Nonlanee Panthachotirat, 22, freelance photographer
To check out the beautiful, dirty-rich ABAC Bang Na Campus students.

Tid Unakornsawat, 27, graphic designer
Solely because I have to pass through that area when I take my girlfriend to Bang Pu. Is there even a mall in Bang Na?

Saengwit Kewaleewongsatorn, 32, reporter
I won’t go out there until Ikea is open. Modernform and Index don’t fulfil my D.I.Y. soul.

Theeranan Naowasate, 19, journalism student
There are a few reasons. Firstly, my girlfriend lives there. Second, I love cruising around the BITEC motor show. Not for the motors, but the pretties.

Chonlada Wachiropathum, 22, account executive
To go to the cosmetics counters at Central Bang Na because the stock doesn’t run out as fast as at Paragon.

 

 

Bang Chak Station

Punnawithee Station

Udom Suk Station

Bang Na Station

Bearing Station

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Get off at BTS Udomsuk to venture further down Bangna-trad Rd. and discover more great venues.

Je Ngor Kitchen

1656 Bangna-Trad Rd. km. 3.5, 02-3985721-2. Open daily 11am-10pm. www.jengor-seafoods.com
This place is good for a big family dine-out. The menu is mainly Chinese but there are some simple Thai dishes like fried rice. Go early because this place gets packed and the aunty who owns the place doesn’t tolerate moaning customers.

Rabieng Talay Seafood

12/709 Bangna-Trad Rd. km. 5, 02-743-0306. Open daily 11am-11pm. www.rabiengta-le.com
The seafood here is all very fresh and comes lightning fast, even though the wait staff can sometimes get your order wrong. There’s both indoor and outdoor seating and the place is pretty easy to find, sitting right on the main road.

Royal Dragon Restaurant

35/222 Bangna-Trad Rd. km. 1, 02-398-0037-42. Open Mon-Thu 11am-2pm and 5pm-2am, Fri-Sun 11am-2am. www.royal-dragon.com
This pricey Chinese place is expensive and so huge, its staff rush about on roller blades. There’s also a slightly camp Chinese traditional show, and karaoke making this place perfect for a multi-generational outing.

Bai Mai Rareung Karaoke

105 Bangna-Trad Rd. km. 2, 02-743-6400. Open daily 11am-1am.
A good combination of trees, food and music. This place is great for large groups, and you can even get your own karaoke room.

Bang Chak Station

Punnawithee Station

Udom Suk Station

Bang Na Station

Bearing Station

BK Asks: What does it take for you to make the journey out to Bang Na?

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Terrace@999

999/5 Sukhumvit Soi 107, 086-326-8107. Open daily 5pm-1am. www.terrace999.com
Situated beside a lake and decorated with wooden decking and elegant sofas, this is probably the hippest spot in the suburb. Split into three sections (lakeside, front of stage and the VIP section which has its own karaoke section), the bar has played host to many famous bands like Endorphin and ETC.—while Klear is playing soon. However, most come here to watch the English Premiere League on a huge screen that sits out on the water.

Tum Tum

333 Sukhumvit Soi 107, Soi Bearing 58, 02-361-3461, 081-854-0889. Open daily 11am-10pm. www.tumtumbkk.com
If you love somtam then this simple spot has got you covered. Tum Tum offers a huge variety of the classic Isaan dishes from your run-of-the-mill somtam Thai (B45) to more original choices like fried somtam (B60). But they also specialize in Southern food, thanks to their Southern-born chef and they really don’t relent on the hot and spicy flavors. We also love the freshness of the ingredients: the owner grows most of the vegetables herself and she also ferments her own pu ma. There is a choice of both outdoor and indoor seating.

VT Nam Nueang

84/3 Bearing 29, Sukhumvit Soi 107, 02-399-5292, Open daily 10.30am-9pm.
Another branch of a famous Vietnamese cuisine chain from Udonthani, well known for their namnueng (sausage with greens and herbs), with its delicious dipping sauce, and fondue talay. You can get four pieces of namnueng for B100 and mhee moo (fried pork) for B90. They also do cheap steaks and pasta if Vietnamese isn’t your thing. Be warned though don’t go hungry as this place only has 30 tables and is always packed which can mean waits of up to half an hour.

