World City Guide

Restaurants

The selected restaurants have been divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.

There is VAT of 7% added to restaurant bills in Bangkok and this is usually added to the bill at the end. In addition, many restaurants also add a service charge of around 10%. Where this is not added, visitors should tip around 10%.

The prices quoted below are for an average three-course meal for one person and for a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they do not include VAT or service charge, unless stated otherwise.

Gastronomic

Auberge DAB
This elegant but friendly restaurant has dark wood-panelled walls and a cool tiled floor. The sumptuous French food is served at tables with crisp white tablecloths and elegant fine dinnerware. The excellent service and the restaurant’s superb speciality seafood, such as roasted snow fish with braised lettuce and mushroom and a light red wine sauce, make this a very special place. A good-value three-course set lunch is also available for B390.

Ground Floor, Mercury Tower, 540 Ploenchit Road
Tel: (02) 658 6222/3. Fax: (02) 658 7892.
E-mail: aubergedab@yahoo.com
Website: www.dininginthailand.com/auberge.asp
Price: B1,800. Wine: B100.

Baan Khanitha
This restaurant, located off Sukhumvit Road, has won the Bangkok Dining and Entertainment Award for ‘Best Thai Restaurant’ for the past six years and its popularity is proof of this, so it is essential to book. The converted villa has stylish and typically Thai decor, a mainly wooden interior with antiques and works of art creating a very calm atmosphere. The exquisite presentation of the food is as stylish as the decor. A signature dish is the deep-fried freshwater sun-dried cotton fish served with mango sauce. Set menus are available for two people, ranging from B1,000 to B1,500.

36/1 Soi 23 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 258 4181 Fax: (02) 260 9601.
Price: B700. Wine: B1,000.

Le Banyan
Le Banyan is one of those restaurants where the welcome is genuine, the decor elegant and the food superb. This intimate classy restaurant, located off Sukhumvit Road, serves French haute cuisine, including the fabulous lightly roasted breast of duck served with a sauce made from the juice of the duck. No lunch and closed on Sundays.

59 Soi 8 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 253 5556. Fax: (02) 253 4560.
Website: www.le-banyan.com
Price: B1,300. Wine: B1,180.

Le Normandie
This small, plush restaurant with a rarefied atmosphere serves up what has to be the best French cuisine in Bangkok, if not in the region. Located in the original part of The Oriental hotel, the floor-to-ceiling windows have unrivalled views over the Chao Phraya River. The menu is extensive and an excellent choice is the roast Maine lobster with red wine butter. There is a three-course lunch for B950 per person and a set dinner menu for B4,000. No lunch Sunday.

The Oriental, 48 Oriental Avenue
Tel: (02) 659 9000. Fax: (02) 659 0000.
E-mail: ericw@mohg.com
Website: www.mandarinoriental.com
Price: B4,000. Wine: B1,600.

Rang Mahal
This restaurant, on the rooftop of the Rembrandt Hotel (see Hotels), with superb views of the city, serves gourmet Indian food at its best. The decor is sumptuous with Indian wall hangings and plush colours and the atmosphere very tranquil with Indian music playing unobtrusively in the background. The food is all excellent but a particularly fine dish is murgh makhanwala, succulent chicken simmered in creamy fenugreek-flavoured tomato gravy. Sunday brunch is very popular at B575 per person.

Rembrandt Hotel, 19 Soi 18 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 261 7100. Fax: (02) 261 7017.
E-mail: catering@rembrandtbkk.com
Website: www.rembrandtbkk.com
Price: B795. Wine: B1,290.

Business

Admiral's Pub & Restaurant
This cool, colonial-style, wood-panelled restaurant, a converted Thai house with teak decor, is owned by a Dane, which explains the photos of Scandinavians who served in the Siam Imperial navy. It is really a place in which to while away the hours, as it is a combination of restaurant, library, meeting room, wine cellar and terrace. The food is predominantly Scandinavian, with offerings such as meatballs with cold potato salad. The all-you-can-eat barbecue on Wednesdays and Saturdays costs B395, including the salad bar.

20 Soi 18 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 663 4396/7. Fax: (02) 663 4516.
E-mail: admirals@adisti.com
Website: www.adisti.com
Price: B500 (including VAT). Wine: B800 (including VAT).

Ban Chiang
Ban Chiang is a restored wooden house with lush garden (lit up at night) in the Silom area, serving up traditional Thai food. The food is beautifully presented with a magnificent selection, including fried grouper fish with Thai peppers, pineapple and chilli sauce. Ban Chiang is popular with businesspeople at lunchtimes but the simple, classic decor makes it ideal for a special evening meal.

14 Soi Sri-vieng, Surasak Road
Tel: (02) 236 7045 or 266 6994.
Price: B350. Wine: B530.

Harmonique
Situated fairly close to the river and the famed hotel The Oriental, the family-run Harmonique is incredibly welcoming. The restaurant is located in an old house, dating back more than 100 years, with a lush garden, Thai antiques and fans. The fantastic appetisers are particularly recommended, including the steamed shrimp in coconut. A selection of appetisers is available for B250 for two people. The regular Saturday evening special is pork curry with steamed bread. Closed Sunday.

