10 Best Things to Do in Silom

Lumpini Park has often been described as ‘a tranquil oasis, ‘a haven from Bangkok’s traffic’, and ‘an escape from the city’ – and they’re all spot on. Bangkok is not big on green spaces, so the park, which lies in the shadow of the towering Silom and Sathorn skyline around its perimeter, stands proud as one of the city’s largest and best-loved parks. 

Consisting of 57.6 hectares of grass, ponds and walkways, it draws in the locals and tourists morning, noon and night. Even so, most people tend to head here in the evenings for some exercise, when the heat of the day has subsided. If you’re lucky, you might be able to catch a glimpse of one of Lumpini Park’s famed monitor lizards, which occasionally slither out of the water for a curious look around.

The Sky Bar at the Lebua State Tower is more than another rooftop bar in Bangkok. It’s a holiday experience in itself, an iconic building (helped in no small part by the 2011 movie, The Hangover Part II) and a Bangkok must-see attraction etched firmly into the travel itinerates of visitors from all over the world.

While now a little overcrowded – and, in the opinion of some, over-commercialised – the Sky Bar at Lebua State is still consistently named as one of the top rooftop bars, not just in Thailand or Asia, but in the whole world. So what sets it apart from the rest? Perched 63 storeys up, the views over downtown Bangkok, the Chao Phraya River and across to the suburbs are hard to beat.

Lalai Sap Market is a hidden bazaar tucked in the narrow back alleys of the Silom area. While Bangkokians all know about this place, anyone new to town driving or walking by the market's discrete entrance will probably miss it, no matter how vast it actually is.

This market is a complicated mix of shophouses and boutiques connected by stalls and sidewalk vendors to air-conditioned mini-malls and food courts. Located down the road from the famous Patpong market, Lalai Sap is more interesting and more real. It's a bazaar mixed with a market, selling less touristic stuff and offering an interesting window into Bangkok daily life.

There are few better places than the Bangkokian Museum near Silom for a journey back in time… particularly to when teak houses stood proudly as Bangkok’s main form of accommodation (rather than glistening new condo blocks), and when jungles were of the green variety rather than concrete.

Although not a prominent fixture in most Bangkok travel guides (probably due to its discrete location, tucked away in a small soi) this interesting museum is well worth a visit for its range of traditional Siamese artefacts, 2 beautiful wooden houses and lush tropical gardens. The Bangkokian Museum is sometimes referred to as the ‘Bangkok Folk Museum’, and is just off Charoen Krung (turn into soi 43, pass under the bridge, then look to your right for the main sign). Entry is free too!

Kathmandu Photo Gallery shies away from those sterile, whitewashed and often uninspiring interiors you’d normally find in a more typical art gallery. Instead, the gallery space is a spectacle in itself. Bright green wooden ceiling and walls, a clashing black and white American diner-style floor and vintage furniture scattered about the place really bring this quirky little gallery to life.

As for the art, which almost takes the second stage to the gallery’s bold and brash look, there are exhibitions every 2 months (6 per year) that showcase some of the best creative talents from around Bangkok and the rest of Thailand. Kathmandu is well worth a visit if you’re an art lover, antique enthusiast or just looking for unique Bangkok experience.

For a little taste of Indian architecture right in the heart of Bangkok, head to the impressive Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess of the same name. The colourful and intricately designed temple was built by Tamil immigrants during the 1860s and is well-known by local worshippers for being able to protect against ill-health and even death. 

The tall central structure is plastered full of detailed, entwining Hindu deities and the shrines found inside the temple are dedicated to both Shiva's consort and also the elephant-headed Ganesha, with others paying homage to gods Vishnu and Krishna. This colourful and striking building presents a great photo-op from the outside, but no photos can be taken inside as this area is dedicated purely for worship.

Bangkok CityCity Gallery is a contemporary art gallery in the Sathorn district of Bangkok. It features artworks by local artists in various forms, including paintings, sculptures, videos and live performances.

As one of Bangkok's only custom-built art galleries, the Bangkok CityCity Gallery is situated in the heart of the city's commercial area, in one of the few open spaces left in the city. The unique modern building stands out from its surroundings and has a welcoming presence, inviting visitors to enter and view the latest exhibitions.

Christ Church Bangkok is a lovely white Anglican Church on Convent Road, built in a simple gothic-meets-colonial style. After an influx of protestant missionaries in the early to mid-19th century, King Rama IV granted land for a church to be built to serve them in Charoenkrung Road. However, it wasn't long until the English Church (as it was then known, due its mainly English congregation) was overstretched. In 1904, King Rama V granted permission for a bigger and more centrally located church to be built.

Today the church serves a congregation of around 500, lending spiritual shelter from Sathorn Road's traffic. The interior is painted white and contains stained glass windows, one of which depicts Christ's crucifixion. It also contains Thailand's only pipe organ. Services and sermons are given in both Thai and English.

Neilson Hays Library Bangkok is a cultural hub in Silom and is a great place to unplug from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Originally founded in 1869, the Neilson Hays Library boasts an impressive 20,000 volumes. There are 2 separate galleries displaying different types of art. Don’t worry, they also have a substantial number of books in English!

As you are walking down Surawong Road, you cannot miss this breathtaking, colonial-style building. Enjoy a coffee or tea and simultaneously browse the art gallery in their low-key café. The Neilson Hays Library is a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute cab ride from both the Surasak and Chong Nonsi BTS Skytrain Stations.

Patpong Night Market in Silom is always busy with all the commotion from the go-go bars nearby and the many foreign visitors that are drawn to its unique charm. This market in Bangkok's notorious nightlife district is often the first and easiest stop for many who’ve just arrived in Bangkok and are lodging at one of the mid-to-high-end hotels in Silom.

The variety offered at the different stalls in Patpong can be fun to browse through. Be wary of the quality versus the prices of what you’re being offered, though, and always be prepared to bargain sensibly.