Things to Do in Ekkamai, Bangkok — A Local's Guide to Sukhumvit 63

Ekkamai is the BTS station next to Thonglor — same general scene, slightly less try-hard. Design-forward without being aggressive about it, late-night without being seedy, cafes that take their beans seriously, restaurants that don't need to advertise. The neighbourhood runs along Sukhumvit Soi 63 and its sub-sois, and connects back to Thonglor Soi 55 through a network of side streets that most maps don't make obvious.

Here's what's actually worth your time around BTS Ekkamai.

Eat: Sukhumvit 63 and the Sub-Sois

Sukhumvit 63 main strip

The spine of the neighbourhood. From BTS Ekkamai north, you pass through clusters of restaurants every 100 metres — Thai, Japanese, Korean, Italian, plus the inevitable cafe-dessert hybrids. Walk it once during the day to scope, return at night for the actual meal.

Park Lane

Outdoor lifestyle complex on Sukhumvit 63 — multiple restaurants, a cluster of high-end Japanese spots, weekend brunch culture. Useful when a group can't agree.

72 Courtyard

Closer to Thonglor than Ekkamai but easily walkable. Bar-restaurant complex that's been a Sukhumvit fixture for years. Several venues in one space.

Soi Thonglor 10 and the cross-streets

The sub-sois between Thonglor 10 and Ekkamai 5 are full of restaurants that don't advertise on Google. Worth wandering on a weekend evening. BK Magazine's Thonglor-Ekkamai restaurant coverage is a useful starting point.

T Unice African Restaurant & Lounge

Across the street from Stash BKK Ekkamai, inside the Sukhumvit 63 complex — a Tunisian / North African restaurant and lounge doing tagines, couscous, and shakshuka. Rare in Bangkok and worth knowing about: most of the Sukhumvit dining scene is Japanese, Italian, or Thai, so this is a genuine alternative when the usual options feel repetitive. Find on Maps.

Coffee: Specialty Without Going to Ari

Ekkamai's cafe scene is denser than people realise — partly because the Thonglor crowd spills over.

• Cafe Tartine — French-inspired bakery + cafe, the brunch standard. Almost always busy.
• Toby's — Australian-coffee-style brunch place, walking distance from BTS Ekkamai. Reliable rather than exciting, which is sometimes what you want.
• Featherstone Bistro — design-forward cafe with garden seating, between Ekkamai and Thonglor.
• Roots Coffee Roaster — the Ekkamai branch is the original. House-roasted, serious espresso, small.

Time Out's Thonglor-Ekkamai cafe coverage updates regularly.

Drink: Bars That Stay Open

Ekkamai is one of Bangkok's better late-night drinking neighbourhoods — partly because of the cluster of clubs, partly because the bar scene around them stays open to serve the crowd before and after.

• Beam — major Ekkamai club, electronic-leaning bookings, multi-room, the closest thing Bangkok has to a Berghain-style serious-music venue. Find on Maps.
• Mikkeller Bangkok — long-running craft beer institution near Ekkamai. Excellent tap list.
• Tichuca — rooftop tree-bar concept at T-One Building, walking distance from BTS Ekkamai. Atmospheric, photogenic, busy.
• Rabbit Hole — three-floor cocktail bar near Thonglor 55, frequently cited in Asia's 50 Best lists. Worth the queue.
• Q Bar / late-night options — varied, the neighbourhood doesn't really sleep on Fridays and Saturdays.

Shop: Design, Boutiques, and Mall Stuff

Big C Ekkamai

The neighbourhood's main hypermarket. Useful rather than interesting.

Donki Mall (Don Don Donki)

Japanese mega-store right at BTS Ekkamai. Bizarre, brilliant, full of every Japanese snack and household item you didn't know you needed. Stays open very late.

The Commons (Thonglor 17, walkable from Ekkamai)

Open-air community space with a food hall, cafes, and small design shops. Calmer than Park Lane, design-aesthetic-y, popular with the expat creative class.

Local Ekkamai boutiques

The sub-sois off Sukhumvit 63 hide independent fashion and design shops — slow to discover, worth it if you're into that. Most don't have Google Maps presence; ask at any cafe.

Walk and Explore

The Ekkamai–Thonglor cross-streets — Ekkamai Soi 5 to Soi 21, connecting through to Thonglor Soi 55 sub-sois — are the actual walking territory. Tree-lined, low-traffic, lined with apartment buildings and the occasional standalone restaurant. The neighbourhood rewards getting off the main road.

For green space, Sansiri Backyard and the small public spaces inside the various condo complexes are walkable. Benjasiri Park at BTS Phrom Phong (3 stops west) is the closest real park.

Cannabis: Stash BKK Ekkamai

Getting Around

BTS Ekkamai (E7) on the Sukhumvit Line. The neighbourhood spreads north of the BTS, mostly along Sukhumvit 63. Most of what's listed here is a 5–15 minute walk; the Thonglor cross-overs need either a longer walk or a Grab bike.

From Ekkamai you can reach BTS Asoke (the Sukhumvit-Sukhumvit interchange) in 6 minutes, Siam in about 14, On Nut in 4. Excellent BTS access.

Also Worth Exploring

• On Nut — quieter Sukhumvit, residential, late-night markets.
• Ari — northside cafe + jazz corridor.
• Chinatown (Yaowarat) — Bangkok's street food and temple heart.

FAQ

How is Ekkamai different from Thonglor?

Same general scene, slightly less expensive, slightly less try-hard. Thonglor is the older sibling that took the visible cool jobs; Ekkamai has more of the actual interesting independents. In practice the two neighbourhoods bleed into each other — most "Thonglor" recommendations are also Ekkamai-reachable.

Is Ekkamai good for nightlife?

One of the better Bangkok options if your idea of nightlife is bars + clubs rather than tourist bar streets. Beam is a serious club, Tichuca is a serious rooftop, Mikkeller is a serious beer bar. Less aggressive than RCA or Khao San.

What's the best area to stay in Ekkamai?

Anywhere within a 10-minute walk of BTS Ekkamai — the sub-sois off Sukhumvit 63 are quieter than the main road and still walkable. The Thonglor end (Soi 21+ on Ekkamai side) is more polished but pricier.

How late do bars stay open in Ekkamai?

Officially Bangkok bars close at 1 or 2am, depending on licence. In practice the Ekkamai–Thonglor stretch runs later than most of the city on Friday and Saturday. Beam often goes past 4am.

Are there cannabis dispensaries in Ekkamai?

Stash BKK Ekkamai is the established licensed option — open 24 hours with PT33 telemedicine consultation handled on-site. Other dispensaries exist in the wider Sukhumvit 63 corridor; quality and licensing vary, so stick to shops that can issue the prescription consultation in-house.