22 Charoenkrung 34
Tel: (02) 237 8175. Fax: (02) 630 6269.
Price: B600 (including VAT). Wine: B400 (including VAT).

Le Dalat
Down from the busy Sukhumvit Road, the upmarket Le Dalat serves probably the best Vietnamese food in Bangkok. This award-winning restaurant is located in an old house in a small, lush garden, and dining here is really a delightful experience. The elegant interior has a colonial feel and photos and memorabilia covering the walls. Well known for its seafood, an excellent choice here would be the grilled prawns in a red wine sauce. Its equally superb sister restaurant, Le Dalat Indochine, is just across the road.

47/1 Soi 23 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 260 1849. Fax: (02) 258 4192.
Price: B570 (including VAT). Wine: B750 (including VAT).

Zanotti
The simple but stylish decor contributes to a relaxed ambience in this Italian restaurant off the Silom Road. The restaurant appeals more to a business clientele rather than romantic diners as it can be quite busy in the evenings. There is an extensive menu put together by the Italian chef, with such specialities as black squid ink linguine with clams and shrimp sauce.

21/1 Saladaeng Colonnade Soi Saladaeng, Silom Road
Tel: (02) 636 0002 or 0266. Fax: (02) 636 0221.
E-mail: inquiries@zanotti-ristorante.com
Website: www.zanotti-ristorante.com
Price: B850. Wine: B800.

Trendy

A Matter of Taste
A contemporary, calm restaurant with an al fresco dining area which is conveniently located a short walk from both Ploenchit and Chitlom skytrain stations. An excellent choice of Thai and international food is on the menu including lamb chops served with baked garlic, mint jelly and mushroom risotto. The food is beautifully presented and the desserts are luscious. On offer is an excellent value set lunch for B199.

548/7 Embassy Park Plaza, Ploenchit Road
Tel: (02) 252 2002.
Price: B600. Wine: B850

The Barbican
In a quiet soi off the Silom Road, The Barbican is a music café with a small contemporary area with stools and tables downstairs and a simple, teak restaurant upstairs. Tapas snacks are available, as well as Thai food, including a tasty white fish in a light beer batter with French fries, garden peas and fresh tartare sauce. There is a good-value three-course set lunch for B245. No lunch weekends in restaurant.

9/4–5 Soi Thaniya, Silom Road
Tel: (02) 234 3590. Fax: (02) 266 7747.
E-mail: somchart@greatbritishpub.com
Website: www.greatbritishpub.com
Price: B500 (including VAT). Wine: B800 (including VAT).

Jesters
Located in the Peninsula Hotel, this restaurant over two levels is a great place to dine, with fun contemporary decor and stunning views of the Chao Phraya River. It serves an eclectic mix of Pacific Rim food, such as seared black cod with leek-cep mushroom cannelloni, beet chips and shallot sauce. No children 12 years or under. No lunch.

Peninsula Bangkok Hotel, 333 Charoennakorn Road
Tel: (02) 861 2888. Fax: (02) 861 1112.
E-mail: pbk@peninsula.com
Website: www.peninsula.com
Price: B950. Wine: B950.

Joke Club Restaurant & Bar
The Joke Club is one of the places to be seen in Bangkok, often frequented by Thai royalty, politicians and Hollywood stars. This modern, Hong Kong-style restaurant serves Chinese and Cantonese food cooked in an open kitchen. Located off busy Sukhumvit Road, the restaurant is particularly well known for its congee (white rice porridge served with various meats and vegetables) (all 46 varieties) and dried abalone, at a fraction of Hong Kong prices. Nine-course set meals are available for B350-1,680 per person for groups of 10 people or more.

155 Soi 11 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 651 2888/9. Fax: (02) 651 3535.
E-mail: jokeclub@samart.co.th
Price: B500. Wine: B850.

Zanzibar
This chic and contemporary restaurant in a converted Thai house is situated in the Sukhumvit area. The ground floor is loud and buzzing with live music, while upstairs is more mellow with comfy seating and wooden floors. Thai, Japanese and Italian dishes are on offer, including excellent spicy beef with herbs and crispy aubergines. No lunch.

139 Soi 11 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 651 2700. Fax: (02) 651 2800.
Price: B600 (including VAT). Wine: B780 (including VAT).

Budget

Mango Tree
Tucked in a quiet soi between the busy Silom and Surawongse Roads, Mango Tree is made up of two old houses, with intriguing photos of a past Bangkok on the wall and a collection of old cameras. Although cheap, this restaurant still serves fantastic fine Thai food. The dishes are influenced from all corners of Thailand and the spicy green and red curries are particularly tasty. There is also a selection of set menus ranging from B300 to B700 in price.

37 Soi Tantawan, Surawongse Road
Tel: (02) 236 2820. Fax: (02) 238 2649.
E-mail: mangotree@coca.com
Price: B300 (including VAT). Wine: B800 (including VAT).

O'Reillys Irish Pub
This traditional Irish pub on the Silom Road has a comfortable bar with a great atmosphere. The floor is wooden and there are photographs of traditional Irish scenes adorning the walls. A good selection of Thai and European food is on offer, including a wholesome beef and Guinness pie. A popular daily set lunch for B195 is also available.