Uno Restaurant

849/2 Sukhumvit Soi 107, 02-749-9886, 081-803-2570. Open daily 5pm-10.30pm.
One of the most homely Italian restaurants you could find, it’s popular with the large numbers of foreign teachers in the area as well as the occasional big name news reporters from the Nation. They are most famous for their lasagna (B200) and their ham and cheese topped Uno pizza (B120). With only 10 tables, this is an intimate and friendly spot, where the owner sometimes serves spicy soup according her mother’s recipe for free.

Pluen Pung

333 Bearing 68, Sukhumvit Soi 107, 088-323-0404. Open daily 11am-10pm.
Owned by the same person behind Tum Tum, this noodle place also has lots of fresh vegetables and quality ingredients. With only twenty tables, things are pretty basic, though you do have a choice of either outdoor or air-con seating. The menu includes both noodle and rice dishes but you should definitely try the famous best-selling kuay tiew tom yam tumlueng kai matoom (tom yam noodle soup with bitter veggies and half-boiled egg).

Lanna

750/870 Sukhumvit 170, 02-743-2966-9. Open daily 10am-9pm. www.spalanna.com
With a real emphasis on Northern-style massages this place is pretty unique for offering the original tok sen treatment (B500/90mins). This ancient Thai therapy actually makes use of a wooden stick to release your stress and muscle tension. You can also try their luk pra kob boran treatment (B600/120 mins) which combines Thai Yoga and herbal massages to restore flexibility. They also offer a full range of salon treatments including shampoo and cut. Call for an appointment.

Bang Chak Station

Punnawithee Station

Udom Suk Station

Bang Na Station

Beyond the BTS

BK Asks: What does it take for you to make the journey out to Bang Na?

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BITEC

88 Bangna-Trad Rd. km. 1, 02-749-3939, 02-361-1916. www.bitec.co.th
The main rival to Impact in terms of events and exhibitions just jumped ahead of its competitor thanks to the newly afforded accessibility. Home to fairs, exhibitions, motor shows, graduations and even the occasional dance party, you can now walk to the events direct from the skytrain station. Sure beats having to battle the horrific traffic on the expressways.

Silawat Seafood

447 Sanpawut Rd., 02-745-2061, 02-173-4952. Open daily 10am-10pm. www.silawatseafood com
What started out as a tiny noodle and a-la-carte restaurant in 1973 has now undergone a ten-fold increase in size. The big draw is their fresh fish and crab dishes and its super popular with big groups who can take advantage of their private rooms. Their top three sellers are plum-steamed sea bass (B190), koong ob woonsen (baked shrimp with vermicelli noodles, B165), and pad ped catfish (B70).

Suan Aharn Kraton

99/1 Bangna-Trad Rd. km. 1, 02-399-5202. Open daily 5pm-1am
Much more famous for their insane cabaret show, this is a place to come with a group of friends for some drunken fun than their slightly-average Thai food. The nightly show involves a unicycle, a spiked helmet and flying chickens, and they even let the customers have a go, should you feel inclined to catch a chicken on your head. With a choice of outdoor or indoor seating there’s also a karaoke section with private booths or just take to the main stage and let everyone see why Mariah Carey has nothing on you.

Bang Chak Station

Punnawithee Station

Udom Suk Station

Bearing Station

Beyond the BTS

BK Asks: What does it take for you to make the journey out to Bang Na?

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Siam Paradise Night Bazaar

2430 Sukhumvit Rd., (across from Sukhumvit Soi 101/1), 02-744-8620-5, 02-744-7252-3. Open daily 6pm-midnight. www.siamparadisenightbazaar.co.th
When Suan Lum Night Bazaar closed, the owners just took the winning formula and plonked it down in this new venue. They even brought the cheesy stone temple arch. That means you’ll find a big beer garden and a stage for live shows, which gets super popular for big footy games. There are also stores selling clothes, DVDs and antiques, but to be honest it really hasn’t got the style or quality of the original and the choice isn’t that great. However, we have a feeling the opening of the skytrain might encourage more former Suan Lum tenants to finally make the move.

Park2bar

8 Sukhumvit Soi 66, 081-838-2971, 083-615-1782. Open Tue-Sun 6:30pm–1am
This friendly local bar is filled with a lot of trees, which are one of owner Kum’s obsessions, besides collecting CDs and cooking. Originally a restaurant, Park2Bar’s cozy atmosphere was such a hit that it has now been transformed into a bar with a house party-vibe and occasional gigs from bands like Clash or Tamone. In fact, music is the main draw with live bands playing daily from 9pm onward. There’s something for everyone with soul, funk, pop and R&B on Tue, blues, rock and pop rock on Wed and Thu, while Fri, Sat, and Sun offer a mix of ska, pop, jazz and more soul.

