Where To Go: Talat Noi Series

By Ayush Madan

Along the Chao Phraya River, nestled between Bang Rak and Yaowarat is Talat Noi, a unique neighborhood filled with experimental art, charming cafes, culture, and of course, Bangkok’s trendiest youth. One of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, it was once a trading port for the Chinese immigrants who settled here. Today, Talat Noi, which means small market, has been dubbed the Brooklyn of Bangkok — a historical place in the city now on the fringe of modern culture.

As we expand our Where To Go series, we will no doubt be covering many more places in this neighborhood. But before I talk about my favorite bar-cade and The Corner House, I first need to introduce The Warehouse.

The Warehouse: Vintage Finds, Signature Charm

This past Halloween, on the rooftop of a club called Clutch, I was sharing an herbal cigarette with a few friends of mine. Suddenly, the conversation veered into used clothing and footwear, when my friend Jules chimed in to say how her grandmother was staunchly against buying second-hand. “Khun Yai says if you wear someone else’s shoes, you carry their problems with you with each step”, she explained ominously. 

This wasn’t the first time I had heard this sentiment. In 2020, my friend Tasha echoed a similar ideology to me about used clothing. Many Thais hold the belief that used clothing might belong to a dead person and could carry that person’s misfortune. Beyond this, some see used clothes as contaminated, or simply associated with the lower class.

Despite these superstitions — in truly dichotomous Bangkok fashion — our secondhand market has thrived in recent years, worth an estimated 1.8 billion baht in 2023. The most popular thrift spots include Talat Rod Fai (The Train Market Srinagarindra), Pattavikorn Market, and the iconic Red Building in Chatuchak — graced this year by fashion god Tyler the Creator himself. 

Increasingly, there are new markets popping up in every neighborhood. For instance, just a few flights of stairs below Clutch is The Warehouse Talat Noi— an open air creative space that hosts weekend markets. This Hallo-weekend, I was able to experience the market from a different perspective — as a vendor rather than a consumer. My partner Alisa and our friends Nico, Maddy, and Navleen all compiled clothes from our own wardrobes to create a collection for the shop. The store is called “I’m Throwing A Fit.” We separated clothes into bargain bins and priced-per-item racks, also including jewelry, accessories, and handmade stickers. The booth was decorated with spooky vibes in mind, featuring a monkey skull, voodoo doll, and warm tungsten lightbulbs.

Being part of the market is also a great way to network with other vendors. There were gelato stands, skewers on sticks, worn denim stalls, and a retro photography booth right next to ours. One that particularly stood out to me was Jassi Handmade (@jassi_handmade) owned by a sweet couple Jassi and Kuwarpreet. While they both work in advertising, a fact that shocked me, selling handmade jewelry is their passion and started out simply as a hobby. “It’s not about the money,” Kuwarpreet tells me in Punjabi, “We like small markets like this because we can really connect with people and share in their positive energy.” Since exhibiting at The Warehouse, Jassi Handmade now hosts booths at Patom Organic Living, RQ Market, and have also been invited to the Wonderfruit Festival this December. My heart is full from seeing their success, and I hope they only continue to grow in the future.

Aside from gourmet dining options like Funky Lam Kitchen and Electric Sheep Restaurant, they just opened up a new dairy-free ice cream shop called Rice 9 Gelato. This artisanal soft-serve spot has captured my heart with its incredible flavors from fresh banana and berry to the richest chocolate rice cream you have ever tasted. As a lactose intolerant person, I truly appreciate when a dairy-free ice cream meets the mark, and this one definitely exceeded my expectations.

If you have been on the fence about exploring The Warehouse, I hope I’ve convinced you that its a place you must visit with your friends. It’s a place that’s constantly shifting and morphing, but always humming with a buzz of the youngest hippest crowds in Bangkok.

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The Warehouse Talat Noi

867 Charoen Krung Rd, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100

Tuesday - Sunday 8am - 2am