Sukhumvit’s newest “up-cycling market” provides the perfect template for a fantastic sustainable night out.
by Zipporah Gene
I’ll wager you now that the words “up-cycling,” “great vibes,” and “night out” have probably never gone together in a sentence before now. Because let’s face it, Bangkok has yet to truly catch on the sustainability train. This city races on at a breathtaking pace but how much longer can we all ignore the environmental sacrifices we make for the sake of good banter?
What if I told you that there was a place where you could find the likes of Peppina, Iron Fairies, Fat Gut’z Salon, Nitro Lab, Mengkee Hong Kong Roast, Koryo Buffet, and many more pop-up stalls and trucks in one area? And what if I told you that they all came together and worked in a way where wasteful environmental practices were verboten? Well, you’re in luck, because the unstoppable savant behind Maggie Choo and Iron Fairies, Johan Persimon Davidsson, did just that.
This once abandoned urban space has been decorated with up-cycled furnishing from all over town. For any seasoned local to the Bangkok dining scene, you’ll definitely recognize the iconic bullets from Bangkok Betty – which seamlessly integrates itself in the funky, easy-going decor of this space.
You won’t find plastic straws or wasteful products here – even the parking system has gone paperless – but expect to have a great chilled out evening underscored by either DJs on the weekdays or fantastic live music on the weekends.
For anyone tired of the tasteless pomposity of the majority of urban spaces nowadays, this might just be the perfect recipe for you. They’ve managed to congregate quite a number of much-loved vendors, drizzled ounces of great vibes, on a bed of environmentalism, and stirred in a generous serving of community spirit – and it isn’t just for the evenings. It’s all pet-friendly and I’m told they’ll be adding a weekly farmers’ market. And watch out for the upcoming workshops in the up-cycled leather goods shop, The ReMaker.
Oh, and did I mention that I’m now addicted to the cocktails at Tropic City? If, like me, Chareon Krung is too far off the beaten track, then this is the perfect time to get to know them. What are you waiting for?
What: Model Market BKK; directions here.
Where: Sukhumvit Soi 53, Thonglor, Bangkok. The venue is accessible via BTS Thonglor, while parking and valet service is available.
When: Monday to Fri from 5 p.m. until midnight; Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. until midnight
How much: Entry is free, and pets are welcome.
More info: For more information head to their Facebook page and these are the websites and Facebook accounts of restaurants, bars, and shops inside Model Market: Tropic City, Peppina, Nitro Lab, Fat Gut’z Saloon, The Iron Fairies, Clouds, The Remaker.