62/1-4 Silom Road
Tel: (02) 632 7515. Fax: (02) 235 1572.
E-mail: irish@loxinfo.co.th
Price: B330 (including VAT). Wine: B800 (including VAT).

Singapore Chicken Rice
At first sight, the functional white tiles, practical tables and frenetic atmosphere of this small restaurant are not particularly appealing. However, it is frequented by ex-pats, visitors and many locals, who all come for the fantastic food. Diners can watch dishes, such as the scrumptious won ton, being prepared out the front. No credit cards.

440/5 Soi 53 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 392 4247.
Price: B120 (including VAT). Beer: B60 (including VAT).

The Whole Earth
The Whole Earth is set in a large candlelit garden of an old Thai house, just off a busy soi off Sukhumvit Road. There is an excellent choice of Thai and Indian food, including a large vegetarian selection. The simple calm interior with wooden floor (shoes have to be removed before entering) is a very relaxing place to enjoy an excellent choice of food. The vegetarian curry served in a banana leaf bowl is highly recommended.

71 Soi 26 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 258 4900.
Price: B250. Wine: B900.

Witch's Tavern
This friendly local in the Thonglor area is done up in an English pub style, with comfy leather sofas to relax and watch the large screen TVs or the live jazz at the weekend. The restaurant serves English and Thai food and particularly delicious is the spaghetti with hard shell clams, onions and white wine. There is a special three-course lunch available Monday to Saturday for B290 and a jazz brunch at the weekend.

306/1 Soi 55 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 391 9791. Fax: (02) 712 5943.
E-mail: witched@samart.co.th
Website: www.witch-tavern.com
Price: B580. Wine: B1300.

Personal Recommendations

Cabbages & Condoms
Cabbages & Condoms is nearly as strange as its name, with displays of condoms of all shapes, sizes and colours and a tableau of vasectomy equipment in the restaurant. However, the place goes from strength to strength and combines its work to improve life for rural Thailand through contraception, hygiene programmes and AIDS education with great Thai cuisine. Located off busy Sukhumvit Road, the restaurant is surprisingly relaxing, with a lush garden and delicious food, and the addition of a deserving cause make it well worth a visit. A particularly tasty dish is the deep-fried soft shell crab with pepper and garlic.

10 Soi 12 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 229 4610. Fax: (02) 229 4632.
Price: B600 (including VAT). Wine: B800 (including VAT).

Ma Be Ba
Leaving the hot, steamy streets of the Phloenjit area of Bangkok to enter Ma Be Ba and it feels like you are in a different country, or rather continent, altogether. The smell of the bakery and the tiled mosaic floor, warm colours, plants and open kitchen are very evocative of southern Italy. Family friendly, the place is as popular with ex-pats as it is with locals. The restaurant offers a set lunch for B329 for three courses. Seafood is a speciality, such as the pan-fried crispy seabass filet.

93 Lung Suan Road, Phloenjit, Lumpinee
Tel: (02) 253 9426.
Price: B1000. Wine: B950.

Manohra Cruise
There can be no better way to experience the Chao Phraya River than on a dinner cruise on a beautifully restored rice barge. Operated by the Marriott Resort & Spa Hotel, the Manohra Cruise welcomes visitors for daily dinner cruises passing riverside temples, waterfront homes and provides the opportunity to see river life close up. There is a set menu of beautifully presented Thai food, including red duck curry laced with grapes. The cruise departs from the Marriott Hotel listed below at 1930, but can be boarded from different piers: Taksin Public, Oriental Public and Peninsula Hotel pier. Reservations recommended.

Marriott Resort & Spa Hotel, 257 Charoennakorn Road
Tel: (02) 476 0022. Fax: (02) 477 0811.
E-mail: manohra@minornet.com
Website: www.marriottdining.com
Price: B1,400. Wine: B1,750.

Seafood Palace International
At night you can’t miss this large restaurant with its thousands of twinkling nights. Inside the tables surround a small, central stage where there are periodic displays of traditional Thai dancing. The menu is limited but delicious, particularly the fried rice with crab meat, prawn and mixed vegetables. The restaurant is popular with locals, always a good sign.

348 Sukhumvit Road, Asoke Road
Tel: (02) 653 1145. Fax: (02) 653 1149.
E-mail: info@seafoodpalace.net
Website: www.seafoodpalace.net
Price: B450. Wine: B780

Senor Pico
Located in the Rembrandt Hotel (see Hotels), this is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Bangkok. The vibrant restaurant is cantina style, with terracotta pots, Mexican bric-a-brac around the walls and low lighting. A resident band adds to the atmosphere. The subtle blend of spices is evident in the charcoal-grilled prawns marinated in lemon juice and herbs. Combination meals of chicken enchilada and beef fajitas with refried beans and rice are good value at B390. No lunch.

Rembrandt Hotel, 19 Soi 18 Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 261 7100. Fax: (02) 261 7042.
E-mail: catering@rembrandtbkk.com
Website: www.rembrandtbkk.com
Price: B850. Wine: B1290.