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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 02 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Chris Schalkx

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.

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
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.

Bangkok’s rooftop bars

Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand

The best way to see Bangkok from above, ranging from cosy riverside rooftops strung with fairly lights to ritzy hotel bars towering high above the Central Business District.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Bowls of food with a gooey soft boiled egg from Haawm
Experience

Haawm

Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand

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.

Best for ages: 18+ | £20

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Cocktail served in a martini glass
Experience

Kad Kokoa

Bangkok, Thailand

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.

Best for ages: 4+ | £5

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People shopping at a food market
Experience

Nang Loeng Market

Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand

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.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free

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

Private Culinary Kickstart Tour of Bangkok with a Local

Private Culinary Kickstart Tour of Bangkok with a Local

Bangkok

Flavorful, traditional, and mouth-watering: these words best describe Bangkok’s street food scene. So, what are you waiting for? Don’t just ...

€49 | Rating 4.82 / 5 [135 ratings]

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Tour supplied by:

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Chef Designed Bangkok Food Tour with Klong Boat Ride

Chef Designed Bangkok Food Tour with Klong Boat Ride

Bangkok

Designed by a chef, this tour is only available to 8 exclusive guests each day. Kick off with an exciting klong boat ride from Siam pier dow...

$59 | Rating 4.93 / 5 [283 ratings]

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Tour supplied by:

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Bangkok Street Food Tour By Night

Bangkok Street Food Tour By Night

Bangkok

Our knowledgeable 'Food Experience Officer' (FEO) who will show you around the area filled with a variety of delicious, authentic and savory...

$59 | Rating 4.92 / 5 [67 ratings]

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Tour supplied by:

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Chef Designed Bangkok Food Tour for 8 Exclusive Guests

Chef Designed Bangkok Food Tour for 8 Exclusive Guests

Bangkok

กินข้าวแล้วหรือยัง - It’s the Thai way to greet a friend, but its literal translation is ‘Have you eaten rice yet?’ There is no better way t...

$61 | Rating 4.95 / 5 [482 ratings]

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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

ASAI Bangkok Chinatown

Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand

A hyper-smart design hotel on the fringe of Chinatown, within walking distance of legendary street eats and kaleidoscopic temples, but out of earshot from roaring tuk-tuks and rowdy market vendors.

Official star rating:

Ad Lib Bangkok

Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand

A garden-clad oasis in the heart of Bangkok with a lovely rooftop pool, fitness centre and easy access to the Phloen Chit BTS skytrain station.

Official star rating:

Ariyasom Villas

Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand

Beautiful, intimate boutique hotel in a 1940s villa surrounded by tranquil, lush gardens with a relaxing spa. Excellent location for sightseeing nd shopping.

Official star rating:

CHANN

Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand

A lovely riverside retreat, away from the hubbub, to immerse in local life along the river. Most of Bangkok’s postcard sights are a 15-minute boat ride away.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Bangkok

Central Thailand, Thailand

From dazzling temples to dizzying nightlife, Thailand’s capital is a dish of delicious contradictions, and one of the world’s most dizzying, fast-paced cities.

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