Sukhumvit Soi 55 Thonglor Bangkok was a street I had known about for such a long time but had never ventured there until now. It seemed every Bangkok restaurant review would recommend an establishment in this area & now I can understand why.
El Guacho
I am a great fan of the Wine Connection chain of restaurants & Google told me there was one at 208 Thong Lo 8 Alley so my brother & I caught the Sky train to Thonglo station & walked for 20 minutes or so looking for the restaurant. What we in fact found at the address was El Gaucho, so I’m assuming either Google got it wrong or the information was simply out of date. 🙂
Here is what Googled showed.
Wine Connection has morphed into El Gaucho.
So many restaurants & such little time.
I have decided on my next visit to Bangkok I will tear myself away from my beloved Soi 11 & stay in Thonglor.
Right in the heart of Thonglor, just book through THIS LINK for an excellent discount. Sukhumvit 55 or Soi Thong Lo, is well known for its classy bars, boutique shops, fashionable clubs plus lots of hip restaurants. It’s also acknowledged as the Siam Square of Bangkok’s East side.
Sukhumvit Soi 55 Thonglor, absolute luxury
These beautiful rooms are 40 M2.
Lots of Japanese restaurants
I was amazed by the number of Japanese restaurants in Sukhumvit Soi 55 Thonglor Bangkok, they were everywhere.
Sukhumvit Soi 55 Thonglor Bangkok, The Dock
I am looking forward to having dinner at The Dock, they specialise in seafood & the menu looks excellent. Being an Aussie I love Sydney Rock Oysters as well as those big juicy ones from Tasmania. Kumamoto featured, I was there last October, & Brittany on the English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean, has over 2800 km of coastline, it provides nearly 60,000 tons of oysters each year, almost 50% of the total French oyster production.
This Soi 55 building caught my eye.
Prior to moving to Thailand from Australia in 2011 I lived on the Gold Coast in Surfers Paradise. On the beach there is a building called Focus which is the twin of this Soi 55 round building. 🙂
Another good hotel on Soi 55, about B1600 pn if you book trough THIS LINK.
Thanks for visiting my Sukhumvit Soi 55 Thonglor Bangkok photo blog.
When I’m in Bangkok I like to stay in Sukhumvit Soi 11, here is an excellent budget hotel, if you USE THIS LINKyou will get a great rate of around B1100 per night, or $30 USD.
Rooftop Restaurant Bar Sofitel Bangkok on Sukhumvit Road between Nana & Asoke stations is on the 32nd floor of the hotel. L’Appart restaurant at the recently opened Sofitel is a delightful multi-faceted venue occupying the entire 32nd top floor of the hotel tower.
Looking down on Soi 6 which is a very good location, close to Nana Plaza & Nana station. Use THIS LINK for an excellent room rate at Pachara Suites.
Nana Station
Of course Soi 4 Nana is one of Bangkok’s most popular area for tourists.
Rooftop Restaurant Bar Sofitel Bangkok
An excellent rooftop bar.
Bangkok looks great at night
Of course Murray Head is famous for the great song about “One Night in Bangkok. “
One Night in Bangkok (CHESS) Murray Head
Lets check out the bar
The entire 32nd floor is occupied by the L’Appart restaurant & the Sky Bar.
Relax on the lounge with a cocktail or two.
The whole place is beautifully designed.
L’Appart kitchen.
It certainly is a great looking kitchen. 🙂
Sit outside & watch the city lights.
There are probably between 25 & 30 Bangkok Sky Bars & this is one of the best. L’Appart opens daily from 5:00 pm at the Champagne Bar, and dinner is served from 7:00 pm.
Sukhumvit Road
A birds eye view.
Rooftop Bar Sofitel Bangkok
An excellent hotel & rooftop bar close to Nana Station.
Farewell from The Soffitel
Many thanks for visiting my Rooftop Bar Sofitel Bangkok photo blog, I hope to see you there soon. 🙂
Location
Buy one get one free between 5pm to 7pm daily at happy hour.
Click this link for a 360 degree view from Rooftop Restaurant Bar Sofitel Bangkok
When I’m in Bangkok I like to stay in Sukhumvit Soi 11, here is an excellent budget hotel, if you USE THIS LINKyou will get a great rate of around B1100 per night, or $30 USD.
Pattaya Arts Festival Beach Rd 2017 is another of the “never ending” promotions designed to attract tourists to this popular beach side resort. The city council are to be congratulated for their efforts in providing entertainment all through the year.
