Introducing… Pastel Rooftop

Pastel Rooftop is Bangkok’s latest rooftop dining experience. Located on top of the Aira Hotel on Sukhumvit 11, it offers visitors panoramic views of the Bangkok skyline.

Pastel’s decor is an elegant mix of contemporary and traditional styles, reflecting the spirit of the Mediterranean – and a menu to compliment, filled with delectable Mediterranean flavors and aromas, made with farm-to-table ingredients.

From classic small plates to refined crudo and flavorful seafood dishes, there’s something for every taste and appetite. And if you’re in the mood for something to drink, the restaurant offers a vast selection of Mediterranean signature cocktails and wine.

A highlight is the convivial and festive atmosphere, which is perfect for enjoying good food, engaging conversations, and laughter with friends and loved ones. The rooftop is also known for hosting lively and vibrant nights, featuring talented musicians, performers, and DJs.

The restaurant opens at 5pm, the perfect location to enjoy a few cocktails with views of the Bangkok skyline at sunset. In fact, for all these reasons, Pastel Rooftop has quickly become one of the most popular rooftop restaurants in Bangkok.

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just looking to enjoy a night out with friends, this rooftop restaurant offers everything you need for an unforgettable evening.

Be sure to add this to your Bangkok itinerary! Reservations can be made HERE.

A Bite-Sized Tour of Big Chinatown

Bangkok at times can seems like the Thai version a Russian babushka doll. It opens to reveal neighbourhoods within villages, villages within towns and towns within the Great City of the Angels. John Borthwick takes us on a deep dive…

Copyright John Borthwick

Bangkok’s largest town-within-a-city by far is Yaowarat, reputedly the world’s oldest, of not largest Chinatown. Wanting to drill deeper into this complex place I join an Urban Adventures’ walking tour called “Chinatown Sights and Bites”.

We start where Chinatown’s most-visited attraction Wat Traimit, the Golden Buddha Temple, is home to a massive, five-metre, 5.5-tonne Buddha statue made almost entirely of, yes, gold. Our guide, Khun Ae turns out to be an unstoppable raconteur as he unfurls a shaggy-dog legend of the 13th century Buddha statue’s loss (centuries ago), discovery (by whom?), disguise (beneath stucco), displacement (by flood), re-discovery (by luck), revelation (by accident) and then ultimate relocation here to Chinatown.

Copyright John Borthwick

We head on through a maze of side streets where chillied, steaming, stir-fried aromas billow from fiery woks, pinging our lungs, eyes and appetites. Khun Ae steers us down a narrow walkway alley where painted doors open onto hobbit-size homes, to arrive at a tiny, three-table eatery. He orders bowls of tom sap, a zinging, Thai-Lao soup that stars pork, ginger, galanga and lemon grass. I leave nothing but the spoon in mine.

Powered-up, we’re soon on unsung Soi Phat Sai where the Easae tea shop, run by the same Thai-Chinese family for four generations, has served traditional brews since 1927. Taking our seats at old circular tables, we maintain traditions, old and new. There’s an abacus by the cash register, a WiFi password on the wall and, as foreigners, us fitting in perfectly by sticking out.

Copyright John Borthwick

We roll further along to Bangkok’s largest and most important Chinese shrine, the 1871 Dragon Lotus Temple — Wat Mangkon Kamalawat. Beneath the fierce, bulging-eyed gaze of its giant warrior statues the city’s Chinese community come to make merit at the wat’s incense-clouded altars and then to have their fortunes told.

Soi Itsara Nuphap, Chinatown. Copyright, John Borthwick

Emerging from a backstreet, we’re suddenly on Chinatown’s famous main drag, Yaowarat Road, a broad, neon-blitzed thoroughfare that’s programmed to perpetually buy, sell and eat. In feng shui terms Yaowarat is a “golden dragon area” — that is, the ideal place for turning a baht or buck. Or preferably a million of either. If Chinatown is a golden dragon, this is its jewelled spine.

