Bangkok might be one of the world’s great food cities, but some of the most rewarding meals in Thailand lie just beyond it.
From a royal Thai kitchen set in a riverside garden to a chef restoring century-old recipes over fire, these MICHELIN-rated restaurants offer compelling reasons to leave town for a quick lunch, a weekend drive, or an extended tour through the country’s food cultures.
Here are five restaurants within reach of Bangkok that are well worth the detour.
READ: 2 Days in Bangkok
Suan Thip – Nonthaburi
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2025Bangkok has expanded so far and so fast that it seems to extend forever. But just 45 minutes from the city center, rustic Suan Thip feels a world away from the urban sprawl.
The restaurant offers a refined take on traditional Thai food in a garden-framed compound along the Chao Phraya River. The kitchen draws inspiration from royal recipes, using local herbs and classic techniques to create a seasonal menu that’s precise but never fussy. The setting is hard to beat, too. Dine in a wooden house overlooking an English-style garden framed by palms, bamboo, and lotus ponds or under a Thai-style pavilion by the river.
As you nibble on catfish stir-fried with red curry paste and miang kham wrapped in lotus petals plucked from the garden, it’s easy to forget you’re still in the Bangkok metro area.
Address: 17/9 Mu 7, Sukhaprachasan 2 Road, Bang Phut, Pak Kret, Nonthaburi. Tel. +66 2 583 3748.
AKKEE – Nonthaburi
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2025Located on a quiet road in Nonthaburi’s Pak Kret district, AKKEE feels more like a personal project than a traditional restaurant. That’s essentially what it is. Chef Sittikorn Chantop runs the kitchen like a research lab, reviving forgotten recipes sourced from old Thai cookbooks and family archives – and rejecting modern appliances to make them. In other words, expect lots of live-fire cooking and fermentation.
The menu changes often and resists easy classification. But one thing is always true: all the ingredients, from the aged Sakhon Nakhon wagyu striploin to the seasonal ant eggs and the young nipa palm fruits put in a southern Thai-style curry, come from Thailand. Additionally, each dish can be paired with craft beer – much of it Thai – selected by Sittikorn’s brother, Sivakorn.
It’s an intimate, cerebral meal, served with warmth. And if you're already heading to Suan Thip for lunch, AKKEE is just a short ride away, so it’s worth sticking around for dinner.
Address: 42/99 Mu 7, Pak Kret Bypass Road, Bang Talat, Pak Kret, Nonthaburi. Tel. +66 82 561 4691.
Ruan Thai Kung Pao – Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2025In Ayutthaya, tours of the ancient temples usually take center stage. But a stop at Ruan Thai Kung Pao makes a strong case for building your visit around lunch instead.
Set along the Chao Phraya River, beside Wat Choeng Len, the open-air restaurant draws steady local crowds for its grilled freshwater prawns – Ayutthaya’s signature dish. Here, they come halved, flame-charred, and served with creamy head fat and spicy seafood dipping sauce.
But the kitchen doesn’t coast on prawns alone. The entire seafood menu is worth your attention. The fish cakes are excellent, and fried soldier croaker with fish sauce offers an umami kick and crunch in equal measure.
There’s nothing flashy here. Just well-executed dishes, a view of the river under whirring ceiling fans, and the kind of relaxed lunch that makes the rest of the day feel like a bonus.
Address: 1/2 Mu 4, Soi Thetsaban 10, Ratchakhram, Bang Sai, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. Tel. +66 89 887 0871.
Ruean Panya – Samut Sakhon
Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2025It’s easy to miss Ruean Panya, even when you’re right in front of it. Set in a residential street in Samut Sakhon, the restaurant looks more like a family home – because it is. Chef-owner Prunhnee opened this local favorite three decades ago. Today, it has become part restaurant, part art gallery, and part time capsule spread across four buildings.
Inside, oil paintings hang above vintage wood furniture topped with lazy Susans. The vibe is unfussy, warm, and unmistakably personal. And the food reflects the same spirit.
Prunhnee cooks every dish herself, drawing on traditional recipes and local seafood. Favorites include her silky coconut crab dip (lon pu), black pomfret deep-fried with garlic, and jumbo river prawns ordered by the piece. Samut Sakhon may not be a travel hotspot, but it’s worth the side trip for anyone who loves Thai food made with passion.
Address: 1300/600 Soi Ekkachai 13, Norarat Uthit Road, Maha Chai, Mueang Samut Sakhon, Samut Sakhon. Tel. +66 34 424 707.
Nina’s Cafe & Restaurant – Nakhon Ratchasima
Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2025Set against the green hills of Khao Yai National Park, Nina’s Cafe & Restaurant feels like a weekend retreat that also happens to serve excellent food. Antique clocks, chandeliers, and flowering vines frame the dining room, but it’s the kitchen’s honest dishes that stand out most.
Much of the produce comes from the surrounding garden, and the cooks are experts at turning dishes that sound simple on paper into unforgettable bites. The fried pumpkin with salted egg yolk sauce arrives creamy, rich, and beautifully plated. The crunchy stir-fried kale with crispy pork is redolent with wok hei (smoky wok flavor). Humble omelets are fluffed up to golden perfection, bursting with crab meat or seasonal ant eggs.
Just remember to call ahead to pre-order. Nina’s is very popular, especially on weekends, and the dishes are all made fresh.
Address: 59/1 Mu 6, Thanaratch Road, Nong Nam Daeng, Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima. Tel:+66 81 839 5445.
CONTINUE READING: These Are the Best Budget-Friendly Spots in Khao Yai and Nakhon Ratchasima
Illustration image: © Michelin
Illustration image: © Michelin