Big bright colourful paintings
A fun collection painted by Pattaya’s freelance artists.
Beach Babe
The festival theme is “New Sense”, The Sense of Art, which is the sense beyond our five natural senses of sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell.
Happy faces on the beach
The beachfront exhibition is more than a kilometre long from North Pattaya to Central Pattaya.
Skateboarding
I’m guessing some of these people may have started out as graffiti artists. 🙂
Beach sculptures
Not just paintings some nice sculptures as well.
I rather like this one
Part turtle, part dog & pat bug I think. 🙂
This one is nice as well
There certainly is some talent here.
A banana I think
Or perhaps a banana bout that takes people screaming around the bay. 🙂
Introducing Snake Lek, whoever that is?
Street artists invited to take part in the festival are Alex face (Thailand), Mue BON (Thailand), Gong (Thailand), A.m.p. (Thailand), Bonus (Thailand), GohM (Thailand), The Yok and Sheryo (Australia), Beejoir (U.K.), The London police (Netherlands), Ben Eine (U.K.), Ox-Alien and Edo Rath (Netherlands), Emmanuel Jarus (U.K.), Jace (France), Dotmasters (U.K.) and Shinny and Himbad and Code (U.K.).
Interesting shapes
They really look like American Indian tepees without the canvass. I not too sure what the bales of hay signify.
OK, now I know…
They hay bales are obviously for people to sit on. 🙂
Baby Boy
I’m guessing the painter may have just become a father. 🙂
Tribute
A Tribute to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
An excellent weekend art show & tribute to the late King.
Congratulations to the organisers & many thank for visiting my Pattaya Arts Festival Beach Rd 2017 photo blog.
Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
Char Rooftop Bar Bangkok at Hotel Indigo at 81 Wireless Road is yet another addition to the growing number of rooftop bars in Bangkok. Open at 6 pm in time for the sunset.
Impressive view of the city
Bangkok at night is rather stunning, when the lights come on it’s like a fairy land.
Wireless Road
Just a seven minute walk down Wireless Road from Ploenchit station.
As you would expect anything your heart desires is here at Char Rooftop Bar Hotel Indigo Bangkok.
Whisky & Bourbon
Buy by the glass or by the bottle. At B850 a glass I may give the Johnny Walker Blue a miss. 🙂
Back to the magnificent skyline
I hope I have convinced you at Char Rooftop Bar Bangkok is worth a visit.
How are the beer prices?
Well I’m glad you asked. B160 for an Asahi or Heineken & B150 foe a Singha is quite reasonable for a rooftop bar of this quality.
Char Rooftop Bar Bangkok
You are breaking my heart, either pay the B280 for a Margarita or find a new girlfriend who drinks beer. 🙂
Char Rooftop Bar Bangkok
Grab a front stalls seat and order some cocktails & snacks, then just sit back and enjoy the stunning view of the Big Mango at night.
Talking about snacks…
There are some interesting choices on the menu at fairly reasonable prices.
Antique radios
This interesting display is right next to the elevator at Char Rooftop Bar Hotel Indigo Bangkok.
You gotta love the wall art.
Thanks for visiting my Char Rooftop Bar photo blog.
When I’m in Bangkok I like to stay in Sukhumvit Soi 11, here is an excellent budget hotel, if you USE THIS LINKyou will get a great rate of around B1100 per night, or $30 USD.
Exciting Asoke Sukhumvit Line Bangkok is only one station or 10 minutes from where I stay in Soi 11 Nana. Asoke station is adjacent to Terminal 21 one of the many Bangkok shopping malls.
Rajadapisek Road
From the corner of Sukhumvit Rd, on the left is Terminal 21 & on the right is the Pullman Hotel. The first street on the right is the famous Soi Cowboy.
Asoke Montri Road
Rajadapisek Road This is the other side of the intersection coming from Rajadapisek Road. The tall building in the centre on the 25th floor is where you can find one of Bangkok’s great sky bars, the Long Table.
Hemingway’s at Exciting Asoke Sukhumvit Line Bangkok
Another beloved expat bar and restaurant, Hemingway’s, shut its doors at the end of October 2016. The land was purchased by Japanese developers who plan to build a 27-story hotel on the site that sits directly at BTS Asoke at the top of Sukhumvit Soi 14.
Such a shame to see it go.
Unlike in the US, the UK and Australia, there are no laws in Thailand to protect historic buildings. If there were, this rare and gorgeous specimen would have been protected. Sadly the owners spent one million USD (THB35 million) renovating the house and opening the restaurant just four years ago.
