Sukhumvit, Bangkok: which part suits you

Stay in Phrom Phong if you want the best mix of shopping, dining and calm. Pick Asok for the strongest transit, Thonglor for bars and restaurants, and Ekkamai if you would rather feel like a local than a hotel guest.

Sukhumvit is not one neighbourhood. The road runs 488 km to the Cambodian border, and in Bangkok its stretches differ sharply. The four below sit in a row on the BTS Sukhumvit Line, so you can try them all from any base. Traffic on the road is often heavy, even late at night, so stay close to a station.

Side streets, called sois, are numbered from west to east. Odd numbers branch off to the north and even numbers to the south, which helps when you read a hotel address.

Asok

Asok is the most connected stop on the road. It is where the BTS meets MRT Sukhumvit, so Silom and Chinatown are a direct Blue Line ride away. See getting around Bangkok for tickets and hours.

Terminal 21 is the mall here. Benjakitti Park, 72 hectares on Ratchadapisek Road, is close by and links to Lumpini Park along an elevated walkway of about 1.3 km. South of the main road, Soi 12 has a Korean neighbourhood. It gets loud after dark around Asok and Nana, so choose a hotel with that in mind.

Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, at 250 Sukhumvit Road, has a direct bridge to the Skytrain, a garden pool and The Living Room for live jazz.

Phrom Phong

This is the polished stretch. Emporium (622 Sukhumvit Road, daily 10 am to 10 pm) and EmQuartier sit close together, and Benjasiri Park is beside Emporium. EmQuartier opens at 11 am Monday to Thursday and at 10 am from Friday to Sunday, closing at 9 pm. Our guide to the best malls in Bangkok compares them.

Pick 137 Pillars at 59/1 Sukhumvit Soi 39 for private butler service and a 27th-floor pool. Pick Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park for scale: it has 1,388 rooms, seven restaurants and bars, and ABar Rooftop, and suits families and groups better than couples looking for quiet.

Thonglor

Thonglor, officially Soi 55, is the choice for going out. Michelin’s 2024 guide to the area points to Rabbit Hole, J Boroski and Dry Wave for cocktails, and boutiques and cafes for the daytime. Octave, on Soi 57, is the rooftop option. Thong Lo also has a Japanese community.

MUU Bangkok, at 88/333 Soi 55, has 148 rooms, twin infinity pools on the 11th floor and a connection to the Eight Thonglor mall. Soi 55 is long, so check how far your hotel is from the station before you book.

Ekkamai

Ekkamai is one stop further and the least polished of the four. Michelin’s guide names Ink & Lion, Rolling Roasters and Kaizen for coffee, Mikkeller Bangkok for beer, and Tuba and Onion for vintage and street fashion.

We could not verify a luxury hotel here that we would name. Sleep in Thonglor and come over for the day. Michelin’s list dates from 2024, so check that a place is still open.

If you want a five-star hotel

Our 12-hotel shortlist has no hotel on these four stretches. Two sit just west on the same BTS line: Rosewood and Park Hyatt, both at Phloen Chit (E2). Asok is two stops further, so you can have a top hotel and still be in Sukhumvit for dinner.

Restaurants and nightlife

In 2024 Michelin’s Sukhumvit guide named R-Haan, Gaa and Sorn at two stars and Haoma at one star with a Green Star, plus Bib Gourmand picks such as Rung Rueang Pork Noodle on Soi 26. Check the current edition in our Michelin guide before you book.

For drinks with a view, Above Eleven is on Soi 11 and Spectrum on Soi 13. The wider picture is in our nightlife guide.

Who should stay elsewhere

If your priority is temples and the old city, Sukhumvit adds travel time to every day. Look at the river instead. Our guide to where to stay in Bangkok compares six areas, and Silom is the closest alternative if you want rooftops and business-district dining. From the airport, see Bangkok airport to city.

Questions people ask

What is the best area of Sukhumvit to stay in?

Phrom Phong for most travellers with money, because it pairs the big malls with a calmer feel. Choose Asok for transit and Thonglor if you plan to go out most nights.

Is Sukhumvit a good place to stay in Bangkok?

Yes, if your trip is built around restaurants, bars, shopping and the BTS. It is less convenient for the Grand Palace and the river, which take longer to reach.

Which BTS stations serve Sukhumvit?

Going east from the centre: Nana (E3), Asok (E4), Phrom Phong (E5), Thong Lo (E6) and Ekkamai (E7). Asok also connects to MRT Sukhumvit on the Blue Line.

What are the best hotels on Sukhumvit Road?

Sheraton Grande for a direct link to Asok station, 137 Pillars for butler-served suites near Phrom Phong, and MUU Bangkok for a boutique stay in Thonglor. Check rates and current reviews first.

How do I get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Sukhumvit?

Take a taxi if you have bags, or the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai and change to the BTS Sukhumvit Line. Our airport guide compares the options.