Teak house museum showcasing Asian antiques, silk, and gardens
6 Kasem San 2 Alley, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Get directions
"A compact compound of traditional Thai teakwood houses converted into a museum that showcases luxurious, handwoven Thai silk and fine craftsmanship; visitors walk through lush gardens and curated interiors that tell the story of the man who helped globalize Thai silk. A nearby contemporary art center with rotating exhibitions is a recommended add-on." - Katie Jackson Katie Jackson Katie Jackson is a New York City-based writer who covers travel, food, and more. Her work has appeared in USA Today, The Sunday Times, Esquire, Outside, New York Post, and Travel + Leisure, among others. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"The home of American Jim Thompson, who made a fortune in the mid-20th century selling Thai silks, has been transformed into a museum displaying the businessman's collection of antiques, artwork, and religious artifacts. The canal-side property is made up of six traditional teak houses from Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand, surrounded by a verdant garden. Inside the house is a small but well-curated collection of objets, like temple wall hangings that depict the life of Buddha, repurposed mahjong tables in the dining room, an elegant standing Buddha, and a fine display of porcelain. Known for more than just its art, the house was a legendary spot for high-society parties—Thompson has often been compared to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Gatsby. The museum gift shop is a destination in its own right, and it’s a great place to pick up silk neckties or breezy button-downs for that hard-to-shop-for dad and sumptuous silk scarves for a discerning mother-in-law." - Diana Hubbell, Katie Lockhart
"Known as the "Thai Silk King," Jim Thompson was an American architect credited with saving the dying silk industry in Thailand during the 1960s until he mysteriously vanished in a Malaysian jungle. He left behind a jaw-dropping complex of six traditional teak homes in the middle of the city, one filled with treasures collected during his decades-long love affair with Southeast Asia. Here visitors can wander through his house, admiring fine porcelain, paintings, wall hangings, and figurines. After an English language tour, snack on fresh spring rolls and pad thai next to the peaceful koi pond, visit the museum shop, and stroll through the tropical gardens." - Katie Lockhart
"The Jim Thompson House—a beautiful example of midcentury Thai architecture, filled with Asian antiques—is just as he left it."
"I visited the Jim Thompson House, a museum in Bangkok, and paid 200 THB for entry." - Matthew Kepnes
