In 1985, long before Khao San Road became a household name among travellers worldwide, it was a modest street in Bangkok's Old Town, a hub for budget travellers journeying through Southeast Asia. On that street, a small, privately owned guest house opened its doors. Its founder, Mr. Preecha Chairatn, named it Khaosan Palace Inn.
The inn was simple, and proudly so. Rooms had fans, plain tile floors, steel beds and basic bathrooms, a design made for the backpackers of the 1980s who wanted a clean bed, a fair price and a place to meet fellow travellers.
It was a family business in the truest sense. Around the inn grew a lively community of street food stalls, a local restaurant, Thai souvenirs and a silver jewellery store, run by Ms. Skavrat Chairatn. A second guest house soon followed, called Classic Place, which stands today as The Mulberry Hotel Khaosan.
