Spotlight on Phra Khanong Nuea, Bangkok

Introduction

So, why would anyone want to buy or rent a condo or apartment in the Phra Khanong Nuea area of Bangkok ? At Bkkdeluxe, this is the sort of question we do get asked occasionally. And, up until last year, I might well have been the one doing the asking. In this post, the first of an occasional series of spotlight posts, we look at what Phra Khanong Nuea has to offer. We will highlight some of the best features of this area. And, hopefully, provide some insight as to why you should consider Phra Khanong Nuea when looking to rent or buy your next condo or apartment in Bangkok.

Location

Phra Khanong Nuea ( often abbreviated to just Phra Khanong ) is a quiet, residential area in Bangkok. It is just a few stops away from Phrom Phong station on the BTS Sukhumvit Line. As the rents for condos and apartments in downtown areas of Bangkok have skyrocketed, better value can be found in areas like Phra Khanong. This mirrors the situation in other major capital cities and should come as no surprise. After all, who in London can afford to live on Oxford Street ? With good transportation links, it makes more financial sense to live further down the line and commute in as needed.

Phra Khanong fits this bill perfectly as the BTS station is just two stops away from Phrom Phong and its glitzy Emporium and Emquartier shopping malls. The BTS fare to Phrom Phong, at this moment, is only 25b so the commuting cost is minimal compared to the difference to be saved in monthly rental prices.

Phra Khanong Nuea is dominated by Sukhumvit Soi 71 that runs from Sukhumvit Road down to Phatthanakan Road. The locals refer to Sukhumvit 71 road as Pridi Banomyong ( named after the 7th Prime Minister of Thailand ). They usually abbrieviate it to ‘Pridi’. The sois running off Pridi, starting at the Sukhumvit Road end, are odd numbered on the left and even numbered on the right.

Apartments And Condos in Phra Khanong

There is a great variety of condos and apartments for rent and for sale in Phra Khanong as is the case with most areas in Bangkok. Broadly speaking, we would divide them into two categories. The modern condominium high rise towers, close to the BTS station. And, the more modest, classic, low rise condominiums in the various sois off Sukhumvit 71.

The modern condos are fully featured with swimming pools, saunas, gyms and garden spaces. They are mostly newer buildings but the unit sizes are generally quite small ( in and around 50 sqm for 1 to 2 bedroom units ). In our opinion, better value can be found in the classic Bangkok style condos. These condo units are much bigger ( 90+ sqm for 1 to 2 bedrooms ), they have quality hard wood features and flooring but, in general, small pools and gyms. They are also much cheaper. We have a great selection of both types of condos, for rent and for sale, in Phra Khanong on the Bkkdeluxe website. Below, you will find a short pictorial list of the most popular condos in the Phra Khanong area of Bangkok.

Modern Phra Khanong Condos

Classic Phra Khanong Condos

Shopping In Phra Khanong

Phra Khanong may not be blessed with the greatest selection of retail options, in comparison to other areas of Bangkok, but it has the basics covered pretty well. There are no high end shopping malls, or plazas, and this may account for its local village like feel. For some, this is a God send, for others, it is a pain. However, you can still find Tesco Lotus and Big C outlets at On Nut just one stop away on the BTS or a few minutes away by car. And, the high end malls along Sukhumvit Road are easily reachable by sky train. Below you will find a few handy, local retail outlets.

Japanese Retro Shops

Pridi 3 is used by motorcycle taxis as a cut through from the Phra Khanong BTS station to Sukhumvit 71 Road, to avoid the traffic lights. It is quite an interesting soi with a distinctly Japanese vibe to it. On this soi, you will find 3, second hand, Japanese outlets which are a treasure trove of all things Japanese. You can find furniture, appliances, golf clubs, clothes, manga figurines and just about everything else under the ( rising ) sun. Its well worth a rummage in each shop. And, who knows ? You might just find a bargain for your new condo in Phra Khanong.

Phra Khanong Fresh Market

Tucked away behind the shops, on the corner of Sukhumvit 71 and Sukhumvit Road, is where you will find the Phra Khanong Fresh Market. It is not the largest fresh market in Bangkok, that can be found in Khlong Toei. But, you should be able to find what you need here. Actually, its much more than just a fresh market as it also sells clothing, material and other household items. It is the best place in the area for fresh meat, fruit and vegetables which is why it is very popular with the locals. The prices tend to be cheaper here than in the supermarkets and, of course, there is plenty of competition amongst the neighboring stalls. Its a bit of a rabbit’s warren to find your way around but well worth some of your time.

