The best new restaurants in Bangkok in 2023

The best new restaurants in Bangkok in 2023

Whilst new openings are few this month, there’s an avalanche of new menus to try. Let’s hop to it.

What a time to be a foodie in Bangkok. Just this month, Bangkok has been named home to the best restaurant in all of Asia, as well as the home of the second Shake Shack outpost in Southeast Asia (it’s at Central World). Fine diners and casual diners alike have found plenty of reason to order in or eat out, and as the Thai New Year (aka Songkran) commences, the city has come alive with a summer spirit — albeit a little sweaty.

Mayong chid is blooming. Durian fruit is brooding. ’Tis the Thai summer season to feast and feast and feast. Whether you’re travelling away from the heat or staying in town to see what traffic-free Bangkok feels like, we’ve got plenty of new dishes for you to check out this month. Perhaps you’ll save them for your special Songkran celebration, or perhaps you’ll bookmark for your post-Songkran blues. It doesn’t really matter. Food doesn’t ask questions. Food understands. Here’s where to eat your feelings at new Bangkok restaurants and through new Bangkok menus this April 2023.

Bisou brings a new kiss of life to Soi Langsuan

If Bisou’s location feels like you’re having deja vu, it’s likely because you’ve visited before when it was Gaggan Anand’s Wet. The best new restaurants in Bangkok in 2023 opening in the same space as a gastro wine bar with “rule-breaking French cuisine,” Bisou is the brainchild of the French chef Antoine Darquin and sommelier Theo Lavergne. Bursting with modern European attitude, the two are serving up “borderless” French dishes with creative twists, such as Akami tuna tartare, BFC (Bisou Fried Chicken), roasted pigeon, and Hanger steak with bone marrow. Whether you pair these with the fine wine selection or enjoy one of the creative cocktails, it’s certainly a French bistro unlike any you’ve experienced in the city. The catchphrase reads: “K.I.S.S. — Keep It Simple, Sexy!”

Bisou, 68 Lumpini Sub-district, 9 Soi Langsuan, Lumpini, Bangkok, +66 960 255 858.

Pastel brings the party spirit of the Mediterranean to Bangkok

There’s no need to miss the clubs in Ibiza and Mykonos anymore. Pastel has arrived, and Soi 11 becomes home to yet another (!) stop for your boozy dinners and merry nights out. Promising “festive vibes, killer cocktails, and delicious bites,” this rooftop venue is all about embracing a carefree and addictive Mediterranean attitude. Whether you indulge in the AOP Seafood Pasta, Lobster Ravioli, or Hamachi Crudo, there’s a lot from the sea to explore from the kitchen, and plenty of playful drinks to explore at the bar. Featuring a fun and colourful design on the rooftop of the Aira Hotel, it’s definitely a spot to ‘gram and be ‘grammed. Pastel is one of the best new restaurants in Bangkok in 2023

Pastel Rooftop Bar & Mediterranean Dining, 22F, Aira Hotel, 14 Sukhumvit Soi 11, Bangkok, +66 95 703 5679.

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Kenny’s opens in Ari for the hipster pizza lovers

Ari was hankering for a good pizza spot, and now with the arrival of Kenny’s, our hopes are high. Serving Naples-style pies, the trendy pizzeria is becoming very popular amongst Ari residents and beyond, from their ‘Beat the Heat’ hot pepperoni pizza to their ‘Smoked it Every Day’ smoked bacon pizza. Not a pizza lover (you weirdo)? They’ve also got beer, burgers, and wings, too.

Kenny’s, 12 Phaholyothin Soi 5, Phaholyothin Road, Phayathai, Bangkok, +66 90 995 2040.

Gaston opens as a rustic-chic Parisian bistro at the Grand Hyatt Erawan

Remember the beloved Spasso at the Grand Hyatt Erawan? Now get ready to re-love it as Gaston, a rustic-chic French bistro which has taken Spasso’s place. Serving up a selection of timeless French classics, the new concept here aims to bring Paris bistro charms to the heart of Chidlom. Under the watchful eye of French chef David Senia, diners can expect familiar favourites like French entrecote, lamb chops, and seabass filets. There is also a selection of freshly shucked French oysters, as well as more regional classics like pork terrine, oeufs mimosa with black truffle, duck foie gras, stuffed calamari with piperade sauce, and so much more. Don’t know where to begin? Go for the chef’s plat du jour, take in the charming French ballads, and dine as you dream of Paris.

