Bangkok’s Must Visit​ Restaurants & Bars

Bangkok’s dining scene has truly come of age and now has the self confidence to be what it wants to be. Historically the high end dining scene was dominated by the top 5 star hotels, then came their chefs who found favour with wealthy customers who partnered them to put their name above the door.

Story by Luxury Society Team 

It used to be all about the finest imported ingredients, today chefs and restauranteurs are working with local farmers and artisanal producers to grow what they need for their style of cooking. The markets used to drive what was used, today it’s collaboration with  to produce what was needed. Thai chefs many of who were educated and working overseas have come home with the confidence to cook their style of Thai food, respecting flavour and taste while embracing modern techniques and methods. Much of the change is not just driven by the chefs but them being able to source ingredients locally of similar quality to those that had been imported.

The sun has set on historical fine dining, today it’s quality delivered casually with professional confidence. It doesn’t have a name or tag, because it’s no longer wanted on need. Quality that’s delivered with simplicity is all that’s required. With the expansion of Urban development dining has moved into the malls, because that’s where Thais feel comfortable. While we are many years from Thailand being included in a Michelin guide, we have seen a steady flow of French and Japanese Michelin star chefs setting up stall in the city.

Bangkok might not be leading the pack but it is a significant dining hub of Southeast Asia

Arno’s 

A part of the new trend for butcher/restaurant run by French butcher Arnaud Carre with his two Thai partners. With a 3 week waiting list it ranks as on of the best steakhouse in Bangkok. Order meat from the counter tell the chef how you would like it and he will cook and serve as requested.

Eat – Steak

Drink – French wine

2080/2 Nrathiwas Soi 20, Chong Nongsri, Tel +66-2678-8340, www.facebook.com/arnobutcher

Baan 

The latest  restaurant created by Thitid Tassanakajohn for Le Du fame. He serves comfortable home style dishes drawing on his and his girlfriend/co-owners familys’ recipes made with ethically sourced Thai ingredients keeping it in the family his younger brother Chaisiri  runs front of house.

Eat – comfortable authentic family style Thai dishes

Drink – wines carefully selected by Chef Ton who is also a certified sommelier

Lunch 11.30am-2.30pm, dinner 6-10.30pm closed Tuesday

139-9 Wireless Road, Tel + 66 2655 8995 www.baanbkk.com

CHAR Rooftop Bar

Located on the 25th floor and the rooftop of Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road. For the epicureans of Bangkok, the unique dining destination can elevate a night out into a memory with new attitude and altitude via its outstanding location, concept and cuisine.

Sundays to Tuesdays from 5:00pm – 1:00am Wednesdays to Saturdays from 5:00pm – 2:00am

For more information, please call 02 207 4999 Read review 

Crab & Claw 

A much hyped seafood restaurant that serves outstanding lobster and lobster rolls with the taste as if your were eating in Maine in the USA.

Eat – Premium New England style seafood

Open daily 10am-10pm

7^th Fl Em Quartier, Phrom Phong

www.facebook.com/CrabandClaw

Casa Lapin 

This café was born out of the frustration of architect Suraporn Tanta not being able to find a good cup of coffee to start his morning in Bangkok. This resulted a year’s study of slower brewing methods

Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-8.30pm, Sat & Sun 10.30am-8,30pm

Thonglor Art Village, between so is 17 & 19 Thonglor, Tel +66-81-257-7920

Chusri 

A new venture by the seafood specialist, a la carte lunchtime, all you can eat THB 888 buffet 6-10pm

Eat – clay pot baked seafood and sea crab in tamarind paste soup

Drink – Chang beer

Chusri, 24/2 Paholyothin Soi 4 , Bangkok Tel: 084-959-5959 www.facebook.com/chusri.laemgate

Err

Urban Rustic Thai restaurant where the food focuses on in house preserved food. The entire menu was created by Bo & Dylan of Bo.lan. The restaurant maintains a close relationship with local farmers and artisanal producers in Thailand.

Eat – Preserved Thai food

Drink – cocktails based on locally produced alcohol

Open 11am –late night closed on Monday.

394/35 Maharaj Rod, Bangkok 10220, Tel +66-2622-2291-2, www.errbkk.com

Iron Chef Table 

The first restaurant to be officially affiliated with the Iron Chef TV Programe. The deadly serious nature of the competition is matched in the Delors mood of black and silver. Dishes are categorised by ingredient s- lobster/prawn, wagyu beef, blue fin tuna, foie gras, black grouper, pork. Duck & eggs. At the helm in the kitchen is Chef prasopchok ‘Art” Trakulphet with occasional contributions from the other Iron Chefs

Open daily 11am-2pm , 5pm –midnight

1/Fl The Taste, Thonglor Soi 11, + 66-92-768-772, www.facebook.com/ironcheftable

Le Boeuf 

The steak frites bistro culture started started at Café de Paris, at Geneva Railway Station in 1940. David J Perrot, Managing Director of Crepe & Co coming  from Geneva grew up with it as a child. Several decades later a friend of his late father entrusted the secret recipe to David, who brought it to Bangkok where he opened this restaurant. He is still the only person who knows the recipe for the butter sauce. The best French fries in Bangkok.

Open daily mon-fri 11.30am-11pm, sat & sun 11am-11pm

60 Soi Langsuan, Bangkok 10330, Tel +66-2672-1230, www.leboeufgroup.com

Karmakamet 

Originally known for their aromatic products, their first venture into hospitality was on Sukhumvit Soi 24, now they have embarked on a full blown dinner. The focus is on brunch dishes such as egg white frittata and French Toast.

