• Get in
• See
• Eat

Ratchadaphisek (รัชดาภิเษก, IPA Template:IPA) is the district centered around Ratchadaphisek Road, north of Sukhumvit in Bangkok. If you look at a map for the Metro subway system you will see that North/South portion follows Ratchadaphisek Road.

[edit] Get in

Use the metro or a taxi - it's okay to say Ratchada ("RAHT-cha-dah") for Ratchadaphisek Road, everybody abbreviates it.

[edit] See

Tourist sights are basically non-existent in this neck of woods.

• Thai Cultural Center, Ratchadaphisek Soi 4 (Metro Thai Cultural Center) [1] hosts various cultural events.

[edit] Buy

[edit] Malls

• <buy name="Fortune Town" alt="" address="1 Fortune Town Bldg. Rachadaphisek Rd, Dindang , Bangkok 10320" directions="corner of Ratchadaphisek and Rama IX" phone="+66 2 641-1884-6" email="" fax="" url="http://www.cpplaza.co.th/" hours="" price=""> next to Phra Ram 9 MRT. One of the best places in Bangkok to buy computer gear, and has an extensive mobile phone on 2nd fl and computer section on the 3rd and 4th floors. This large shopping complex also has a huge supermarket/department store Tesco Lotus, many barber shops, many restaurants and a food court.</buy>

• <buy name="Esplanade" alt="" address="" directions="exit 3 at Thailand Cultural Centre MRT" phone="02-642-2000" url="http://www.esplanadethailand.com/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="esplanade@siamfuture.com" fax=""> 7 stories of Premium shops, cinemas and restaurants.</buy>

• Nearby are Jusco, Carrefour, and Robinson, which are all mega supermarkets.

[edit] Bazaars

• Ratchada Night Bazzar, Lat Phrao intersection, is a new night bazaar similar to Silom's better-known Lumpini Night Bazaar, with open air shopping, eating and drinking.

[edit] Travel agents

• Manida Travel Bangkok[2] is on Soi Udomsuk off Ratchadapisek Road, just behind the MRT Sutthisan station.

[edit] Eat

• Huai Khwang. Lots of restaurants, especially good for late night dining.

• Emerald Hotel. Has very good Chinese food at an affordable price.

• Bali Seafood Soi 6. Restaurant/megabar, Bali Seafood's unassuming title belies the grand stature of what it encompasses. Big screen TVs, blasting music both live and recorded, and humming with as many as 4000 young Thais, eating and drinking and socializing.

[edit] Drink

[edit] Clubs and bars

If you are looking for entertainment locals enjoy, Ratchadaphisek Road is a must visit.

Royal City Avenue (RCA) is a popular and trendy road open only to pedestrians, which has been through tough times but as of Nov 2007 is hip and happening again, with many of the biggest dance clubs in Thailand. Bring your passport. Farang aren't common but aren't unwelcome either.

• Slim. A conglomerate of 3 large clubs playing house, hiphop and pop/rock, to a mostly local crowd.

• Jazz it, 21/39-40 RCA Block C[3]. Offers deep house music and electro jazz played by international DJs, pop/rock live music bands. Great wine bar with a wide selection of international cocktails.

Ratchada Soi 4 is a collection of several dozen music pubs very popular with 20-something Thais. The music is often too loud, but that seems to be the main attraction. The main clubs here include:

• Snop - The largest and most popular of the Soi 4 clubs. A great place to see local nightlife and hear Thai bands.

• Rad - As popular as it is loud, a great place for a fun night out.

Ratchada Soi 6 Is a hot spot of late for local teens. Not a single venue, but a collection of several dozen large clubs.

• Dance Fever - Has previously hosted concerts by Erasure and Bush.

• Hollywood - A large drinking hall (no dance floor) with sexy entertainers performing cover tunes on stage.

[edit] Cabarets

• Ratchada Cabaret - A ladyboy cabaret show.
• Golden Dome Cabaret - A ladyboy cabaret show.

[edit] Massage parlors

Ratchadaphisek Road features many massage parlors that actually specialize in other services. Look for big flashy yet windowless buildings with names like Emmanuelle, Poseidon, Caesar's Palace and further south, Mona Lisa.

• Ratchadahatthawet, Metro Huai Khwang, is a Thai traditional massage parlour (in front of Emmanuelle to the right), a dependable address for 'straight' massages at 300 baht per session of two hours, in clean private rooms without pressure for additional services.

[edit] Sleep

Not as popular as the Sukhumvit area for western tourists, but there are some big hotels here. Many cater to Chinese and Japanese visitors.

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid-range

• Oriental Suite Executive Apartment www.orientalsuite.com. 552/18 Soi Ratchadapisek 7, Ratchadapisek Rd, Din-Daeng, Bangkok 10400, ThailandTel: +66 2 274 6550 Email: info@orientalsuite.com - Fully furnished, self contained apartments, only a 5 minute walk from Thailand Cultural Center MRT station.

[edit] Splurge

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