One Bangkok review: the mega mixed-use development in central Bangkok

One Bangkok is a mixed-use development opposite Lumphini Park in Bangkok. It describes itself as an integrated district, and it could also be described as a mini Central Business District within a Central Business District. The total area is 16.7 Hectares, or 23.39 football (soccer) fields.

It’s an unusually enormous development for such a central location. It is built on the old Suan Lum Night Bazaar area, which is how such a large project was able to be built in this area.

I’ve been watching this project grow since it began construction in 2018. One Bangkok opened on October 25 2024, though it is not fully completed yet.

I visited a month after its opening, and here are my observations about the project.

One Bangkok location

One Bangkok is on the corner of Wireless Road and Rama IV Road, near the Silom/Sathorn business district. This used to be the main business area of Bangkok before the Siam/Sukhumvit Road area grew with the BTS Skytrain.

Some prominent projects are being built around Lumphini Park which has reinvigorated the Silom/Sathorn area as a business centre.

Integration with the MRT

One Bangkok has the advantage of being built next to an MRT station, so the first thing I wanted to see was how it was integrated with the station.

I arrived at Lumphini Station but there was no indication on the signs for which exit to use. One Bangkok has only been open for a month, so I will assume that these signs will be updated eventually.

The station is plastered with advertising for One Bangkok, so there is no doubt that you are in the right station.

I chose Exit 3 (Wireless Road) because I knew that was near One Bangkok. The exit emerges next to One Bangkok but is not integrated.

It was only when I left One Bangkok that I discovered that there is an underground walkway that leads to Exit 1.

One Bangkok could also be connected to the proposed Light Blue Line in the future. This line has been put on the back burner, so it’s not being promoted as a future benefit. If One Bangkok becomes popular and causes more traffic in the area, maybe there will be a case to revive the line.

The Light Blue Line would run along Wireless Road, and connect to the Airport Rail Line at Makassan Station.

Lumphini MRT Station is one stop away from Silom MRT, where you can walk to the Sala Daeng BTS Station. There isn’t a proper interchange between the MRT and BTS (I’ve written previously about Bangkok’s terrible station transfers), so it’s a bit of a hassle to go from MRT to BTS. One Bangkok provides a free shuttle service using electric buses from One Bangkok to Sala Daeng BTS. I’m not sure how long this short trip would take in peak hour traffic, but it’s a good additional transport service to offer.

Public space

The advertising images depict One Bangkok as a tightly packed jumble of buildings.

I wanted to see what it looks like from the ground level, and how much is open to the public.

The buildings facing Lumphini Park are separated from Wireless Road with a park. I was pleasantly surprised with how far back the buildings are set from the road.

The few outward-facing ground-level shops don’t exactly entice you to enter. Most people are probably not going to walk here as I did.

In the middle of the complex is One Bangkok Park. This would be better described as a plaza or square. There are many planted trees here, but there is more paved area than grass, thus a plaza is a better term.

Tall buildings surround this plaza area, so there is a lot of light reflecting from the glass. In other cities, this kind of plaza would feel cold and windswept in the winter, but here the shade might work in its favour on hot sunny days.

One Bangkok Park is surrounded by office towers and an apartment block. You can also view the park from inside the mall.

Shopping

I went walking around the mall, though there weren’t enough shops open yet to get a feel for the place. Luxury malls feel empty and sterile at the best of times, so coming here with only half of the shops opened only added to that feeling.

I feel a slight anxiety when I see another megamall opening. I wonder how these shops are going to cover the rent when there are so many malls competing against each other. Kuala Lumpur is now at the point where the number of malls is being questioned. At what point does Bangkok reach Peak Mall?

One thing I like about malls in Thailand is that they usually have food courts with local-priced meals. MBK Centre and Terminal 21 are two great examples of malls in Bangkok with cheap food. The food courts in those malls have non-branded food stands, with prices close to what you would find on the the street.

I didn’t find a food court like this at One Bangkok, though maybe that is a future plan. These office towers are going to be filled with office workers, so you can’t expect them to be eating at fancy mall restaurants every day.

I went to the basement as this is usually where cheap options are, and there are more affordable food options there. It is also the most lively area of One Bangkok.

There are more cafes in the basement as well, though the seating is configured for quick drinks by office workers. I found a Pacamara branch here (a local quality cafe chain) so I stopped there for a coffee.

There are also some convenience stores in the basement with normal-priced items.

I saw many food delivery riders waiting near a juice stand. It must be a hassle for them to park their bikes and walk through the labyrinthine mall to pick up their orders.

It was in this area where I found the walkway back to the Lumphini MRT station. This underground shopping area had the vibes of an underground shopping plaza at a Tokyo train station.

Hotels

Two hotels face Lumphini Park. The Ritz-Carlton Bangkok opens on December 4, while Andaz One Bangkok is due to open in early 2025.

Future plans for One Bangkok

While One Bangkok has opened, there are still some buildings to be completed. The signature tower (One Bangkok O4H4) was planned to be 436.1 m (the current tallest building in Bangkok is 318 m). Work hasn’t started on this tower yet.

I’m a regular visitor to Lumphini Park when I am in Bangkok, so I will be dropping by One Bangkok to check on its process. The mall and plaza should be more lively once the office towers are filled and apartments occupied.