6 picturesque destinations in Bangkok that you’ve seen on hit Netflix movies and series

When in Bangkok, how can you not spare some time to see a real-life muay Thai match? Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium is the prime spot in the city to witness this   high-energy Thai martial art first-hand.

Located in Rattanakosin Island in the old town, this legendary venue, which has been around for almost eight decades, is Thailand’s longest-standing boxing stadium. While it’s smaller in size compared to other major boxing venues in the city, Rajadamnern holds an aspirational appeal for muay Thai fighters, most of whom dream of fighting here at least once in their lifetime.

Recently, Rajadamnern entered a new era, and unveiled newly revamped interiors and updated features to attract a younger crowd. If you’re lucky, you can catch an international boxing match here or even a pop-up cocktail bar by one of Bangkok’s popular watering holes.

 In this travel docu-series, Asian heartthrobs Lee Seung-gi and Jasper Liu journey across six countries in the regions, including Thailand. 

Their first stop in the kingdom is Bangkok and the two superstars make it a point to stop by Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi. This famous and crowd-packing floating market is renowned for its massive size and extremely busy atmosphere. Food vendors on both land and on boats preoccupy the 32-kilometer-long canal, plying tourists with fresh fruit, cooked food, and ice-cold beverages. 

Hot meat skewers, hearty noodle bowls, and sweet pineapple on skewers—they have it all here, so make sure you come hungry when you visit this place.

Watching cooking drama Hunger will 100 percent make you hungry, but it will 101 percent make you want to visit Bangkok, where the show is mostly set. 

In the Thai Netflix original series, the main characters work in a fictional restaurant-slash-kitchen from hell called Flame. IRL, the actual place where Flame is set is livelier and more laidback. 

Hunger is shot in Jam Factory, a hip lifestyle complex in the riverside district of Charoen Nakhon that offers lots of activities and attractions to while away an afternoon. You can find some inspiration at its gallery or unwind with a cuppa at the quiet café. You can also hunt down your next best read at independent bookstore Candide Books, and then have a wonderful meal afterwards at hip restaurant The Never Ending Summer.

By this time, there’s a slim chance that you have never heard of this eponymous Michelin-starred spot helmed by Thailand’s queen of street food, Jay Fai.

This eatery on Maha Chai Road in Rattanakosin Island and its iconic 70-something head chef have become emblematic of Bangkok’s street food scene. Jay Fai’s unmatched wok skills and flavor-packed recipes, not to mention her distinct cooking uniform (gigantic ski goggles and a knitted head covering) have attracted foodies from all over the world. Her signature crab omelette was what propelled Jay Fai to restaurant stardom, alongside other favorites like drunken noodles and tom yum goong.

If you’re curious about her story, put Street Food Asia on. But not before you’ve had something to eat, because this show will definitely make empty stomachs grumble. 

Bangkok’s drinking scene has never been this busy and exciting. Since COVID subsided,  it seems like mixologists across town have had their passion reignited, including Niks Anuman-Rajadhon, one of the frontrunners in Bangkok’s cocktail arena. Niks is co-founder  of Yolo Group, which is behind many popular bars such as Teens of Thailand,  Untitled and Asia Today, the latter making its Netflix debut in documentary series Midnight Asia.

In the episode on Bangkok, the barman proudly talks about his bars and why the city is the  place to be, especially come sundown. Get a peek inside Asia Today, which was 46th on the list of Asia’s 50 Best in 2022, and its lip-smacking tipples that showcase Thai fruits and ingredients.

Featured in the Korean rom-com series King the Land, this outdoor market is an up-and-coming spot in Samphanthawong along the Ong Ang canal, which is one of the oldest waterways in Bangkok.

Before it became the lively and trendy market that you now see in the show, Ong Ang Market and the adjacent canal was polluted, and a location for toy stores and pottery shops. In 2015, the government, under former PM General Prayuth, revamped the entire place into a hip hotspot where you can enjoy listening to live music from buskers, indulge in street food, browse through arts and crafts, and even go kayaking.

Dare we say it’s giving off an Amsterdam feel? While it’s not there yet, Ong Ang Market is definitely bringing a lot of positive vibes to this Old Town area.