Situated on the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya river, Asiatique The Riverfront offers a mix of night market stalls, restaurants and entertainment. Plus, you can arrive after a scenic river ride via the free shuttle from the Sathorn Pier near Saphan Taksin BTS station.
Asiatique The Riverfront is a night-time shopper’s and food lover’s paradise billed as Bangkok’s first ‘large-scale riverside shopping centre’. The site where the night market now stands was once one of Thailand’s busiest shipping ports, receiving freight from all over the world.
Visitors to Asiatique can enjoy the good variety of food stalls, restaurants and bars, plus easy accessibility. It’s just a 10-minute free shuttle boat ride from Saphan Taksin BTS Station.
From the boat, you step off onto a long boardwalk which runs for 300 meters, and after sunset the boardwalk develops a more romantic appearance.
Asiatique The Riverfront
Wide streets run between each warehouse and Asiatique provides retro props for photo opportunities. The space is broken down into several areas including the fashion stalls, waterfront dining establishments, and the entertainment plaza.
The regular show at Asiatique is the Calypso ladyboy cabaret, a raucous and racy Las Vegas style song and dance extravaganza.
There are also several warehouses at Asiatique that host dozens of smaller stalls which are great for souvenir and jewelry shopping. However, haggling isn’t the thing here, unlike say, Chatuchak Market.
Be aware that you might find similar wares at different shops, so a few minutes spent walking around comparing stalls can save you some baht.
Eating at Asiatique
Asiatique The Riverfront is definitely not just about shopping. Go hunting for food amongst the market stalls to try different tasty,or unique, foods and drinks.
But if you’re craving some delicious cuisines at Asiatique The Riverfront that isn’t street food, there are a lot of choices. Many with live music later at night.
However, two standout dining options are the Sirimahannop Tall Ship and The Crystal Grill House.
The Sirimahannop Tall Ship, is moored out front, next to the pier where the free Asiatique shuttle boat arrives and departs. The modern Sirimahannop commemorates the legacy of the Thoon Kramom ship. This ship was once the largest vessel and trading ship in the kingdom of Siam.
It’s one of Bangkok’s most unique dining settings, and for that reason you’ll likely need a reservation.
The Crystal Grill House is Asiatique’s newest waterfront restaurant with several glass domes looking out over the Chao Phraya River.
Marriott Bonvoy members might be pleased to know that both the Sirimahannop and The Crystal Grill House are run by the Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park.
The Sky Wheel & More
We haven’t forgotten about some of Asiatique’s most noticeable attractions. One of which you certainly can’t miss, even from Saphan Taksin BTS Station.
Sky WHeel
The Sky Wheel has become one of Bangkok’s landmarks. This ferris wheel is 60 meters in height and has 42 gondolas.
The views from here are amazing.
Tickets for the Sky Wheel are 500 baht for adults, 200 baht for children under 120cm, 300 baht for seniors 60 or older, and VIP cabins of 1-5 people are 5000 baht.
Note that we bought two adult tickets and had a gondola to ourselves.
Grand Carousel
For kids or adults who want a more down to earth ride, there’s the Grand Carousel. The brightly lit and mirrored Grand Carousel is a fun diversion for kids to ride, or, it can just be captivating to watch at night.
A ride on the Grand Carousel is 100 baht.
Mystery mansion
The Mystery Mansion is Thailand’s first haunted train ride. Steady your heart for 3 minutes as you go through a haunting journey. Each car seats up to 2 people, so you can share the experience with a buddy.
Not sure how scary it is, but we heard screams.
A Mystery Mansion ticket is 200 baht.
Dinner Cruises
One of the reasons Asiatique the Waterfront is so popular at night isn’t just because of the shops, bars and restaurants. It’s also because numerous Bangkok dinner cruises along the Chao Phraya River depart from here at night.
So, if you’re taking a dinner cruise, you’ll likely find yourself with some time to spend at Asiatique.
How to get There
Unless you’re already staying in a hotel in the area, the best way to arrive at Asiatique is via their free shuttle boat service from Sathorn Pier.
The traffic in this area can become terrible.
Take the BTS Skytrain to Saphan Taksin Station and follow the signs to the pier. You also might want to check with your hotel, because some riverside hotels offer their own free shuttle boats.
Note that the queues for the shuttle can be quite long early on in the evening so allow plenty of time to make the transfers, especially if you have a dinner reservation.
Asiatique is a fun way to spend a laid-back night in Bangkok. Enjoy eating, shopping and drinking to your heart’s content.
If your visit to Bangkok also coincides with one of Thailand’s festivals, there will likely be some form of special event or fireworks taking place.
