Thailand

Restaurants (in the order we like them):​​

We have been to most of the major restaurants in Bangkok, if you don't see a review here, please visit our TripAdvisor page for more info.

• Suhring (fine dining, two Michelin stars) -

  • In Short: Our favorite Michelin-rated restaurant in Bangkok

  • At Length: Fantastic experience from start to finish. We sat in the kitchen and enjoyed watching everything being prepared. The waitstaff was very attentive. There were two sommeliers and the bottle of wine they suggested was outstanding. We weren't sure what to expect from upscale German, but the food was inventive and surprisingly delicious. The dish we thought we'd like the least (eel prepared 3 or 4 ways) was our favorite. There's a charming currywurst dish - and you will want to lick the sauce out of the box. Everything was delicious and beautifully presented. They definitely deserve their star.

• Sra Bua (fine dining, Michelin star) -

  • In Short: Best upscale Thai food. Blue Elephant (casual/upscale, Michelin plate) is another good alternative for Thai.

  • At Length: ​We absolutely loved this restaurant...so much that we hope to go back each time the menu changes. We have tried American Thai food, regular Thai food, and upscale Thai food, and this is by far the best. It should have two Michelin Stars. The chef elevates Thai food while maintaining the unique flavors, and giving it a beautiful setting on the plate. We came on Halloween dressed in costume but the waiters didn't bat an eye. They were extremely professional, attentive, and engaging.

• Bo.lan (upscale, Michelin star) -

  • In Short: Authentic Thai food in a unique, cozy setting

  • At Length: ​We had the vegetarian tasting menu and one of us loved it while the other did not like it at all. Our visit started strong with cocktails in the intimate lobby area. But then we were a bit put off from by a shot of Thai whiskey that threw off our palettes at the start of the meal. Everyone else we know who has come has had the meat tasting menu, and we will likely give this restaurant a second chance to try it. The ambiance is very unique and cozy, and the way they move guests from one course to the next is clever. Worth going, but maybe not the star. 

• Harvest (upscale) -

  • In Short​: Home-style rustic American/International food. Always good and hearty.

  • At Length: We LOVE this place. We have been twice, and both times the food was outstanding. The service is great and the ambiance is very cozy. It feels like 1920s American farm-stead. The food is hearty and good portions. It is delicious. Go.

• Indus (upscale, Michelin plate) -

  • In Short: Best Indian food + nice ambiance

  • At Length: We have been here a couple times, and each time we go, we're reminded why we keep coming back. It is a classic Indian restaurant. Lovely ambiance, really delicious food + good cocktails. The waitstaff is very friendly and eager to help, as is the manager. Our only complaint is that we wish the portions were bigger! It's a bit pricey and far from the BTS, but worth the extra step.

• Sirocco (upscale) -

  • In Short: The best view in the city - 360-degree views of Bangkok including the river​

  • At Length: Go! The view is outstanding!!!! Probably the best in Bangkok. And even better, the food is delicious too. Go for a date night, or treat yourself, just go, it's worth it. You can also go for a drink at the bar. It gets very crowded so reservations are best. There's a dress code.

• Soul Food Mahanakorn (casual, Michelin bib) -

  • In Short: Consistently delicious Thai food. Caters to Westerners. Blue Elephant (casual/upscale, Michelin plate) is another good alternative for Thai.

  • At Length: We love this place. We've been too many times to count. We bring all our guests here. It is classic Thai food elevated a bit. The food is consistently good and the drinks are tasty too. The waitstaff is all female, which is neat. It caters to Westerners but still feels Thai. Definitely make a reservation before you go, it is a small restaurant and fills up.

• EaThai (casual) -

  • In Short: Located in the basement of Central Embassy, an upscale food court with "street" food from all over Thailand​

  • At Length: If you can't take a food tour or are worried about street food, this is the place for you. There's food representative of all different parts of Thailand. Prices are VERY reasonable. If you like spicy food, try the tom yum soup from Kang Ban Phe - it is the BEST (if you don't like mantis shrimp, you can get regular shrimp instead). Bring a sweater, it gets cold inside.

• Rooftops - 

  • Octave -

    • In Short: Top of the Marriott Sukhumvit. Good drinks, great view (not a river view)​.

    • At Length: This is one of the best rooftops in Bangkok. It's especially great at sunset. The rooftop pumps pop and techno music and is packed with 20 and 30-year-olds. If you don't want to be part of that scene, the level below that is usually more chill. The drinks are good, and it's easy to get to via BTS.

  • L'Appart -

    • In Short: Top of the Sofitel. Good happy hour, great view (not a river view), and good food

    • At Length: This restaurant has great food, great service, and an excellent view on a clear night. They have a decent happy hour from 5-7. Dinner isn't available until 7 though. The beef sliders are excellent! The balcony can get crowded, so if you want to go around sunset, it's best to make a reservation.

  • The Loft - 

    • In Short: Upscale bar at the top of the new Waldorf Astoria. Great drinks, great view (not a river view).​

    • At Length: Swanky New York-style bar soaring above the city. As the tallest building in its neighborhood, you can see all along Sukhumvit and across the city (away from the river), and views of the biggest malls in Thailand. Delicious drinks and great service. 

  • Sirocco - See above

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• **A word on street food - if it's meat, make sure it starts raw and is cooked in front of you. Use your best judgment. Ice is usually fine in restaurants, but less certain on the street.

