If you have ever stood on the Charoen Krung side of the Chao Phraya River at sunset, watching long-tail boats cut through golden water while the skyline glows behind you, you already understand why Menam Residences exists. This boutique riverside condo has been quietly attracting a loyal following of expats and well-traveled locals who want something different from the typical Sukhumvit high-rise experience. But is it actually worth renting in 2026? I have spent time in and around this building, talked to tenants, and compared it against the competition. Here is my honest Menam Residences review for anyone considering a move to the river.

What Exactly Is Menam Residences?

Menam Residences is a 36-story residential tower located on Charoen Krung Road, Soi 72/3, in the Bang Kho Laem area of Bangkok. Developed by Aqua Estate, the building was completed in 2013 and features around 179 units ranging from one-bedroom layouts at roughly 65 sqm to three-bedroom configurations exceeding 200 sqm. The design philosophy leans toward understated luxury rather than flashy grandeur, with a strong emphasis on river views from nearly every unit.

Think of it as the kind of place a European architect would rent if they relocated to Bangkok for a three-year contract. The common areas are clean and well maintained, the lobby is more boutique hotel than corporate tower, and the rooftop infinity pool looks directly over the river toward the Asiatique area. If you have ever visited a friend living at The River or Chatrium Residence next door and thought "I want this vibe but with fewer tourists in the lobby," Menam Residences is basically that.

According to listings tracked on DDproperty, average rental prices for a two-bedroom unit at Menam Residences currently sit between 45,000 and 70,000 THB per month, depending on floor level and river view orientation. One-bedroom units start around 30,000 to 40,000 THB per month, which positions the building firmly in the mid-to-upper segment of the riverside rental market.

The Charoen Krung Neighborhood in 2026

Charoen Krung has undergone a fascinating transformation over the past few years. Once considered a bit too far from the BTS corridor for most expats, this stretch of Bangkok's oldest road has become a genuine creative district. Galleries, specialty coffee shops, co-working spaces, and restaurants have taken over old shophouses, giving the area a character that Thonglor tries hard to manufacture but Charoen Krung has organically.

Here is a concrete example. Within a 10-minute walk from Menam Residences, you can grab a flat white at a third-wave coffee spot, browse contemporary art at a converted warehouse gallery, and eat some of the best Cantonese roast duck in Bangkok at a decades-old shophouse restaurant. Try doing that from a condo on Sukhumvit Soi 24 without sitting in traffic for 40 minutes.

The trade-off, and you need to be honest with yourself about this, is transit access. The nearest BTS station is Saphan Taksin, which is about 3 to 4 kilometers away. You can take a river ferry or taxi to get there, but this is not a "walk downstairs and tap your Rabbit card" situation. The BTS Silom Line is accessible, but it takes planning. If your office is in Sathorn or Silom, commuting is very manageable. If you work in Asoke or further up Sukhumvit, you will feel the distance.

Building Facilities and Day-to-Day Living

The facilities at Menam Residences punch above what you would expect for a building of its size. The infinity pool on the upper floors is the headline feature, offering panoramic river views that genuinely rival five-star hotels along the same stretch. There is also a well-equipped gym, a sauna, a children's play area, and 24-hour security with key card access throughout the building.

One thing tenants consistently mention is the management quality. With only 179 units, the juristic office actually knows residents by name. Compare that to mega-projects with 500 or more units where you are basically a room number. A friend of mine who rented a two-bedroom on the 22nd floor told me that when her air conditioning unit had an issue at 10pm on a weekday, the building staff had a technician at her door within 30 minutes. That level of responsiveness is rare in Bangkok and speaks to the boutique scale of the property.

Parking is adequate but not abundant. If you own a car, you will get one spot with most units, but second-car parking can be tricky. Most residents here rely on a mix of Grab, river boats, and the occasional taxi, which works surprisingly well given the location near multiple piers.

Who Should Rent at Menam Residences?

This building works exceptionally well for a specific type of renter. If you are a couple or a small family, you work in the Sathorn or Silom corridor, you value views and tranquility over nightlife proximity, and you want a residential experience that feels distinct from the cookie-cutter Sukhumvit towers, Menam Residences deserves serious consideration.

