BiG Beyond : Ignite Your Senses In Bangkok City

Sponsored by Tourism Authority of Thailand |

*While we’ve taken every precaution to ensure a location is halal, or accommodates halal service requests, please reconfirm with vendors on your dietary or religious restrictions beforehand.

Bangkok’s burgeoning food scene is always a key highlight of any trip there; from the greatest street eats to impeccable fine dining and avant garde cuisine, this is a city that has rightfully earned its stellar reputation amongst foodies. The Mandarin Oriental is an excellent choice for a luxury stay or to incorporate some extra special activities to your itinerary. You can indulge your taste buds with The Author’s Lounge high tea experience, surrounded by the history of famous literary guests and old world charm of picturesque 1900’s interiors, or start your night at one of the hotel’s incredible riverside restaurants which may include traditional cultural performances.

The Sala Rattanakosin boutique hotel features some of the most sought after riverfront views of the famed Wat Arun and Wat Pho temples, which are also available via their award-winning restaurant and bar, as well as the rooftop bar. You’re afforded an uninterrupted view minus the tourist crowds, that is particularly enchanting at night!

If you’d prefer to be moving, a river cruise dinner is just the thing. The Manohra River Cruise and Dinner departs from the jetty at the luxury Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort and transports you to a gentle trip downriver in a restored antique rice barge. These iconic vessels were once the primary mode of transport on the Chaophraya river, particularly during the Thonburi period in the mid 18th century. You can even book a three-day cruise on the Manohra for a once in a lifetime experience with Loy Pela Voyages! Anantara is truly an accommodation where the true Bangkok experience is at your doorstep.

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Bangkok has no shortage of interesting ways to eat; the Good Noodle Restaurant fancies up the humble instant noodle genre, while Phed Mark‘s Pad Khra Pao-only restaurant plays to the beat of a familiar question in Bangkok. How spicy? The unique concept behind Vistakitchen restaurant in Lumphini district serves a menu recommended to your particular blood type however you are of course free to choose any of the dishes available regardless. If you’re looking for a less touristy market to sample Thai fare, Or Tor Kor may be your best bet. It’s listed on CNN’s Best Fresh Markets of the World, and although, it is known for its high quality of produce and food available. You may pay a little bit more here than other most popular and perhaps cheaper markets, but it’s definitely worth it!

Want to dine on the pulse of Bangkok’s thriving gourmet scene? If you don’t need to think about Halal restrictions, then we suggest a night at Samrub Samrub Thai. This restaurant is literally a hidden gem — tucked behind a garage with a nondescript steel door with their name and a little pig icon — so you might have some trouble finding it but we promise the journey is worthwhile! Run by a husband and wife duo who co-founded the restaurant in 2017 after travelling across Thailand to learn about sub-regional Thai cuisines and native ingredients. Chef Prin Polsuk and Thanyaporn “Mint” Jarukittikun have created a dining experience that is wholesome, attentive and warm, all the while producing an immensely thoughtful hyper-local and hyper-seasonal menu that changes monthly. The food will be familiar to Southeast Asian visitors with recognisable ingredients like wild ginger and salted fish, but this is certainly no ordinary meal!

Haoma and MIA Bangkok are fine examples of what happens when vegetables take centre stage in a restaurant setting. Deepanker Khosla, the intrepid chef behind Haoma is described as “passionate about reimagining authentic pan-Indo-European cuisine as he is for achieving food sustainability”. He now runs Thailand’s first urban farm and zero-waste restaurant in the heart of Bangkok under the philosophy of growing to give back. The menu is split into a meat/seafood and vegan/vegetarian experience, where by no means does the meatless menu play second fiddle; the starter of Eggplant Bati, Bombay Sandwich, Corn Tea Pie and Water Chestnut Pie sets you up for a full on flavour bomb of refined combinations and techniques that you won’t even need the meat!

MIA also has a power couple behind its success with Thai-born Pongcharn “Top” Russell and Sarawakian Michelle Goh helming that 1-Michelin starred restaurant. They also approached the menu from a similar perspective, with Vegan, Vegetarian and Meat/Seafood, along with a wonderful alcohol menu that pairs beautifully with the food. The vibe is eclectic, taken from their extensive experience in fine-dining and Michelin star restaurants around the world, so expect international pairings like a Pineapple Sorbet with Thai Sweet Basil and Coconut Snow, or the Cocollos Oyster with fermented Kiwi and Gin & Tonic. All delicious, all really good for you (except the hangover if you plan to indulge in their yummy cocktails!)

If you want cheap and cheerful street vibes, there’s no better place than Bangkok’s Chinatown. Yaowarat Road has had a long reputation for some of Bangkok’s best bites on a budget and even cheaper shopping. Pop over to Sampeng Alley and Old Siam Shopping Plaza which are an easy walking distance from the main road area. Night time is where it’s at as plastic chairs and tables get unfolded to welcome the start of Chinatown’s Night Market where you’ll be enveloped in the bustling smells and sounds of food and chatter!

