There is no doubt that Bangkok has made its mark as one premier dining cities of the world. Here restaurants range from the exclusive fine dining establishments through to casual eateries and on to some of the most adventurous street vendors in the world.
Traveling to Bangkok is easy these days as AirAsia offers convenient twice-daily direct flights from Bali. I arrived around noon for my culinary journey with some thoughts about where to have lunch and as it turned out I found myself in the popular food court at Siam Paragon. It is here that one can, if so inclined, spend the day sampling different dishes with a never-ending variety of small bites.
Like a lot of people, I really love the aromas, tastes, special spices and colourful presentation of Thai food. Each one of their dishes is a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds. The street vendor’s food here is a real treat of discovery for new tastes and exciting ingredients. Some of my favourites include som tam nua, pad Thai, noodle soup and the full range of Thai curries.
As a paradise for diners the city has a great deal to offer in the area of opulent dining options. Some of these offer magnificent vistas along with world-class dishes in magnificent surrounds.
One of these is Sala Rim Naam, sited in the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. Here one can dine in style while enjoying views over the majestic Chao Phraya River. The restaurant presents authentic Royal Thai cuisine such as lon poo talay (sea crab meat cooked in coconut milk); yaam talay (spiced seafood salad); and mussamun nuea (Southern style beef curry with sweet potato and onion). Sala Rim Naam is richly decorated with traditional artefacts and built in the traditional Northern Thai style so creating an elegant ambience and unique cultural experience where one can watch a classical Thai dance show performed every night while at the same time enjoy the curve of the Chao Phraya River.
Other places that belong on any list of excellent dining venues are Nahm, Issaya Siamese Club, Bo Lan and Soul Food Mahanakorn. These along with many others contribute to the rich dining milieu of Bangkok.
Another recommendation for visitors to the city is to embark on one of the luxurious dinner cruises along the Chao Phraya River. This is an opportunity to dine in style while taking in some of the magnificent landmarks such as the Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn), Wat Phrakaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha), the Grand Palace and the Santa Cruz Church. These cruses are guaranteed to provide a memorable evening.
Bangkok is also a city for shoppers and the opportunity to discover the range of goods on offer should not be missed before leaving Bangkok. Siam Paragon, Terminal 21, Central World and The Platinum Fashion Mall are just some of the shopping malls worth visiting.
To enjoy Bangkok, visit www.airasia.com to purchase a ticket.