Living in Asok (Asoke): Bangkok’s Most Connected Neighborhood

Asok is where the BTS Sukhumvit Line, the MRT Blue Line and Terminal 21 meet. It’s the best-connected stretch of Sukhumvit, with trains, hospitals, offices and food from every corner of the world within walking distance.

Few Bangkok addresses get you to so many places with so little effort. Two rail lines cross at Asok.

The Airport Rail Link is one MRT stop and a short walk away, and Bumrungrad Hospital is one BTS stop west, at Nana. That’s why so many newcomers start here.

You pay for it in street life. Sukhumvit traffic runs from dawn to late night, the BTS rumbles overhead, and some of Bangkok’s best-known bar streets share blocks with office towers and family condos.

Your soi matters more here than almost anywhere else in the city. This guide covers where Asok starts and stops, what rent costs, where to eat, drink and shop, how the nightlife fits in, and who should live here. Near the end, we look at Nana, the next stop west, which has a different feel.

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Location

Asok centers on the BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit interchange, where Sukhumvit Road meets Asok Montri Road (Soi 21). It’s the busiest middle stretch of Sukhumvit, roughly Soi 12 to Soi 23, plus the sois running off both sides.

Nana, the next BTS stop west, covers roughly Soi 1 to Soi 11. It’s right next door, so most of this guide applies there too, and we compare the two near the end.

Under the Skytrain track it’s hotels, shops and traffic. Step into a side soi and it can turn from office lobbies to quiet condo driveways within a block.

You’ll also see it spelled Asoke. The BTS signs say Asok, so we do too.

A soi is a side street, and the numbers run in order along Sukhumvit. Odd numbers are on the north side, in Watthana district. Even numbers are on the south side, in Khlong Toei district.

• Thai name: อโศก (Asok)
• Pronunciation: ah-SOHK
• Main roads: Sukhumvit Road, Asok Montri Road (Soi 21) and New Phetchaburi Road along the northern edge
• Stations: BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit, with MRT Phetchaburi and Makkasan (Airport Rail Link) at the north end

Big roads mark most of the edges.

• West: past Soi 11, Nana takes over, then Phloen Chit beyond Soi 1.
• North: New Phetchaburi Road and Makkasan, with the Rama 9 office district beyond.
• South: Rama IV Road and Benjakitti Park.
• East: a blurry border with Phrom Phong. By one common rule, anyone west of Soi 31 says they live in Asok.

Our Phrom Phong guide picks up from there.

Pros and Cons of Living in Asok

Living in Asok gets you Bangkok’s best rail access and food from almost everywhere, and costs you crowds, traffic and maybe a bar on your block.

Pros

• Rail access: BTS Nana and Asok, MRT Sukhumvit and Phetchaburi, and the Airport Rail Link at Makkasan are all inside the area or on its edge.
• Choice: hundreds of places to eat and plenty of supermarkets within a short walk.
• Hospitals: Bumrungrad International Hospital is under a kilometer from the center.
• Offices: office towers ring the Asok interchange, and Silom is about 13 minutes away on the MRT.
• English: spoken in shops, clinics and restaurants almost everywhere.

Cons

• Crowds and traffic: Sukhumvit Road is busy from dawn to late night, and at rush hour taxis crawl while the BTS slides past overhead.
• Nightlife next to homes: bar streets and condos share the same blocks, so noise depends on your soi.
• Little green space: there’s almost no park inside the area, and the main streets have little shade.
• Price: rents sit in the upper tier, well above Ratchada or On Nut.
• Nightly rentals: some investor-owned units get rented by the night despite building bans. Ask the building office about short-stay rules before you sign.

What Daily Life Looks Like in Asok

Daily life in Asok runs on the trains, with office towers and Terminal 21 busy by day and food carts and bars filling the side sois after dark.

On a weekday, your morning starts at the mouth of your soi, where the motorbike taxis line up. About THB20 gets you to the station.

At rush hour the platform fills with office workers bound for the towers around the interchange or Silom, 13 minutes away on the MRT.

