THERE is always something new popping up in Bangkok— a hole-in-a-wall watering hole to a fancy restaurant, a pop-up flea market to a luxury mall.
The BTS train tracks are extending its reach farther from the city center to make traveling more convenient and fast. The city is growing at a fast pace that even frequent visitors are finding it hard to catch up. To find the interesting spots, either you get to read about it, a local directs you to it, or you chance upon it yourself.
Royal Orchid Sheraton’s Gem Tour offers a tour of its historic Bang Rak neighborhood district, once the financial powerhouse of the nation. It only takes an hour to know the area around Charoenkrung aka Captain Bush Lane, Bangkok’s first cemented street.
What makes the area charming is the mix of old and new. Modern structures have risen but industrial facades from the WWII era still line the roadside.
One of the warehouses is a few meters from the hotel, at the end of Soi Charoenfrung 30, and it became an instant favorite.
Warehouse 30 is composed of seven 1940’s constructed 6,000-square meter warehouses. It has been repurposed to accommodate a chic “creative community complex” for fashion, art, food, and film. It’s a good place to laze on a hot afternoon. The cool interiors and even cooler contents of the warehouse can make you forget time.
The first two warehouses are used as a large co-working space called One Big House.
The Never Ending Summer, a canteen, is set up in this space to cater to the busy minds.
Warehouse 3 is an apparel showroom for the minimalist fashion brand, Two Legged Creature. You can see the sewers work on the loft while you browse through the finished products on display on the main floor.
Warehouse 4, is where three F and B outlets are housed like Summer, which serves cocktail drinks and wine; The DAG, serving meals with unique ingredients; The Li-Bra-Ry Café, serving coffee with a vintage roaster at the café’s center as a highlight; and The Fox and The Moon, with its light snacks.
The next warehouse houses Wallflower, a flower shop, a multi-brand home décor zone curated by Warehouse 30’s project manager and 8080Rubber, an accessory store for motorbike enthusiasts.
The last two warehouses are open market zones. The rear of the room has an 80-seater theater set-up, where indie films can be screened by the Documentary Club while the front of the room features a bookstore, Candide, selling design and architecture-themed books only; a vinyl record shop called Copperwired; Raw and Real is a raw juice bar; and an eco-friendly organic market selling locally sourced food. A 20-meter space is reserved as a multi-purpose area for events.
Warehouse 30 is just one of Bangkok’s newest gems. It’s a bit off the tourist path but easy to access. Best way to reach this spot via the Chao Phraya River. It’s a short walk from the Si Pha Ya Pier.
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52, 60 Charoen Krung Rd, Khwaeng Bang Rak, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500, Thailand.