For visitors going to Bangkok – whether they are tourists or there on business – frequently find themselves spending at least a part of their holiday in Bangkok’s historic Silom district. The probably of seeing a foreigner in an office, restaurant, or walking on the pavement is probably higher in Silom than in any other part of the city – or Thailand for that matter – reflecting the area’s rich and longstanding tradition with foreigners.

In fact, it was the foreigners in Bangkok during the 1860’s which essentially gave Silom area its namesake. The main road going through the district, now referred to in English as Silom Road, was established in the early 1860’s, during Thailand’s modernization period. Following the signing of the Bowring Treaty, which expanded trade between between Siam and the UK, foreigners aiming to do business in the kingdom’s capital would typically set up shop and residence in and around Silom, making it a central hub of activity for foreigners.

Fast forward one hundred and fifty years, Silom is still a focal point for activity among foreigners in Bangkok thanks to its rich array of culinary options and night life activities, as well as the concentrated collection of global powerhouse companies that are based in the area, with many of them being located right along Silom Road or, just a half-kilometer southward and in parallel, Sathon Road.

Going back to the district’s namesake, many visitors to the area will notice one of the district’s most distinguished features, that being a large, steel windmill at the intersection of Silom and Narathiwas Roads. Foreigners living in the area at the time had built the windmill to support local irrigation, and little did they know that the landmark itself would give the area its name along with a distinct reputation of foreign influence. The term “Silom” is the Thai word for windmill.

Along with the intense level of foreign business activity in the area, there are numerous hotels which cater to the city’s business travelers. Places such as the Aetas Silom Hotels offer both nightly accommodation as well as long-stay executive serviced apartments. For those wishing to combine their business travels with a bit of local flair and easy access to entertainment, this boutique hotel offers the perfect place to work and enjoy the experience at the same time.

For families as well, retired travelling couples, or even the more well-to-do adventure travelers (backpackers typically seek accommodation at or near Khaosan Road), Silom offers easy access to historical sites of interest, and just down the road from the Chaophraya River, itself the setting for the city’s most-visited sites as well as numerous options for riverside dining, entertainment, and evening dinner cruises.

To be sure, Silom has it all. Guests who stay at this part of town find themselves combing back again and again, making this part of town the most-visited and, for many longstanding residents and guests in Thailand, the favorite place to be.