R-Haan's seasonal menu
Cover Grilled Thai angus beef with cassia leaves curry at R-Haan. (Photo: Facebook.com / RHAANThai)

Indulge in world-class cuisine at five of Bangkok’s most sophisticated fine-dining venues

Thailand is famous for its street food, but in recent years, the west has finally woken up to the fact that it is a pioneer in the gastronomic world as a whole. Not only is regional and local cuisine is thriving in Bangkok, international chefs, that bring with them a myriad flavours, textures and influences, also contribute to the city’s burgeoning reputation’s claims to epicurean excellence. During the past two decades, the fine dining scene in Bangkok has boomed, with now close to 100 establishments run by award-winning and globally renowned chefs, offering increasing diversity to the ever-evolving scene.

Here are some five of our favourite places to enjoy top-notch dining experiences.

1. R-Haan

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Photo 1 of 4 Peppercorn chili dip dish with deep fried crab meat from the southern border provinces at R-Haan. (Photo: Facebook.com / RHAANThai)
Photo 2 of 4 Traditional Thai tom yum soup with king river prawns served in a modern style at R-Haan. (Photo: Facebook.com / RHAANThai)
Photo 3 of 4 Songkhla Lake sea bass grilled with tumeric served with stir fried chili paste at R-Haan. (Photo: Facebook.com / RHAANThai)
Photo 4 of 4 Grilled Thai angus beef with cassia leaves curry at R-Haan. (Photo: Facebook.com / RHAANThai)

Thai haute cuisine is finally making its presence known around the world, but if you’re in the Thai capital and want to enjoy original—though elevated—flavours as they have been enjoyed for centuries, head to R-Haan. The menu, which changes in line with the seasons, pays homage to the regal Thai feasts of yesteryear, bringing back royal flavours with a modern approach. The interiors are contemporary Thai, while the tableware patterns resemble those that appeared at the Thai royal court during the early Rattanakosin era (circa 1780).  

Chef Chumpol Jangprai curates Thai dishes from all regions of the country, and puts his own spin on seasonal, indigenous ingredients and age-old recipes; think deep-sea black tiger prawns from Trang Province served with Royal Project caviar, roe from Thailand’s first caviar farm; tom kha cappuccino with coconut cream, galangal bisque, chicken and watermeal, the latest superfood; and aromatic grilled duck breast with wild honey passionfruit sauce.

R-Haan
Address: 131 Soi Thonglor 9, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana District, Bangkok, +66 (0)2 059 0433 

2. Mezzaluna 

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Photo 1 of 5 Charcoal grilled Niigata Murakami beef at Mezzaluna. (Photo: Facebook.com / MezzalunaBangkok)
Photo 2 of 5 Scallops served half-cooked with yurine, aged parmesan and karasumi. (Photo: Facebook.com / MezzalunaBangkok)
Photo 3 of 5 Niigata Murakami at Mezzaluna. (Photo: Facebook.com / MezzalunaBangkok)
Photo 4 of 5 Mezzaluna in Bangkok. (Photo: Facebook.com / MezzalunaBangkok)
Photo 5 of 5 A steak dish featuring Niigata Murakami Beef at Mezzaluna. (Photo: Facebook.com / MezzalunaBangkok)

Situated on the 65th floor of the Lebua Hotel, Mezzaluna is overseen by Chef Ryuki and his team who create some of the most unexpected flavour combinations, through an exquisite menu that is French-inspired with a healthy dose of Japanese influence. 

Added to the exquisitely opulent ambience of the dining area and the chic, dark-wood-heavy Eighties interior are the captivating evening views of the sparkling cityscape over the bend of the Chao Phraya River are equally captivating. The two-Michelin-starred restaurant is passionately seasonal, with dishes changing according to what is available. The only constant is the chef’s “special Wagyu”—delicately marbled, melt-in-your-mouth beef known as “Exceptional Murakami”. Exceptional flavours plus an exceptional setting equals an unbelievable night out.

