Bangkok’s best food & drink

Few cities in the world have a skyline as impressive as Bangkok’s, and in recent years a rooftop drinking scene has developed that offers the best and widest choice in all of South-East Asia. Sipping a cocktail at one of these head-spinningly high bars gives the chance to fully grasp just how massive this vibrant metropolis is.

Dress up and prepare to pose – these high-rise haunts are all about glamour, often with prices to match. But there are plenty of budget-friendly rooftop joints hidden in this concrete jungle too.

At his living room-turned-home-restaurant in the On Nut suburb, self-taught Thai-American chef Dylan Eitharong simultaneously plays host, chef and waiter. Expect excellent Thai classics such as massaman curry and grilled duck salad and a convivial bring-your-own-booze policy.

The lawyer duo behind artisanal chocolate brand Kad Kokoa is on a delicious mission to revive Thailand’s cacao industry. At their cafe-slash-workshop in Sathorn, you can taste their award-winning chocolate from Chiang Mai to Chumphon in indulgent desserts, drinks or bars to take home.

Tucked away in an unassuming street snaking off Ratanakosin, the little-visited Nang Loeng Market feels frozen in time. It’s a street food hotspot, especially in the early mornings – don’t miss the crispy roasted pork at Jib Ki and the traditional Thai desserts at Nanta.

Skip your hotel buffet for this old-school breakfast joint in the Old Town, where grey-haired Thai-Chinese ladies dish up runny eggs and kaya (coconut custard) toast in a restaurant that hasn’t changed a bit since its opening in 1933.

Book ahead at this hot-ticket restaurant; its 5-course menu is an exquisite introduction to the traditional flavors and techniques of southern Thai cuisine. Chefs Supaksorn Jongsiri and Yodkwan U-Pumpruk, both raised in the South, source 99.9% of the ingredients from southern Thailand, so you know you’re getting the real deal.

As one of the first bars to open in the über-hip nightlife enclave of Chinatown’s Soi Nana, TEP bar proves that ya dong, a Thai moonshine, is so much more than a throat-scorching liquid. Order a flight of house-brewed shots infused with Himalayan cherry or black ginger, or opt for a less potent ya dong mojito.