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Read more reviews here: TripAdvisor Gourmet Girlfriends in Bangkok

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Hotels:

• Oriental Residence Bangkok -

  • In Short: 5-star hotel, conveniently located

  • At Length: 5-star hotel in downtown Bangkok. Superb location, excellent service, huge buffet breakfast, large outdoor pool. A great base from which to visit the city. Prices vary greatly based on the season.

• There are tons of hotels throughout the city. We recommend staying by the river for a view, or downtown near Siam BTS (metro; stay closer to Sukhumvit than Petchaburi road)).

 

Activities:

• Chatuchak Market -

  • In Short: Weekend market, 100% worth going - make it a priority.

  • At Length: Sort of like the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, but bigger and more outdoors. You can find anything here - souvenirs, furniture, etc. It gets hot and crowded, go early, and plan to stay 3-4 hours.

• Wat Pho - Massive reclining buddha and the first university for massage. Inexpensive and easy to see. (See dress code note under Grand Palace)

• Jim Thompson House -

  • In Short: Jim Thompson's custom home + cafe and gift shop

  • At Length: Jim Thompson founded the international silk industry in Thailand, and then disappeared without a trace. Beauty and intrigue cross-culturally. He had his house custom built with a mix of Thai and American architecture. Plan to spend 45-1hr here, there is an expensive gift shop with high quality Thai silk. There's also a pretty cafe. The tour is about 30m, it is timed and you have to join one; you may have to wait 10-15m but there's plenty to do while you're waiting.

• Bangkok Food Tours - Night Tuk Tuk Tour -

  • In Short: A food tour with a cultural slant

  • At Length: An excellent introduction to Thailand through food and culture. They will take you to Wat Pho at night (but you can't see the Buddha then), and to the flower market. It's a great experience, and you get to ride in a Tuk Tuk.

• The Grand Palace -

  • In Short: The royal grand palace, museum, and emerald buddha

  • At Length: Hot, hot, hot. The Grand Palace is huge and very crowded. Lots of history and a pretty emerald Buddha in a gorgeous Wat (temple). Go when it opens, get a tour guide, prepare to be hot. You can see the grounds outside the inner walls without paying, and there's a nice indoor museum there that you can see without purchasing a palace ticket ($5 vs $20). If you go, be sure to wear sleeves and cover your knees - they will NOT allow you to cover your shoulders with a scarf, you have to wear a shirt with sleeves (for men and women). This applies for ALL TEMPLES.

• Wat Arun - Beautiful wat across the river. Pretty to see and walk around, but can't go inside.

• Lumphini Park - Beautiful, large park in the center of town. Only go if you have extra time.

• Central Embassy - Upscale mall in downtown Bangkok. Check out the top floor for a neat shared space/bookstore/restaurant, and the lower level for Eat Thai (see above).

• Baipai Thai Cooking School -

  • In Short: Learn to cook Thai food in a beautiful setting

  • At Length: About 25 minutes outside downtown Bangkok (near Chatuchak), this cooking class is outstanding. Beautiful, uniquely Thai setting. Very helpful and large cooking teaching staff. Very well organized - they make it easy to learn. There's also a nice introduction to Thai flavors and ingredients in their private garden. You will leave full of food and knowledge.

• Spas:

  • Diora Spa - Mid-range ($40-50/hour), nice and well-organized, some pampering but not a luxury spa

  • Lavana Spa - Mid-range ($30-40/hour), nice and well-organized, some pampering but not a luxury spa

  • The Touch - Very inexpensive ($12-20/hour), usually a very good massage. They don't pamper you here but it is clean and they are nice.

• Muay Thai - National sport, similar to kickboxing but with more tradition and history

  • Rajdamnern - Go for an authentic experience. This is real, expect lots of sweat, yelling, and possibly blood​.

  • Asiatique Muay Thai Live - Kitschy movie/live action show about the history and development of Muay Thai; more family-friendly.

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Skip:

• Gaggan (fine dining, 2 Michelin stars) -

  • In Short: Too avant garde for its own good

  • At Length: Go for the experience, not the food. We think it's worthwhile, but don't expect to eat Indian food. The flavors are similar, but the food has been so "elevated" that it's a complete departure from what we consider Indian food - warm, yummy, spicy, filling, and over flowing - this is not it. This is modern, fanciful, upscale cuisine with a hint of Indian spice. You get 25 courses but each one is only one bite, so it's hard to reflect on what you've eaten. The biggest part of the meal was a minion shaped dessert, which we found yummy but totally random. The ambiance is nice, but doesn't feel Thai or Indian. You may leave hungry. If you do go, you will need to make a reservation about 2 months in advance, or more. It is rumored that chef Gaggan is leaving.

• Thip Samai (casual, Michelin bib) -

  • In Short: Claims to be where pad thai was invented. Too sweet and goopy, often a long line. Don't go.

  • At Length: We waited an hour to eat here and boy was that a waste of time. By the time we got inside, they had run out of half the menu items. It's cool to watch them make the food outside - for about 2 minutes. The food itself is really average and smothered in a thick sugary sauce. Skip it.

• Khao San Road - Total tourist trap. Designed for backpackers. If you want to eat scorpion on a stick, then don't skip it.