Karmakamet open daily 9am -11pm

30/1 Sukhumvit Soi 24, Bangkok 10110, Tel +66-2262-0700-1

Never Ending Summer 

A converted riverfront warehouse where Star architect Dungrit Bunnag his partner Nareerat Boonaykiat has re-created the dishes of their childhood growing up in their upper class Bangkokian households.

Eat – Khao palo – braised pork belly with duck eggs and nam prik long ruea – sweet shrimp paste relish served with sweet pork, salted egg yolks and fluffy catfish flakes.

Open daily 11am-11pm

41/5 Charoenpanvorakul Nakaorn Rd,  Klong San, Bangkok 10600, Tel +66-2861-0953, www.Facebook.coin/TheNeverEndinSummer

Marcel 

They serve Garlic classics with a modern twist, dishes such as mussels, duck confit filleted, tapas, goats cheese salad and lamb short loin. The music is Paris at the start of the millennium. The service is attentive and helpful.

Open daily 6pm -midnight

Sathorn Soi 10, Tel + 66-2635-3533, www.facebook.com/marcelrestaurantbangkok

Tim Ho Wan 

The Dim Sum Michelin star brand from Hong Kong. This is a Bangkok take on the original which for many doesn’t reach the mark but it is acceptable mall dim sum dinning

Open daily 10am-10pm

3/Fl Terminal 21, Sukhumvit Soi 21

Mizu by Sankyodai 

One of the top sushi restaurants in Bangkok. Here they use super-premium short grain koshihikari rice, a special gluten free soy sauce, and a house blend of sencha and metcha green tea.

Open dailyt 11,30am-2.30pm, 5-10pm

2fl Charn Issara Tower, 942/43vRama IV Rd Tel 66-2632-6660

Ginza Sushi Ichi

Affiliated with the Michelin star Tokyo restaurant of the same name , serve uncompromisingly authentic omakase style sushi, This means that the chefs, all trained by Master Chef Masakuxu Ishibashi decide what to serve the customer based on the quality of the day’s catch

Ear – Live Hokkaido Taraba Crab

Open Tues-Sun noon-2.30pm, Tues-Sat 6-11pm, Sun 6-10pm

L G/Fl Erawan Bangkok, 494 Ploenchit Road

Bitterman 

Set in a spacious greenhouse that is teeming with tropical greenery. The menu is big on pasta, protein & cheese.

Open daily 11am-11pm

Silom Soi 1, Bangkok 10500, +66-91-740-6486, www.facebook.com/bitterman.bkk

Harvest 

The seafood heavy restaurant on the site previously occupied by Bouchet. Their specialities are mussels and lobster

Open 5.30pm to midnight

31 Sukhmvit Soi 24, + 66 2662-0762, www.facebook.com/HARVESTrestaurantBKK

Theo Mio 

Michelin star British Chef Theo Randall’s first venture outside of the U.K. It due to the passion for his restaurant that bears his name at Intercontinental Park Lane in London. Here in charge of the kitchen is British chef Chris Beverley who continues his mentors philosophy for where possible to cook with local grown responsibly sourced produce.

Open daily 10am-11pm

G/Fl Intercontinental Bangkok, 973 Ploenchit Road, Tel +66-2656-0444

Vivarium 

Here two of the biggest stars from Thailand’s Iron Chef, Chumpol Jangprai and Boontham Parkpho who work with the very best of Japanese produce.

Open daily 5-11pm

3675 Rama IV Rd, Tel +66-2261-9507

Smoking’s Pug 

An American BBQ restaurant specialising in baby back ribs and pulled pork chilli. The bar is always first come first serve.  

Drink – Whiskey Sour with a base of Wild Turkey Kentuky Bourbon

Open 5pm – midnight closed Monday, Tuesday

www.facebook.com/smokingpug

Peppina

A truly authentic Neopolitan pizzeria that holds the faith by only cooking with San Marzano tomatoes

Eat – Neoplitan Pizza

Drink – Ameronne by the glass poured from magnums

Open 11.30am-3pm, 6.30-midnight closed Monday.

27/1 Sukhumvit Soi 33, Tel + 66-2119-7877, www.facebook.com/Peppina

Maison Chatenet

A French bakery run by Laotion Master Artisanal Baker Albert Chatenet who has worked with the likes of Lenotre, Royal Monceau and Patisserie Sylvain Joubert

Open  Tues-Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 8am-1pm, closed Monday

Le Rich Condominium, 557 Sathu Pradit Soi 41, Tel +66-92-408-0308, www.facebook.com/Maison Chatent

Seeds

The latest addition to the Water Library portfolio serving French inspired dishes with Asian influences, prettily plated but costing a fraction of their other restaurant

Drink – affordably price quality wines

Eat – a peppery yet mildly priced whole sea crab spaghetti, a dish for sharing

Open  5.30pm – midnight.

103 Sukhumvit 39, tel + 66-099-283-6363, www.facebook.com/seed

Volti 

Angelini re-incarnated, the name of the new restaurant is Italian for Face. The menu covers all culinary regions from the length and breadth of Italy. Innovative cuisine created with either locally or ethically sourced ingredients.

Open 6pm- 10.30pm

Lobby Level, Shangr-la Hotel Bangkok, tel +66-2236-7777

Enough? One more for last road 

Ghignoni 

An Itlian ice cream parlour whose heritage dates back to 1981 when it was founded in Sansepolcro in Tuscany. Sourcing the finest ingredients they create 30 different flavours of premium Italian ice cream.

G fl EmQuartier in front of Gourmet Market, Phrom Phong BTS tel +66-2651-8888, www.ghignono.it