Choosing your area
The district is described in detail in our guide to Sukhumvit. For eating, keep this map of BTS stations in mind:
| Area | BTS station | To eat |
|---|---|---|
| Nana and the Arab soi | Nana | Middle Eastern food, late restaurants |
| Asok | Asok | Terminal 21 food court |
| Soi 38 | Thong Lo | Street food in the evening |
| Thonglor (Soi 55) | Thong Lo | Restaurants, cafés, bars |
| Ekkamai (Soi 63) | Ekkamai | Neighbourhood places, bars |
Eating cheaply: food courts and the street
The simplest option, air-conditioned and clean, is the Pier 21 food court at Terminal 21, in Asok: dozens of Thai counters, open roughly 10am to 10pm. The counters do not take payment individually: you load a rechargeable card at the entrance; ask how to recover the unused balance. To compare other places of the same kind, see our food courts in Bangkok.
In the evening, street food gathers around Soi 38, near Thong Lo station: noodle, pad thai and mango dessert stalls open late (roughly 6pm to 2am, Tuesday to Sunday according to listings). The area is smaller than it used to be, as several stalls have gone since 2017; the offer varies, so bring small change. Our guide to street food in Bangkok recalls the hygiene rules.
Thonglor and Ekkamai: a smarter dinner
Thonglor (Soi 55) lines up roaster cafés, Japanese and Korean restaurants and cocktail bars. Soi 55 has lost its street stalls, but Saphan 55, a large complex of street-food counters, remains the cheapest landmark on the street (roughly 10am to midnight according to listings). To sit down, Soul Food Mahanakorn offers Thai cooking with Southeast Asian influences. Ekkamai (Soi 63) is more relaxed: neighbourhood bars, cafés and restaurants popular with young Thai professionals.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, book: Thonglor tables fill quickly. To aim higher, see our selection of Michelin restaurants in Bangkok.
Nana and the "Arab soi"
Around Sois 3 and 5, near Nana station, a small Arab district lines up Lebanese, Egyptian and Yemeni restaurants, grocers and hookah lounges. It is the place for a lunch of grills, hummus and fresh bread away from Thai dishes. Places change often there: read recent reviews before choosing. In the evening, the streets around Nana are noisy and geared to nightlife; if you come with family, go for lunch.
Night markets
Sukhumvit has no large night market on the avenue itself. The nearest is the Jodd Fairs night market, reached by MRT from Sukhumvit station: skewers, seafood and snacks to share. For a quieter evening, combine a street dinner on Soi 38 with a drink in Thonglor. Our guide to Bangkok at night lists other outings.
Traps to avoid
- Bar-restaurants in Nana and Soi Cowboy: check the drink prices on the menu before ordering; see our scams to avoid in Bangkok.
- The taxi with no meter: insist on the meter, or take the BTS.
- Card-based food courts: keep your receipt and load only what you need.
- Street promotions: a "special menu" offered on the pavement is rarely a bargain.
