Loftel 22 Hostel — the industrial-loft hostel that put Talat Noi on the backpacker map
Long before Talat Noi became the street-art neighbourhood every traveller wants to photograph, Loftel 22 Hostel was already on Soi Charoen Krung 22 doing its thing. An old shophouse-style building converted into a genuine industrial-loft space — exposed brick, high ceilings, raw metal fittings — with the personality and price point a hostel should have. Dorm beds from approx. THB 450/night, private rooms from approx. THB 900/night, with an on-site cafe, a rooftop terrace and a 5-minute walk to the Si Praya river pier, Yaowarat street food and every Chinatown photo stop you can name.
Loftel 22 sits on Soi Charoen Krung 22 in the heart of Talat Noi — the old riverside quarter tucked between Hua Lamphong and Yaowarat that has slowly transformed into one of Bangkok's most interesting neighbourhoods for street art, indie cafes and atmospheric back-lane wandering. The concept is straightforward: take an old building, strip it back to its industrial bones and let the space speak for itself. Exposed brick walls, high ceilings, metal staircases and open-plan common areas give Loftel 22 a look that feels genuinely earned rather than manufactured for Instagram — and it still manages to stay clean, social and well-priced.
Dorm rooms are configured as 4-bed units, in either mixed or female-only setups. Each bunk has a personal locker, a reading light, a plug socket and a small shelf. Bathrooms are shared with hot showers throughout. For travellers who want more privacy, there are private rooms — Double, Twin, Economy and Family options for up to four people. Private rooms start at around THB 900/night, which is genuinely good value for this location and the amount of character you get. It's worth noting: private rooms here are also shared-bathroom (no en suite), so if a private bathroom is a must, this may not be the right fit.
"Great place — clean, friendly staff, nice cafe and an excellent location. Walked to Chinatown for street food every evening and it was all within easy reach."
What lifts Loftel 22 above a plain budget bed is its communal infrastructure. The ground-floor cafe earns consistent praise from guests — good coffee, reasonable prices, a relaxed atmosphere that works for a morning brew before exploring or a late catch-up with other travellers. The rooftop terrace is the other social hub: sit up there in the late afternoon with the Talat Noi roofline in front of you, and going out to Yaowarat for dinner feels like a natural next step. Free Wi-Fi across the whole property scores a near-perfect 10.0 in Booking.com reviews. There's 24-hour reception with no curfew, a laundry service and bicycle rental available.
Location is central to the appeal here. Si Praya pier is about a 5-minute walk, giving easy river express access to Wat Arun, Tha Phrachan and other riverside landmarks. MRT Hua Lamphong — with connections to Silom, Sam Yan and Sukhumvit — is roughly a 10-15 minute walk. A bit further on foot brings you to Yaowarat Road and its legendary night-time street food, Wat Traimit (the Golden Buddha), Wat Mangkon Kamalawat temple and the Sampeng wholesale market. The Talat Noi street-art murals are literally around the corner. It's a rich neighbourhood to be based in.
Real guest feedback is honest and consistent. The things people love: the location, the distinctive loft atmosphere, the approachable staff and the cafe. The things worth knowing before you book: noise travels between dorm rooms — the standard hostel reality, but worth knowing — and lockers are modest in size, so large suitcases go to the front desk rather than the bunk. Some rooms on lower floors pick up street noise at night. A Booking.com score of 8.2 from 61 reviews and a TripAdvisor ranking of #80 among 1,422 Bangkok specialty lodging properties suggest most guests come away happy. The Hostelworld score of 9.4 from 584 reviews tells a similar story.
One tip from reading the reviews: if you are noise-sensitive, mention it when booking and ask for a room away from the street-facing side. If you have a large backpack or rolling suitcase, store it at the front desk rather than forcing it into a dorm locker. And book ahead around Chinese New Year and Thai long weekends — a well-reviewed hostel in Chinatown at this price fills up faster than you might expect.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Excellent location — easy walk to Chinatown, Si Praya pier and Yaowarat street food
- ✓ Clean, well-maintained; friendly and helpful staff
- ✓ Genuinely distinctive design; an atmosphere that feels local, not generic
- ✓ The cafe and rooftop terrace both praised highly by guests
- ! Some noise travelling between dorm rooms
- ! Lockers may be too small for large suitcases
- ! Street noise audible in some rooms at night
- ✓ The Talat Noi and Yaowarat area is rich with things to explore — street art, street food, the river
- ✓ A design-led hostel with real personality, not a generic budget box
- ✓ Excellent value for the location and what you get
- ✓ Fast Wi-Fi; English-speaking staff
- ! No swimming pool or gym
- ! Some dorm rooms feel snug when fully occupied
- ! Street parking in this area is very limited — arrive by Grab or river ferry
- 💡If you need an en-suite bathroom in your room — all rooms here use shared bathrooms (dorm and private alike) → look at ASAI Bangkok Chinatown or Hotel Royal Bangkok at Chinatown for en-suite options at similar or slightly higher rates
- 💡If you are very sensitive to noise — sound travels between dorm rooms and some lower-floor rooms pick up street traffic at night → bring earplugs and request a room away from the main street when booking
- 💡If you want great design, a social atmosphere, a brilliant location and a price well under THB 500 a night — Loftel 22 is one of the best-scored hostels in the Chinatown area → book early around Chinese New Year and Thai long weekends