Budget-Friendly Places To Eat, Drink In Bangkok: 7 bars/cafes that won’t burn your pocket at the Thai capital

Europe is one of the most popular tourist destinations among Indians. Often people prefer to sign up with a travel agency so that they have little work to do in planning the trip. Once you do that, everything is taken care of: accommodation, transport, and places to eat, on most occasions.

If you talk about Asia, Bangkok is visited a lot around the year. In fact, the travellers heading to the Thai capital are not just Indians. According to world tourism statistics in 2019, Bangkok was the second-most visited destination in the world after Hong Kong. Bangkok is one of the rare places where people opt to travel independently. Most tourists usually follow the common rule in Thailand: Shop, drink, and do a bit of sight-seeing in Bangkok and then head to the scenic islands.

Since Thailand’s currency, which is equivalent to INR 2, is quite low in comparison to the likes of USD, Euro, etc, a lot of people don’t really plan their expenses for the trip. Once they hit the bars and cafes in Bangkok, it is difficult to keep a tab on the money spent.

ALSO READ – Thailand Itinerary For 4 Days: Hits, Misses and Flops of Bangkok and Pattaya

Since there are plenty of bars and cafes in Bangkok, it is the best place for a keen ‘hopper’ to experience bar hopping. The city offers a large array of beers from across the world. Before our trip to Bangkok, I (Sakshi) had heard a few stories of how people lost track while drinking and were slapped with massive bills at the bars. I anyway make a list of cafes/bars I want to visit before any trip. However, those stories pushed me to do rigorous research.

Bangkok, which is widely known as the party capital of the world, has an ample number of bars at reasonable prices. Here is a list of 7 bars/cafes that won’t burn a hole in your pocket if you go bar hopping in Bangkok:

Khao San Center

Our first few hours in Thailand were quite forgettable, courtesy of a four-hour process of obtaining a free visa on arrival. When we reached our hotel D&D Khao San, they could not provide us with an early check-in. We dumped our bags in their luggage counter and decided to have breakfast at Khao San Center, a bar that was adjacent to the hotel.

It was between 9.30 and 10 AM and the bar had fairy lights switched on. That was enough to revive my mood. The decor was mostly green. They had a variety of dishes and the beer was pretty cheap. They had outdoor seating as well that allowed people to watch the Khao San Road slowly wake up after partying through the previous night.

Timings: 10AM to 2AM (On Sun – 10AM to 12AM)

Jack’s Bar

Located on the stunning Chao Phraya River, surrounded by some of the best hotels in Thailand, Jack’s Bar will probably take you to the 80s or 90s. It is hidden behind La Shangri Hotel. Sitting on rustic plastic chairs, drinking chilled Leos (Leo Beer), and enjoying the cool river breeze – Jack’s an experience you must not miss. It is a small shack, nothing fancy. If you want a seat near the river perch, you need to arrive early. We reached there pretty late, but we have heard it’s one of the best places to watch the sun sink behind the west bank of the river.

Timings: 11AM to 12AM

Buddy Beer Bar And Grill

It’s hidden in one of Khao San Road’s corners, so you must keep looking for the board to not miss the place. We have never enjoyed a veg pizza (without paneer) as much as we did there. They serve amazing cocktails as well at reasonable prices.

Timings: 3PM to 12AM

Gecko Bar

Located in Soi Rambutteri, a short walk from Khao San is a great breakfast choice. They had plenty of options on the menu at pocket-friendly prices. It is a small place run by a family. Nothing fancy: cheap food, drinks, and free WiFi. While they serve your food at the table, you need to pay at the counter (just cash). We spent more than an hour there, sitting in peace and watching the street buzz with people. It is not crowded if you go there in the morning. The vibe is nice.

Lucky Beer

You’ll find this bar opposite the Khao San Center and D&D Hotel. We just had a beer there, after an amazing Thai massage session. This place gets super full at night as they play loud and amazing music and people dance crazily for hours together right outside it.

Timings: 7AM to 1AM (Except Fri, Sat – 7AM to 2AM)

Viva and Aviv The River

Having a meal by the river can never get old. Viva Aviv is a proper waterfront restaurant and is a tad expensive. But you can always visit it for a small meal just to soak in the ambience. One of the nicely decorated eateries we came across in Bangkok, Viva is situated in the River City shopping complex by the stunning Chao Phraya River. Without any second thoughts, we had our best meal at this place in Bangkok. It is about 6 KMs away from Khao San Road.

Timings: Mon to Thu – 12PM to 10PM, and Fri to Sun – 11AM to 12AM

Alley Cat

This pleasantly decorated and cozy bar is located in Soi Rambutteri. You will have to walk a bit into the street to spot it. They stop their food service around 10.30 PM, but their bar is still functional. The service can get a bit slow, but the people are friendly.

Timings: 4PM to 12AM, Closed on Mondays

To find out more about our Thailand trip, click here.