From Michelin’s Bib Gourmand snacks to cocktails at the highest rooftop bar, here’s a one-day guide to eating your way through the city
Do we need another food guide to Bangkok? Maybe not, but this vibrant city is so vast and ever-changing that there is bound to be something we miss. Or perhaps not even aware of. As a veritable destination for gourmands with its great mix of upscale to street offerings, it is also impossible to try everything on a short trip.
See also: A food lover’s guide to Hakuba, Japan
Returning to Bangkok for the first time in three years has inspired me to get out of my comfort zone, and explore nooks and corners I was too lazy to venture out to previously. Dedicating a full day to giving my tastebuds a real treat, this was my itinerary from morning to night. Suffice to say, it was time well spent.
Brunch at SookSiam
Food courts in Bangkok are usually a safe bet if you want convenience. Two of my go-to's are Gourmet Eats in Siam Paragon and Eathai in Central Embassy. SookSiam is now added to the list.
Located on the ground floor of Iconsiam on the banks of Chao Phraya River, Sooksiam has taken the food court concept to the next level. Designed to resemble a typical street bazaar albeit with air-conditioning, it boasts a vast variety of dishes from 77 provinces in Thailand, giving you the opportunity to truly indulge in authentic local flavours. There are also exotic offerings like fried sago worms, centipedes, and scorpions to try—if you can stomach them!
From all types of noodles and rice to seafood and curries, there is such a lot to discover in this massive 15,000 sq m space that you wouldn't be able to resist getting some takeaways like the pretty chor muang (Royal Flower Dumplings) for snacking later because, at this point, you're just too full to eat any more.
Tatler tip: Come early before the crowd builds up or you will be 'fighting' for a table.
How to get here: Take the BTS Skytrain to Krung Thon Buri station and change to the Gold Line. Alternatively, take the complimentary Iconsiam shuttle boat from Sathorn Pier (next to the Saphan Taksin BTS station) or Sri Phraya Pier.
Iconsiam | 299 Charoen Nakhon Soi 5 , Charoen Nakhon Road, Khlong Ton Sai Sub District, Khlong San District, Bangkok 10600