KuppaSupposedly a former CIA hangout, this cafe restaurant is definitely worth a visit purely for the intrigue. The chic, modern interior serves delicious food that is a healthy sampling of unique Thai and Western fare that'll appeal to anyone wanting a taste of home. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Address: 39 Sukhumvit Soi 16
Le BanyanThis upscale restaurant epitomizes elegance with white clapboard walls adorned with Thai carvings, old photos, and prints of early Bangkok. The flagship dish is pressed duck with goose liver, shallots, wine and
Armagnac to make the sauce. Other fine choices include a rack of lamb a la Provençal and salmon with lemongrass. Open Monday to Saturday for dinner. Reservations advisable.
Address: 59 Sukhumvit Soi 8
May KaideeA firm favorite in Bangkok's dining scene, May Kaidee is really informal, but serves some of the most mouth-watering food the city has to offer. Known for serving the best massaman curry in Thailand and an array of dishes, from sweet green curry to good stir-fries and black sticky-rice with mango for dessert, this eatery is a must! Open daily from 7am to 11pm. Cash only.
Address: At the eastern terminus of Banglamphu & Khao San Road
The Mango TreeThis 80-year-old Siamese restaurant house features its very own tropical garden and offers a quiet retreat from Bangkok's chaotic Patpong area. The food may not be authentic, but it's delicious and the diverse menu with choices such as mild, green chicken curry and crispy spring rolls won't leave guests disappointed. Live traditional music and classic Thai decorative touches create a wonderfully charming atmosphere. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations advisable.
Address: 37 Soi Tantawan
Somboon SeafoodThis restaurant may not have the best, or indeed any, atmosphere for that matter, but the food is simply delicious and well worth it for those who are willing to make the sacrifice. A popular eatery, Somboon Seafood is regularly packed with friendly staff and with such a vast menu, guests will find themselves coming back time and again. The restaurant also features a large aquarium full of live seafood such as prawn, fish, lobster and crab. The house specialty, chilli crab curry, comes highly recommended. Open daily from 4pm to 11pm. Credit cards not accepted.
Address: 169/7-11 Surawongse Rd
Cabbages and CondomsThis aptly named restaurant helps fund population control, AIDS awareness and a host of rural development programs. Set in a large compound, the two-story restaurant offers guests both indoor and outdoor dining, the latter being decorated with fairy lights creating a wonderfully romantic atmosphere. The kai hor bai teoy (fried boneless chicken wrapped in pandan leaves with a dark sweet soy sauce for dipping) is an exciting dish for the more adventurous palates. Open daily for lunch and dinner, reservations advisable.
Address: 10 Sukhumvit Soi 12
Eat MeThis interesting art café-cum-eatery is a great place for culture vultures to stop off for a quick bite. The décor is airy with dark wood, exposed industrial beams and oblique lighting on the walls of the ever-changing exhibition space. Eat Me is a great place for a quiet and intimate meal. Open daily from 3pm to 1am.
Address: Soi Pipat 2
Dosa KingThe very popular South Indian aromatic cuisine known as Dosa is a Punjabi dish traditionally eaten with the hands, consisting of a rice and lentil pancake, crepe or tortilla traditionally folded with a potato curry or other savoury filling, and served with a vegetable and lentil broth called sambar. Dosa King is ideal for a quick and healthy meal for those exploring Sukhumvit. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Address: 153/7, Sukhumvit Rd, Soi -11/1
Website: www.dosaking.net
SpassoDoubling as a restaurant and a nightclub, Spasso is a well-known and popular spot in Bangkok. The bar is always busy, the restaurant bustles and sometimes there is even live music. The menu is exciting and diverse with carpaccios, wonderful pizzas and other favorite Italian dishes spiced up with a Thai twist. Local bands start at around 9:30pm, and the dancing starts not long after. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations advisable.
Address: 494 Ratchadamri Rd (inside Grand Hyatt, Erawan)
LemongrassPopular with Westerners and just a short walk from the skytrain, Lemongrass serves some of Bangkok's finest Nouvelle Thai cuisine. Favorites on the menu include pomelo salad and chicken satay. The tom yang kung (a spicy sweet-and-sour prawn soup with ginger shoots) is delicious and comes highly recommended. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Bookings are advisable.
Address: 5/1 Sukhumvit Soi 24
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The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