Yaowarat Road. Copyright John Borthwick

Beside apothecaries, goldsmiths and Blade Runner-style alleys we snack on delicious skewers of grilled pork and chicken fresh from a street hawker’s cart. Exotica aside, busy Yaowarat is the engine-room of the thriving Thai-Chinese economy and, in truth, is much more about high finance and trade than the Orientalism of its street show.

Copyright John Borthwick

I can’t eat another thing, which is fine because we’re leaving behind Yaowarat’s endless progressive feast. Our final destination will be mojitos, not food. At the venerable Grand China hotel we take a lift and then follow Ae up narrow stairs to a little-known roof bar where the view of sunset across the Bangkok skyline is the real attraction. In a city that’s home to a dozen lofty sky bars boasting 360-degree views and flocks of trending mixologists, the Grand China’s less celebrated watering hole is, to be generous, only 50 percent as flash — but gloriously so. At half the altitude (23rd floor), with half the view (only 180-degrees) and drinks at half the price, it might just be twice the fun.

Take your taste buds on a tour of Thailand… in Sydney

The flavours of Thailand range from south to north, with chilli, tamarind, ginger and shrimp paste flavouring seafood dishes in the south, while in the north, chicken and pork curries feature spices such as galangal and turmeric. And in between, the street food of Bangkok has a personality all its own, with a wide mix of flavours accompanied by a vibrant night life. Did you know you could experience all this in Sydney?

While Sydney (and most of Australia) has enjoyed an abundance of Thai restaurants for many years, more recently there has been a demand for more authentic Thai food, as more and more Australians discover the true taste of Thailand on their travels there.

Some Thai trailblazers have been catering to this increasing demand in recent years, restaurants such as Spice I Am, Chat Thai and @Bangkok igniting a love for authentic Thai food and attracting a new generation of foodies.

Recognising this demand, Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), in partnership with import company Asian Inspirations has established an accreditation system for Australian Thai restaurants: Thai Select.

The award is divided in two categories; Thai ready-to-eat/ready-to-cook products and Thai restaurants.

“It’s not just a meal; it’s a journey into Thai culture”

Thai Select restaurants serve authentic Thai meals, made with Thai produce using traditional recipes. The service provided by restaurants with a Thai Select Award must be of a high quality, in an atmosphere that transports you to Thailand with that famous Thai smile. More information, including a directory of Thai Select restaurants can be found here.

Caysorn: Southern Thai Food

Our journey into Thai Culture begins in Phuket, via Caysorn Thai Restaurant in Sydney’s Haymarket. Caysorn is the creation of owner Chalio, who comes from the southern Thai region of Phatthalung, an area renowned for its spicy dishes. Chalio moved to Australia in 1973, and after a few years working in some of Sydney’s top restaurants, opened one of the first Thai restaurants in Sydney in the 1980s. After winning a small business award in 1990, Chalio realised a dream; to open a restaurant with food from his home province.

Our tasting plates start with Gai Yang Kaow Lae, named after the traditional painted fishing boats in southern Thailand, similar to satay, but sweeter and stickier, melt-in-your-mouth BBQ Pork Cheek and Kao Yum, an aromatic herb salad.

Our main course is three varieties of curry; fish kidney soup, crab coconut curry and tamarind soup served with kanom jeen noodles. All of this is washed down with Thai Milk Tea before dessert is served; sweet coconut simmered cassava.

Address: 06/8 Quay Street, Prince Centre Building Level 1, Haymarket NSW 2000. Open 7 days: 11am-9:30pm http://www.caysorn.com.au/

Show Neua: Northern Thai Street Food

From Phuket, our taste buds journey north to the walking streets of Chiang Mai, as we walk a few hundred metres to Show Neua, not far from the Capital Theatre on George Street. The restaurant is the result of a collaboration between an architect, professional chef and two other youngbloods, each with over 10 years’ experience in the restaurant industry.