Boat Noodle Alley next to the Victory Monument is a must-visit if you’re new to Bangkok — this spiced pork blood broth with noodles is far more delicious than it sounds. Sour, spicy, salty, in a bite sized slurp. It’s ultra-comforting even in the Thai humidity. Halal versions are available but you should definitely double check as the soup can sometimes be the original pork one served with beef or chicken! If you’re willing to travel just to try, Kuay Teow Nai Buem and Somjit Boat Noodle on Samsen Road are two excellent restaurants locals flock to for their boat noodle fix. 

 

Phrigkiao Bangkok and Jirakaan restaurants are prime example of Bangkok city’s incredibly accommodating and diverse food and beverage industry; the quality of their halal dishes showcase attention to detail, thoughtfulness in approach and execution worthy of accolades, all at affordable price points. Yana Restaurant at the popular MBK shopping mall is fast becoming a standard choice for anyone seeking good Halal Thai and international food on a budget! Servings are decent, the food is reliably tasty and they can also accommodate crowds which is great for family or friend trips. Amritsr Restaurant is a good option for those craving for Indian spice and has branches across Thailand including Phuket and Pattaya.

Just as there is no shortage of things to eat, there’s always something to do or see in Bangkok city. There is a huge array of activities to suit every desire. The city’s maze of small side streets and upcoming districts are filled with constant opportunity for surprise and new favourite spots. Tour packages may seem kitschy but they can be well worth it if you’re looking to get the most out of your trips (holidays are about relaxing, after all!). If you are not keen on braving the streets to uncover some hidden gems in the city via a walking food tour, the unique hop on – hop off experience of the Bangkok Bustaurant might just be up your alley! It is exactly as it sounds — a restaurant on a bus, chauffeuring you to the top sights and attractions like Wat Pho Temple and the Royal Grand Palace — all in air-conditioned comfort with a luxury five star Thai meal to boot. If you’re after an adrenaline rush, catch a fiery Muay Thai match at the famous One Stadium or take part in a class at the local dojo — there are plenty around!

For a different kind of rush, Bangkok’s shopping is unparalleled. You could literally spend an entire day at one of the many malls — ICONSIAM in Thonburi district is one of the best thanks to the over 7000 shops accommodating all budgets, and beautiful traditional Thai architecture with a literal indoor floating market on the ground floor. Best of all? You can get to ICONSIAM for free — boats leave from the Sathorn Pier, Wat Muang Kae, Si Phraya and Ratchawongse docks and a free bus departs from BTS Krung Thonburi and Wongwian Yai stations. The latest addition is Emsphere — the shining cosmopolitan jewel of the rising Em district. There’s 200,000 square feet of shopping bliss which also houses the first ever Sky Beach Club in Bangkok, the massive pet-friendly Em Yard park and Thailand’s 4th IKEA branch. We could spend all day here and never want to leave!

More akin to the hustle of market life? The Chatuchak Market experience is a must! Like other markets in Thailand, there are bargains galore and plenty of unique Thai fashion brands to discover. Brave the crowds on the weekend for the full experience of all 15,000 stalls being open (Fridays are for late-night shopping until midnight!) and practice your best poker face to haggle and get those discounts. They even have courier services for shipping your things back home. 

After all this activity, you’ll need some time to recover and rejuvenate. Bangkok’s got your back on this! Budget massage parlours are aplenty, but why do the usual when you can really relax at one of the great spa and wellness retreats across the city? The Aviani Bangkok properties put you on the pulse of the city thanks to prime locations along the Chao Phraya River and trendy On Nut neighbourhood in Sukhumvit — of course to work up a sweat in the gym, relax by their view-tiful pools or indulge in Aviani’s unique spa packages. It’s the ideal choice for anyone looking for affordable luxuries.

Service and amenities at the popular Banyan Tree Bangkok are of course, top notch. Their holistic approach to wellness has resulted in a menu of luxurious spa treatments, from authentic Thai body scrubs to fragrant massage oils, all meticulously crafted using only fresh and natural ingredients. Add to that an amazing panoramic view of the city’s skyline and you’ve got an award-winning experience on your hands. You don’t even have to leave your room if you’re staying in their Spa Sanctuary Suite! On the other side of the river, the Moo6 island district is home of the Rakxa Wellness Retreat where you’ll find state of the art facilities and technology that marries traditional techniques and cutting edge medical strategy together in a surprising oasis of calm. Choose one of their targeting programmes or have a personalised experience — either way, you’re guaranteed to leave Bangkok feeling brand new!

Visit: ww.tourismthailand.org