I spent a whole day discovering the best HIDDEN GEMS in Bangkok, and I found a mix of some VERY interesting places. This incredible city has so much to discover, and some truly offbeat, unexpected, and even strange places!
Since I was making my itinerary for only two days, I decided to spend one day doing the ‘Bangkok must-sees’ and then the next day looking for hidden gems, unique places, and the most interesting and epic views.
From unique restaurants to a temple adorned with pop culture icons to a truly hidden bar, here are some of the most awesome Bangkok Hidden Gems that you should explore while here, especially if you have been here before and are looking to find some secret spots in Bangkok to explore more beyond the guidebook.
Hidden Gems in Bangkok
Here are the best nine hidden gems in Bangkok that I saw myself – and yes I did all of these in one day (besides one)! It was a lot, so I advise you to pick a few for your desires, take a few days, or just use this list for some ideas.
If you’re looking for more must-see and must-do things in Bangkok, check out my comprehensive itinerary for seeing all the best sights in one day in Bangkok.
For beyond Bangkok, check out some hidden gems in Thailand. Don’t forget to check for music festivals in Thailand while you are here!
The Erawan Museum
The Erawan Museum is a beautiful and unique museum outside the city known for its 30m tall, 3-headed elephant sculpture called Erawan, based on a Hindu deity. The museum was under construction for years, having started in 1994 and completed in 2002. The elephant is the largest free-standing statue in the country!
The three-headed elephant stands atop an elegant pink building with a lavish, jeweled staircase inside. The museum is full of antiquities and Thai cultural objects, as well as a serene and colorful atmosphere. The bottom floor is supposed to represent the underworld, the second floor the earth, and the top – heaven, shown by the world map and zodiac symbols on the stained glass ceiling.
The inside of the elephant is even home to a colorful, artistic temple housing ancient Buddhist relics, which you reach by climbing inside one of the elephant’s legs.
It doesn’t stop there, however. The whole space of the museum is stunning, with manicured gardens, running water, and bedazzled creatures. There’s even ethereal music playing over the speakers as well as colorful elephants over the walking tracks that make a sound when you pass by. Make an offering to different hindu gods at smaller temples as you walk around, or enjoy the space that seems miles from civilization.
I got my ticket in advance on Viator here, but you can also purchase at the door!
Wat Pariwat Temple
The Wat Pariwat Temple is tucked away in a suburb outside the city that you would easily miss if you weren’t looking for it – not far from Wat Pariwat station. This temple may look normal at first, but once you look closely, it has WILD embellished sculptures of creatures that are half of two animals as well as pop culture characters and icons.
You can spot Superman, Pinocchio, Winnie the Pooh, Popeye, and more if you look closely – apparently, there’s even a David Beckham statue and a Barrack Obama taking a selfie (not sure how I missed those)!
The sculptures are strange and amazing. Apparently, monks created such a different and unique temple to spark the imaginations of a younger generation. And it surely worked for me – it’s the most memorable temple I have been to! You can truly spend hours inspecting every inch, and finding something new each time.
Hajime Robot Restaurant
Hajime Robot Restaurant is a Japanese restaurant where you can be served food by a real robot! Located outside the city (not far from Wat Pariwat), Hajime is on the third floor of a mall complex and has a beautiful big space. There are two rows of tables surrounding two long, central glass cases where the robots reside and can move up and down between the tables.
They serve a menu of Japanese food such as sushi, sashimi, donburi, and yakiniku to be cooked at the table. It’s SO much fun to have a robot bring your food, but apparently there are only certain dished the robot can bring. So, make sure to ask your server which dishes the robot can serve you before you order!
Benchakitti Park or Lumphini Park
Many people don’t realize Bangkok has green spaces, so I added the best parts as some of the best Bangkok hidden gems! Benchakitti Park is a peaceful oasis in the city where you can feel like you’re miles from civilization for a few moments. There’s an actual forest park and a massive lake with walking and biking trails around it.
Some of the forested areas are fully wooded, and if you didn’t see buildings on the skyline (and probably hear some traffic), you’d think you were far away from the craziness of the city. I didn’t realize that was possible in Bangkok, which is why I wanted to visit this park to see for myself. Benchakitti or Lumphini Parks are perfect for a morning walk or a picnic.
Caturday Cat Cafe
Caturday Cat Cafe is Bangkok’s own Cat Cafe. Located in central downtown near lots of malls, Caturday would easily be missed if you weren’t looking for it. It has DOZENS of cats roaming around the whole cafe, which is lined completely with cat structures and fun things to climb OR sleep in! They are so cute and love to play and nap – there are a lot of cat toys and comfy boxes/bowls they like o curl up in.
Saturday Cat Cafe has a fun menu of Thai and international snacks as well as coffees with silly cat photo speech bubbles (from the actual cats)! And also photos of each cat in the cafe.
You must pay 200 baht to enter, which is a credit towards food and drink. You can either pay the difference if you spend more or you can have them keep the change if you spend less.
Tichuca Rooftop Bar
Located around the main downtown area, Tichuca is one of the most unique rooftop bars in Bangkok. It is an epic garden-themed rooftop bar with colorful lights and multiple floors leading to an UNREAL 50th-floor city view.