This tiny restaurant is beautifully designed, with an atmosphere that instantly transports you to northern Thailand and a team of friendly smiling Thai staff ushering us to our seats to enjoy a colourful and aromatic selection of tasting plates, served on a ‘khantoke’, a pedestal tray traditionally used by the Lanna people of northern Thailand.

Our tasting plates include two different styles of curry: Khao Soi Chicken and Kanom Jeen Nam Ngeow. Khao Soi Chicken is a northern Thai version of laksa; a coconut turmeric curry served over flat egg noodles and garnished with pickled vegetables and crunchy deep-fried noodles. Kanom Jeen Nam Ngeow is based on a dish eaten by the Tai Yai people from Burma and China’s Yunnan province. It has a slightly sourer taste and is served over rice noodles.

Alongside these mains, pork crackling, tasting portions of a couple of varieties of northern style larb and Sai Ua, the tastiest pork sausage in the world, flavoured with garlic, kaffir lime, lemongrass, chilli and coriander.

Address: Shop 2A/710 George St, Haymarket NSW 2000. Open 7 days 11am–12am. http://fb.me/showneuathai

@Bangkok Thai Restaurant

Having enjoyed the spicy southern dishes of Phuket and the delights of Chiang Mai’s walking streets, we now journey to Bangkok to explore the street food and vibrant nightlife of Yaowarat and Khao San Road, or rather, @Bangkok Thai Restaurant in Capitol Square, George Street.

@Bangkok is open to the wee small hours of the morning, seven days a week (5am on weekends), serving authentic Bangkok street food, with bucket cocktails and live music.

Our four courses include a mix of breakfast dishes, noodles, trendy dinner and their ‘Never Sleep Set’, served with Bucket Boost. Breakfast is Moo Ping, BBQ pork on a skewer, served with sticky rice and Tom Loerd Moo (Pork Blood Soup). What I suppose is lunch, is the most popular noodle dish in Bangkok: Thai Boat Noodle and our ‘Trendy Dinner’ is corn salad, grilled pork neck, Crying Tiger and Sai Ua.

The Bangkok Never Sleep Set includes a deliciously fragrant and tasty Yum Pla Foo, a hot and sour crispy fish salad with julienned apple and coriander, deep fried chicken wings and Tom Sap (spicy pork spare rib soup), all washed down with a Bucket Boost cocktail mix of Midori and Vodka.

Address: Capitol Square Building, 730-742 George St, NSW 2000. Monday to Thursday 11am–1am, Friday & Saturday 11am–4am, Sunday 11am–2am. https://www.facebook.com/atbangkok.syd

Cooking Class with master chef Sujet Saenkham at Spice I Am.

So now we have explored Thailand with our tastebuds from South to North, our Thai Town tour ends with a masterchef finale: a cooking class with Sujet Saenkham, co-owner and executive chef of Spice I Am.

It’s no surprise that Sujet is a shining star amongst the Thai Select community, with his award-winning restaurant Spice I Am being named “the best Thai restaurant outside Thailand’ by numerous food critics, and a queue of patrons outside the restaurant waiting to be served every day of the week.

“I cook every dish from the heart. The reward that I get is the smile on their faces. It’s the thing that makes me smile.”

As we’re briefed on the dishes we’ll learn how to cook today, we’re served delicious southern style betel leaf fritters before getting stuck into northern style Khao Soi Chicken served with egg noodles, followed by southern style fish curry with a hot and sour broth served with riceberry rice. As we cook, Sujet shares stories, explains the origin of each Thai dish we are attempting and tries his best to empower us to add enough salt and palm sugar to create the perfect umami taste.

Before we roll out the door, we’re treated to a slice of Riceberry Rice Coconut Pudding, with a sweet red bean topping. Delicious.

Address: 90 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills NSW 2010. Tuesday to Sunday (Closed on Monday). Lunch: 11:30am to 15:00pm, Dinner: 17:30pm to 22:00pm https://www.spiceiam.com/

Fine Dining stories by Thailand’s finest chefs

A new series of videos highlights local fine cuisine from around the Kingdom, hosted by some of Thailand’s best chefs. From Krabi to Nakhon Pathom and Nan, in each episode these award-winning chefs talk about local specialties, inspired by the local produce unique to each region.

