Months ago, my sister, mom, and I planned to visit Thailand to shop for clothes, try out street food, hop from one themed cafe to another, and explore the historic city of Ayutthaya. We did our research and realized that there’s plenty of views teeming with incredible photoshoot opportunities in Bangkok, Thailand. We made sure to include those that attracted us most into our 4D3N itinerary. For hotel accommodation, we stayed at Cubic Pratunam Hotel. Given another chance next time, an R&R in Thai mansions sounds good for a luxurious, one-of-a-kind getaway.
If you’re planning a trip to Bangkok soon and want to fill your social media feed with artistic and eye-catching photos, this post has you covered. Here are 9 Instagram-friendly places that will impress your friends and satisfy the foodie and travel junkie in you. 😉
9 Most Instagrammable Places We Visited in Bangkok and Ayutthaya 2018
1. Terminal 21
Terminal 21 is a huge mall in central Bangkok that has a curvilinear glass-and-steel façade which resembles a 21st-century airport. The theme continues once you step inside. The information counter gave us a “passport” to help us navigate through the different floors. Each floor has a city theme.
For instance, there’s Paris, Rome, Istanbul, Tokyo, London… you know the drill. The brands of the stores in the floors correspond to the city they belong to. Rome on the ground floor features labels such as Kipling, Fox, CC:OO, Nike, Adidas, Levi’s, and more, while Paris on the M floor took us to the Champs-Élysées, where more fashion brands await.
The best thing is that the toilets are also themed accordingly. See how we had our fun photoshoot sessions in almost each one! The look and feel of the restrooms were awesome and the modern twist was delightful. 🙂 It was like flying from one city to another without having to travel far and experience jet lag.
For food hunting, we explored the basement level with Caribbean theme and found the Gourmet Market, take-away food outlets, and market-style food vendors. Pier 21 on the fifth floor offers a food court experience, but for lunch, we decided to eat in a restaurant called Have a Zeed for an authentic Thai meal.
2. Unicorn Cafe
If you love colorful things and cute unicorn plushies, you’ll be so happy to stop by at this really adorable cafe. Unicorn Cafe in Bangkok is so Instagrammable! ♥
The interior is designed with a pastel explosion where unicorns are everywhere: wallpaper, murals, carpet, statues, pens, dolls and My Little Pony toys hanging from the ceiling, and of course, the menu. Unicorn onesies are available for rent at 150 baht. Oh, I wished I brought mine!
We had the unicorn rainbow waffle with ice cream and cones, rainbow-colored spaghetti with meatballs and cooked with a generous amount of lava cheese, and the juicy BBQ fried chicken wings. Everything was as great and as delicious as it looked. The staff were also game and kind to take our photos many times. 🙂 There’s neither a minimum amount to pay nor minimum number of dishes to order per person (unlike other themed cafes and restaurants). There’s also no entrance fee at the Unicorn Cafe.
Address: Sathorn Soi 8, 44/1 Sathon 8 Alley, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
How to go to Unicorn Cafe: Alight at BTS Chong-Non–Si Station, Exit 2. Walk towards Sathon Road then turn left for SathonSoi 8. (There is a 7/11 shop in front of Sathonsoi 8.) Enter Sahonsoi 8 for 100 metres.
Unicorn Cafe will be at the end of the street.
Contact:+66(0)86 397 9262, unicornbkk@hotmail.com
Opening hours: 12nn – 8pm daily
3. Perhaps Rabbits
Perhaps Rabbits is one of the most uniquely themed cafes in Bangkok. We couldn’t miss it! So despite the heavy traffic jam that afternoon, we followed our heart’s desire to join the whimsical mad tea party. But instead of tea, we had Rose Latte and paired it with Green Tea Bush (layered with green tea mousse, berry mousse and green tea cake, and then topped with Alice) and Blue Bunny Egg (a blueberry cheese pie with chocolate eggs blueberry cheesecake).
The cafe’s interior design was eclectic, with creative backdrops, abnormally small chairs, and wacky props that can entice the kid in you. We witness how the staff makes cakes and the amount of effort and detail put into the pastries. Perhaps Rabbits is certainly a delicious retreat into a scene of Alice in Wonderland. It satisfies both your sweet tooth and imagination in one visit.
Address: 5/1 Ekkamai 10 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Getting there: Take the BTS to Ekkamai station, exit 1, walk to Sukhumvit 63 and then take a taxi ride to Ekkamai soi 10
Contact: +66 96 616 3314
Opening hours: 9am – 9pm daily
4. Bang Pa-In Royal Palace
We rented a van and hired a local tour guide/driver to make it convenient for us to roam around the Ayutthaya area. Else, we had to take public transport, ride a taxi, the BTS, or tuktuk, walk x miles, and probably end up wasting so much time asking the locals how to go to our next destination.
The ancient city of Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is just an hour away from Bangkok and the incredible old city ruins make it a Thailand must-visit. Our first stop was the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace. It’s also known as the Summer Palace, a palace complex formerly used by the Thai kings. It lies beside the Chao Phraya River in Bang Pa-in District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province.