Gaston, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, 494 Rajdamri Road, Bangkok, +66 2 254 1234.

iODE is on of the best new restaurants in Bangkok in 2023

Coastiera opens as seductive Italian underground dining experience

There is something incredibly seductive about Coastiera. The best new restaurants in Bangkok in 2023 is located in the basement of the artsy 140 Wireless Building, in what feels like a secret vault of style and sophistication. The kitchen is helmed by Andrea Ortu, who brings fine Italian dining to the table with an emphasis on Southern Italian flavours and Italian coastal food. Out in the dining room, meanwhile, jazz musicians and even live DJs take to the stage to fill the room with an addictive and mysterious energy. Amongst dim lighting and marble fixtures, it feels like something out of a modern-day millennial mafia movie. Drama! Party! Extravagance! A movie where you can’t wait to see where the night will take you.

Coastiera, Level B, 140 Wireless Building, Wireless Road, Bangkok, +66 8 3884 6445.

Fireplace Grill & Bar ignites the re-opening of the InterContinental Bangkok

The InterContinental Bangkok is almost finished with its renovations, and to celebrate, Fireplace Grill & Bar is the first venue to re-open. The European grill house has been around since 1966, sevring up premium grades of steak from around the world, as well as a fine selection of seafood. Signature dishes include Escargots a la Bourguignonne, Roast Prime Rib of Beef and Yorkshire Pudding, Roast Rack of Lamb, and Dover Sole Meuniere.

Fireplace Grill and Bar, 973 Phloen Chit Road, Lumpini, Bangkok +66 2656 0444.

Siam Yacht Club adds a fun twist to surf and turf on the river

Siam Yacht Club is making a splash on the river this season, as it has officially opened at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel as a super chill spot to enjoy seafood favourites and live music. The riverside venue features an open kitchen and live grill station, and aims to bring together modern European cooking methods with traditional Asian influences. Highlights include smoked oysters, capellini with Maine lobster and pancetta, and a very impressive seafood tower. Signature cocktails are also available, and a DJ plays on deck from sundown to late into the night. A charming and relaxed yacht club ambience in a really nicely revamped location on the river.

Siam Yacht Club, 2 Charoen Krung Road Soi 30, Bang Rak, +66 2 266 0123.

Yankii Robatayaki and Bar brings the fire to Sukhumvit 24

From snazzy omakase to casual izakaya bites, it seems Bangkok is alive with the sound of Japanese music. Our list of new restaurant openings features several Japanese dining outlets, all with a different take on this very popular cuisine. Beyond Japan, there are a few seasonal menus and openings to note too, as the city recovers from hangover, and gears up for an exciting culinary calendar again. Read on for the new restaurant openings and new menus to book now.

Soho Hospitality strikes again. This time inviting diners to really feel the heat, Yankii Robatayaki and Bar has opened as a Japanese yakitori, kushiyaki, and robata grill, bringing to Sukhumvit 24 all the excitement of fireside cooking, with a fun twist. With 30 counter seats, diners can tuck into Peruvian Anticucho and Chimichurri sauce, pork neck marinated in Korean Gojuchang sauce, or Salmon cooked robata style and marinated with Chipotle sauce. Amidst the 1950s-style Dagashi shop interior (the gum ball machines are a must-‘gram), New York hip hop plays in the background, as you’re served by a team decked out in Japanese 1980s-style biker jackets. Surely a place where the party doesn’t stop just because dinner is served, definitely also ring the bell to buy all the guests at the counter a round of shots on you. A surefire way to keep the excitement going.

Yankii Robatayaki Grill and Bar, G Floor, Skyview Hotel, 12 Sukhumvit 24 Alley, Khlong Toei, Bangkok, +66 2 821 6808.

Sushi Chef Satoshi Tsuru has moved from Thonglor to Rajadamri, settling on the 12th floor of The St. Regis to serve up a spectacular omakase menu. Whilst dishes vary and every experience is unique, highlights from our menu include a vast selection of fresh nigiri, Botan ebi with uni, Subiyaki Hitachi wagyu A5, and a beautiful yuzu and matcha dessert platter. Over the 16-course ‘Sumire’ menu, diners can also pick from an impressive sake selection, and enjoy a relaxed dinner ambience against eco-friendly ‘pineapple leather’ seating, and soothing Japanese wood interiors for an evening to remember.