MaxValu and Makro Supermarkets

There are two main supermarkets in Phra Khanong as shown above. They are MaxValu and Makro. You can find them, opposite each other, on the corner of Sukhumvit 71 and Pridi 12. They seem to be ubiquitous in Bangkok. They stock the usual fresh food items and have small hardware sections. The prices are quite variable so it pays to shop around. You’ll find better prices at the fresh market but these supermarkets have convenient parking and air conditioning. It is pretty hard to choose between the two. MaxValu is open 24 hours a day but Makro has the better seafood, in our opinion. MaxValu also has a few other chain restaurants such as Ya Yoi, KFC and MK which might just tip the balance.

Garden Centre

So, you have a new condo or apartment in Phra Khanong, or elsewhere in Bangkok, and it is looking a bit spartan. What to do ? Well, a few plants, on the balcony or inside, livens up every living space. You would think its easy to find a good quality, fair priced, garden centre in Phra Khanong. I tried and it is not. I just couldn’t find anything locally on Google. The one shown here has my personal recommendation and is cheaper than its equivalents in other expat areas. Its on the corner of Pridi 36 where you can park easily. They have a great selection of indoor and outdoor plants and they will deliver too. Job done!

Food & Drink

Phra Khanong has a great selection of food and drink options. Too many to list here, for sure. Below you will find some of our favourite places for eating and drinking in this area of Bangkok. They tend to be a little quirkier than their counterparts in other areas but each one is another great reason to live in Phra Khanong.

W District

W District is located between Pridi 1 and 3 but also has access from Sukhumvit Rd. It is probably, the most popular drinking and dining area in Phra Khanong judging by the numbers on a Friday and Saturday night. There is always a good mix of local Thais and Expats sitting in the central courtyard after the sun goes down. There is truly a wide range of different cuisines to try here; Japanese, Indian, Thai, Italian, Mexican, Greek, Korean, etc. Place your order at the stalls surrounding the courtyard and they will bring the food to your table when it is ready.

The only downsides, in our opinion, is that the drinks are pricey for the Phra Khanong area ( how much for a pint of Guinness ? ) and the weather protection is minimal when there is a downpour. But, it is still worth a visit and a great place to people watch, if that is your thing.

https://www.w-district.com/

Kosmo Resto & Bar

Strictly speaking, this should be a part of the W District section above because that is exactly where is. It is, however, an altogether quite different type of establishment to the various food stalls in W District. Kosmo is a very classy, international bar and restaurant. It is beautifully decorated, air conditioned and a very comfortable spot to hang out. They have Belgian beers on tap and a great menu too. And, they have regular live music and DJ nights in the evenings. Best of all, is the late afternoon / early evening happy hour where you get amazing deals. Some of the best in Bangkok. Whatever they are doing at Kosmo, they are doing something right as it seems to be gaining in popularity every time we turn up. Check out the link below for more information.

https://www.facebook.com/kosmobkk/

Street Food On Pridi 2

Pridi 2 is, arguably, the beating heart of Phra Khanong Nuea. It is where the locals live, work, eat and worship. The street has a real Thai feeling about it which you just don’t find anymore in the lower end sois of Sukhumvit Rd. There are far too many great street food places here to mention individually ( even if we did know all their names ) but the pictures above will give you a heads up. Wander down the street, from the Sukhumvit 71 end, and you will see street food stalls selling Khao Ka Moo, Khao Man Gai, Gai Yang, Pad Thai, etc in direct competition with each other. Single plate dishes are in the 45-50b range so its great value. And, it seems there is always somewhere open and serving noodles. Even at 5am in the morning when everyone else in Bangkok is safely tucked up in bed.

The Last Drop

The Last Drop bar, formerly known as Tigra, and more commonly known as Bobby’s bar, can be found on Pridi 2 about 500m from Sukhumvit 71. This place is popular with locals, backpackers and expats alike due to its chilled out vibe and great value drinks prices. Put your name up for a game of pool, choose a few favourite tunes on the sound system and sit back and enjoy the street life as it unfolds on Pridi 2. For sure, Bobby ( the owner ), will come over and say hello and make you feel very welcome.