Brewski sky bar on Sukhumvit Road near Soi 25 claim to be the only rooftop craft beer bar in Bangkok. I’m not into craft beers however an Asahi bottle was reasonably priced at B160, or $4.50 USD.
You won’t see many white elephants in Asoke
Here is two of them. 🙂
View from the Sofitel Sky Bar.
Looking down from the 32nd floor of the Sofitel Hotel.
Thanks for visiting my Exciting Asoke Sukhumvit Line Bangkok photo blog.
When I’m in Bangkok I like to stay in Sukhumvit Soi 11, here is an excellent budget hotel, if you USE THIS LINKyou will get a great rate of around B1100 per night, or $30 USD.
Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.
Sutus Court is a great budget hotel right i the heart of one of Pattaya’s main bar areas, just use THIS LINK for a terrific room rate. 420/100 Moo 9 Soi Buakhao.
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
Good food Wongamat Beach Pattaya, here are four restaurants that are worth visiting. The first one is Rim Talay located at the southern end of Wongamat, this is a great location for a cold beer on a hot day. Fresh prawns come straight out of huge tanks behind the restaurant.
Ice cold Leo at Rim Talay
Without a doubt the beach here is much cleaner than Pattaya.
Surf & Turf Pattaya Thailand beach side food wine
On the beach at Wongamat & part of the Longbeach Hotel this nice restaurant has a huge menu and reasonable prices. For a great room rate just book using THIS LINK.
No air conditioning but thankfully plenty of fans.
Xmas Day 2016
A great spot for lunch with friends.
Tasty clams at Surf & Turf
They have a huge selection on the menu, food prices are good but wine is a little expensive.
Silver Lining
This rather spectacular restaurant is located in Zire Condominium right on the beach. At 9 pm the huge section of roof & walls slide out and cover the outdoor section of the restaurant.
Spectacular Pattaya restaurant
A unique experience
Apart from the food it is worth going just to see the roof slide into place. 🙂
Dinner with friends
Everyone agreed the food was excellent.
My pasta dish was fine however I must return to try some other dishes before I pass judgement on the food.
Beach Club at the Pullman Hotel
If there is a better place in Pattaya to watch the sunset I have not found it, apart from the Hilton of course which is exceptional as well.
Tapas at the Beach Club
One of the attractions here is you can swim in the two pools as well as the ocean.
You can also hire these sun lounges.
Luxury. 🙂
For a great room rate at the Pullman hotel just book using THIS LINK.
Good food Wongamat Beach Pattaya
As you can see all these restaurants a very near each other, forget the dotted line just walk along the beach. Thanks for visiting my Good food Wongamat Beach Pattaya photo blog.
Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
This is not a travel blog just my personal photo collection from the 1970s & 80s, check it out if you wish.
Arabella St Longueville
Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney
Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney, it was early 1976 after a dramatic final few months living in Melbourne, I resigned from Sanyo Office Machines, moved to Arabella St Longueville in Sydney & started a new job as NSW sales manager with Wilkins Servis washing machines. I rented a beautiful waterfront home with the view you see above & a garage for my red E-Type Jag.
Little did I realise the next 11 years would be the most successful money making decade of my life, along with an almost non stop party regime and included luxury waterfront apartments, Jaguars & Mercedes plus a Bertram fly bridge cruiser parked outside my condo, & last but not least a red Doberman called Baxter.
This was actually 1975
However it features my friends & my beloved Jag in Beechworth Victoria, how about the hair & the bell bottom jeans? 🙂
Looking back the 1970s was probably my most exciting decade.
Carol Aboud
It didn’t take me long to get tied up with Carol who had a hair dressing salon in Double Bay. She also had a husband & 4 children but these minor complications did not stop us from having a lot of fun over the next 4 years.
There is a very funny story involving Carol on another blog, just follow THIS LINK.
My beautiful mother celebrating my birthday on the 7-7-77
What a great date for my birthday to fall on. When friends see these old photos is it any wonder they suggest I looked like a Miami drug dealer? 🙂
My Dad Arthur & my 2 best friends Wolf Wottke & Ron Walsh.
My two buddies surprised me by flying over from Adelaide without prior warning. That was a fabulous birthday present.
Carol’s birthday November 1978.
Check out the hair colour & the gold chains.
