Bangkok Confidential Part 2: Wat Arun, Sky Bar at Lebua & Asiatique the Night Market

Last Updated on November 15, 2025 by admin

In my Previous Post I showed you the Canals of Thonburi and the Orchid Farms in Bangkok.

One question which often gets asked about Bangkok is which area to stay in. While the answer to that is more complex than I can tackle, I do feel that if one is going mostly for tourism purposes, it makes sense to stay by the riverside. The Chao Phraya river is an integral part of the local ecosystem, not just a scenic river which flows through the city.
I has booked myself in a Hotel / Apartment called The Chatrium Riverside and my suite was on the 32nd floor.It was more of an Apartment with several balconies and I thought the view from the apartment was stunning.

Asiatique Night Market

Asiatique The Riverfront is Bangkok’s largest night market, blending open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment along the Chao Phraya River. This former international trade port was transformed in 2012 into a vibrant riverside complex that combines the atmosphere of a traditional Thai night market with a more organized, modern layout. The market sprawls across 10 hectares and features over 1,500 boutiques and 40 restaurants housed in restored warehouses. You’ll find everything from handmade crafts and Thai souvenirs to clothing, accessories, and local art. The waterfront setting creates a pleasant evening atmosphere, with river breezes and views of illuminated boats passing by. Beyond shopping, Asiatique offers several entertainment options, including the Calypso Cabaret show and the Asiatique Sky ferris wheel, which provides panoramic views of the river and city. The free shuttle boat from Saphan Taksin BTS station makes it easily accessible—boats run every 15-20 minutes from late afternoon until closing. Asiatique typically opens around 4-5 PM and runs until midnight, making it an ideal spot for an evening outing. While prices can be slightly higher than street markets, the riverside ambiance, variety of dining options, and family-friendly environment make it a popular destination for both tourists and locals.

It was just a 5 min. taxi ride away from our hotel and we ended up there in the evening a few times and the Indian food at Siam India there was quite good.

you can have have a look at their website here if you want.

The next evening someone suggested The Sky Bar Lebua at the State Tower. This location has been Immortalized (??? ) by the movie The Hangover 2. The Sky Bar is a wonderful location and has amazing view over Bangkok.

One thing I must warn you about is that they are quite strict about the dress code. It is a somewhat formal sort of a a place and you can’t expect to walk in in your shorts and sandals. I did observe that they were more lenient about the dress code with females than males so there’s that. There is no entry fee or cover charge but I did order a couple of drinks which were not very expensive. The bar looks amazing, as does everything else so high up there.

Once place I had wanted to see long before I reached Bangkok is Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn.

Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn, is named after Aruna, the Indian God of Dawn. Situated on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, the legendary Wat Arun is one of the most striking riverside landmarks of Thailand.
This Wat or Buddhist temple is an architectural representation of Mount Meru, the sacred five-peaked mountain of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist cosmology and is considered to be the center of all the physical, metaphysical and spiritual universes.
In the mythology of Tibetan Buddhism, Mount Meru is a place that simultaneously represents the center of the universe and the single-pointedness of mind sought by adepts.

From the inside, the temple seemed even more impressive and divine.

 

Entrance to Wat Arun

 

the Temple is flanked by very beautiful Zen Gardens.

I have seen many temples but was quite impressed by the Architecture, Ambience, Calm of the place..

You can see the entire sets of pictures in the gallery below, let me know in the comments if you like any of them: