The short version
Wat Damnak sits just beyond the Old Market bustle, close enough to use the centre easily but with a more domestic set of lanes and a temple at its heart. It is often the more convincing compromise for a newcomer who likes the old town but does not want to live above it.
That description should not be romanticised. This is still a working town quarter, with guesthouses, construction, local traffic and the usual variation between one lane and the next. Its advantage is proximity with a little breathing room.
The useful edge of the old town
The temple gives the area a real focal point, while the river and market streets are nearby rather than on the doorstep. That tends to make ordinary errands and evening meals easy without turning every return home into a passage through Pub Street.
Properties range from older houses and small compounds to apartments and guesthouse conversions. The practical questions matter: water pressure, drainage, access for a tuk-tuk, parking if you need it, and how the building behaves through the wet season.
Living at the right pace
Wat Damnak suits people who want a central base but expect to spend much of the day elsewhere in town. Tuk-tuks make the short distances straightforward; walking is pleasant when the heat, pavement and traffic agree, which is not all the time.
Choose the exact pocket carefully. A quiet lane can sit very close to a restaurant strip or a busy through-road, and a handsome listing says little about its sound after dinner.
Would I live here?
I would, if I wanted the old town within easy reach but preferred a neighbourhood that still felt lived in after the visitors had gone back to their hotels. It is a better compromise than a universal answer: anyone seeking a large, polished development will find the housing stock uneven.