Photo: Riyanka Roy
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It was our first day in Bangkok, and all we wanted was a good cup of coffee. A quick Google search led us to Koff and Bun, and as we looked for it, we stumbled upon Song Wat, a quaint neighbourhood in the heart of the city that felt alive with energy even at midday. We walked straight into the café, ordered their signature dirty coffee, and it was an instant winner. Smooth, strong, and perfectly balanced, it is one of those things I would 100% recommend if you ever find yourself here.
A street that surprises you
The vibe of Song Wat hits you almost immediately. Right across from Koff and Bun sat Roads of Cinnamon, a vintage store brimming with quirky treasures such as unique tableware, home décor, stacks of books, and postcards. It felt like rummaging through a collector’s chest of oddities.
As we stepped back onto the street, the real magic unfolded. The lane was lined with historic shophouses, their worn facades and wooden shutters holding on to the past, while inside, they have been reborn as cafés, boutiques, and studios. Every doorway seemed to promise a new discovery, whether it was a cosy coffee counter, a design store, or a gallery.
And then, tucked into a corner, we found a small flea market. It was impossible to resist. Stalls sold delicious mango sticky rice, freshly baked breads, and signature cold chocolates that cut perfectly through Bangkok’s humidity. In between the food stalls were racks of apparel, bottles of customised perfumes, and little jars of Thai balms. These are the kinds of things you never plan to buy but end up carrying home.
Image source:Riyanka Roy
From history to hipster haven
Song Wat is not just a pretty neighbourhood. Its story goes back more than a century. After a fire devastated Sampheng in 1906, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) suggested a new road by the river port. He even sketched how he thought the community should look, which is why it was named Song Wat, meaning “he drew.”
What started as a trading hub along the Chao Phraya River has undergone many transformations. Today, it is reinventing itself once again, this time as a creative and cultural hotspot. In fact, Song Wat was recently listed among the 40 coolest neighbourhoods in the world. Spend even an hour here, and you will see why.
Where we ate, drank, and explored
Our wanderings kept leading us into unexpected places. The highlight was Song Viet, a hole-in-the-wall spot that served up the best bánh mì I have had outside Vietnam. The bread was crunchy, the filling generous, and the flavours spot-on. It could have easily transported me back to the streets of Hanoi.
Later, in search of another caffeine fix, we ended up at Local Boys Coffee, one of the most popular cafés in the area. It had a buzz about it, the kind of place where the baristas know their craft and the crowd lingers a little longer than expected.
Between these stops, we browsed concept stores selling vintage vinyl, film cameras, and handmade furniture. Every corner of Song Wat seemed to have something that caught the eye, whether it was a carefully styled shopfront or a mural painted onto a century-old wall.
Image source:Riyanka Roy
Why Song Wat feels different
Bangkok is a city of extremes, glittering malls on one end and chaotic street markets on the other. Song Wat is neither. It is intimate, creative, and wonderfully photogenic. Here, the past has not been erased but reimagined, giving the neighbourhood a character that feels both grounded and fresh.
For us, it started with a simple coffee run, but by the end of the afternoon, Song Wat had turned into a full-blown exploration. We walked through flea markets, ate bánh mì, sipped on excellent coffee, browsed vintage shops, and peeked into art galleries, all within a stretch of a single street.
A neighbourhood worth slowing down for
If you are planning a trip to Bangkok, be sure to add Song Wat to your list. It is not the kind of place where you tick off monuments or race through attractions. Instead, it invites you to slow down and sip coffee, browse, taste, and wander without a plan.
Start with a dirty coffee at Koff and Bun, cross over to Roads of Cinnamon, let the flea market tempt you, and do not miss a bánh mì at Song Viet. End the day with a brew at Local Boys Coffee, and you will see why Song Wat is quietly becoming Bangkok’s most intriguing creative quarter.
