Showing 1-10 of 34 results
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Second time around
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 11/10/2013
» The second branch of aLL Six To Twelve follows the original in Lang Suan. It has a strong industrial feel with its bare concrete floor, zinc sheets, wooden beams, and rustic wall decorated with past issues of the Bangkok Post (extra points here). It feels like sitting in a stylish warehouse but also may come across as a bit raw for some. Expect Japanese and western expats as well as office workers here on weekdays.
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Raising the bar
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 24/01/2014
» Nested in Athenee Place near Phloenchit, the champagne-tinged lounge bar acts like a sun room annex for Athenee Tower that looms above. The glass walls and roof afford it the best of the afternoon light, and a cosy atmosphere in the evening. The slender room is adorned with a long bar (unsurprisingly) and is bookended by an outdoor section and service area from where the culinary goodness emerges. The story is that the existing bar was splashed with an orange colour, even before a certain champagne pairing had been considered, so it was an easy match that evolved naturally. The venue piggy-backs the success of coupled and famed French restaurant Le Beaulieu from praised haute cuisiner Chef Herve Frerard that was established in the same building just over a year ago. The crowd is made up of well-heeled locals and Le Beaulieu faithfuls. Leave your flip flops at home for this one.
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Tasty island treats
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 31/01/2014
» With a name that means island in Thai (in case you missed it), a big element here is, you guessed it, the tranquil and tropical surrounds that Samui is now world-famous for. Designed by the famous Bensley Design Studio, the restaurant and bar is perched high up at the deluxe resort so takes in all the villas and jungle right down to the beach and beyond. It's definitely distracting enough to abandon any monetary sensibilities for a meal. The deck is open-air, exposed to the elements to maximise the scenery, and the gentle breeze lets your big-city worries recede quickly into the background. Most people are too distracted by the view to notice the design of the structure with its natural timbers and black marble. The space is big enough for about 70 diners, mostly of which stay in the resort even though its open to outside visitors (tick).
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Style for jam
Richard Mcleish, Published on 07/02/2014
» As Bangkokians become willing to brave unknown postcodes, new boroughs are emerging across the city from Sathon to Samsen. The latest spot to reach beyond the BTS is Never Ending Summer, landing firmly on the muddy banks of Thon Buri. And the reach is rewarded with extra space, charm and niche. From old warehouses (medicine, ice and battery factories), architect Duangrit Bunnag has fashioned The Jam Factory - the new home of his design office, a gallery, bookstore and Never Ending Summer - in an enclave of style for all the senses. An old ice factory, the restaurant affords 16 tables easily (70+ pax), all with a view of the open kitchen at the back and trimmed with industrial specks from decades past, artworks and rustic fittings. The result is a deep-pocketed architect's romp in a new restaurant motif for the city that seems ready for it and more.
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Sense and Sensi-bility
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 14/02/2014
» THE SET-UP: Engaging all the senses and sensibilities of the Bangkok dining scene is newcomer Sensi down in Sathon. It’s a house conversion on a sleepy soi of Narathiwat — an area with plenty of potential midway between Sathon and Asok. At the helm in the kitchen is 28-year-old Chef Christian Martena, poached from Italian stalwart Opus down in Silom (which also produced Chef Francesco from Medici at Hotel Muse) by his savvy business partners. His wife Clara is doing front of house, which creates a particularly homey feel, with a visit akin to an evening with the couple at their own home. They are willing hosts and it shows. Inside the house are well-spaced tables, enough for 54 pax, which might not be enough if its popularity continues to rise.
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Three times a lady
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 21/02/2014
» Continuing the move southside, Lady Brett is the latest in a slew of new venues luring punters to fresher pastures of the city. Positioned right next door to popular brunch haunt Rocket, her stylish appearance and demeanour confirm she indeed has the same team in support. She’s as upwardly mobile as her namesake character from Hemingway novel The Sun Also Rises and the 1920s New York tavern interior is the perfect mise-en-scene for such a lady to cast her discerning social eye over. It’s cavernous, with plenty of natural timbers and only a small window at the front to seal in the atmosphere. With seating enough for 35 diners, it’s boisterous and intimate at the same time, with the tables for two nestled cosily near each other without being intrusive.
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Down by the river
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 28/02/2014
» So it turns out that Bangkok does have some old warehouses to convert into cool stuff. The latest is Sheepshank Public House, fashioned out of an old shipbuilding yard right on the river at Phra Athit (just a stone’s throw from Khao San). For the conversion, they’ve tacked on a new river-facing facade in the theme of the old factory with pretty good results. Inside, the slender-but-lofty room adorned with industrial light fittings, exposed bricks and some old machinery is space for around 30 pax, who can enjoy the river and sunset views. It’s intimate while being spacious enough, with just enough rustic authenticity to work.
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Comfort kitsch in Ari
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 14/03/2014
» Don’t be fooled by the name; Barka luckily isn’t a dedicated dog restaurant and bar, although that might be easier to find. It’s out the back of the skinny Aran Bicicletta bike cafe, so pass through into the courtyard behind. It’s a slightly quirky space inhabited by a newly formed F&B trio for the occasion. The outside part has three moveable tables that pack with students during the day fuelling up on coffee from the adjoining cafe. By nightfall, the leafed area (similar to RMA Institute) takes on a new guise as a more romantic foodie cul-de-sac. The bar proper and micro kitchen adjoins at the back right, inside which is housed three more smaller tables and a bar, with soundproofing on the walls like a recording studio and a vicious-looking axe propped in the corner. It totals enough room for 16 outside (better for groups) and 12 in (better for a date), and weekends are starting to see these numbers. The young owners from different backgrounds bring their corresponding style-savvy circles to the table(s).
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The big banger theory
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 21/03/2014
» Off the back of the recent Bangkok burger revolution comes the hot dog race. Although the latest player Bangers will no doubt produce some pretty interesting results in a Google search, the new outlet is simple enough and does what it says on the tin. It’s the second incarnation of the space, first imagined as the pretty forgettable Print Bar by David Stanton, formerly of the hotel F&B scene. This time round, he’s a little wiser and has joined forces with Chris Foo of Brew fame, to tackle the big banger theory. The result? A niche hot dog and beer outlet smack bang in the middle of Thong Lor. What’s not to like? Inside, the decor and poky interior hasn’t changed enough just yet to lure people off the street for a sit-down meal (although there’s room for 30), but the menu certainly will fuel plenty of night-time punters, particularly if the place can cheekily manage to stay open after all the nearby bars close.
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Meet, meat and multi-task
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 04/04/2014
» For a single fixed address, 661 Silom seems to have a few things on its mind. Gruesomeness of the “Meet and Meat” moniker aside, can it succeed at being a gastro bar and a steakhouse as well as a branded champagne lounge all at the same time? We were sceptical following such branding adventures as The Bar & The Restaurant and more recently (and closer to home) Le Bar by Le Beaulieu (same owners). But 661 Silom aims for a shelf a little higher, if this city is willing to reach that high. (Perhaps ask Ku De Ta?) This reincarnation of jazz bar Niu’s on Silom features enough room for 50 bar flies in the slightly confused split-space downstairs (Meet), which features an outdoor bar area that looks onto the leafy courtyard of the Baan Silom complex. Near the entrance and stairs, the Dom Perignon signature lounge seems doomed to lie eternally empty. Luckily the restaurant (Meat) upstairs is more moody and welcoming. It looks out over the trees and is subtly lit and decorated with cowhides to remind you why you’re there. The purse of the project comes courtesy of the team behind French fine-dining stalwart Le Beaulieu (Top Tables #1 in 2014), but are restaurants still simply about deep pockets and reputation?
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