Working remotely? Glowfish Asoke sits right at the interchange. Lunch for a lot of people here means Pier 21, where you load a card, order at the stalls and get your balance back on the way out.

The office crowd arrives around noon, so go early or late.

Evenings are when the sois change. Carts and open-air kitchens set up along Soi 11 and around the Asok intersection, and the neon comes on at Soi Cowboy. If you run out of milk at 2 AM, Foodland advertises 24-hour opening.

Saturday morning belongs to Benjakitti Park. Walk in from the Sukhumvit Soi 10 entrance, do the 2 km loop around the lake with the Asok towers behind it, and cross the bridge to Lumphini if your legs still work.

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Dog owners head for the off-leash area by Soi 4.

Weekend afternoons at Terminal 21 are crowded, so do the big shop at Villa Market instead. Saturday night might be a drink at Cooling Tower or Above Eleven, then a Grab home rather than a walk down an unfamiliar soi.

Asok Cost of Living at a Glance

A modern one-bedroom condo in Asok rents for roughly THB22,000 to THB40,000 a month, so rent is where your money goes.

Getting around is the cheap part. A BTS ride is roughly THB17 to THB65, and a motorbike taxi down the soi about THB20.

Item	Typical cost
Older budget studio or room (20 to 30 sqm)	Roughly THB12,000 to THB16,000 a month
Modern studio (22 to 30 sqm)	Roughly THB15,000 to THB22,000 a month
Modern one-bedroom (30 to 50 sqm)	Roughly THB22,000 to THB40,000 a month
Older, bigger one- or two-bedroom (60 to 90 sqm)	Roughly THB20,000 to THB45,000 a month
Luxury or branded two-bedroom	From about THB50,000 a month
BTS single trip	Roughly THB17 to THB65
MRT Blue Line single trip	Roughly THB17 to THB44
Airport Rail Link single trip	Roughly THB15 to THB45
Motorbike taxi	About THB20 for the first kilometer
Metered taxi	About THB35 to start the meter

Leases usually run 12 months. On signing, you’ll typically pay:

• a two-month deposit
• one month’s rent in advance

Ask what the building charges per unit for electricity and water. Older buildings sometimes bill above the utility rate. Our cost of living guide has the wider picture.

Accommodation in Asok

Housing in Asok means condos, from 22 sqm studios in new towers to older 90 sqm units with room to spread out. Houses are rare.

Modern but Small Condos

A modern studio of 22 to 30 square meters in Asok rents for roughly THB15,000 to THB22,000 a month. It comes furnished, usually a short walk from a station.

• Rhythm Asoke: high-rise studios of about 22 sqm, roughly THB15,000 to THB20,000 on a one-year lease.
• The Lofts Asoke: one-bedrooms of 35 to 50 sqm near MRT Phetchaburi, roughly THB25,000 to THB40,000.

Time the walk to the station before you sign. From the Phetchaburi end of a long soi, it can take 10 to 15 minutes in the heat, and you’ll reach the BTS wanting a second shower.

Luxury Condos

Luxury and branded two-bedroom condos in Asok start around THB50,000 a month and climb well past that for views and bigger layouts. Grand Mercure Bangkok Asoke Residence is one branded option, with hotel-style services.

Buying instead? Our guide to buying a condo on Sukhumvit covers prices and foreign-ownership rules.

Bigger, Older, Affordable Condos

Older condos in Asok give you 60 to 90 square meters for roughly THB20,000 to THB45,000 a month. That’s more space per baht than the new towers.

• Asoke Place: one- and two-bedrooms of 60 to 90 sqm, from around THB20,000 up to THB45,000.
• Sukhumvit City Resort: an older complex on Soi 11 with bigger layouts than the new high-rises.

You pay for the space in age. Lifts, plumbing and furniture can be dated, and the gym and pool are usually plainer.

Townhouses and Gated Communities

Townhouses and detached houses are rare in Asok and cost far more than condos. The nearest gated townhouses are toward Phrom Phong, where Prompak Gardens starts around THB80,000 a month for three bedrooms.

