Home to the well-heeled and hip, Thonglor is Bangkok’s epicentre of all things trendy. The 2.5km stretch between Sukhumvit and Petchburi Road has more clubs and bars than any other area in the city. Creative restaurants and shops have cropped up steadily over the years making this area, once nothing more than a hub for wedding dress shops and car dealerships, one of the most interesting dining sections of the city.
A stroll along this popular neighbourhood’s lively street reveals hip cafés, boutique shops, bustling bars, salons, and, most importantly, more restaurants than you can wrap your head around. It’s hard to know where to begin eating, so let us lead you to our favourite culinary gems.
Bo.Lan (One Michelin Star)
In a quiet spot on soi 53, Dylan Jones and Bo Songvisava are creating magic in the intimate space of Bo.Lan. Arguably one of the more famous of the growing crop of nouveau-Thai restaurants, the hyper sustainably-minded chefs deserve all the praise. The tasting menus here are made up of Thai dishes derived from traditional recipes and ingredients that have been thoughtfully created with farmers, producers, fishermen, and communities in mind - it’s fine dining but with serious soul.
Canvas (One Michelin Star)
With its stately double arched façade, Canvas stands out in elegance amongst its neighbouring humble shophouses. The impeccably plated dishes thought up by chef Riley Sanders quickly earned the restaurant a star, and for good reason. The seasonal six- and nine-course tasting menus here feature local, organic or wild ingredients that have been meticulously sourced from farmers and suppliers all around the country. Think dishes like king mackerel with ant egg, cucumber, soy, and dill, or Thai Wagyu with Thai truffle and Chinese kale. If you can, grab a seat at the chef’s table-style counter to get a close-up of Riley at work.
R.Haan (One Michelin Star)
Inspired by an old Thai saying: "Nai Nam Mi Pla Nai Na Mi Khao" (In the river, there are fish; In the rice field, there is rice), R.Haan aims to preserve Thai culture through the art of cooking. Set in a prominent house on Thonglor soi 9, the elegant dining room feels more like a meal at your deep-pocketed grandmother's house. Each of the three set menus consists of 14 dishes that use local produce. Choose the Amazing Thai Taste Samrub menu for Chef Chumpol Jangprai’s take on familiar dishes like green curry, or opt for the Royal Thai Taste Samrub menu to sample dishes like miang pla too (grilled mackerel salad wrap) complete with Hua Hin sturgeon caviar.
La Dotta (Michelin Plate)
There is something distinctly romantic about fresh, handcrafted pasta, and La Dotta has us completely heart-eyed. The tiny pasta hole on Thonglor soi 9 is a colourful ode to one of Italy’s most famous dishes, serving variations like tagliatelle, tortelloni and garganelli all of which are hand-made every morning with 100% natural Italian flour. The Tortelloni 4 Formaggi filled with Italian cheeses served in a neat puddle of 24-month aged Parmigiano-Reggiano fondue will make you want to sing, while the very Instagrammable (read: cute as a button) bomboloni doughnuts stuffed with Italy’s favourite sweet flavours— Nutella, tiramisu, ricotta and honey— are too tasty to feel guilty about.
See what our inspectors said about La Dotta here.
Patara (Michelin Plate)
Patara’s laid-back and cosy space inside a converted heritage home makes fine dining feel approachable with its contemporary décor and vast garden space. The restaurant is tucked in soi 19 and has a stillness that feels luxurious in the buzzing city. It’s a great place to ease your out-of-town guests into Thai cuisine with authentic, approachable dishes that are local-approved. Plus, the granular attention to detail in flavour-packed dishes like the almost-too-pretty-to-eat assorted appetiser platter is sure to impress.
Suppanniga Eating Room (Michelin Plate)
This outlet fan-favourite Thai food joint Supanniga Eating Room serves three-generation-old recipes of staple dishes that have won the hearts of both locals and visitors alike. The restaurant successfully balances a refined (though, nowhere near stiff) atmosphere with plates that boast authentic flavour for a price that doesn’t make your eyes water. The menu here is extensive, which means you’ll want to come with a bigger group to order more. On our list are the chilli pork crackling dip appetiser, crab curry, and a perfectly flaky deep-fried catfish.
See what our inspectors said about Supanniga Eating Room here.
Tempura Kanda (Michelin Plate)
Go ahead, put all your trust into the hands of Chef Chaloemrat. He’s gathered unblemished stalks of asparagus, plump mushrooms, whole pink shrimp and other seasonal bites and is frying them to perfection at this tempura omakase in Thonglor soi 5. What the space lacks in frills it makes up for in piping hot tempura that’s crispy without feeling greasy. In traditional omakase fashion, seats are limited so be sure to book ahead.
Soul Food Mahanakorn (Bib Gourmand)
Opened by a Pennsylvanian expat with an affinity for soul-soothing flavours, the hardy mouth-watering dishes at Soul Food Mahanakorn are just what the doctor ordered. The family-style menu is brimming with choices— most of which we’d argue are worth trying— so you’re better off coming with a group so that you can rightfully fill the table with curries, salads, and plates of full-flavour meats. Make sure to try the red curry with smoked duck and rambutan and a set of the sticky tamarind ribs that go all too well with the tequila, fresh ginger and coconut-mixed Chino-Latino cocktail.
See what our inspectors said about Soul Food Mahanakorn here.
Baan Ice
Get an unapologetically spicy taste of the south at Baan Ice, a home-style southern Thai restaurant housed in a brightly-lit two-storey building right on Thonglor road. It’s the sister restaurant of Sorn (One Michelin Star), owner Supaksorn Jongsiri’s one-starred fine dining venture, and boasts just as much flavour. Call-out dishes include the pungent sataw pad kapi goong (stir-fried stink beans and prawns with kapi or krill paste), and the quintessentially southern gaeng luang pla samlee (a turmeric-doused curry with black banded trevally and fermented bamboo shoot). The restaurant hits every spice note.
Bars
Thaipioka
There are few better places to chill out post-meal with a digestif than decidedly cool Thaipioka. The long teak bar, which looks especially sleek against the dim orange lighting, takes up most of the plant-brimming space. Since the guys behind Q&A and Sugar Ray are responsible for the bar, solid drinks are all but guaranteed. Here, Thai flavours take precedence so you can expect ingredients like turmeric and chilli paired with spirits like black sesame-infused whiskey and beef-fat infused rum.
Backstage Bar
Intimate yet with an energy that makes you want to keep the party going, Backstage Bar is where you’ll want to end the night. The bar, which is hidden behind plush red curtains, offers a chilled-out vibe that none of the area’s drinking holes seem to offer. Classics are done exceptionally well here, but we’d argue the chamomile-infused vodka and passion fruit laden Forgetful Painter cocktail is the next best choice.
