Siam Subway Hostel and Café is a nice choice for backpackers and short-term stays. The place is clean, cozy, and with nice interior. It’s conveniently located just a few meters from Sam Yot MRT Station, the bus station, Old Siam Mall, and less than a kilometer from the Grand Palace and other tourist spots. There are also plenty of affordable local restaurants nearby.
The guest rooms are on the 2nd to 4th floors, while the 5th floor has the pantry, ironing area, and entertainment room. The café on the ground floor serves mostly Western dishes at mid-range prices though I wish they offered more local Thai cuisine.
I stayed in the shared room for four, which I preferred over the larger dorms in other hostels. Each floor has separate shared toilets for men and women.
However, there are a few things to consider:
-No elevator, so carrying heavy luggage can be difficult. Staff don’t usually initiate to assist unless asked, although one male cleaner was very helpful during checkout, so thank you to him.
-Drinking water is only available on the 5th floor.
-Hairdryers are placed outside the bathrooms, which can be inconvenient.
-Only the rooms, café, and entertainment room have air conditioning. The pantry and hallways only have fans, which can get hot during the day.
As suggestions, it would be great if each guest-room floor had a water dispenser and if hairdryers could be placed inside the bathrooms for convenience. Improving the pantry to make it a proper co-working space with air conditioning would also be a big plus. During my 7-day stay, I rarely saw guests spending long hours in the 5th-floor pantry to use it as a working space, probably because the heat made it less ideal for that purpose.
I didn’t interact much with the staff, but I noticed some communication challenges. It would help if the reception staff spoke more English, as guests often ask questions. On a positive note, there’s a lady in the café who always greets guests with a warm smile whenever I see her. I’m not sure if she’s the owner, but her smile adds a welcoming touch to the place.
Overall, Siam Subway Hostel and Café is a pleasant and affordable place for short stays in Bangkok. With a few upgrades and better comfort in shared spaces, it could become an even better choice for travelers.