Mezzaluna 
Address: Lebua Hotel, State Tower, 1055 Silom Road, Bang Rak District, Bangkok, +66 (0)2 624 9555

3. Le Normandie by Alain Roux 

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Photo 1 of 3 Wagyu served with Girolle mushrooms, lardons and red wine jus at Le Normandie. (Photo: Facebook.com / LeNormandieByAlainRoux)
Photo 2 of 3 A dish from Le Normandie's classic French degustation menu. (Photo: Facebook.com / LeNormandieByAlainRoux)
Photo 3 of 3 Turbot fish prepared in meunière style at Le Normandie. (Photo: Facebook.com / LeNormandieByAlainRoux)

Perched on the top floor of the Mandarin Oriental, this timelessly elegant French haute cuisine venue has been an important ingredient in Bangkok’s culinary scene for over 60 years—and little wonder, given its sophisticated air, exceptional service and culinary excellence. Upon entering the restaurant, the first sensory experience is the view: both of the beautifully adorned, modern Thai-style dining room and of stunning views of the Chao Phraya River. The senses scarcely have time to recover as you immerse yourself in the menu in front of you. 

Le Normandie by Alain Roux serves à la carte and set menus for both lunch and dinner, offering such gems as warm oysters with Champagne sauce, black truffle and Oscietra caviar, pan-fried Brittany blue lobster medallion with ginger vegetables and white port sauce, and the signature roasted Challandais duck, a fixture on the menu of the Roux family’s three-starred restaurant The Waterside Inn in Britain, too.

Le Normandie by Alain Roux 
Address: Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 40 Charoen Krung Soi, Bang Rak District, Bangkok, +66 (0)2 659 9000

4. Sühring

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Photo 1 of 4 Crayfish and pumpkin dish at Sühring. (Photo: Facebook.com / suhringtwins)
Photo 2 of 4 A dish featuring blue lobster, beetroot and vanilla at Sühring. (Photo: Facebook.com / suhringtwins)
Photo 3 of 4 Rote Grütze, a classic compote style dessert made from red fruits at Sühring. (Photo: Facebook.com / suhringtwins)
Photo 4 of 4 Spätzle, featuring Alba truffle at Sühring. (Photo: Facebook.com / suhringtwins)

Owner-chefs and twin brothers Mathias and Thomas Sühring founded  this German eatery that encapsulates memories of their youth alongside family recipes and travel experiences across the globe. This is not the biergarten fare of your Interrailing youth, but a whimsical take on traditional German dishes, nestled in a tranquil neighbourhood. 

The restaurant was designed to look like a house, with four distinct zones: a cosy dining area with a relaxed vibe, a kitchen, where you can witness the twins preparing the food you then dive into, a glasshouse for diner à deux and a beautiful garden view, and living room for private parties of up to eight people.

Expect the unexpected, with such local ingredients being incorporated into fresh takes on traditional dishes in the Sühring Erlebnis (“experience”) tasting menu. There’s the ethereal Himmel und Erde (Heaven and Earth)—a delicate combination of mackerel, apple and black pudding; don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it—and langoustine with courgette, kelp and dill. And if you’re lucky, they might be serving their spin on Currywurst, that most German of German street foods. When in Bangkok …

Sühring
Address: 10 Soi Yen Akat 3, Chong Nonsi, Yan Nawa District, Bangkok, +66 (0)2 107 2777 

5. Sorn

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Above Chef's special dish featuring crab steamed rice with crab curry and pickled papaya at Sorn. (Photo: Facebook.com / sorn)

Sorn epitomises the artistry of Southern Thai cuisine. Patron chef Supaksorn “Ice” Jongsiri takes inspiration from his grandmother’s southern-style cooking to curate innovative dishes that explore novel ways of experimenting with spices, particularly chillies.

The country’s south is known for its rich, spicy flavours, and Jongsiri celebrates those using ingredients imported daily from Surat Thani Province. The chefs at this two-starred establishment also celebrate endangered cooking techniques such charcoal cooking, and a traditional method of steaming rice. The seafood and curries are particularly drool-worthy; one signature dish is Gems on a Crabstick, which takes the most fought-over parts of a crab—the leg and the roe—and combines them with yellow curry in one irresistible bite.

Add to the faultlessly executed exquisite dishes near-perfect service, and it’s no wonder Sorn is one of the most difficult places to make a reservation. Plan well in advance; you have been warned.

Sorn
Address: 56 Soi Sukhumvit 26, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei District, Bangkok, +66 (0)99 081 1119

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