Convent Road: Silom's far less chaotic neighbor

Thanks to an abundance of French businesses, this leafy green street has something approaching a laid back, European feel

By Austin Bush 17 June, 2010

Convent Road, with its towering trees and church compounds, is -- in atmosphere at least -- a world away from its neighbor, frantic Silom Road.

Come lunchtime, its holy aura is temporarily disrupted as the street becomes one of the more popular destinations for streetside dining. But most of the time the eponymous church, the adjacent Carmelite Monastery and abundance of French businesses provide Convent Road with something approaching a European feel.

In addition to a few decent mid-range restaurants and the popular pubs closer to the Silom end, including Coyotes and Molly Malone's, further down towards Sathorn Road the street also features one of Bangkok’s biggest wine retailers, a popular massage studio and one of the city’s only nail spas.

Here are some of Convent Road's best understated offerings, starting from the Sathorn Road end of the street, which connects with Silom Road (BTS Saladaeng or MRT Silom).

1. Sense of Nails

This self-professed nail 'spa' offers a variety of manicure and pedicure services, as well as nail extensions and waxings.

42 Thanon Convent. Tel: +66 (0)2 632 2930. Open daily, 10am-8pm

2. Ruen Nuad

This antique wooden building has been transformed into a homey massage studio. Inexpensive aromatherapy, Thai massage and foot massages are available, and there's a juice bar and Internet cafe next door.

42 Thanon Convent. Tel: +66 (0)2 632 2662-3. Open daily: 10am-10pm

3. Carmelite Monastery

Hidden behind towering walls is a monastery dating back to 1925. Today the compound is home to 15 Discalced Carmelite nuns.

14 Thanon Convent

4. Street Stalls

Come lunch, both sides of Thanon Convent (and nearby Thanon Sala Daeng 2) become a virtual street buffet for the area's hungry office staff. Dishes range from phat thai to braised pork leg, and everything in between, all at exceedingly low prices.

Open Monday to Friday, 10am-2pm

5. Gargantua

This French-owned butcher shop produces some of Bangkok's most pungently delicious pâtés, rillettes and fresh sausages.

10/2 Soi 6, Thanon Convent. Tel: +66 2 630 4577. Open Monday-Saturday, 9am-10pm

6. Indigo

Housed in a former school, this longstanding French restaurant serves a variety of dishes that span the whole of France. Shelve any notions of haute cuisine and expect instead homey takes on simple French cooking.

6 Thanon Convent. Tel: +66 2 235 3268. Open daily, 11am-11pm

7. Bua

The interior makes it clear that this is not the most exciting restaurant in town, but for a chain restaurant serving Thai food, the flavors are surprisingly authentic. Try the tart pomelo salad or a nam phrik, a spicy chili-based dipping sauce. A good choice for those spooked by streetside dining.

1 Soi Convent. Tel: +66 2 237-6640-1. Open daily, 10:30am-10pm

8. Wine Connection

Bangkok's best selection of wines (more than 250 at last count), with many at wholesale prices. Belgian beers and various hard alcohols also available.

Ground Floor, Sivadon Building, 1 Convent Road. Tel: +66 2 234 0388. www.wineconnection.co.th

Austin Bush is an American writer/photographer based in Bangkok, Thailand. His photos have been published in variety of magazines, books and newspapers including DestinAsian, Food & Travel, Olive, Saveur, Travel + Leisure, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, as well as numerous Lonely Planet publications. For an online portfolio and samples of his work, check out www.austinbushphotography.com.