For a house at a saner price, our On Nut guide and Bang Na guide cover the options further out.

Budget Options

Budget rooms in older low-rise apartments in Asok start around THB12,000 a month, about double a student room in Ratchada. Don’t expect a gym or pool.

For your first month, a serviced apartment or a short-term rental lets you test the soi before you commit. Before signing anything longer, check what a rental contract should say.

Dining Out in Asok

Asok puts food from nearly every country within a few blocks, from a food-court plate at lunch to Peruvian-Japanese on a Soi 11 rooftop at night.

Street Food

Street food in Asok takes more finding than in Ratchada or On Nut. Once the office crowd heads home, carts and open-air kitchens set up along Soi 11 and around the Asok intersection.

Pier 21, the Terminal 21 food court, is the budget sit-down option, and on weekdays it fills with office workers at lunch. Load a prepaid card at the booth, order at the stalls, and get your unused balance back on the way out.

Popular Dining Spots

Mid-range meals in Asok run about THB400 to THB1,000 a head, with Indian, Italian, French and Latin American cooking among the best-known spots.

• Pala Pizza Romana: a takeaway counter next to Terminal 21 selling Roman-style pizza by the slice, open from morning until late.
• New Bukhara’s: Indian near BTS Nana, known for butter chicken and tandoori platters. Budget about THB600 a head.
• JP French Restaurant: a small French bistro at about THB1,000 a head. It’s closed on Sundays and for Monday lunch.
• El Gaucho: an Argentinian steakhouse on Soi 19.
• Above Eleven: Peruvian-Japanese food and a rooftop bar on Soi 11, with views across the skyline.

Near Nana, Soi 3 and Soi 3/1 hold a cluster of Middle Eastern restaurants. On Soi 12, a small Korean arcade goes by Korean Town. Our picks for the best restaurants in Bangkok go further.

Drinking in Asok

Asok has one of Bangkok’s densest bar scenes, with well over a hundred bars, pubs and clubs, from rooftop cocktail bars to go-go bars.

Rooftops are the calmer end, with the city lit up below:

• Cooling Tower: a cocktail bar on the roof of the Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit.
• Above Eleven: drinks with a Peruvian-Japanese menu on Soi 11.

The go-go bar streets get their own section below.

Groceries in Asok

You’re rarely more than a ten-minute walk from a supermarket in Asok, and imported food is easy to find.

Fresh Markets

Central Asok has few fresh markets, so most residents use supermarkets or delivery apps. Khlong Toei Market on Rama IV Road is Bangkok’s biggest fresh market.

It’s about two MRT stops south of Sukhumvit, near Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre and Khlong Toei stations.

Supermarkets

Villa Market, Foodland and Tops are the main supermarkets in Asok, and all of them stock imported goods.

• Villa Market: the imported-food specialist, with several branches within a kilometer of Asok.
• Foodland: advertises 24-hour opening.
• Tops: both Thai and imported items.

Terminal 21 and the other malls have grocery floors too. Hours vary by branch.

The Asok Interchange and the Nightlife Trade-Off

BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit connect directly, and the blocks around them that move office crowds by day hold three of Bangkok’s best-known nightlife areas after dark.

The Interchange

BTS Asok opened in December 1999 and links to MRT Sukhumvit by a connecting walkway. Terminal 21 connects to both, and BTS Exit 1 leads straight into its mezzanine, so you can step off the Skytrain and into the mall without touching the street.

The mall opened in October 2011 and takes its name from Soi 21, also called Asok Montri Road. Each floor is themed after a world city.

Siam is about 11 minutes from the interchange and Silom about 13.

Soi Cowboy, Nana Plaza and Soi 11

Soi Cowboy, Nana Plaza and Soi 11 are three separate nightlife areas, each a short walk from the stations.

• Soi Cowboy: a 150-meter soi between Asok Montri Road and Soi 23, with about 40 businesses, mostly go-go bars. It’s a few minutes’ walk from BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit.
• Nana Plaza: a three-floor entertainment complex at 3 Sukhumvit Soi 4, opened in 1983, about 300 meters from BTS Nana. It holds around 30 go-go bars, and the soi outside has beer bars, massage shops and hotels.
• Soi 11: a mixed street of clubs, lounges, restaurants and a rooftop bar.

