continued from Bangkok Honeymoon Planner

Bangkok Restaurants

Bangkok residents have always valued the option of dining out, regardless of income level. As a result, the city is filled with restaurants, ranging from trendy cafes that would hold their own in New York or Paris to sidewalk stalls where the dinner tab is counted in spare change. At latest count, the city boasted over 50,000 eateries, not counting numerous street vendors.

Thai food remains tops; although locals like a spice level that surpasses fiery; most restaurants will offer foreigners a milder alternative. Seafood, Chinese, and Indian cuisines are popular as well, along with an increasing number of Italian eateries. Most large hotels also offer continental dishes including many American specialties.

Lord Jim
Oriental Hotel
48 Soi Oriental
+66 (02) 659-9000
www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok/
$35

Open for lunch and dinner, this eatery, named for a Joseph Conrad character, overlooks the Chao Praya river. Its lunch buffet has long been a popular business favorite, serving dishes that include Californian, Japanese, Thai, and Indian. Dinner brings a la carte service featuring primarily seafood (including Sushi and Sashimi) as well as live music most evenings.

Le Café Siam
4 Rama IV Rd.
+66 (02) 671-0030
Fax +66 (02) 671-0031
www.lecafesiam.com
$45

Located in a colonial-style former private mansion, today this renovated 1920s building houses one of the city’s best French restaurants. Specialties such as grilled tenderloin in Béarnaise sauce and herb crusted rack of lamb from New Zealand compete with gourmet Thai dishes such as deep fried red seabass topped with sweet and sour sauce.

Shenanigan’s The Irish Pub & Restaurant
1/5-6 Convent Road, Sivadon Building (off Silom Road)
Phone: +66 (02) 266 7160
Fax: +66 (02) 631 1013
www.shenanigans-bangkok.com
$15

A favorite with Bangkok’s huge ex-pat population, this genuine pub is open for lunch and dinner daily. Lunch buffets are an all-you-can-eat orgy with daily specials ranging from pastas to international fare to carvery items. Menu items cater to those homesick for Irish fare; beef and Guinness pie, cottage pie, and Irish stew compete with liver, bacon, and onions and Chicken Tikka Masala, England’s most popular curry.