The Rovers

Just a little further along Pridi 2 from The Last Drop is where you will find The Rovers bar. This is a nice little bar with a good bunch of regulars and some great drink deals especially the Sunday Guinness specials. The owners are friendly and welcoming and due to its compact nature you won’t be a stranger for long. They show live sports on the TVs and whip up some great pub food for when you need that taste of home. You can find out more by clicking on the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/Roversbangkok/

Clouds Across The Moon

Clouds Across The Moon is the favourite bar of the Bkkdeluxe team and one of the best small bars in Bangkok. It is located on the corner of Sukhumvit 71 and Pridi 14. This super stylish cocktail bar has it all. Great staff, great drinks and great music. It gets busy after 10 pm with a trendy, but friendly, Thai crowd looking for something other than the endless hip hop beats you will find almost everywhere else. Earlier in the evening, our favourite time ( and not just because of happy hour ), it is quiet, chilled and relaxed. Where else can you watch original Star Trek, listen to 80s, 90s and 00s alternative music and sip on a Caipirinha ? Check out the link below for more information. And, we’ll see you there…

https://www.facebook.com/cloudsacrossthemoon.bkk

La Vela

So, what do you find next door to the Bkkdeluxe team’s favourite bar ? Why, its our favourite Italian restaurant, La Vela Pizza and Pasta restaurant. Owned and run by Chef Giovanni and his wife, Mam, this is high quality Italian dining at very reasonable prices. It has a wonderful, informal atmosphere so there is no standing on ceremony. Chef has daily specials which aren’t necessarily on the menu such as his home made truffle Gnocchi or Italian Sausage pasta. The Seafood platter ( see above ) and Lamb chops are simply to die for and are absolutely huge portions. The owners are super friendly and love a chat too so we recommend you give the place a try. You’ll go back again, and again, for sure. We do. Click on the link below for more details.

https://m.facebook.com/lavela.pizzaandpasta.5

Bon Amici

At the far end of Pridi 14, you will find the road’s first premium Italian restaurant, Bon Amici. This restaurant has a relaxed, romantic feel about it and is great venue for a date. Its set in a beautifully renovated Bangkok townhouse with high ceilings and an imposing central staircase. But, fear not, this is not a case of style over substance. The food is great and everything is very reasonably priced. The owners are very friendly and welcoming too. Be sure to check out the daily specials. It seems there is something new and delicious to try almost every day.

https://www.facebook.com/bonamicibkk/

Featherstone Bistro Cafe

Tucked away on Pridi 31, this fine cafe, restaurant and curiosity shop is a little off the beaten track for sure. Even for Phra Khanong. But, don’t let that put you off. It is well worth a visit. Great food ( especially the salads ), good selection of drinks and really top service. The whole place has a lovely, laid back ambience. No doubt helped by the resident, but unobstrusive, piano player tinkling the ivories. All in all, this is a great venue, particularly for brunch and lazy afternoons. It does get a little busy at times so it might be wise to book during peak periods. You can find out more by following link below.

https://www.facebook.com/featherstonecafe/

Muiné Vietnam Street Food

Muiné Vietnam Street Food is an awesome Vietnamese cafe in Habito Mall. Whilst the menu is limited, it includes all your street food favourites such as Pho, Ban Mi, etc. The food is delicious and great value for money. The staff are friendly, the service is excellent. So, all in all, Muiné is an ideal spot for lunch or an early evening meal. It seems to be increasing in popularity every time we go so the word is definitely getting out there. For more information, check out the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/MuineVietnameseStreetFood/

Thuyền Vietnamese Restaurant

Phra Khanong is a little bit spoilt when it comes to Vietnamese dining. Not only do we have the excellent Muiné Street Food Restaurant, described elsewhere in this blog, we also have the more upmarket Thuyền Resturant as well. This is high end Vietnamese dining, with a lengthy menu, all at very reasonable prices. The setting is beautiful in a Thai house and garden on Pridi Banomyong 37. In the cooler months you can dine in the peaceful garden and forget you are in the heart of Bangkok. Our favourite dish is the scallops but, because the menu is so extensive, we have barely scratched the surface of what is on offer here. Find out more by following the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/thuyen1996

Leisure Activities

Pakamas Swimming Pool & Gym

If you happen to rent, or have even bought, a classic condo in Phra Khanong, you may only have a swimming pool large enough for a quick dip. Luckily, there is a very nice 25m long pool at Pakamas Village in the heart of Phra Khanong Nuea. Its a lovely, clean pool ideal for swimming lengths. And, it seems to be barely used in the daytime ( especially during the school term ). Daily usage charge of the pool, to the general public, is 100b or there is an annual membership for about 5000b. They also have gym equipment too. Pakamas Village ( sometimes spelt Pakamat ) can be reached from Phatthanawet Soi 12 at the far end of Pridi 14.

Conclusion

Well, that about wraps up our spotlight on Phra Khanong Nuea. It is not exhaustive by any means. But, we hope that we have given you a few reasons to consider Phra Khanong the next time you want to rent or buy a condo in Bangkok. If you have any comments, or we have made some glaring omissions, we would be delighted to hear from you. At Bkkdeluxe, we always have a great selection of properties in this area, its our home turf. You can see our latest offerings by following the link below.

https://bkkdeluxeproperties.com/neighborhood/phrakhanong