Rambuttri Alley

Close by, lantern-strung Soi Rambuttri, a street that runs parallel to Khao San, is one of my favorite spots for a beer in Bangkok. Prettier and quieter than Khao San, but no less dynamic, it boasts a diversity of shops, bars, and restaurants. Here you can sip cocktails served from a flashing VW camper van or at a bar carpeted with sand, and eat delicious pad thai at street food stalls for 50c. Alternatively, head to the relatively upscale Alley Cat bar for wine and an unlikely international menu that includes mince pies. Around the corner is Bombay Blues, where waiters in boiler suits serve mouth-watering Indian food and jello shots. It’s still not ‘real’ Bangkok, but it is a lot of fun.