Bangkok · Ratchada

Ratchada and Huai Khwang

Ratchadaphisek Road and the Huai Khwang area sit on the MRT Blue Line, with stations at Huai Khwang, Ratchadaphisek, Sutthisan, Lat Phrao and, a little further along, Phra Ram 9. This is not the BTS Sukhumvit Line. Trips toward Asok usually mean a ride to the Sukhumvit interchange and a change.

The streets around Huai Khwang have a large Korean community and a dense cluster of Korean restaurants and shops. That is a real, long-standing feature of the area, not a marketing label. The rest of the district is a mix of condominiums, older shophouses and office buildings. Night traffic on Ratchadaphisek can be heavy, especially near the larger venues.

People who work around Rama 9 or who want an MRT walk rather than a BTS walk often look here. Rents have risen with new buildings, so the old idea of this side of town as a cheap alternative is no longer something you should take on trust. Compare the actual commute and the soi, not the district name.

Lat Phrao, just to the north, is more residential and a bit further from the inner offices. It can still make sense if you use the MRT Blue Line or the intersection with the Yellow Line further out. As always, walk the last ten minutes to the station before you pay a deposit.