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Bangkok's central business and entertainment area, so there are
lots of places to eat, from classic hotel restaurants to street
stalls. Any time - day or night, you'll never go hungry!
Hotel Dining
The Westin Banyan Tree, Holiday Inn, Pan Pacific, Dusit Thani,
Shangri-La and The Sukothai Hotel all have the kind
of stylish dining you'd expect from these hotels. For delightful
surroundings and lovely food, the Sukothai on Sathorn Road has
a Thai restaurant, The Celadon, set on a lotus pond in
the gardens. Every Sunday, the Colonnade restaurant offers
a sumptuous international buffet brunch accompanied by live jazz
right through the afternoon. The Pan Pacific on Rama 4 has one
of Asia's top Chinese restaurants Hai Tien Lo - well known
for its Dim Sum served on the 22nd floor. If you like Italian,
head to Angelini's at the Shangri-La Hotel, located right on the
river at the end of Silom. Sophisticated yet relaxed in atmosphere,
the superb food is complimented by a great selection of wine and
the company of Bangkok's high society.
Restaurants
Out on the street, you'll find a huge range of restaurants -
particularly around Soi Convent off Silom. Along with the token
Irish pub - serving pub grub and snacks, and Starbucks coffee
shop, there are gems like Prik Kee Noo - a modest Thai
restaurant serving very tasty Thai favourites, Eat Me -
east meets west cuisine served in intimate surroundings (a favourite
with expatriate residents) and Bongo's - Italian food served in
small proportions.
 Soi
Thaniya, between Silom and Suriwong, is home to most of the area's
Japanese eateries and nightclubs. Especially good is the recently
refurbished, but modest, Ramenya, serving huge steaming
bowls of Ramen as well as other Japanese favourites. Reasonably
priced, it's reminiscent of noodle shops in Japan and is well
patronised by local Japanese businessmen enjoying noodles and
tea while reading Japanese newspapers and comics - a good lunch
time spot. Other restaurants in this street can be expensive,
but quality of the food is very good.
Heading down Silom, Soi Patpong has some great places to eat,
hidden away. At night you can weave your way through endless crowds
and street stalls to find places such as Le Boucheron,
a tiny provincial style French gem of a restaurant, and Roberto's
- basic Italian fare. In Soi 6, the area's only Mexican Restaurant,
El Gordo's, offers Tex-mex favourites and Margaritas.
Towards the Holiday Inn, in the back streets lies the popular
Ban Chien - a very picturesque Thai house serving Thai
specialties. Visitors love this restaurant which is unique for
this area.
Food Halls & Local eateries
Around the streets contained within Central Silom Complex and
CP Tower you'll find lots of eating places for locals. At Central
Department Store, there's very good food hall, where at lunch
times you can sample noodles, soup, rice dishes, sweets, and snacks
for less than 100 Baht a head. Out in the surrounding complex
you'll find restaurants such as MK Suki (Thai style Sukiyaki),
Vietnamese restaurants, Japanese restaurants, bakeries and fast
food outlets like McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Baskin
Robbins, KFC etc.
At lunchtimes and late at night, several vendors set up tables
and stools along the street. Noodle soup, fried noodles, sticky
rice with chicken or pork, barbecued seafood (mostly only at night),
green papaya salad and fried chicken - there is lots to choose
from. Drinks and snacks like fried banana and sweet potato, steamed
nuts and corn, satay, fresh fruit and dumplings are always available
on the street.
Dinner Cruises
 The
major hotels fronting on the Chao Phraya River all have some sort
of a dinner cruise. Boats, ranging from massive river cruise boats
to charmingly converted rice barges, provide meals while diners
view the sights along the river. The big boats feature buffets
while the smaller vessels often provide individual service. Several
riverside restaurants also have dinner cruises at much lower prices.
Two of the most popular cruises are operated in rice barge conversions
by Loy Nava (02-437-4932) and Manohra Cruises (02-476-0021). The
latter, which operates out of the Bangkok Marriott Resort &
Spa, is particularly appropriate for couples who want a romantic
evening
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