Suay Restaurant
This place serves up creative Thai fare at low prices courtesy of Chef Tammasak Chootong, formerly a chef at Banyan Tree Hotels. Try the guay tiew lod salmon khao soy—steamed salmon in rice noodles served with yellow curry, B159 ($6.30)—and tum BBQ ma kue yao, which comprises grilled long eggplant and crab meat, B89 ($3.50). Dessert is a must, too, namely the mango sticky rice spring […]
Sanaeha
This place gives a romantic vibe in the early evening with its big chandelier, but later on it gets packed with young partygoers.
Raya Restaurant
The century-old building’s original mosaic-tiled floor and walls adorned with ’50s tea and coffee poster girls and pictures of Thai monarchs will take your mind off the somewhat hefty prices. The line-up of traditional Phuket dishes include moo hong—steamed pork with pepper and garlic, B250 ($10)—gaeng nue poo bai cha ploo, a dish of crab meat with curry and coconut […]
Ploenchit
To get into this popular wateringhole, you definitely need to make a reservation on Friday and Saturday nights.
Kopitiam
They serve pocket-friendly traditional dishes like mee Hokkien and bak kut teh.
Tatsu Sushi
Bargain hunters can jump on their sushi deals, available for one or three people, while fond imbibers of sake can head next door to the teppanyaki bar.
The Green Hotel
Not only is this a beautiful hotel, it is also a model for sustainable tourism, with all its profits distributed to charitable and environmental projects in India. Each room is furnished with unique Indian arts and crafts. Their strict environmental policies also mean there’s no television or air conditioning. Rates start at INR3,250 (S$73).
Banyan Tree Bintan
Award-winning homegrown hospitality brand Banyan Tree is overhauling one of its earliest resorts (which originally opened back in 1995) and the revamp is set to be complete March 2013. On-site, there’s a conservation lab—helmed by an environmental naturalist and two wildlife rangers—which offers nature walks and bird watching. Situated on Tanjong Said beach, the getaway’s […]
Pashma
The buzz: Indian luxury resort wear label Pashma, renowned for the premium fabrics used for its signature scarves and apparel, opens its fourth and flagship boutique in Raffles Hotel. The vibe: Befitting the brand’s DNA, the warm interior has an inviting ethnic resort feel with an earthy color scheme of brown, grey and green, making the exuberantly colorful collections pop against the neutral backdrop. The goods: […]
Ritz-Carlton Beijing
This luxury hotel includes six food and beverage outlets, a spa and fitness center as well as 305 rooms. It is also conveniently located near cultural attractions including Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven.