We love the street food and who can be angry at a classic Tom Yum soup, but these eateries will change the way you think Thai
Blue Elephant
What They Say
A decade ago, acclaimed chef Nooror, finally expanded her growing empire to her home country with the opening of Blue Elephant Bangkok and Phuket, in a sense completing her journey as an arbiter of Thai culinary sensibilities.
What We Say
Of the two storied Blue Elephant outposts, Phuket offers a truly transporting experience. Housed in a restored governor’s house, in the Sino-Portugese architectural tradition, in the heart of the island’s biggest town. The kitchen specialises in traditional southern Thai fare with a modern edge while also offering cooking classes to more scholastically included diners.
Eat Me
What They Say
Established in 1998, Eat Me has become something of an institution on the Bangkok culinary scene. Led by Chef Tim Butler, the restaurant, which spans three levels, specialises in creative twists on classic Thai fare.
What We Say
Under Chef Tim, the menu easily segues between international trends and local gastronomy, all presented in a near artform-esque fashion. Don’t miss the bamboo-clad verandah for a high-ambience pre- or post-dinner aperitif.
Taan
What They Say
Taking its name from the Thai ‘to have a meal’, Taan focuses on farm-to-table fare with an emphasis on small plates and big – often unexpected – flavours. Located on the 25th floor of the Siam@Siam Design Hotel in the kingdom’s capital, dinner at Taan is as much a visual feast as a literal one.
What We Say
The 8-course season-led menu is a tour de force of modern Thai cuisine, perfectly balancing the classics with ever-inventive takes on local ingredients. The view over Bangkok is matched only by the infallible service. Don’t skip the marinated fish roe – a local delicacy.
R-Haan
What They Say
Taking its name from the Thai proverb ‘Nai Nam Mi Pla Nai Na Mi Khao’ – the river, there are fish; In the rice field, there is rice’, which denotes the kingdom’s fertile food offering, this two-time Michelin Star eatery straddles old-world fare with new-world style. Under the guidance of Master Chef Chumpol Jangprai, expect classic dishes served on beautifully hand-painted ceramics.
What We Say
Attention to detail is de rigueur at one of the capital’s finest examples of traditional cuisine, while the interiors favour a pared-back aesthetic, placing the emphasis firmly on the food. Arrive early and enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in the lounge.
Jim Thompson House
What They Say
The former home of ‘Thai silk king’ Jim Thompson (an architectural marvel in its own right – construction starting in 1959 entirely from timber, not a single nail was used) is today a museum to his design achievements – and also home to one of the city’s most low-key, high-brow restaurants.
What We Say
The feeling of calm at the Jim Thompson House restaurant, considering its location, is almost unimaginable. Take a short walk past the museum, past Thai weavers at their silk looms producing the fabric that built this legendary house, and step into the cool, airy eatery. The menu focuses on traditional favourites.
