Bangkok Office Space Guide

[Updated Oct 2020] A guide to serviced offices and office space for rent in Bangkok as well as general information that may be useful if you are considering renting office space in in the city.

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History & Geography

Thailand’s capital and largest city is located in the south of the country on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. The Chao Phraya River basin, surrounding Bangkok, and the nearby provinces are made up of a series of plains and river deltas that lead into the Bay of Bangkok 19 miles south of the city. What is now one of the world’s largest cities, officially called Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (City of Angels) started life as a small trading post in the Ayutthaya Kingdom, which existed from the 14^th to the 18^th century. The city grew, and when the capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom was destroyed by the Burmese in 1768, Bangkok was made the new capital by the new King Taksin. Much of the history of the city has consisted of the upkeep of its numerous temples and monasteries, which is considered to be the sacred duty of the Thai royal family. During the 19^th century, many Westerners came to Bangkok as missionaries, traders or diplomats. It was under the legendary King Mongkut and his son King Chulalongkorn that the city became modernized and roads, railways and tramways were built. The 20^th century saw the revolution of 1932, which was perhaps the most significant event in Thai history in that century. The revolution was a bloodless transition on 24 June 1932, in which the system of government was changed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. The revolution was concocted by a group of military and civilians, who formed Siam’s first political party, Khana Ratsadon. This event ended a century and a half of rule of the Chakri Dynasty and almost 700 years of absolute rule of Kings over Thai history. The Revolution was a product of global historical change as well as social and political changes within Thailand. Later in the 20^th century came the Vietnam War, which saw foreign investment flow into the country and more highways built and the airport significantly enlarged. Now Bangkok is one of the most important cities in Asia, functioning as a trading and financial hub.

Economy

Bangkok is the economic centre of Thailand and the region. It is estimated that the city accounts for almost three-quarters of Thailand’s service sector, which accounts for 45.2 percent of Thailand’s 590 billion dollar economy. All of the country’s banks and financial services companies are headquartered in Bangkok and many international outfits have operations in the city, including ABN AMRO, ANZ, Bank of America, Bank of Baroda, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Barclays, Credit Suisse and UBS. Many other multinationals have their regional headquarters in the city because of the low-cost workforce and operations compared to other Asian cities. Income inequality is a growing issue in the city due to the glut of unskilled migrants from the rural areas outside of the city. Tourism is also a large industry in Bangkok and Thailand as a whole. Overall tourism accounts for five percent of the country’s GDP and Bangkok itself is a major draw for visitors.

Tourism

According to the website, Euromonitor, Bangkok is the second most popular tourist destination in the world after London. The city has a vast majority of attractions and sites appealing to a wide demographic of visitors. For those seeking history and architecture, Bangkok is full of temples and palaces, like the Grand Palace, the home of Thailand’s king and the site of the Wat Phra Kaew, the most important temple in Thailand and home to the Emerald Buddha. Wat Arun is the largest temple in the city and one of the most significant. Until Bankok’s modern skyscrapers were built a few decades ago the temple was the tallest structure in the city, and it is always a draw for tourists. For those more interested in shopping than site-seeing, there is no shortage of street markets and malls in the city. Phloen Chit-Ratchaprasong contains the cities best department stores and shopping centres, and the Pratunam-Phetchabur district is also worth visiting for the lively Pratunam market. For those looking for nightlife of all kinds, the Pat Pong area is famous for its bars and clubs. The city is, of course, a haven for Thai food, the best of which can be found at the uniquely named Cabbages and Condoms restaurant in the Khlong Tan Nuea area.

Transport

Few cities offer the gamut of transportation options that Bangkok does. The number one option for travelling short distances is the ubiquitous tuk-tuk or auto rickshaw as it is also known. However, it is important to agree on a price before the ride begins. The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority runs an efficient and prolific bus system and taxis are also plentiful. The Bangkok MRT subway system is only seven years old and connects the northern train station of Bang Sue to the Hua Lamphong central railway station near downtown, while also going through the eastern section of the city. There is also a new high-speed link to Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is the international airport serving Thailand, completed in 2006.

Office space for rent in Bangkok

As one would expect from a city of this nature, Bangkok has a vast array of office space of all types. Most office areas in Bangkok are close to the central business district, including Silom, Sathorn, Wireless and Sukhumvit roads. There are other good office locations scattered throughout the city though, such as Ratchadapisek, Viphavadi-Rangsit, Chaengwattana and Bangna. Most people looking for office space in Bangkok consider proximity to public transportation systems as paramount. Offices close to the BTS sky train and MRT subway are much in demand. According to CB Richard Ellis office supply at the end of 2012 was 7,984,423 square metres. The take-up in the Bangkok office market was 6,891,574 square metres, a rise of 1.5 percent on the 2011 rate. Grade A office space in Bangkok rents for an average of THB 680 per square metre per month.

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