Tichuca’s centerpiece is a huge fiber optic tree, not too unlike Avatar. The views are panoramic in every direction, and the decor is woodsy and floral. I recommend walking up to the 50th floor (which has its own bar too) at least for a while to take photos; this floor also has a better sunset view.
The Commons Thonglor
The Commons is an offbeat community mall that is an epic local hangout spot with cool shops and 10+ food and drink stalls serving up a variety of options. It has cool brutalist architecture adorned with plants, and has a great vibe on any night of the week (for food) and any day (for shopping or even working out).
I came here in the evening and had a great time exploring all the food options from Italian, a wine bar, Peruvian, burgers, sandwiches, fried chicken, Korean, Japanese, and SO much more! It’s great place to meet up for the night or hang out where locals go.
Find the Locker Room Hidden Bar
#FindtheLockerRoom hidden bar is a truly hidden high-end cocktail bar hidden behind multiple layers of hidden doors, with IMPRESSIVE drinks (I had one of the best cocktails of my life).
Not too far from The Commons, you can trace the #FindtheLockerRoom location on Google Maps to a sketchy little unmarked hallway off the Main Street. Once you walk inside, you will find a tiny room with 3 walls of lockers. Now, the games begin (spoilers ahead)!
I read online that there are three doors to get here, but I didn’t realize that meant the entry, the first locker door, and one upstairs. It took me SO LONG so realize that you have to push the middle door to the side to get inside, and the bar is UPSTAIRS (not to the right like I had thought).
But once you get inside, there are cocktails designed by some of Bangkok’s best bartenders. The cocktails are named after decades, with different fashion choices, iconic bands, or foods. I chose the ‘who wears short shorts’ cocktail, and it came in three layers full of entirely different ingredients. Apparently, I could drink it in layers or mix it! I ended up mixing it, and I still have no idea all those random ingredients tasted like heaven mixed together.
Artist House
The Artist’s House is an awesome Bangkok Hidden Gem tucked inside Khlong Bang Luang Floating Market. I discovered this place while looking for floating Markets in Bangkok that are open daily (not just on weekends) and this is one of the best spots I found!
The Artist House is a canalside house full of different artisans and vendors selling all kinds of handicrafts and handmade products. From paintings to postcards and tapestries to clothing, you can find so many unique items here! And the best part is that the view is also stunning of a canal only about 15 mins from the city.
More Hidden Gems in Bangkok
Oh yes, there are definitely more than nine hidden gems in Bangkok! Here are some Hidden gems that I was unable to visit on my big day, but will visit next time! These were either recommended to me by people watching my stories, or found online during research but didn’t fit into the day. I’ll make it to these next time!
Make sure to check out my Instagram and tiktok where I documented hidden gems in Bangkok and also hidden gems in Chiang Mai!
Big Dog Cafe
I cannot believe I missed one of the most epic Bangkok hidden gems that involves big dogs and horses!!! Yes, you read that right. The big dog cafe is a vast open area with dogs and horses on-site and a cafe open to the public where you can interact with a few animals at a time.
A friend who has been there told me that they bring out a certain amount of dogs at a time to the common area to interact with guests (if they want to) and you can see the other animals on-site. Absolutely epic! Their Instagram is above.
Unicorn Cafe
The Bangkok unicorn cafe is an awesome, pastel-covered hidden gem in Bangkok which is also an Instagram paradise. Everything is pastel-colored, and there are stuffed unicorns on all the couches, ceiling, and walls! Even the food is colorful and fun.
Bubble in the Forest Cafe
One of the coolest Bangkok hidden gems is a mini rendition of the Maldives just an hour outside the city. Bubble in the Forest Cafe has a big blue ‘ocean’ with tables that appear floating, overwater bungalows with bean bags, and even nets to lie in as you sample their delicious menu.
Bubble in the forest cafe is definitely one of the most unique cafes in Bangkok that will make you feel half a world away.
Natura Cafe
Natura Cafe is a stunning garden cafe just outside the city with lush gardens bordering a central canal. It’s located within Poomjai Garden, and has tons of beautiful greenery to explore and food to eat with a view.
ChangChui Creative Park: Airplane Museum/Mall/Gallery
How would you like to have a high-end dinner inside an old airplane after browsing through artisan shops and galleries and before enjoying some live music surrounded by locals? Such is possible at ChangChui Creative park – an offbeat Bangkok night market with thrift stalls, art, and great vibes. They have shows with popular artists on the weekends too.
Chocolate Ville
Chocolate Ville is one of the coolest Bangkok hidden gems and most creative concepts. It is a ‘theme park open-air restaurant’ with fun and colorful decorations reminiscent of different places around the world, boat rides, animals, characters, and tons of food to choose from.
This is truly like a mini-Disneyland within Bangkok and perfect for family fun. Check upcoming events on their Facebook.
Amulet Market
The Bangkok amulet market is one of the more off-the-beaten-track markets in Bangkok with a more spiritual subject. Amulets are sacred in Thai culture to protect the wearer from a variety of things depending on which amulet is worn, and this market has thousands of them! If nothing else, it is interesting to visit to learn about Thai culture and different beliefs. Learn more here!
I hope you have enjoyed this comprehensive guide to Bangkok hidden gems! Let me know if I should add more to the list in the comments.
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.