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Bangkok’s best food & drink

  • Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand

Last updated: 11 February, 2024

As the epicentre of one of the world’s most beloved cuisines, Bangkok is an excellent grazing ground for Thai food from every corner of the country. There’s creamy massaman curry and tom kha kai (chicken coconut soup), of course, which you can find everywhere from dingy street food carts to Michelin-rated restaurants.

But Bangkok is also an excellent place to hunt down hyper-local dishes you won’t find on the menu of your hometown Thai joint.

Seek out southern Thai cuisine for its ferociously fiery curries and ample use of fresh seafood. Opt for eastern fare, where shrimp paste and regional herbs create umami-rich and earthy flavours. Or follow your nose to kitchens dishing up northern Thai classics such as khao soi curry soup and nam prik chilli dips.

Recommendations

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  • Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand

Glittering view from a rooftop bar

Bucket List Experience

Bangkok’s breathtaking sky bars

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.

Min age 18

Good for age: 18+

Haawm

  • Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand

Bowls of food with a gooey soft boiled egg from Haawm

Experience

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.

Adult price: £20

Good for age: 18+

Kad Kokoa

  • Bangkok, Thailand

Cocktail served in a martini glass

Experience

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.

Adult price: £5

Good for age: 4+

Nang Loeng Market

  • Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand

People shopping at a food market

Experience

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.

Good for age: 13+

On Lok Yun

  • Bangkok, Thailand

Queue for a breakfast restaurant

Experience

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.

Adult price: £9

Good for age: 18+

Sorn

  • Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand

Delicious platter of food from Sorn

Experience

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.

Adult price: £78

Good for age: 18+

TEP Bar

  • Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand

A stylish bar

Experience

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.

Min age 18

Good for age: 18+

Logistics

Price: Free
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Duration: -

Getting there & doing it

From street eats to white tablecloth affairs, Bangkok offers memorable dining experiences for every budget. Mall foodcourts and air-conditioned canteens around the business districts are excellent spots for a quick and affordable lunch, while restaurant hubs such as Thonglor and Silom deliver high-end Thai and international cuisines in every flavour.

The days of street-food carts lining every sidewalk are sadly over, but many still pop up at street-food hubs around Victory Monument, Sam Yan and Talad Phlu during breakfast, lunch and dinner. And while sampling street eats on your own is easy, a knowledgeable guide will point you to tucked-away kitchens and obscure snack stops you would’ve likely missed by yourself.

Who to go with: organised tours

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Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

  • Bangkok

This night tour was awarded TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice "No. 1 Experience in Thailand" in 2018, 2020 & 2023, and for good reason. Exploring at night and by the iconic tuk tuk is a great way to discover Bangkok and learn about the local culture. On this 4-hour tour you will: • Whizz around Bangkok in a tuk tuk • Visit The Flower Market, the grounds of Wat Arun, and Chinatown • Explore the historic part of Bangkok, and see famous temples and sights illuminated at night • Enjoy snacks, dinner and a dessert! This is considered a cultural tour with food. However, it should not be considered an in-depth food tour. This tour is available in 2 options: • Small group join in tour with maximum 12 guests (available daily except Mondays) • Private Tour for just yourself (suitable for families with young children).

Price THB 2,425

Min age 10

Rating 4.87 / 5 [2749 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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  • Bangkok

Your 4-hour Bangkok midnight food tour by tuk tuk will take you off the beaten path for an amazing midnight eating and sightseeing adventure. After sunset, your driver/guide will take you through Bangkok's streets in a 3-wheel tuk tuk to visit Bangkokian’s favorite places to eat around the clock. Taste a variety of savory dishes, including the town’s best kept secret, charcoal fried noodle. Between food-tastings and a chilled Thai beer, your small-group will visit old-town Bangkok landmarks. Your tuk tuk will return you to your accommodation when your tour concludes.

Price THB 2,350

Min age 0

Rating 4.91 / 5 [1654 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Website >
  • Bangkok

กินข้าวแล้วหรือยัง - It’s the Thai way to greet a friend - its literal translation is ‘Have you eaten rice yet?!’ There's no better way to highlight the importance of eating in Thailand in this food obsessed city. Our tour was carefully curated and will take you on a journey through the backstreets of Bangkok, mopping up a 15+ taster menu in street spots and eateries that have been serving locals for decades. We'll meet at Yaowarat to discover the rich Thai-Chinese culinary marriage that make this district one of the city's most buzzing street food spots. It's not just about the food though. It's about the people behind the plates who have dedicated their lives to cooking on the street.

Price $59

Min age 0

Rating 4.96 / 5 [1109 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Website >
  • Bangkok

Kick off with an exciting khlong boat ride down to a secret district within Old Bangkok, rarely visited by foreigners. Get set for Bangkok's tastiest food tour. This tour is only available to 8 exclusive guests each day. We'll jump in a tuk tuk, and then take a walking tour to some of Bangkok's most interesting cuisine, found in one of the city's oldest markets. Your guide will lead you to the best street food chefs that have been going for decades, family owned eateries that are catering to the crowd of hungry locals. Get your taste buds buzzing with crispy hoi tod, crispy pork belly, zingy kanom buang yuan salad, and a 'flavour bomb' of leaf-wrapped miang kham. Get stuck into delicious Thai curry, and over a dozen more lip-smackingly good delicacies. It's not all eating though. Between courses, you'll discover the remnants of Bangkok's oldest cinema, and venture to where royal dessert recipes are made. Forget pad Thai on Khao San Road, and dive into the real cuisine of Thailand.

Price $59

Min age 0

Rating 4.94 / 5 [594 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo
Website >