In each episode, chefs from some of Thailand’s most famous restaurants will talk about their dining concept, the inspiration behind the featured dishes, the key ingredients and how they source ingredients.

Local farmers and producers will also be interviewed and the beautiful scenery of each region will also be highlighted.

Ep 1: Chef Ice: Sorn Restaurant – Shrimp Paste – Krabi.

Listed as one of the Top 50 restaurants in Asia, Bangkok restaurant Sorn specialises in Southern cuisine and has been awarded two Michelin Stars. The restaurant is often booked weeks in advance.

As two southern kids, Khun Ice and Chef Yod always dreamt of opening their own restaurant with a focus on long lost recipes and the art of local cuisine. In a reconstructed old house, Sorn is thematically inspired by the tropical forests of southern Thailand, while ingredients are sustainably sourced from a trusted network of farmers and fishermen. Cooking is refined and sophisticated and dishes mostly slow-cooked, with even the soup double-boiled for 6 hours.

Ep 2: Chef Monthep, TAAN Restaurant – Organic Chicken & Egg – Nakhon Pathom

TAAN’s creative Thai cuisine celebrates the country’s food artisans and their unique ingredients. Chef Monthep “Thep” Kamolsilp and his kitchen team pride themselves on working closely with independent local farmers, whose high-quality, seasonal ingredients provide the inspiration for an ever-changing menu.

Every dish here has a story to tell. The name TAAN itself comes from the Thai word meaning “to have a meal” and it is also a play on pra-taan, which means leader or head of a group. In this respect, TAAN serves farmer-led food. Familiar flavour profiles meet with unexpected combinations and timeless techniques for curries, grilled dishes and soups that are new but unmistakably Thai.

Ep 3: Chef Bee, Paste Restaurant (awarded 1 Michelin star) – Makwean – Nan

After 18 years of cooking exclusively Thai food professionally, husband and wife combination Bee Satongun Thai born and Australian born Chef Jason Bailey opened their first outlet of Paste Bangkok Thai restaurant in 2013. Their reinterpreted Thai menu quickly became one of the most talked about in Bangkok.

Subscribe to Kad Kakoa’s YouTube Channel to catch all episodes!

Dine under the (Michelin) stars in Bangkok

paste seasonal fruit platter with pineapple, pandanus, lemongrass sorbet, wood apple and calamansi lime coulis served with crispo kao hang

Start musing about your favourite experiences in Bangkok and food will undoubtedly be high on the list. Award-winning travel writer Helen Hayes shares 10 places to try – all with Michelin stars.

R. Haan *2 Michelin Stars

Thai cuisine has a rich history, a real ‘wisdom’ that intertwines the secrets of Siam’s food traditions with modern techniques and the meshing of cultures. It is still undeniably Thai. One of the best places to experience this is R. Haan, which means “something consumed for sustenance’ in Thai. Headed up by Chumpol Jangprai, R. Haan is inspired by an old Thai poem which translates as ‘In the river, there are fish; in the rice field there is rice’. His menus are based on authentic recipes and he uses the same ingredients found in the originals.

R Haan Interior

Sorn * 2 Michelin Stars

It is all about the south at Sorn, with chef owners Supaksorn Jongsiri (Khun Ice) and Yodkwan U-Pumpruk focusing on long lost recipes and cuisine from their home region. The restaurant is in an old house with ingredients sustainably sourced from farmers and fishermen. Most dishes are slow cooked; even the soup is double boiled over six hours.

Jay Fai *1 Star

It is not common to find a street food vendor with a Michelin star, but Jay Fai is anything but common. The lipstick wearing Jay Fai still cooks on charcoal, just like her father did, and conjures up dishes like crab curries and crab omelette while wearing ski goggles. The omelette is legendary and long queues outside the door are customary. 