New Years Eve 1978
Apologies for the fuzzy photo, but you get the picture. 🙂
French Champagne of course
From memory we were at the Castle Cove house of my friend Peter H & the booze was really flowing.
Oh Carol, I am but a fool…..
Neil Sedaka "Oh Carol"
Peter Luciano RIP
Peter & his wife in 1979, he was Carol’s brother and sadly passed away a year or two later.
December 1978
We hired a houseboat for a weekend cruise on Hawksbury River. Two Peters, yours truly & Rob Symonds.
Talking about boats
This was my Bertram 25 moored right outside my condo at 72 Wrights Rd Drummoyne. I enjoyed six great years here & threw so many parties that I became the most hated person in the building.
St Georges Crescent Drummoyne
Just around the corner from my condo I purchased another waterfront apartment, so now I owned 2 condos & a terrace house in Glebe, I was on a roll. Working now as NSW Sales Manager for Remington Typewriters before moving to the word processing division. Enjoyed the job but hated the back stabbers, & there were plenty of them.
Selling all my Sydney properties over the years was one of my worst ever decisions, I should have kept at least one.
After the Jaguar XJ6 I upgraded to a white Mercedes Sports, life was good.
In my eyes this was one of the prettiest cars ever built.
View from my condo
With my Bertram moored right out front.
Another party at Wrights Rd
This gorgeous redhead called Beryl worked with Carol in the Double Bay salon, she had just had a boob job and I couldn’t help but admire them. 🙂
While we are on the subject of boobs….
You could never accuse Carol of being shy. 🙂
And the winner is Angie
Her name was Angela Savic, she was the girlfriend of my best friend Wolf. Without a doubt she had the best body out of all the girls we knew. Our very own Greek Goddess. 🙂
The music in the 70s produced many of my all time favourite songs, here are 3 of those.
Neale, David, Ian, Bryan & Warren, it’s a shame the photo is such poor quality.
Jenny Dale
Jenny with the red eyes was another nice girl from the late 70s who wandered into my life occasionally. 🙂
Let’s finish the year off properly
Well 1979 turned out to be a very tumultuous year, Remington gave me the flick and I joined the company who had the agency for Qyx the new word processor taking the world by storm. I did a marketing course with Exxon in Philadelphia and topped the class, there were 25 Americans in the course with me the only foreigner. Back to Australia to launch the product nationally but only lasted a few months before having a blowup with the company directors who showed me the door. I was never good at taking instructions from fools. 🙂
Now in 2023 at the ripe old age of 79, I guessing I just may have been a rebel without a cause. 🙂
To top off the year finally Carol & I parted company after 4 terrific years painting the town, I suspect I may have been going through a mid life crisis. 🙂 🙂
Consequently I took 3 months off, spent lots of time on my boat, travelled to Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand & Bali then opened my very own liquor store in March 1980.
Sydenham Cellars
Yippee, cheap booze for me. 🙂
Opening night
My friend Debbie Don was part of the celebration. More photos on THIS LINK.
The 1970s were probably the most interesting & dramatic of my life. 1972 saw me return to Sydney after a 2 year stint in Melbourne, only to see me head to Adelaide for two years as State manager for Sanyo, then back to Melbourne for two years with Sanyo before returning to Sydney in 1976.
Made some money, broke some hearts & had a lot of fun.
I was very good at my job, Sales & Marketing in the cut throat business equipment industry was a tough gig, but on reflection & being & brutally honest, my arrogant autocratic management style that worked well in the 60s & 70s was out dated in later decades. Consequently recognising my limitations I went back to what I was good at, which was selling. In the mid 80s I had a successful few years at Canon followed by 7 or 8 very good years as a financial planner with a couple of banks in QLD. In 1998 I took a year off work to travel & never really worked again. 🙂
Thanks for visiting my Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney photo blog.
It’s now 2023 and here is Glenn Frey to tell you exactly how I feel today.
Brewski Sky Bar Radisson Bangkok on Sukhumvit Road near Soi 25 claim to be the only rooftop craft beer bar in Bangkok. I’m not into craft beers however an Asahi bottle was reasonably prices at B160, or $4.50 USD.
Brewski Sky Bar Radisson Blu Bangkok
To state the obvious when visiting Bangkok Sky Bars it’s always best to arrive before sunset to get the benefit of seeing the city in day light, dusk & night.
Brewski Sky Bar Radisson Bangkok
The crowd was building up, mainly Thai locals.
Abandoned building
I’m guessing this abandoned has bees sitting here for at least 10 to 15 years.