It is also a strong pick for remote workers and freelancers. Imagine starting your morning with a river view, walking to a co-working space in the Charoen Krung creative district, and coming home to a quiet building without the constant construction noise that plagues newer developments along the main BTS line. One digital nomad I know specifically chose Menam Residences over a flashier option in Thonglor because, as he put it, "I actually sleep here."

Families with school-age children should note that international schools in this immediate area are limited. Shrewsbury International School's riverside campus is not far by boat, but most other major international schools like NIST, Bangkok Patana, or ISB are a significant commute away. If school proximity is your top priority, factor in morning traffic patterns carefully.

How Menam Residences Compares to Nearby Alternatives

You cannot evaluate a building in isolation. Here is how Menam Residences stacks up against its closest competitors along the Charoen Krung riverside corridor, based on current 2026 rental market data tracked by Knight Frank Thailand and local listings.

• Menam Residences: 2013 | 30,000 to 40,000 | 45,000 to 70,000 | River (infinity pool) | 3.5 km
• The River by Raimon Land: 2012 | 28,000 to 45,000 | 50,000 to 85,000 | River (multiple pools) | 3 km
• Chatrium Residence Riverside: 2009 | 35,000 to 50,000 | 55,000 to 90,000 | River (hotel-managed pool) | 3.2 km
• Supalai River Resort: 2007 | 15,000 to 22,000 | 25,000 to 35,000 | River (basic pool) | 4 km
• IDEO Mobi Charoen Krung: 2023 | 18,000 to 28,000 | 32,000 to 45,000 | Partial river | 2.8 km

The comparison reveals something interesting. Menam Residences sits in a sweet spot between the premium pricing of Chatrium Residence (which includes hotel-style services that inflate costs) and the more affordable but less polished Supalai River Resort. If you want river views and genuine quality without paying for a hotel brand name, Menam hits that middle ground well.

IDEO Mobi Charoen Krung is the newcomer worth watching. It is closer to the BTS and has modern finishes, but the units are significantly smaller and the building density is much higher. If you prioritize space and a quieter atmosphere, Menam still wins.

Practical Details You Need Before Signing a Lease

Common area fees at Menam Residences run approximately 55 to 65 THB per square meter, which is standard for a building of this caliber. Tenants typically do not pay this directly since it is the landlord's responsibility, but it is worth knowing because it affects how well the building is maintained long term. A building that charges too little in common fees often shows its age quickly.

Most landlords here expect a two-month security deposit plus one month of advance rent. Lease terms are generally 12 months, though some owners are open to 6-month contracts at a slightly higher monthly rate. Utility costs for a two-bedroom unit, including electricity, water, and internet, typically run between 3,000 and 6,000 THB per month depending on how aggressively you use air conditioning.

One practical tip: if you are negotiating rent at Menam Residences, units on floors 10 through 20 with direct river views offer the best value. Higher floors command a premium, but the view improvement above floor 20 is marginal compared to the price jump. A 25th-floor unit might cost 8,000 to 10,000 THB more per month than a 15th-floor unit with a nearly identical view. That money is better spent elsewhere.

For context, the average rent for a two-bedroom riverside condo in the Charoen Krung to Sathorn corridor is approximately 50,000 to 65,000 THB per month in 2026, making Menam Residences competitively priced for the quality and location it delivers.

Menam Residences is not for everyone. If you need BTS at your doorstep, if you want a lobby full of retail and dining, or if you prefer the energy of Sukhumvit, you will not be happy here. But if you are the kind of renter who values a genuine neighborhood, a river view that never gets old, and a building small enough that the staff remembers your name, this is one of the most satisfying options along the Chao Phraya. The Charoen Krung area continues to evolve in exciting ways, and living here in 2026 means being part of that story rather than watching it from a taxi window.

Looking for available units at Menam Residences or want to compare it against other riverside options? Search listings and get AI-powered recommendations at superagent.co to find the right fit for your budget and lifestyle.