Canvas *1 Star

A rarity in Bangkok, Canvas is the brainchild of Chef Riley Sanders. Riley hails from Texas and his travels as a chef brought him to Bangkok in 2013. He fell in love with Bangkok and after more visits, started planning Canvas. Diners love to sit at the counter to watch the chefs in action as they prepare the nine-course tasting menus.

Table 38 *1 Star

Table 38 is a chef’s table experience with one 10-seat communal table allowing diners to watch and interact with Chef Andy Yang and his team. The goal of Table 38 is to show the possibilities of Thai cuisine – “using today’s knowledge to tell yesterday’s story”. Choose from five dining experiences from an introduction, up to the ultimate 44 course Chef Andy Yang Experience.

Sühring *2 Stars

A villa restored by German twins Mathias and Thomas Sühring has been winning rave reviews ever since it opened. The twins learned the traditional German techniques from their grandparents, and they have been brought to life with love at this now two-starred establishment. Diners choose to sit in the dining room, winter garden or at the kitchen counter.

Mezzaluna *2 Stars

You’ll be starstruck by the view from the 65th floor of the Lebua Hotel and the incredible dining experience at Mezzaluna. Chef Ryuki Kawasaki lets the fresh Japanese ingredients shine, preparing them with classic French cooking techniques. The seven-course set menu changes with the seasons, except for the ‘Exceptional Murakami’ dish, a wagyu beef dish from his hometown in Niigata Prefecture.

Upstairs *1 Star

Upstairs was first awarded a star in 2018 and has kept it since thanks to Chef Dan Bark.  Dan’s delightful 10-course tasting menu is a blend of Progressive American cuisine with each dish a mixture of techniques and ingredients not restricted by geography and with no boundaries of flavour combinations. The dishes are complemented by selections of craft beer, cider, mead and wines.

Paste *1 Star

Everything about Paste is striking, from the spiral sculpture made from silk cocoons, to the beautiful curved booths and of course the food. With chef and co-owner Bongkoch “Bee” Satongun at the helm – she was crowned Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2018 – diners adore the menu of shared dishes inspired by Royal Thai cuisine using traditional cooking techniques. With Satongun’s husband, Jason Bailey, hailing from the Southern Highlands of NSW, the dynamic duo recently opened an offshoot of Paste in Mittagong.

Saawaan’ *1 Star

Meaning ‘Heaven’ in Thai, Saawaan lives up to its name. Chef de Cuisine and owner Sujia ‘Aom’ Pongmorn, takes diners on a creative journey through 10 courses of authentic Thai cuisine.  Ingredients are locally sourced, including squid from a small fishermen’s village in Krabi. The dining experience is enhanced by Chef Patisserie, Arisara ‘Paper’ Chongphanitkul, who was the first Thai chef to compete in the Ladies World Pastry Championships.

Bangkok’s Booming Coffee Culture

Chata Specialty Coffee

When we think of Bangkok, shopping, temple hopping and great Thai food are generally the first things to spring to mind. But take a peak beyond the tourist trail and there’s a flourishing cafe scene that’s amongst the world’s best. Coffee culture is booming, with no shortage of places to sit and lounge with a perfectly blended brew. Travel writer Aleney De Winter explores Bangkok’s booming coffee Culture.

While Bangkok would not be the first city to spring to mind when one thinks of coffee, the city has embraced caffeine, reinventing its own inimitable style and finesse, and you’ll find more hipster chic cafés serving up artfully crafted coffees than you can you can fill an Instagram account with.

Gone are the days when a coffee in Bangkok meant calorie-packed sweet kafae boran, made with sweetened condensed milk, and cream, though they’re still popular with the locals and a must-try for visitors with a sweet tooth. But these days, with Bangkokians embracing café culture with great gusto, you’re far more likely to find an espresso or macchiato on the menu. You’re also as likely to bump into a mermaid or a unicorn as high fantasy is as highly regarded as a good foam at many of these venues.

