Glad Bangkok Hostel (Glur) — Budget Hostel + Bar Steps from BTS in Bangkok's Creative District
Tucked into Charoen Krung Soi 50 in the historic Bang Rak neighborhood, Glad Bangkok Hostel Bar and Restaurant — now rebranded as Glur Bangkok — packages a hostel, bar, restaurant and round-the-clock Coffee Bar under one roof. Walk out the door, and in 60 seconds you're at BTS Saphan Taksin and Sathorn Central Pier. Warehouse 30 and the TCDC design center are a short stroll away. Opened in 2018 with 34 rooms. From approx. ฿380/night for a dorm bed.
Charoen Krung Soi 50 runs through Bang Rak — a neighborhood layered with Bangkok's oldest street, family-run jewelry shops, art-house cafes and the creative energy pouring out of TCDC. Glad Bangkok Hostel Bar and Restaurant opened here in 2018 with a clear idea: give budget travelers a bed, a bar and a kitchen near one of the city's most walkable and character-rich districts. The rebranded name Glur Bangkok stuck, but the soi — and the location advantage — hasn't changed.
Location is the property's strongest card. From BTS Saphan Taksin (Silom Line, Exit 1) it's a literal one-minute walk to the hostel entrance — no guessing alleys, no Grab required. Sathorn Central Pier sits barely further, opening a direct river route to Wat Pho, Wat Arun and the Grand Palace without touching the BTS at all. Warehouse 30, the industrial-chic creative hub of the district, is about a nine-minute walk. TCDC is just as close.
"Great location — right next to the BTS and the river pier. Staff were friendly and gave solid restaurant tips for the neighbourhood."
Room options cover a 4-bed mixed dorm, a female-only dorm and private rooms. Each bunk comes with a reading light, personal power outlet and a locker. Shared bathrooms have hot-and-cold showers. Most reviewers describe the beds as comfortable and the bathrooms as clean, though a handful of recent guests noted that room condition can be inconsistent between floors — worth asking to inspect before settling in, particularly if you're booking a private room.
The hostel's signature feature is its 24-hour Coffee Bar. Arrive at 2 a.m. from a late flight, leave at 5 a.m. for an early boat trip — there's always coffee and a seat. The attached restaurant serves familiar Thai dishes at everyday prices, so you don't need to wander far for a quick meal. Front desk staff draw consistent praise for English fluency and willingness to point guests toward the best local spots — the kind of ground-level knowledge that makes a stay in an unfamiliar neighbourhood feel manageable.
Honest caveats: there is no elevator in the six-storey building. Guests dragging large rolling suitcases to upper floors have flagged this as a real inconvenience. Some reviews — particularly after a reported change of management — mention rooms that feel musty or maintenance that hasn't kept pace with the property's age. If you're sensitive to either, check recent reviews on Booking.com or Agoda before committing. The hostel's older photos on some platforms may also not reflect the current state of all rooms.
For travellers who plan to spend their days exploring Charoen Krung's Creative District — So Heng Tai mansion, Assumption College, the Bang Rak local market, antique dealers along the main road — Glad Bangkok Hostel is one of the best-value bases in the neighbourhood. Dorms from approx. ฿380/night; private rooms from roughly ฿900–1,100/night. That combination of location and price is genuinely hard to match in central Bangkok.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Unbeatable location — 1-minute walk to BTS Saphan Taksin and Sathorn Pier
- ✓ 24-hour Coffee Bar is genuinely useful for late arrivals and early departures
- ✓ Staff are friendly, speak good English and give honest neighbourhood tips
- ✓ Beds are comfortable, lockers are secure, personal power outlets at each bunk
- ! No elevator — six floors of stairs with heavy luggage can be exhausting
- ! Some rooms reported as musty or poorly maintained; worth checking on arrival
- ! Noise from the street and bar can carry on busy evenings
- ✓ Steps from BTS and Sathorn Pier — perfect base for exploring riverside Bangkok
- ✓ Good value: clean dorm beds, personal lockers, free Wi-Fi that actually works
- ✓ On-site Coffee Bar and restaurant mean you don't need to hunt for meals
- ! No elevator — guests with mobility issues or large bags should request a low-floor room
- ! Room quality varies between floors; inspecting before settling in is recommended
- ! Common areas can feel crowded during peak season
- 💡If you're travelling with large, heavy luggage — there is no elevator in this six-storey building. Consider a nearby hotel with a lift, or book the lowest available floor when reserving.
- 💡If you need consistent room standards every stay — reviews suggest quality varies between rooms. Check the most recent ratings on Booking.com and ask to see the room before you accept it.
- 💡If you're a light sleeper who needs silence — Charoen Krung Soi 50 has street noise, and the in-house bar adds some sound at night. Pack earplugs as insurance.