Begrudgingly I visited Asiatique, from browsing online it looked too European, too touristy and a bit boring. Why come all the way to Bangkok to spend the night at a watered-down tourist village? But my experience changed my skepticism.
Firstly, let’s clarify the name, Asiatique is pronounced “asia-teec” not “asia-tech”; I unfortunately spent 2 years pronouncing it as the latter 🤦♂️
Asiatique is an open air night market and entertainment village, it’s an excellent night out for families with young kids or travellers looking for a relaxed night market experience. It provides a family-friendly space to shop, dine and even watch a live show. Not to mention the riverside views are magical. While it might offer a diluted version of Bangkok’s boisterous energy, the charming atmosphere, riverside dining, and entertainment options make it worthwhile. It’s also home to Thailand’s largest ferris wheel, the sky wheel at an impressive 60 metres with beautiful views.
Opened in 2012 on the former docks of Denmark’s East Asiatic Company, it features an impressive 300 metre promenade and European-influenced architecture. The space is thoughtfully organised into four distinct districts across 7 warehouses:
- Chareonkrung District: where you will find live shows
- Factory District: where all the nice clothes stalls are located
- Town Square District: international restaurants and bars
- Waterfront District: riverside restaurants, small funfair and where some dinner cruises depart
I’ve been to Asiatique twice, in this guide I share my experience and everything there is to do at Asiatique: The Riverfront Destination.
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Asiatique Essentials
- Free shuttle boat goes between Asiatique and Saphan Taksin BTS Station
- Enjoy a unique and romantic meal onboard the iconic Sirimahannop Ship
- Watch live shows Siam Fantasy + Calypso Cabaret.
- Fancy a cruise? Dinner cruise’s Chao Phraya White Orchid Cruise, Royal Princess Cruise + Royal Galaxy Cruise all depart from Asiatique.
- Best time to visit: after 5 PM, most restaurants are closed during the day.
- It can get quite humid, a handheld fan can come in… handy!
How To Get To Asiatique
Getting to Asiatique is actually really easy. When you look on the map of Bangkok Asiatique appears to be far away from central areas and Google Maps also suggests a longwinded bus route but actually if you take a boat it’s quick and straightforward. Here are your options to get to Asiatique:
1. Shuttle Boat: this is the best option, a FREE shuttle service from the Saphan Taksin BTS Station along the Chao Phraya River. It goes every 20 minutes, starting from 16:30 until 23:00. The journey is only 10 – 15 minutes with scenic river views.
2. Chao Phraya Express Boat: the orange line between Nonthaburi and Wat Ratsingkhon (S3), the final stop (Wat Ratsingkhon) is located at the end of Asiatique pier. There is a flat rate fee of 16 baht. It stops at 6 PM Mon – Fri, and 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Check the schedule here.
3. Chao Phraya Tourist Boat: it’s the most expensive boat, aimed at tourists and offering easy navigation along many popular attractions along the river. This is the best option for anyone who has purchased a day ticket with the intention of visiting other attractions. Prices range from 30 THB for one journey and 150 THB for a full day hop on / hop off pass. You can purchase the all day pass on the day or for slightly cheaper online in advance with Kook.
Taxi or tuk tuk options exist, but I don’t recommend them. From experience, the crowds make finding one difficult and stressful, plus Bangkok’s notorious traffic makes this the slowest option. If you must take a taxi, use Grab to avoid being overcharged.
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Best Time To Visit Asiatique
Asiatique The Riverfront is best experienced at night. Most of the restaurants and stalls only open at about 4 PM until midnight. However it’s best to arrive between 5 PM and 6 PM when everything is fully open. We walked through here on a Saturday during the daytime, it was like a ghost town with just a small number of cafes open.
How Long To Spend Asiatique?
You only need about 3 – 4 hours in Asiatique, less if you are not planning to eat. It is a pretty compact area, making it easy to see it all in a short space of time.
What To Do In Asiatique
Sky Wheel
At 60 metres (200 feet), Asiatique’s Sky Wheel holds the title as the highest ferris wheel in Thailand. The views are spectacular with not only Bangkok’s skyscrapers but also the Chao Phraya River and its illuminated boats. The ride lasts about 15 minutes allowing you two full turns to enjoy the expansive cityscape views. I recommend arriving for sunset, Bangkok almost always has a beautiful red sunset.
Tickets cost 500 THB per adult; 200 THB per child and 300 THB for seniors.
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Mystery Mansion
I have to admit, I laughed so much during the Mystery Mansion, not in a “I am so scared” way but the way you might laugh through a really bad movie (that’s anything with Dwayne Johnson really). You take a seat on a 2-seater gondola which brings you on a short journey (approx 5 minutes) in the dark through this creepy two-storey mansion. Along the way are a few surprises and “scares”. It’s all a bit silly but ultimately a fun kid friendly ride. Personally, I’ve visited creepier houses with even creepier residents during my college years!
Tickets cost 300 THB per person, which let’s be real is a very expensive price for the experience and short length of time.
Carousel
Another kid-friendly ride is the carousel. Located beside the Mystery Mansion, it’s spread across two floors it’s so pretty to watch it in motion with it’s vintage lights and immaculate horses and elephants. Usually I would hop onboard a carousel, although effectively a kid’s ride I always spot other adults on them. However, during my two trips to Asiatique it was only children. I did get on the first time but being one of only 2 adults (the other was my sister) on it I felt out of place. Maybe it’s just the two night’s I visited though.
Tickets cost 100 THB per person and it lasts approximately 5 minutes.