Which does mean that many of the glamorous, smartphone wielding patrons of these cafes do have their eyes firmly on the Instagram prize, but the majority of them also boast award-winning baristas wielding the best internationally harvested and roasted beans, so the caffeinated creations aren’t all for show. If you’re keen to get caffeinated Bangkok-style, here’s a few of our favourites to get you started.

Hands and Heart Cafe

In Sukhumvit serious coffee fans head to Hands and Heart Café, as much for its modern minimal design, as its hand ground drip coffee. Equally popular is Ink & Lion,amicro-roastery café in Ekkamai, renowned for its baristas and beans.

Ink & Lion Cafe

Hidden behind the walks of Baan 2459, a boutique heritage hotel in the backstreets of Chinatown, is CHATA Specialty Coffee, a gorgeous glasshouse cafe with a crumbling red brick wall it shares with the Buddhist temple next door. Famed for its photogenic foam art and an award -winning barista, brewing only the best imported coffee beans from around the globe, this light-filled spot is popular amongst latte sipping lovelies and their harried Insta-husbands.

Chata Specialty Coffee

At the northern edge of Chinatown, where the heritage streets of Koh Rattanakosin (or Old Town) straddle the Chao Phraya River, are some of Bangkok’s most revered cultural landmarks including The Grand Palace and Wat Pho, but it’s also home to a cluster of hipster bars and too cool cafes.

Oneday Wallflowers Florist and Cafe

Whimsical Oneday Wallflowers, nestled in a down a side lane on the edge of Rattanakosin, or Old Town, in what used to be a kombucha brewery, is a favourite. At street level a divine bespoke flower shop, while up its rustic spiral staircase amidst a jumble of trinkets and flowers, you’ll find delightful rustic cakes and artisan coffees that are as photogenic as the surroundings. 

Blue Whale Maharaj Cafe

Tucked down another Rattanakosin alley, Blue Whale Maharaj Café, a glorious three-story shophouse serving up too-pretty to drink indigo lattes made with butterfly-pea flowers that leave patrons swooning. And Old Town’s Gallery Drip is a cafe and roaster boasting retro vibes and a focus on single origin beans, but it is the Shrek, a coffee jelly topped with milk foam and green tea ice cream, that’s made it Insta-famous.

Gallery Drip

Speaking of which, Bangkok offers a rainbow-hued abundance of cute cafés designed for just that purpose. Dive into the Mermaid Castle Cafe at Siam Square where two floors of sparkly mermaid fashion and collectibles lead to Mermaid tail cupcakes at the café. Or escape reality Unicorn Café at Sathorn where you can don a Unicorn onesie to sip your coffee in a unicorn smattered, pastel paradise.

Mocking Tales fairytale-like cafe

At the enchanting Mocking Tales in Thonglor, patrons slurp fairy tale concoctions amongst spell books and magic potions. And for anime fans, in the Sukhumvit district there’s Ghibli galore at May’s Garden House, a My Neighbor Totoro themed café with a menu inspired by Ghibli films.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10160509905780055

Exploring the flavours of Bangkok’s Royal Island

Rattanakosin is one of Bangkok’s most historic precincts and offers some of the city’s best street food. Travel writer Julie Miller takes us on a culinary tour.

Bordering Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River to the west, several canals to the east and Chinatown in the south is Rattanakosin, one of Bangkok’s most historic precincts. Established in 1782 when King Rama I transferred the capital from Thonburi to the eastern bank of the river, this district is most notable for the imposing Grand Palace and Wat Pho, as well as several grand museums, parks and monuments.

While overseas visitors flock to the glittering palace, however, very few linger to explore the other delights of the Royal Island, including some of the best street food on offer in the City of Angels.