The Garden

6/F Executive Residence, Udomsuk Soi 18, Sukhumvit 103, 084-660-1026, 02-361-7881-90. Open daily 11am-11pm. www.thegarden-restaurant.com
Not the easiest place to find, the Garden actually sits on the sixth floor of the Executive Residence serviced apartment in Soi Udomsuk 18. Boasting a slightly odd neo-classical style, it comes across as a mix between a Tuscan villa and a formal English garden with an interesting view over the expressway. It has three sections: the garden, the balcony, or the more formal interior. The food is a mix of classic international and Thai dishes that are reasonably priced but not particularly exciting. Try the rainbow trout steamed with red wine (B350) and the mhee krob (B150). There’s a limited wine selection by the bottle (from B960) or glass (white B250, red B300).

Ideo Mix

Sukhumvit 103, 02-361-5265. www.ideocondo.com
The two 21-story towers of Ideo, connected by a vertigo-inducing sky bridge, contain a total of 1,172 units and are right on the door step of the BTS and Udomsuk wet market. There’s a choice of studio or one-bedroom units which come in four different arrangements. The smallest room is 24 sq meters. while the largest is 36.70 sq meters (B95,000/sq meter). Facilities include a rooftop swimming pool and fitness center as well as little gardens on each floor.

Bang Chak Station

Punnawithee Station

Bang Na Station

Bearing Station

Beyond the BTS

BK Asks: What does it take for you to make the journey out to Bang Na?

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Piyarom Sports Club

3079/23 between Sukhumvit Soi 101 and Soi 101/1, 0-2747-9800. Open Mon-Thu 6am-10pm, Fri-Sat 6am-11pm. www.piyaromsportsclub.com
Whatever your sporting passion, it seems like they’ve got it covered at this high-end sports club that sits slap bang on Sukhumvit Road. Choose from the well-equipped gym, tennis, basketball, swimming, squash, table tennis, or the rather less strenuous option of snooker. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, Piyarom is surrounded by numerous chain restaurants and entertainment options like Major Bowl. The one downside is the cost, with membership starting at B18,000 for just three months or B24,000 for 1 year, plus there’s also a B1,300 monthly charge.

Imperial Bakery And Food Culinary School (IBAF)

2312-2314 between Sukhumvit Soi 62/3 and Soi 64, 02-741-4718-21 ext 2001-2005. Open daily 8:30am-5pm. www.ibaf.co.th
Actually run by the Ministry of Education, IBAF offers professional cooking and bakery lessons for those who want to take their kitchen skills seriously. The cooking classes include European, Chinese, catering and hors d'oeuvres while the bakery lessons cover pies and pastries, basic cake baking and cake decorating. But perhaps more useful for those who have aspirations of running a restaurant or cafe is the fact that IBAF offers the service of a business consultant after you’ve completed the courses.

Hua Zeng Hong

3039 Sukhumvit Soi 101, 02-730-5141-2. Open daily 10am-10pm. www.huasenghong.co.th
One of the top Chinese places in town, it’s worth the trek to try their small Chinese set for six-seven persons (B1,900) or a Together Meal set for two people (B415). If you want to party then their private room holds up to 100 people with karaoke (of mostly Chinese songs of course). A big plus is their delivery service which has an impressive selection of dishes. The desserts are from the bakery next door, Mu-i.

Mu-i Bakery

3039 Sukhumvit Soi 101, 02-730-5141-2 Open daily 7am-9pm. www.mu-ibakery.com
This cute little spot looks to offer a bit of everything baked from bread sticks and egg tarts to cheesecakes and meringues. Highlights include the popular crepe cake with strawberry sauce (B69) and the chocolate fudge cake (B69). As they sit next door to Hua Zeng Hong, they often join forces to do catering which is probably why you can also pick up yummy dim sum here.

The Room

Sukhumvit Soi 62, 1198 ext 11. www.lh.co.th
The Room combines two 23-story buildings offering a total of 487 units with one and two-bedroom options to choose from. One bedrooms start from 45 sq meters while two bedrooms are around 88 sq meters (B90,000 per sq meter). Facilities include a swimming pool, fitness center, reading room, mini-mart and laundry service. It is also just a few steps from the BTS.