Shopping In Asiatique: The Riverfront
After raising your adrenaline on some of Asiatique’s rides you might require a bit of retail therapy at the Factory District. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of shops here, there is a mix of small stalls and a few bigger shops such as Minisoc, Timberland and Tops. The clothing stalls here offer really good quality items, usually in markets it takes a bit of time to find the good stalls, here the stalls have genuinely nice clothes. Of course you’ll still find the Singha shirts and elephant pants but they aren’t as prevalent as most markets in Thailand.
In my experience the sales assistants were not pushy and allowed me to browse without trying to push items on me. This was a welcome change to the usual night markets. Whether you’re looking for a souvenir or a new outfit, you can find it here.
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Food In Asiatique: The Riverfront
Asiatique is about 70% restaurants, I am not exaggerating when I say there is so much to choose from. Most restaurants serve Thai food, and due to the riverside locations there are also plenty of fish on offer. Nava6 is a highly rated and award winning Thai restaurant. You can also find Korean food at Sail To The Moon, Turkish kebabs at Champion Kebab and Indian dishes at M&M .
Sirimahannop Heritage Ship is a fine dining restaurant on a ship thats built as a replica of the Thoon Kramom ship. Serving a combination of Thai and Western meals, dishes include Duck Confit, Beef Cheek Green Curry and Atlantic Halibut Fillet. Book a table online.
Along with restaurants there are also a few food stalls with the classics like mango sticky rice, pad thai, skewers and for the brave, dried insects ala cockroaches and scorpions.
I recommend Happy Fish which overlooks the river. We ordered som tum which was insanely spicy but very good and panang curry which had tender beef and a moderately spicy creamy soup. I also couldn’t resist a margarita.
For anyone with a sweet tooth there are many, many dessert cafes such as Swensens, Durianism, Mont Blanc (the famous Kyoto ice cream that looks like silly string).
Watch A Live Show
Calypso Cabaret
If you are looking to be entertained then the long running Calypso Cabaret should be high on your list of things to do at Asiatique. It’s a campy and up-tempo fun show from beginning to end. The show is jam-packed with performers miming and dancing to a mix of modern and traditional Thai music. Wearing a variety of fabulous costumes from sparkling bodysuits to traditional Thai dress the performers put on an outstanding show packing high energy and fun.
The venue is well designed, with red lighting, tiered seating, and small tables with red lamps. During the show the staff will take your drink orders at your table, which is nice not to miss any of the performances. The entire show last about 50 minutes. At the end you can take a photo with the performers for an extra 100 THB.
Combination Tickets are available with the option of a cocktail or a Thai set meal. You can book these tickets online in advance.
Calypso Cabaret is not the only live show at Asiatique.
Siam Fantasy
Although I didn’t have time to attend the Siam Fantasy show it involves dances from 4 regions of Thailand along with a choreographed Muay Thai fight. The costumes are vibrant and extravagant. It lasts for about 1 hour and water is included in the price. You can also book these tickets online in advance.
Dinner Cruise
One of the best things to do in Bangkok is to go on a dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya river, most of these cruises leave from Asiatique The Riverfront Pier. Spend 2 hours of your evening wining and dining, with live performers against the backdrop of Bangkok’s illuminated temples and skyscrapers along the river. There is normally a large buffet on board with a mix of Thai and international food.
Prices start from 750 THB and can go up to 3,000 THB for the higher end cruises.
Cruises that leave from Asiatique: Chao Phraya White Orchid Cruise, Royal Princess Cruise + Royal Galaxy Cruise.
Final Thoughts On Asiatique
If you’re seeking an authentic Thai experience, Asiatique might initially disappoint. It’s essentially a polished, tourist-friendly version of Thailand concentrated into one riverside complex, think of it as Bangkok’s answer to a themed entertainment district. The prices reflect its tourist-oriented nature, but knowing this beforehand can set appropriate expectations for an enjoyable evening.
I wouldn’t recommend Asiatique for travellers with just a few nights in Bangkok, your time and money would be better spent exploring local night markets or taking in the city from a rooftop bar. However, Asiatique is a great option for those wanting a more relaxed evening browsing quality stalls, enjoying good food without the typical market chaos, and appreciating spectacular riverside views.
It’s clean, modern, and accessible, admittedly a curated version of Bangkok that sacrifices some authenticity for comfort and convenience. Much like my initial skepticism gave way to appreciation, you might find it offers precisely the balanced experience you’re looking for after days of navigating Bangkok’s more intense attractions.
Where To Stay Near Asiatique
Staying close to Asiatique offers a convenient location for exploring Bangkok’s riverside attractions, especially of you are travelling with children. Although not centrally located Bang Koh Laem is well connected to other parts of Bangkok by boat.
$: Sunreno Hotel is located across the road from Asiatique. Rooms are spacious anf come equipped with a full sized fridge and microwave. CHECK AVAILABILITY
$$: Krung Boutique Hotel offers bright cozy rooms, many come with a spacious seating area. Breakfast is also included in the majority of room rates. CHECK AVAILABILITY
$$$: Salil Hotel Riverside is a luxury 5 star just a few metres from Asiatique. The hotel offers an hourly free shuttle boat service that makes getting around care free. Other facilities include a gym, outdoor pool and wellness centre that featured a rooftop aquatherapy pool. Rooms are elegantly designed and equipped with coffee machine and microwave. CHECK AVAILABILITY
Asiatique FAQ
Yes, although there is no entrance free Asiatique has inflated prices especially when it comes to food and drink.
Yes, it goes from Saphan Taksin BTS Station every 20 minutes, starting from 16:30 until 23:00.
You can haggle at the clothes stalls but not at the food. Remember to keep it respectful and not to go too low.