Bangkok Old Town Rattanakosin Wat Pho

And what better way to discover hidden treasures, culture and pulse of a city than with a local? Native New Yorker Jason Friedman has lived in Bangkok for over a decade, working as a hotel manager for Four Seasons, Raffles and Amanresorts as well as independent properties including the flagship property of Rattanakosin, The Siam. In 2016, he formed the consulting firm J.M Friedman and Co, specialising in the conceptualisation and development of experience-driven luxury properties; and while he now spends much of his time travelling, his connection and passion for Bangkok’s Royal Island is palpable.

“Very few foreigners live here so I feel honoured to be able to call this culturally intact portion of Bangkok home,” he tells me. “It’s vibrant, alive and still carries the energy of a trading community.”

This is an area that comes alive at night, with hundreds of locals out in force riding bicycles, eating, drinking and enjoying the festive atmosphere. One of Jason’s favourite places to mingle is Phra Athit Road, a few blocks from the popular backpacker haunt, Khao San Road. On this iconic street, many cute cafes, cool bars and interesting restaurants occupy a collection of quaint shophouses from the turn of last century, serving an eclectic mix of arty students, ex-pats, hush society Thais and tourists. It’s also a hub of live music, with some of the friendliest crowds in Bangkok.

On neighbouring Soi Rambuttri – a busy walking street festooned with colourful paper lanterns – we kick off the night with a cheeky beverage at Madame Musur’s, a thatched restaurant with wicker lounges surrounded by greenery that serves some of the most potent, delicious cocktails in Bangkok.

Jay Fai by Krista – Wikimedia Commons

But it’s the food in these secret alleys that’s really worth travelling for. Some of Bangkok’s most lauded restaurants can be found in the Rattanakosin neighbourhood, including Jay Fai – a simple shophouse restaurant that was awarded a coveted Michelin star in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Curious onlookers and fawning fans now queue for hours to taste the famed drunken noodles and crab omelette cooked by eponymous chef – but sadly, the 70-odd year-old Jay Fai now considers the award a curse due to the increased pressure and unrelenting crowds.

Jay Fai by Krista – Wikimedia Commons

Another restaurant that’s come under international notice is Thipsamai on Maha Chai Road near Golden Mount, whose egg-wrapped, charcoal-flamed phad thai is widely considered Thailand’s most irresistible noodle dish. Then there’s Krua Apsorn in Dinso Road, beloved by Australian superchef David Thompson who first introduced to me to the legendary stir-fried crab curry and other delectable Thai specialties.

But Jason has other plans for tonight – he’s taking me to his all-time favourite restaurant, booked months in advance. Hidden down a dark alley in the middle of a fish market in Chinatown is Jok Kitchen, an assuming one-table restaurant that serves the freshest and best seafood in Bangkok, straight from market to table.

“Jok is a crab-monger who cooks crabs and seafood at night,” Jason tells me. “There’s no menu, you just eat what he cooks. It’s an epic dining experience – I’ve brought Michelin-starred chefs here and they love it.” These simple restaurants – really just one step above street food – represent the best of Thai cuisine – fresh, authentic and exploding with flavour – Thailand on a plate.

The Best Rooftop Bars in Bangkok

Rooftop bars are a common sight across the world, yet few cities do them quite as well as beautiful Bangkok. These sanctuaries of calm high above the busy streets below allow you to experience the magic of the city from an entirely different perspective… not to mention enjoy some deliciously inventive cocktails too. Travel writer and Repeat Traveller Chris Ashton shares his pick of the best.

Bangkok-Best-rooftop-Bars-Sky-Bar-by-Lebua-pink-bar-with-city-skyline-view

From the dizzying heights of Sky Bar by Lebua to the glamour of a bygone era at The Speakeasy, these are the rooftops hideaways worth adding to your Bangkok wish list.

Bangkok-Best-rooftop-Bars-SkyBar-cocktail-2

Sky Bar by Lebua

If you’ve scrolled through #bangkok Instagram results anytime in the last few years, there’s a good chance you’ve seen this showstopper in Bangrak. Sky Bar is iconic – the crowning jewel atop the 63rd floor of Lebua State Tower. A by-product of its Insta-fame means it tends to get pretty busy in the evenings, but it’s worth the wait once that view reveals itself.