Bang Chak Station

Udom Suk Station

Bang Na Station

Bearing Station

Beyond the BTS

BK Asks: What does it take for you to make the journey out to Bang Na?

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Directed by Tom Hanks; starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Bryan Cranston

“Larry Crowne has Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts and a good premise and a colorful supporting cast, but what it doesn’t have is a reason for existing.” Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

“Larry Crowne is made precisely for people like Larry Crowne.” Stephen Himes, Film Snobs

“Words like ‘gentle’ and ‘sweet’ were undoubtedly tossed around by the folks who made Larry Crowne. I wonder if they ever got around to ‘boring?’” Chris Hewitt, St. Paul Pioneer Press

“Larry Crowne makes losing your job, your car and your house look like the greatest thing to happen to a middle-aged man.” Christian Toto, What Would Toto Watch

“Next semester, the stars should drop Speech 217 and enroll in Chemistry 101—they dearly need some.” Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

“This is like a well-worn vintage dress: comfortable but a little threadbare.” Nigel Floyd, Time Out

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What’s hot along the new extension to the BTS. By Ubonwan Kerdtongtawee

After years and years of delays, Aug 12 finally sees the opening of the extension to the BTS line from On Nut all the way out to the Samut Prakan ‘burb of Bang Na. So do the locals really have webbed feet, and is there any place to eat? We sent our intrepid reporters out into the wilds to find the best shopping, bars, cultural activities and hottest property around the five new stations that run from Sukhumvit 79 out to Soi Bearing on Sukhumvit 107.

Bang Chak Station

Thai Guitar Society

1930/1 Sukhumvit Soi 60, 02-741-4943, 081-444-9804. By appointment. www.thailandguitarsociety.com
The Thai Guitar Society offers everything related to the instrument, from workshops to concerts, even field trips, to out of town guitar festivals. Private and group lessons are offered for all levels, and they often organize mini-concerts at Kohno, the restaurant next door.

Kohno

1930/1 Sukhumvit Soi 60, 02-741-4941-3, 081-444-9804. Open daily 11:30am-2pm, 6-11pm
With its contemporary gray décor and minimal finish, this Japanese restaurant stands out from the surrounding shophouses. Japanese fusion dishes are their selling point, like their recommended somtam yam sarai salmon (Japanese seaweed and salmon in somtam dressing, B180), and their intriguing sushi buffet deal of B189, which lets you enjoy as much sushi as you can eat in one hour. It’s also a good spot for those who like a varied musical selection, with tunes ranging from Four-Mod to traditional Japanese classics. Members and students of the Thai Guitar Society next door show off their skills on Sat and Sun, 9–10pm.

Siri Giriya Spa

4 Sukhumvit Soi 60, 02-741-5199. Open daily 10am-10pm. www.sirigiriyaspa.com
The highlight treatment of this slimming and health spa has to be the herbal hydro therapy (B850). The 25-minute treatment lets you soak in their specially prepared mix of natural Thai herbs while being massaged by the therapist to firm, heal and detoxify your skin. Other treatments include their hair spa (B550), facial treatments for men and women (B1,450) and Thai massage (120min, B750). Or you can just opt for a simple manicure (B150). They have five single and three double treatment rooms and they take reservations up to 8pm.

Kidtueng Bakery

2353-5 Sukhumvit Soi 95, 02-331-1379, 02-742-5006. Open Mon-Sat 6.30am-8.30pm, Sun 7am-8:30pm
Kidtueng Bakery is famous for its rich and creamy éclairs which they’ve been making since 1985. The best bit is they’ll make them to order, with no minimum, and they cost just B5 for two pieces. While the place looks old, and is in a really rather crappy-looking hood, their daily-baked treats make it more than worth a visit. There are only 15 tables in the shop but they’re usually empty as most clients don’t hang around: go for the takeaway option and enjoy your éclairs at home.

Symphony

Sukhumvit Soi 62, www.symphonythecondo.com
Situated right next to the BTS station this 8-story condominium offers a total of 79 units and three room types: studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom. The studios start from 35 sq meters with starting price at B1.9 million, which works out to B50,000-B55,000 per sq meter, but there are also lots of rental options available.

Punnawithee Station

Udom Suk Station

Bang Na Station

Bearing Station

Beyond the BTS

BK Asks: What does it take for you to make the journey out to Bang Na?

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