen Krung Road to become a hive of arts and cultural activity. Initially working on destination marketing for the Chao Phraya River, alongside representatives from several nearby hotels (including the team at the beautiful and recently opened Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River), he soon realised the potential of utilising the already creative and independent scene to add more of a distinctive edge and feel to the surrounding streets.

“Initially the program was to create a ‘Bangkok River’ brand, build a digital universe, stage events, and bring on more businesses as partners of the association.” Comments David, who moved from Australia to Thailand in 2002. 

“I quickly realised we needed a fifth element: community. I spent time walking through the neighbourhood, talking to artists, artisans, gallery owners, restauranteurs, residents and business owners, and realised there was the beginning of something special.” 

David soon got to work bringing together people to share ideas. “In February 2015 I invited people to meet at the Jam Factory [a multi-use creative hub]. In the cool of the evening, 40 people including Thai and foreign residents and people working in the area, met under a tree to discuss how we might improve the liveability and livelihoods for those living and working in the riverside districts of Bang Rak and Klong San.”

Following monthly meetings with the government, landowners and businesses the group proposed the creation of Bangkok’s Creative District. “We wrote a charter where we identified some 21 activities we wanted to undertake. The overarching goal was to; protect the built environment; make the area cleaner and greener; provide the highest speed internet; and create an ecosystem to attract creative industries.”

The district was once known as the European Quarter, and until the end of World War II was the commercial hub of Thailand, with shipping ports busy with trade from Asia and Europe. The area was a first for many things including the home of the first hotel (Oriental Hotel, now Mandarin Oriental), the first department store, the first cinema, and a cable car system.

There are now regular events including Bangkok Design Week (5-13 February 2023), art exhibitions, gallery openings, and walks and talks with people getting around easily by foot or bike tour. There are new restaurants and bars occupying refurbished buildings and indie enterprises set up in small alleyways and backstreets giving it a cool, design vibe that feels unpolished and authentic. 

“Development of the Creative District has been organic,” David tells us. “People are moving into the area because of its charm and energy. New members of families, who have lived in the area for generations, are rethinking the family business. We are still keen to ensure the area maintains its architectural heritage, is a pleasant environment to walk around and offers things not found in the mega malls the city is famous for.”

“Thais are inherently creative as well as being great merchants. There is always a buzz in the District. Covid was hard on the country but a side benefit was that Thais and ex-pats were afforded the time to explore this part of Bangkok… and they LOVED IT. More and more people exploring the streets and it’s a good thing for the local community.” 

Here are David’s top tips if you visit the Creative District…

BUKRUK street art walls
Stretching from Samphanthawong (where you’ll find some of the oldest and historical buildings in Bangkok) down to Bangrak, the wall paintings range from huge eye-catching concepts to smaller intimate detailed drawings. And the beauty of the street art scene here is that it is spreading to neighbouring areas. It was back in January 2016 that the BUKRUK Festival was staged with street artists from 13 countries joining Thai artists to paint walls along the riverside neighbourhoods and the works are still in place to see.

Warehouse 30 galleries and cafes
Just around the corner from the BUKRUK street art walls is an old army storage warehouse that has been converted and is now occupied by a slew of cool coffee shops, retro and vintage stores, and art galleries.

ATT 19 
ATT 19 is multidisciplinary retail, art exhibition space and creative hub which also houses the cocktail and tapas bar B.A.A.B (Badass Asia Bar).

River City Bangkok art and antique centre
River City Bangkok is a cultured lifestyle centre for arts and antiques where art lovers and collectors can explore galleries, see international exhibitions, meet artists, attend talks, watch films, bid at auctions, enjoy live music, or gain an understanding of Thailand’s burgeoning contemporary art scene.

Jua
A stylish, distinctly American twist on the traditional Japanese yakitori joint.

Tropic City
Award-winning Tropic City is Thailand’s very first tropical cocktail bar, known for its innovative cocktails, unparalleled hospitality and passion for everything rum. The brainchild of Swedish bartending duo and hospitality veterans Philip Stefanescu & Sebastian De la Cruz, Tropic City is a high-end neighbourhood cocktail bar with a colourful design mixing and matching tropical influences from around the world where you can explore the craft of cocktails as well as dance the night away with friends.

80/20
“Representing the ratio of exquisite local ingredients to the chef’s inspiration, 80/20’s dynamic seasonal tasting menu offers innovative delights, from the first bite to the last.” So says the Michelin Guide who has given this stylish restaurant a Michelin Star.

Charmgang Curry Shop
Its description is a ‘cosy curry shop in a humble neighbourhood’ but the reviews tell us it’s more than that.

WHERE TO STAY

If you are looking for a beautifully designed room, top-class service, delicious food, a world-class cocktail bar, a stunning view and a great place to sunbathe the days away then we recommend booking into the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River. Think luxury resort rather than just a hotel to bed down for the night, this is the go-to place to stay, eat and drink making it a firm destination on its own. The resort will help you re-think Bangkok from a couple of nights layover to a longer duration stay.

The Four Seasons also has its own innovative contribution to the Creative District with a curated new ART Space which has emerged from a partnership between Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA BANGKOK). Under the joint initiative, the Hotel will display a selection of impeccably curated Thai works of art, on loan from MOCA BANGKOK. Exhibits will rotate regularly, so Bangkok residents as well as returning Four Seasons guests can view new collections several times a year.

From the lobby down to the riverfront works will be on display allowing visitors to experience Bangkok’s creative landscape.

Getting to Bangkok – EVA Air flies non-stop daily from Heathrow to Bangkok.
For other things to see and do in Bangkok and Thailand – visit Tourism Authority of Thailand’s website here.