All three are evening areas. They’re quiet in the afternoon, busy after dark, and most venues stay open into the small hours.

Choosing Your Soi

Noise in Asok follows the soi, so two condos 300 meters apart can feel like different cities after 10 PM.

Families do live here. NIST International School is on Soi 15 and the Australian International School’s early-years campus is on Soi 20, both within walking distance of the bar areas.

• Visit at night: stand outside the building around 10 PM on a Friday for ten minutes.
• Ask the building office: which side faces the bar area, and which floors hear the street?
• Check the unit’s orientation: a bedroom window facing a bar soi gets more noise than one facing Sukhumvit Road traffic.
• Look at the odd and even sides: Soi Cowboy and Soi 11 are on the odd-numbered north side. Nana Plaza on Soi 4 is the exception. Otherwise the even-numbered south side, in Khlong Toei, mixes offices, hotels and condos.

Tip: After the bars close, book a ride-hailing car rather than walking an unfamiliar soi. Our guide to staying safe in Bangkok covers the rest.

Transportation Options for Asok

The BTS, the MRT and the Airport Rail Link are all within a walk or a short motorbike-taxi ride of Asok, so most people here get by without a car. Our transportation guide covers cards, passes and fares.

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BTS

The BTS Sukhumvit Line stops at Nana and Asok. Phrom Phong and Thong Lo are one and two stops east, and Siam is four stops west via Chit Lom.

Single trips run roughly THB17 to THB65. A Rabbit card saves you queuing at the ticket machines.

MRT

The MRT Blue Line stops at Sukhumvit, which links to BTS Asok, and at Phetchaburi, which links to the Airport Rail Link. It runs daily from 6:00 AM to midnight. (Verified October 2026.)

Single trips cost roughly THB17 to THB44.

Airport Rail Link

The Airport Rail Link runs from Makkasan to Suvarnabhumi Airport in about 22 minutes, for roughly THB15 to THB45.

Trains run from early morning until around midnight. Since November 2025, you can tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, JCB or UnionPay card at the gates.

Makkasan connects to MRT Phetchaburi, so the airport is one MRT stop and a short walk from Asok. Our airport transfer guide compares the other ways to get there.

Motorbike Taxis

Motorbike taxis in Asok cost about THB20 for the first kilometer. They’re the quickest way down a long soi to the station.

There’s a driver stand at most soi entrances. Wear the helmet and agree the price first where no rate is posted.

Taxis and Grab

Metered taxis start at about THB35, and Grab works well here. Sukhumvit traffic is slow, so the train usually wins.

Buses and Boats

Buses run along Sukhumvit Road and stop near BTS Asok, but traffic makes them slower than the train.

Khlong Saen Saep canal boats run along the Phetchaburi Road side, with a stop near MRT Phetchaburi and Makkasan. Check the current timetable before you rely on one.

Flooding in Asok

Asok’s risk of a big flood is low. The area stayed dry in the 2011 river flood and saw only street flooding in September 2026.

That 2026 water sat mostly at the Phetchaburi Road end of the odd-numbered sois on the north side, so a heavy downpour there can still mean wading to the main road. The even-numbered sois in Khlong Toei were unaffected.

Asok Montri Road near the Sino-Thai building is another spot that can still flood in heavy rain.

A condo near Sukhumvit Road is the safer bet. Our guide to Bangkok’s flood-free neighborhoods has district-by-district ratings.

Healthcare in Asok

Bumrungrad International Hospital is under a kilometer from the center of Asok, within walking distance of many sois. Our private hospitals guide compares the options.

Hospitals

• Bumrungrad International Hospital: at 33 Sukhumvit Soi 3 and accredited by Joint Commission International. Its 24-hour line handles emergencies, appointments and ambulances (1378 within Thailand), and its Expatriate Liaison Center looks after international patients. It costs more than most private hospitals.
• Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital: about 2.1 km east on Sukhumvit Soi 49, popular with expats and families.
• Praram 9 Hospital: about 1.7 km away, with a cardiovascular institute and a kidney institute.