Cielo Sky Bar is another spectacular venue to add to the many “must do” places to visit in this city. Located between Sukhumvit 69 & 71 only five minutes walk from Phra Khanong BTS station.
City lights are coming on
A beautiful sight watching the city lights come on.
My favourite time of the day
There must be at least 25 sky bars in Bangkok, more than any other city I have been to.
Red Sky Bar Central World offers another breathtaking view of this wonderful city. Perched high on the 56th floor at Centara Grand Hotelabove Central World shopping Mall.
Wonderful sunset from Brewski
I must confess I’m a sucker for a sunset, check out THIS LINK for some great Pattaya sunsets.
Terminal 21 & Asoke station
Terminal 21 & Asoke sky train station is only a five minute walk to Brewski Sky BarRadisson Blu Bangkok. Book through THIS LINKfor an excellent room rate.
Thanks for visiting my Brewski Sky Bar Radisson Bangkok photo blog.
When I’m in Bangkok I like to stay in Sukhumvit Soi 11, here is an excellent budget hotel, if you USE THIS LINKyou will get a great rate of around B1100 per night, or $30 USD.
Bangkok Koh Samui Wine Bistro chain of restaurants has quickly become one of my favourite places to eat in Thailand. Excellent food and a great selection of wine at reasonable prices.
Beside Sala Daeng Sky Train station
Located in the basement of the Silom Complex right below Starbucks.
We only spent 4 nights in Koh Samui and chose to eat here twice.
Low cost wine
They offer a wonderful selection of wine from all over the world at liquor store prices. Our red wine from Chile was a bargain B650.
The chain I’m told is owned by a French group, I only wish they would open a branch in Pattaya. Hallelujah on November 28 2018 they opened at Royal Gardens in Beach Rd Pattaya. See for yourself on THIS LINK.
Lamb shank at the Wine Connection.
The food choices are extensive, lots of terrines a a big range of pasta.
Bangkok Koh Samui Wine Bistro
Thanks for visiting my Bangkok Koh Samui Wine Bistro photo blog, there are also branches in Phuket& Chiang Mai.
Check out the fabulous new Pattaya branch on THIS LINK.
When I’m in Bangkok I like to stay in Sukhumvit Soi 11, here is an excellent budget hotel, if you USE THIS LINKyou will get a great rate of around B1100 per night, or $30 USD around B1100 pn.
Cielo Sky Bar Bangkok is another spectacular venue to add to the many other “must do” places to visit in this great city. Located between Sukhumvit 69 & 71 only five minutes walk from Phra Khanong BTS station.
Cielo Sky Bar Bangkok
As usual with Bangkok Sky Bars it’s always best to arrive before sunset to get the benefit of seeing the city in day light, dusk & night.
Who is this guy?
He greets you as you arrive at Sky Walk condominium, he could almost be saying “take me to your leader”. 🙂
Here we are at the bar
If you fancy a cocktail Pina Colada, Mojito or Mai Tais are around 200-250 Baht.
OK, back to the wonderful view
The late afternoon traffic is starting to build up.
Open from 6 pm to 1.30 am.
Compared to many of the other Bangkok Sky bars drink and food prices are quiet reasonable starting at B120 for a Singha beer.
The city lights are coming on
In my opinion enjoying a cold beer or a Margarita & watching the city lights come on in Bangkok is the perfect way to spend an evening.
Pra Khanong district
Pra Khanong district is a middle class residential area rather than a commercial district.
Only 12 minutes by Sky Train from Nana.
I usually stay in Soi 11 Nana and it only takes 12 minutes by Sky Train to get to Pra Khanong station. Then take exit 3 and walk 5 minutes along Sukhumvit to the Sky Walk Condo.
As you can see the restaurant is stunning
A small beautifully designed intimate room with chandeliers to add to the opulence.
Well worth a visit
On this occasion I dined elsewhere however I certainly will return to Cielo try out the intimate restaurant.
This restaurant looks very interesting indeed, it’s located at the front of the Sky Walk condo. Check them out on Facebook.
Lovely colourful fountain.
Also located in the forecourt of the Sky Walk condo, thanks for visiting my Cielo Sky Bar Bangkok photo blog.
When I’m in Bangkok I like to stay in Sukhumvit Soi 11, here is an excellent budget hotel, if you USE THIS LINKyou will get a great rate of around B1100 per night, or $30 USD.
Apologies for the fuzzy photo, but you get the picture. 🙂