Bangkok-Best-rooftop-Bars-Sky-Bar-by-Lebua-green-bar-with-city-skyline-view

Vertigo and Moon Bar

Banyan Tree is a name synonymous with elegance and refinement, and the dazzling Vertigo restaurant and Moon bar atop the Banyan Tree Bangkok are no exception. Find yourself a candlelit table, order a signature cocktail like the Vertigo Sunset, feast on sumptuous seafood and steaks, and watch the city come alive as the sun fades into the horizon.

Bangkok Best rooftop bars Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld - Red Sky arial shot

Red Sky Bar

Fifty-six floors above the city atop Centara Grand at CentralWorld, Red Sky Bar is a treat for the eyes as well as the tastebuds. Though impressive by day, it comes alive with the setting sun. A spectacular 360-degree view across the skyline, a sea of twinkling lights stretching out before you, it’s a perfect place to relax and indulge after a busy day of sightseeing.

Bangkok Best rooftop Bars Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld - Red Sky blue lit with waitress

HI-SO Rooftop

Gazing out across the emerald expanse of Lumphini Park, HI-SO Rooftop Bar at Sofitel So is so hot right now. The 29th floor terrace is a place to see and be seen, to rub shoulders with the Bangkok glitterati, and then dance like no one’s watching to electrifying live DJ sets.

Bangkok Best rooftop Bars Fraser Suites Sukhumvit Above Eleven Rooftop Bar skyline view

Above 11

A whimsical retreat like one Alice might encountered in Wonderland, Above 11 overlooks the vibrant nightlife mecca of Soi 11 and beyond from its vantage high atop Fraser Suites Sukhumvit. The quirky décor, with giant steel trees and armchairs that could double for barrows, is like nowhere else in the city – and the Peruvian Japanese menu is to die for.

Bangkok Best rooftop Bars Fraser Suites Sukhumvit Above Eleven Rooftop Bar

The Speakeasy

Last but by no means least, The Speakeasy is a swinging presence on the 24th and 25th of Hotel Muse Bangkok, an M Gallery Hotel Collection property. A throwback to the 1920s prohibition era, it beckons you in with the sounds of smooth jazz and clinking martini glasses. It’s fun, it’s funky, and destined to become your new favourite drinking den. Ready to raise a glass or two at one of these ultra-glam hideaways? Be sure to dress to impress, and also call or check websites in advance for details on opening hours.

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Exquisite Thai Flavours: Heritage, Traditional & Modern

With a wealth of history, culture and culinary artistry, there’s much more to Thai cuisine besides the popular staple dishes; Pad Thai, Tom Yum and Green Curry. Each Thai region has its own distinctive recipes and dishes that embody its unique culinary heritage and traditions as well as locally grown produce and ingredients. Restaurateur Chef Mod, originally from Central Thailand, travelled Thailand’s four regions to study the rich myriad flavours. He share his insights with Asian Inspirations.

“I used to be chubby because I love to eat. My favourite dish from grandma is Khai Palow (Five-Spice Egg and Pork Belly).”

As he grew older, so did his passion for food and cooking.

“I study herbs and cooking styles from different places. I used to stand next to the street stalls and watch how they cook.”

According to Chef Mod, Thai cuisine is heavily influenced by neighbouring countries. For example, dishes of the Northern Thai Yai ethnic group have their roots in Burmese flavours; and most Thai noodle dishes are Chinese influenced. Generally, Southern Thai food is spicier and stronger than Northern. Thai Royal traditional cuisine also forms a great part of Thai culinary culture, which in recent years has become more popular in restaurants.

“In Thailand, we call the three main ingredients; coriander roots, garlic and white pepper ‘The Three Musketeers’. As for chilli, fish sauce and shrimp paste, they are the other 3 essential ingredients for most Thai dishes.”

To access Chef Mod’s easy-ingredients recipes for all the dishes pictured here, visit the Asian Inspirations website.