The park comprises several iconic buildings with various architectural styles that are interesting for their diversity. There’s a Chinese-style royal palace, a colorfully-painted lookout tower, and traditional simple residences.
Bang Pa-in Royal Palace was renovated in the late 19th century by the then King Chulalongkorn. He was clearly inspired by some of the architecture and styles of the great palaces in countries like England and France. This explains why some structures have European influences in terms of design.
Opening hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm daily. Tickets are sold until 3:30pm. Tel: 035-260144
Dress Code: Proper attire is required. No short skirts or short pants and no sleeveless shirts.
5. Wat Yai Chaimongkon
Wat Yai Chai Mongkol (or Mongkhon) is located a few kilometers southeast of Ayutthaya. The monastery was constructed by King U-Thong to accommodate the monks that were ordained by Phra Wanratana Mahathera Burean. This monastery was named “Wat Pakaew.” Afterwards, Phra Wanratana of Wat Pa Kaew suggested to King Naresuan the Great to build a Chedi (pagoda). He decided to construct a large Chedi in this monastery. This monastery became known as Wat Yai Chiamongkhon.
The most iconic structures here for me are the rows of Buddha images lining the courtyard around the central stupa. These statues were newly sculpted to replace those which collapsed through the time. The statues are all identical and before gilded. The bases contain the ashes of the dead.
6. Wat Mahathat
Wat Mahathat is another restored ruin of a Buddhist monastery. It’s a Khmer-styled temple consisting primary of laterite structures (instead of sandstone) and bricks, enhanced with stucco. It’s one of the most important monasteries of the Ayutthaya kingdom, not only because it was the religious center and enshrined relics of the Buddha, but also because of its proximity to the Grand Palace.
The structure has been registered as a national historic site by the Fine Arts Department on 8 March 1935 and is part of the Ayutthaya World Heritage Historical Park.
7. Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Wat Phra Si Sanphet was the most important temple in the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Being part of the Royal Palace complex, the very large monastery with dozens of structures was used by Ayutthaya Kings only. It was a royal temple without resident monks and was used exclusively for royal ceremonies.
Sadly, Wat Phra Si Sanphet was largely destroyed by the Burmese armies in 1767, leaving only its three massive stupas standing. It was set on fire. Restoration work began in 1956. The remaining debris still evidently portrays how glorious the royal monastery was. Currently, this temple is regarded as the symbol of Ayutthaya province.
8. Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Wat Chaiwatthanaram was built following the concepts of the Khmer mountain temples of Angkor to symbolize the universe in Buddhist and Hindu cosmology. It was constructed in 1630 by King Prasat Thong, and it’s one of the grandest monuments of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
The King built the temple as a means to gain Buddhist merit and as a memorial to his mother. Her ashes are enshrined in two square chedis flanking the ubosot on the East side of the temple.
As canon balls and canons were dug up during excavations, historians believe the temple may have been used as a fortress during the last war with Burma. The monastery was looted and largely destroyed by the Burmese armies in 1767 after which it was deserted. Wat Chaiwatthanaram was restored by the Fine Arts Department during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
9. My Kitchen in Siam Discovery
In the last day before our flight to Manila, we purposefully went to Siam Center to see Mr Jones’ Orphanage, as it’s one of the most talked about themed cafes in Bangkok. Unfortunately, we were informed that it’s already closed (not closed because it was already late when we got in but closed as in business closure). We resorted to the food court instead, hoping to find other exciting dishes to satisfy our palate. And there at the top floor was My Kitchen.
My Kitchen in Siam Discovery houses six different restaurants under one roof, and each one serves a different kind of cuisine: Thai from Nara, Isaan from Cafe Chilli, Japanese from Yuzu by Yuutaro, Cantonese from Man Fu Yuan, Western comfort food from Kuppadeli and desserts from Brix. The tabletops were in swirling shapes, the floor was made with white Volakas marble, the ceiling was so attractive with circular white tiles, and there were even disco balls in the reception area. We enjoyed the musical accompaniment which we learned is playing any Friday or Saturday from 6pm.
Aside from the setup, what we also found fascinating were the tablet and the mobile credit card machines attached to the tables. How innovative! Instead of roaming around like you would at a buffet restaurant or in a typical food court, diners can use the tablet to order food with reference to the menus displayed and then pay later at the table, too. We opted to pay in cash though, so we still had to go to the counter for payment.
Wrap Up
This was the third time I visited Thailand, but the experience has been different each time. Our recent trip has been a mix of the typical can’t-miss shopping areas in Bangkok and tourist sites in the Ayutthaya area. We love this vibrant “city of angels” with all its tasty dishes, modern buildings, lush parks, big shopping malls and markets, and notable and truly Instagrammable ancient temples.
There are still many hidden gems waiting to be discovered. We’re happy that we were able to follow our planned itinerary without any problem, thanks to the BTS, tuktuk, and Thailand’s some friendly and helpful people. There was never a dull moment with my mom and my sister! Now, where do we go next? 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeuySHjhsqV/?taken-by=rochkirstin