Sushi Ki Shin, 12 Floor, The St. Regis Bangkok, 159 Ratchadamri Road, Pathum Wan, +66 63 070 0069.

Fatboy Izakaya takes on Ekkamai with light bites and Japanese cocktails

Those who know and love Silom’s Fatboy Sushi will be happy to see the opening of Fatboy Izakaya in Ekkamai. Much like its beloved counterpart, Fatboy Izakaya serves as a cheeky modern Japanese eatery, this time spotlighting the beloved Japanese drinking culture and accompanying small bites. Designed as sharing plates by Chef Arnie Marcella (whom you may know from Bunker and Carbar), dishes here range from crispy shisamo and salmon yukke maki over to a twist on the classic Japanese sando. Whilst a Japanese highball is the obvious choice, don’t shy away from the creative cocktails either, including the nori gin and sake umeshu ‘Sumo’s Kiss,’ or the wasabi Tequila, Mezcal, and Cointreau ‘Let That Man-Go.’

Fatboy Izakaya, Ekkamai Soi 2, Bangkok, +66 65 664 1539.

Chenin opens as a place to enjoy unconventional classics and collect cool points

Remember how wild everyone went for Asok Pi Shop when it opened a few years ago? And then remember how everyone went all sad when they announced they were closing? The team is back in a new location now and with a brand new name and concept. Boasting the same cool crowd and similarly satisfying dishes, Chenin has opened in Sukhumvit 31 as “not a wine bar” despite the name, and as a place to enjoy “unconventional classic cooking.” The menu boasts comfort dishes with a chic twist, be it Hasselback potato with creme fraiche and caviar, burrata with salsa verde on sourdough, or even a mayong chid and tarragon parfait sandwich. Familiar dishes and ingredients, but with added cool points. The neon red light quote “she’s mad, but she’s magic. There’s no lie in her fire” and the funky wine glasses definitely score high, too. This one looks set to be one of Bangkok’s best and most sought after restaurants in 2023, so book early.

Chenin, 2nd Floor, 29/4 Sukhumvit 31, Watthana, +66 61 140 0444.

The Crystal Grill House opens as the most glamorous grill house on the river

Opening at Asiatique The Riverfront, steak and seafood lovers need to make their way to the river this month for a fabulous feast at The Crystal Grill House – a best new restaurants in Bangkok in 2023. As its name suggests, the restaurant is really upping the stakes (the steaks?) of a traditional grill house, with a focus on fine cuts of meat prepared on the charcoal-wood-fired Josper Grill and fresh seafood cooked-to-order. The timeless grill house classics can be enjoyed in five elegant private dining pavilions, paired with signature cocktails and fine wines, all against the backdrop of Bangkok’s “river of kings.”

The Crystal Grill House, Asiatique The Riverfront, 2194 Charoen Krung Road, +66 2 059 5999.

The best new menus in Bangkok

FEND is hosting a Rare & Share charity dinner with CLARA and J’AIME

Dine for a good cause this season as the Foundation to Eradicate Neuromuscular Disease (FEND) is teaming up with CLARA and J’AIME to launch a Rare & Share charity dinner. An initiative by Roche Thailand to support and improve the quality of life for rare diseases patients in Thailand, the dinner will see an exclusive menu by Chef Christian Martina of CLARA and Chef Amerigo Sesti of J’AIME. Creative elements will also be put in place at dinner to reflect the struggle and care that is required for patients, in order to spread more awareness of the experience and concerns of those with critical conditions.

Kinu by Takagi brings the flavours of Fukuoka to Bangkok

Few know that Bangkok and Fukuoka have been friendship cities for 15 years now. To commemorate this special relationship, Chef Norihisa Maeda and the team at Kinu by Takagi present an exceptional new kaiseki-style dining experience, highlighting some of the finest seasonal ingredients from Fukuoka. Available for lunch or dinner, highlights include the incredibly creamy Buzen Sea Hitotsubu oysters (for the first time in Thailand), melt-in-your-mouth Hakata Wagyu (absolutely phenomenal), Ariake seaweed, Amaou strawberries, and Fuyu persimmon. A truly memorable dining experience for lovers of fine Japanese cuisine, and a beautiful trip of flavours across Fukuoka prefecture. If you’re looking to discover the beauty and intricacies of Japan’s world-renowned produce, this is an exquisite way to start. The special menu is available until 28 February 2023 only.

Kinu by Takagi, 48 Oriental Avenue, Mandarin Oriental, +66 2659 9000.

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