Where to stay in
Talat Phlu–Wongwian Yai

Yes. The Silom-line BTS has two stations here, Wongwian Yai and Talat Phlu, so you cross the river to Saphan Taksin for the Chao Phraya express boat, or reach Silom, Sathorn, and Sala Daeng and change for the Sukhumvit line at Siam, all without traffic. ICONSIAM is a few BTS stops away plus the mall's shuttle. It works well if you want cheaper Thonburi rooms but still easy access to the centre.

It does. Talat Phlu is one of Thonburi's old street-food markets, busiest from late afternoon into the evening, known for fried chive cakes, khanom buang, fried oyster omelettes, and shophouse stalls that have run for decades and that Bangkokians travel across town for. Walk down from BTS Talat Phlu and you're in the market. It's cheap and genuinely local, so if you like street eating this area delivers, though for air-conditioned sit-down places you'd take the BTS across to the city side.

It suits travellers who want a lived-in Bangkok neighbourhood over a tourist zone. The area is fairly safe and quieter than Sukhumvit or Khao San, with convenience stores and local restaurants around. Things to know: some shops and stays speak limited English, a few signs are Thai-only, and there's no big mall in the area. Anyone comfortable using a map app and taking the BTS into the centre now and then will be fine here, while travellers who want full tourist-style convenience may prefer the city side.