Thonglor has undoubtedly cemented its brand appeal as Bangkok’s glamorous and ultra-desirable enclave.
To those unfamiliar with the neighborhood, Thonglor is arguably the local equivalent to LA’s Beverly Hills or even London’s Soho. Immediately associated to the Ferrari driving and Hermes toting hip crowd of socialites that roam its “sois”, it is definitely the place to see and be seen!
The area’s reputation is well deserved; it is home to amazing eateries, packed with community malls, trendy shops and independent cafes. However evenings are when the neighborhood really comes into its own, with a superb selection of dining options, glitz bars and ultra-trendy clubs that draws a classy crowd of partygoers.
The relentless popularity of Thonglor, combined with growing scarcity of developable plots in the area has inevitably caused the prices of both new launches and resale projects to rise dramatically. With Plus Property, recently estimating the average price of new projects in the area at an astronomical 325,000 THB per/sqm, compared with just 125,000 THB per/sqm in 2013.
The ever increasing prices of real estate in Thonglor, is inevitably raising eyebrows. Interestingly, with numerous investors already priced out of the area many are seeking new and underrated alternative neighborhoods!
So where is Bangkok’s next pocket of “Cool”?
Ari
The first alternative Ari, will come as no surprise to those familiar with Bangkok. The leafy neighborhood, with its bustling collection of trendy eateries, food trucks and local bars offers a unique lifestyle reminiscent of Thonglor’s early beginnings!
Served by BTS Ari Station, local residents can conveniently travel to business hubs such as Phaya Thai and other parts of the CBD with ease.
The local property market is booming with several established developers having launched projects in the area. This includes Noble RE:D by Noble Development and Rhythm Phahon-Ari by AP(Thai).
Ratchada
Ratchada is another hip and trendy neighborhood that has been in the spotlight in recent years. The area is famed for its vibrant and eclectic lifestyle with attractions such as the famed Ratchada Night Market, variety of malls such as Esplanade and The Street, and its bustling nightlife. However the neighborhood, is more than just another entertainment district; it has successfully established its position as a business and commercial center.
Recognized as Bangkok’s newest CBD location, The Stock Exchange of Thailand has relocated into the area. On top of this, several A-Grade office towers such as AIA Capital Center have been launched to accommodate the new wave of businesses relocating into the area.
The area is incredibly well-located and conveniently connected to MRT Thailand Cultural Center. It is also benefitting from the growth of neighboring Rama 9, a premier business hub that will soon welcome the MRT Orange Line interchange and the “Super Tower” megaproject.
Ladprao
A wild card entry in this list, Ladprao is a residential neighborhood popular with Thai working professionals and young families. Its reputation as a peaceful residential enclave has inevitably resulted in the gradual development of its lifestyle offerings.
It is important to note that the Ladprao- Phahon Yothin side of the neighborhood, has transformed into North Bangkok’s trendy hangout spot. With several leisure venues, such as Central Plaza Ladprao and the Union Mall.
Ladprao is located in a prime position to benefit from urban development and gentrification. This is the case as the BTS Green Line is being extended and the area will soon welcome a BTS/MRT interchange. Thus adding greater connection and convenience to local residents. On top of this, Ladprao is in close proximity to the future Bangsue Grand Station (Terminal of the upcoming high speed rail network) that could effectively transform the whole area into the transport and logistic hub of Bangkok!
The Capital is gentrifying at a dizzying pace, with several locations emerging as desirable lifestyle and investment enclaves. Some areas worth honorable mentions include:
– Sapan Thaksin- Riverside
Offering a serene escape from hectic city life, the neighborhood will soon welcome a collection of ultra-luxury residences such as the Mandarin Oriental Residence and The Four Seasons Private Residences!
– Rama 4
Rama 4 is gradually transforming from gritty thoroughfare into a chic and appealing business hub. Especially with the development of several mega projects such as One Bangkok, The PARQ, etc…
This brief article is in no way an exhaustive list of all the up-and-coming neighborhoods that Bangkok has to offer. However this brief editorial piece, goes to show that the Capital is offering an increasingly growing number of opportunities to savvy investors!
