You may think Bangkok has already been overly photographed from our fancy malls, cool cafes, famous temples and countless other attractions. However, there are still lesser-known and less-obvious spots in the city that are worthy of being checked out for the 'Gram. Get your camera, face mask and hand sanitiser ready as we submerge into the aesthetics of Bangkok's landmarks and architecture. We list a map of photogenic spots hidden inside this concrete jungle.
Benjakitti Forest Park
The extension of Benjakitti Park on Ratchadaphisek Road, previously known as the land of the lung-damaging manufacturer, has transformed itself into the new green lung of Bangkok, and you don't even have to cross the river! Once the park is fully open in April, around 8,725 trees and 250 species of plants, ranging from mangrove trees to evergreen meadows and Thai flowers, as well as freshwater swamps, will form a new ecosystem to add a funtastic green space to the concrete jungle.
(Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)
Wondering where to start out exploring the latest extensive downtown park? Take the "F" gate of its 1.6km skywalk, closest to the main entrance, to get off the ground and indulge in the panoramic views of the whole area from above. There will be viewpoints along the walkway that will expose you to different breathtaking garden scenes, with skylines as a backdrop. Back on the ground, the end of the main sky path leads to either the amphitheatre or the concrete footpaths that allow you to explore the human-made archipelago garden. Though the wide-open, picturesque amphitheatre is against the sunset, it offers ineffable scenery when the pond is glistening with the rays. Each natural footpath above the pond, flanked by abundant amphibian plants, provides Instagrammers with distinct photogenic spots, where they will get a close-up shot with a green plant wall as a stage setting. The hidden spot is tucked away on the "G" gate and is a seating area amid a lush garden, as it sits beneath the shades of the gigantic Samanea Saman or the rain tree.
Starbucks at The Davis Bangkok Hotel
Believe it or not, you can travel to London by taking a BTS ride to Phrom Phong station, and you don't even need to apply for a visa! Starbucks at The Davis Bangkok Hotel on Sukhumvit 24 has evoked a glimpse of the UK capital through picturesque European-style architecture and quintessential London details, offering a unique setting to pretend to be a Londoner for a day. Think of the quintessential British telephone booth -- though it's not in red -- a clock post and a wooden railway bench, as well as a pair of Khmer lion statues, guarding the coffee shop elegantly like the majestic beasts in Trafalgar Square.
(Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)
Speaking of architectural ins and outs, the exterior stands out from other surrounding modernistic buildings because of the imposing facade that catches all eyes with its quaint engravings and tall curved windows. Maysa Design is responsible for the shop's equally impressive interiors, which boast a down-to-Earth vibe from a combination of wooden and white palettes and appealing structures like tall white columns connecting beige granite flooring and a geometric dome ceiling. Just a few steps away, walking towards Rama IV Road, will be a short crosswalk, where you can emulate The Beatles' Abbey Road crossing with your pals.
SCB-Julius Baer
SCB-Julius Baer is another photogenic building that can trick your IG followers into thinking that you're on a vacation in Europe. The striking corner building is a wealth management bank established as a strategic joint venture between Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) and world-class Swiss private bank Julius Baer. At the corner of Sukhumvit 45, a five-minute walk from BTS Phrom Phong station, the building's exterior is pretty easy on the eyes. It shines out through the cream Western's colonial facade, lining up with the tall arched windows, all of which are contrasted with delicate wrought-iron fences and lampposts in black and manicured rows of verdant shrubs.
(Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)
Chaloemla Gardens
Chaloemla Gardens doesn't only harmonise youngsters through its outdoor sports court and playground, its vivid murals also have breathed life into the old blocks of Si Surut Alley. With a few minutes' walk from BTS Ratchathewi, the downtown enclosed square park, hailed as the "Graffiti Park", stands out for being a street art spot, where Bangkokians can swag up their 'Gram feed with striking mural art snapshots. Murals cover all the walls and abandoned structures and are changed regularly. Recently, the park has been inspiring young aspiring footballers with the portraits of characters from Captain Tsubasa, an old-school Japanese manga series revolving around the sportsmanship of the high school football team. The anime version of three noted Thai professional football players -- Chanathip "Jay" Songkrasin, Theerathon "Aum" Bunmathan and Sittichok "Ya" Phaso -- joins Tsubasa on the main wall to commemorate these Thai players in the J-League.
(Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)
The Garden of Sindhorn Village
Nowhere else offers tranquillity amid the concrete jungle like The Garden of Sindhorn Village on Langsuan Road. The courtyard is surrounded on all sides by the modernist, impressive architecture of Sindhorn Village's residence buildings and the community mall Velaa. Bursting with lush, tropical greenery, the place is perfect for a blissful escape from the city rush. Bookworms can sink into peaceful vibes at the chill-out area next to the lotus pond, where gurgling water sounds and a swaying Weeping Willow boast a relaxing ambience for reading. There are a few photogenic spots for Instagrammers to step up their game -- as if they aren't already posing with every single flower and evergreen along the path. Worth checking out is the seating area, namely two black-designed benches with wrought iron props that look like vintage birdcages, in front of the enormous concrete arch of Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.
(Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)
The Glass Stairs of True Digital Park
True Digital Park reminded us of the Sandbox startup hub from Netflix's K-series Startup, where architecture blends innovations with contemporary design. Taking centre stage in its concept of "Open Innovation" is the iconic Glass Stairs that seamlessly connect three buildings together and span vertically from the 5th to the 7th floors of the Pegasus Building. Get your visitor card at the lobby and take a lift to the 6th floor of the co-working space to see how these spiral glass stairs connect people under one roof, as it's meant to be the centre of the "connectivity" of people within True Digital Park.
(Photo: True Digital Park)
Featuring the identical structure of the spiral staircase of the Apple Cube (Apple Store) in Manhattan, the recreation in Bangkok is made from high-quality laminated tempered glass while mounting around the large glass cylinder structure in the centre. Seele, a leader in the world of facade and roof construction and famous for its signature use of glass in creating beautiful architecture, is the design studio behind the iconic Glass Stairs. However, visitors who wear high heels aren't allowed to use the staircase.
Bangkok Green Bridge
Those who have the "need to travel abroad itch" to scratch can drop by Bangkok Green Bridge at Sarasin Intersection to catch the nostalgic vibes of what they've missed in Japan. Well, it does look just like a typical pedestrian skywalk that has been revamped to suit the downtown surroundings of Witthayu Road. However, Thai otakus have vouched for the similarity while getting those goosebumps whenever they see the skywalk -- as it evokes the iconic scene from the Japanese animated film Kimi no na wa (Your Name) when protagonist Taki Tachibana is standing on the exact same green pedestrian bridge, located at Shinanomachi Station in Tokyo.
(Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)
Flanked by trees and low-rise houses of the Polo community, the Bangkok Green Bridge features a pedestrian walkway and a bicycle lane, with ramps for people to transport their bicycles. Taking the limelight off the mint green skywalk are towering electricity pylons, stretching along the bridge, and Japanese props like a fake sakura tree and a koinobori (a colourful carb windsock) displayed by the nearby cafe, recalling the suburbs of Japan's capitals from your memories. Apart from serving as a playground for Instagrammers, it offers a scenic yet cheap way to get around the city as the 1.3km bridge connects Lumphini and Benjakitti parks.
