Why locals love it: Six-block stretch of converted shophouses with hidden cocktail bars, the bar district most travel itineraries miss.
Tip: Start at Teens of Thailand for gin, then Tep Bar for Thai spirits and live mor lam music. Most rooms open from 19:00.
Address: Soi Nana, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100
Why locals love it: Royal-influenced Thai room from 2003 in the Old Town with Bib Gourmand stir-fries, the local lunch room missed by tour groups.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The Dinso original is better than the newer branches. Lunch through 19:30 only, last seating 19:00.
Why locals love it: Bib Gourmand 1972 family Thai seafood room in Phaya Thai, off the tourist circuit with rare horseshoe-crab egg salad.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Cash only, the menu is huge and only partially translated; ask the staff to point at seasonal seafood.
Why locals love it: Bib Gourmand stall on a dead-end soi off Charoen Phon, locals only, where the tom yum noodle bowl was invented.
Tip: Cash only. Lunch only, 09:00 to 16:00, closed Sundays. The tom yum goong with whole river prawn is the canonical order.
Why locals love it: Bib Gourmand canteen tucked off Pan Road, lunch-only, with the city's best khao soi northern Thai curry-noodle bowl.
Tip: Cash only. Lunch only, 09:00 to 17:00, closed Sundays. The room is small; arrive by 12:00 to avoid the office workers.
Why locals love it: Natural-wine bar in a converted Charoen Krung 36 shophouse, no signage, walk-in regulars only, orange-wine list.
Tip: Closed Tuesdays. Walk-in most nights; the back room is the chef's-table option for a sharing menu.
