[Sponsored] There’s more to this capital city than quick stir-fries and meats on sticks. Bangkok has become a bonafide regional fine dining destination for both Asian and Western fare, with several restaurants now appearing on the prestigious San Pellegrino Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Traditional Thai cooking, too, is seeing a renaissance. With all these choices, you need a tightly curated eating itinerary. Luckily, we have one for you right here.
Day 1: Taste of Thai
9am: Head to the Greenhouse restaurant at The Landmark Hotel and order the “jok” (congee in Thai). They serve great noodles, dim sum and a good selection of other Asian dishes. It’s not particularly trendy, but it’s a time-honored spot for the city’s chefs, revellers and other night owls. Plus, it’s open 24 hours too and the street level tables are great for people watching.
Supanniga Eating Room
1pm: Arguably one of the best regional Thai restaurants in town, Supanniga Eating Room has a menu inspired by the owner’s grandmother’s cooking. Order up locally inspired martinis and tasty small plates like the tart yum pla salid krob thod (crispy fish with lemongrass and shallots) and the hard to find moo cha muang (pork with guttiferae tree leaves) curry at this trendy shophouse space.
7pm: Trust us, you’ve never had Thai food like this. Husband-wife team Dylan and Bo (who was San Pellegrino’s Best Female Chef Asia in 2013) slow-cook ancient Thai recipes with plenty of fresh seasonal produce—they even grow their own vegetables. The leafy premises and traditional decor at Bo.lan features plenty of wood and wickerwork, too. Sign up for their Balance degustation, sit back and enjoy.
Est. 33
10pm: For drinks, hit up microbrewery Est. 33. It might be owned by beer monolith Singha but it is cool and casual, and serves tasty bar bites to go with its micro-brews. Try the Est. 33 Sampler that comes with three types of beer (including a wild black brew infused with black glutinous rice).
Day 2: Around the World in Bangkok
Hong Bao
9am: It’s not hard to see why this elegant Chinese restaurant and its leafy compound are constantly packed with regulars. Hong Bao is known for dishing up some of the best dim sum in town and they serve it all-day too. Must-tries include the steamed rice rolls with crispy shrimps, har gow and the golden salty egg bun.
1pm: Roman restaurant Appia is a hot ticket most nights, but if you’re in town on a weekend, check out the Sunday lunch. Mains like the hearty signature porchetta and the oxtail stew showcase chef Paolo Vitaletti’s ability to transform humble ingredients into something special. The tiramisu based on Paolo’s mother’s recipe is a great way to end the meal on a high. Don’t miss the Mediterranean-focused wine list either.
Gaggan
7pm: No trip to Bangkok is complete without a meal at Gaggan—this modern Indian restaurant recently snagged the top spot at this year’s San Pellegrino Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. The food is a molecular take on Indian food: think mustard ice cream on oysters and pitch perfect coastal curries done sous-vide. Need convincing? The eponymous chef trained at the research lab of Ferran Adria’s El Bulli in Spain. Book way ahead.
10pm: If you are partying in the Silom area, it’s worth making an early evening trip to Vesper, a gastrobar that’s a blend of gentlemen’s club and European bistro and has some serious cocktails on the menu. The people responsible for the drinks are well-known London mixology group, Fluid Movement. Don’t miss the barrelaged cocktails, which see classics like the Negroni aged in oak barrels for four weeks.
ESSENTIALS
Getting there
Thai Airways flies several times a day from Singapore to Bangkok. There’s a MasterCard promo from now till Apr 30, 2015 with all-in fares from $263. Available for travel till Sept 30, 2015.
Visa
Singaporeans can enter Thailand without a visa for a period of up to 30 days.
Exchange Rate
$1 = THB23.70
$1 = THB23.70
Still Hungry?
To celebrate its 55th anniversary, Thai Airways brings you Essential Eating in Bangkok, an insider’s guide to the best, most significant restaurants and bars in town. Don’t miss the curated collection of fine dining, casual restaurants and bars with personality—and of course, tips from local experts. There is even a section on the best seafood in Hua Hin and Lanna cuisine delights in Chiang Mai. Download the guide here.
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