Clinics

Walk-in care in Asok mostly means the big hospitals’ outpatient departments, with English-speaking staff. For something minor, try a pharmacy first. Most medicines are sold without a prescription.

Dentists

Dentists in Asok range from mall clinics to hospital dental centers. Our Bangkok dentist guide lists Bumrungrad’s dental center for 24-hour emergency treatment.

Veterinarians

There’s no vet clinic in Asok itself. The nearest are Sukhumvit Veterinarians on Soi 51 and the Thonglor Pet branches. Our Bangkok veterinarian guide lists 24-hour options and pet taxis.

International Schools in Asok

NIST International School on Sukhumvit Soi 15 is the best-known of several international schools within about 1.5 kilometers of Asok. Our international schools guide compares fees and curricula.

• NIST International School: on Sukhumvit Soi 15, a 10-minute walk from BTS Asok, teaching the full IB from age 3 to 18. NIST doesn’t publish a fee table, and our school guide puts fees at roughly THB650,000 to THB1,130,000 a year.
• Australian International School Bangkok: an early-years campus on Soi 20 (Nursery to Year 1) and a primary and secondary campus on Soi 31.
• Anglo Singapore International School: a campus on Sukhumvit Soi 31, about 1.2 km from the center.

Parks in Asok

Benjakitti Park is the nearest big park to Asok, and you’ll use it, because there’s almost no park inside the neighborhood itself.

Benjakitti covers about 72 hectares and has a 2 km loop around a lake.

The Sukhumvit Soi 10 entrance is within walking distance of Nana and Asok, and a pedestrian bridge links the park to Lumphini Park. The section next to Soi 4 includes an off-leash dog park.

For more green space, see our guide to the best parks in Bangkok.

Other Standout Venues and Features

Terminal 21 is the big landmark in Asok, the mall you’ll end up in for a cheap lunch or an hour of air-conditioning, and two coworking spaces sit nearby.

• Terminal 21: the themed mall at the interchange, with shops from budget to mid-range and the Pier 21 food court.
• Glowfish Asoke: serviced offices, meeting rooms and flexible workspace in Asoke Tower on Sukhumvit Soi 21, beside the BTS and MRT interchange.
• WeWork The Parq: coworking on floors 7 and 8 above Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre MRT station, with 24/7 keycard access on dedicated desk plans.
• Kamthieng House: a museum on Soi 21, closed for restoration at the time of writing.

If you need an office rather than a desk, our guide to renting an office in Bangkok covers the options.

Nana Next Door

Nana is the next BTS stop west, roughly Soi 1 to Soi 11. It shares Asok’s BTS line, supermarkets and hospitals, but it feels different: more hotels and tourists, a Middle Eastern quarter, and a nightlife strip on Soi 4.

	Asok	Nana
Station	BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit	BTS Nana (MRT one stop away at Asok)
Feel	Office towers, Terminal 21, commuters	Hotels, tourists, the Arab quarter on Soi 3
Nightlife	Soi Cowboy, rooftop bars	Nana Plaza on Soi 4, Soi 11 clubs
Hospital	Bumrungrad one stop west	Bumrungrad on Soi 3
Best for	Office workers, first-timers, nomads	People who want the hospital close, night owls

What Nana Is Like

Around BTS Nana, the sois fill with hotels, serviced apartments and shops for visitors. Soi 3 and Soi 3/1 hold Bangkok’s best-known cluster of Middle Eastern restaurants, and Bumrungrad International Hospital sits on Soi 3.

After dark, Nana Plaza on Soi 4 and the clubs and rooftops of Soi 11 take over. Benjakitti Park is still close, and its off-leash dog area is by Soi 4.

• Nearest station: BTS Nana. For the MRT, ride one stop east to Asok.
• Suits: people who want Bumrungrad on the doorstep, anyone starting with a short stay in a serviced apartment, and people who like late nights.
• Watch out for: late-night noise around Soi 4 and Soi 11. Families usually prefer the Asok side or Phrom Phong.

Asok vs. Phrom Phong vs. Ratchada

Asok fits people who want the most rail access. Phrom Phong suits families after calmer sois, and Ratchada suits anyone who wants lower rent on the MRT.

Area	Typical one-bedroom rent	Rail	Feel	Best for
Asok	Roughly THB22,000 to THB40,000 a month	BTS, MRT, Airport Rail Link nearby	Busiest and most mixed, with nightlife	First-timers, office workers, nomads
Phrom Phong	Roughly THB25,000 to THB30,000 a month for a small modern unit	BTS only	Calmer, more residential	Families, long-term expats
Ratchada	Roughly THB15,000 to THB25,000 a month	MRT Blue Line only	Cheaper, busy main road	Budget-minded workers

Phrom Phong is one BTS stop east and quieter at night. It suits families better, but the airport is about 38 minutes away, against 22 from Asok. Our Phrom Phong guide has the full picture.

Ratchada is about 11 minutes away on the MRT and noticeably cheaper, with one rail line, narrow sidewalks and less choice, as our Ratchada guide describes. Rama 9 sits between the two on price, about 6 minutes from Asok by MRT.

If rents here are too steep, Phra Khanong and On Nut are cheaper on the same BTS line. Our Bangkok neighborhoods guide covers the whole city.

Should You Live in Asok?

Asok suits first-time expats, office workers and remote workers best, and families and retirees less.

• First-time expats: English is everywhere, and the rail network makes the city easy to learn.
• Office workers: offices around the interchange and the MRT to Silom mean a short commute.
• Nomads: monthly rentals, cafes, coworking and a big expat community.
• Families: NIST and other international schools are close, but crowds, traffic and nightlife push most families toward Phrom Phong.
• Retirees: Bumrungrad is close, but the crowds wear on some people.

Want quiet evenings at home? Look one stop east at Phrom Phong.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to rent a condo in Asok?

A modern one-bedroom condo in Asok rents for roughly THB22,000 to THB40,000 a month. Studios start around THB12,000 in older buildings and THB15,000 in modern ones.

What is the nearest station?

BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit are the main stations for Asok. MRT Phetchaburi and Makkasan serve the northern edge, and BTS Nana is one stop west.

Does Asok flood?

Asok is rated low for big-flood risk and stayed dry in 2011. The 2026 street flooding hit the Phetchaburi Road end of the odd-numbered sois. Our flood guide has the details.

Is Asok good for families?

Asok works for some families, with NIST and Australian International School Bangkok nearby. Most families who still want the BTS find Phrom Phong easier.

Is Asok safe?

Asok is among Bangkok’s busiest areas and stays busy late. After closing time near the bar streets, take a ride-hailing car rather than walking unfamiliar sois alone. Our Bangkok safety guide has more.

How do I get to the airports?

The Airport Rail Link from Makkasan reaches Suvarnabhumi in about 22 minutes for roughly THB15 to THB45, and Makkasan is one MRT stop from Asok. Don Mueang takes about 50 minutes by public transport. Taxis and Grab work for both.

Is it Asok or Asoke?

Asok and Asoke are the same place. The BTS and MRT signs say Asok, and many businesses use the longer spelling.

What’s the difference between Asok and Nana?

They’re neighboring BTS stops on Sukhumvit. Asok is the office and transport hub, with the MRT, Terminal 21 and Soi Cowboy. Nana, one stop west, has more hotels and tourists, the Arab quarter on Soi 3, Nana Plaza on Soi 4 and Bumrungrad Hospital. Both share the same BTS line, supermarkets and hospitals.

Can I live in Asok without a car?

Yes. The trains cover most trips, and motorbike taxis, taxis and Grab fill the gaps.

Which soi is quietest?

The quietest spot in Asok depends on the building more than the soi number. Soi Cowboy and Soi 11 are on the odd-numbered side and Nana Plaza is on Soi 4, so visit any building at night before you sign.