Tuesday, October 15, 2013

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10 of the best Italian restaurants in Rome

Posted: 15 Oct 2013 01:00 AM PDT

From a cozy trattoria to an experimental bistro and Michelin-starred luxury

One thing that should be eternal about the Eternal City is great Italian food.

But that doesn't mean pizza Napoli or pasta marinara every night.

These 10 restaurants range from a cozy trattoria through an experimental bistro to the city's most Michelin star-spangled establishment.

What do they have in common?

Not spaghetti bolognese on the kids' menu.

They're all highly regarded for the Italian culinary niche they serve.

La Pergola

Culinary evolution ... a chef prepares "The Sea" at La Pergola.He may be "a German in Rome," says the Michelin Guide of La Pergola's head chef, Heinz Beck, but his Roman and Mediterranean cuisine make him "more Italian than most of his colleagues."

Nice compliment, especially when accompanied by three Michelin stars -- more than any other restaurant in the city.

Eating here is as much a theatrical as a culinary experience. But the showmanship shows off the cooking.

Serving "The Sea," Beck's signature dish, a waiter pours a "wave" of seafood broth over a freeze-dried "rock" of scampi claws and potato, which then dissolves into the "seabed" of barnacles, white shrimp and Venus clams.

The oldest bottle on the wine list dates to 1888, and there's a water menu with 29 choices -- try asking for "the tap."

Dishes from €39 ($53).

La Pergola, Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria, Via Alberto Cadlolo 101; +39 06 3509 1

More on CNN Travel: 15 best coffee bars in Rome

Antica Pesa

"One of Rome's most loved restaurants by the international jet set," is how the Italian food guide Gambero Rosso describes this chic trattoria.

Robert De Niro and Madonna are among the members of that illustrious group pictured in attendance on the restaurant's walls.

Apart from the opportunities for star-spotting, it's the subtly modernized traditional trattoria dishes that appeal at this renovated ancient warehouse.

The Monte San Biagio burger was created in honor of the restaurant's returning American clients; the roasted pork and mozzarella "millefeuille" with pear sauce is an intriguing meaty take on what is normally a dessert.

Dishes from €15.

Antica Pesa, Via Garibaldi 1; +39 6580 9236

More on CNN Travel: Beyond Rome and Florence -- 12 alternative Italian destinations

Imàgo

Imàgo ... Dolce Vita, dolce view.Born in Naples but with a working stint in Tokyo, Imàgo's chef Francesco Apreda weaves Asian ingredients into his Roman and Neapolitan dishes.

Sake-glazed black cod, roasted pigeon with black tea and cappelletti pasta with smoked eel and cocoa powder exemplify his cosmopolitan and gently experimental approach to haute cuisine.

One of Rome's oldest luxury rooftop restaurants, Imàgo has a 360-degree view across the historical center of the city from its position atop the Spanish Steps as well as one Michelin star.

August former diners at Imàgo in former incarnations include JFK, Grace Kelly, Federico Fellini and Audrey Hepburn.

Imàgo's shining marble floors with antique wooden inlay, mirrored tables and soft background music create an elegant, La Dolce Vita atmosphere, with a hint of decadence.

Dishes from €33.

Imàgo, Hotel Hassler, Piazza Trinitá dei Monti 6; +39 6 6993 4726

Pipero al Rex

Meat-lovers, lick your lips.

But don't just expect juicy fillets to be thrown into your cage at Pipero -- you'll also get to try unusual meats cooked with subtle blends of spices, fruits and herbs.

The tasting menu includes raw goose with an apple and mustard topping, rabbit in boiled zucchinis, snails with garlic, lentils and whiskey and piglet served with a beer and cherry sauce.

Young chef Luciano Monosilia's sophisticated way with flesh won Pipero al Rex a Michelin star after only two years.

Dishes from €22.

Pipero al Rex, Via Torino 149; +39 6481 5702

Giggetto

The secret of Gigetto's popularity? Its crispy fried artichokes. Addictive carciofi all giudia -- crispy fried artichokes, a specialty of Roman-Jewish cuisine -- are a big reason for the popularity of this quintessential osteria, a kind of Italian version of the tavern.

Set in the heart of Rome's ancient Jewish quarter with a spectacular view over the Porticus Octaviae ruins, this simple but appealing place is also big on atmosphere.  

Those golden, round artichokes take some beating, but the cod croquettes and stuffed courgette flowers dissolve just as deliciously on the tongue.

Dishes from €14

Giggetto, Via del Portico d'Ottavia 21; +39 6686 1105


Lilli

Unfastidious food-loving Romans reserve a special place in their hearts for this laid-back, excellent-value trattoria.

Tripe, oxtail stew and marrow-rich ossobuco are some of the unabashed dishes on offer.

You'll probably also eat the best bucatini all'amatriciana -- the classic Roman pasta dish with tomato-and-pig's-cheek sauce -- in your life here.  

"Just like you get at home," is Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera's accurate description of what Lilli, one of the dwindling family-run trattoria in Rome, serves up.

Dishes from €8.

Lilli, Via Tor di Nona 2; +39 6686 1916

More on CNN Travel: Rome's best brunch spots

Restaurant Roof Garden

Restaurant Roof Garden -- no need to get fancy with the name.What makes dinner here special is not just the exquisite Italian and international food, but the panorama over the Roman Forum and the Colosseum.

It's arguably the best view of any restaurant in the Italian capital, including Imàgo's.  

Changing every day, the tasting menu is strong on fish.

The tartar of Carloforte tuna, from an island off Sardinia with a tradition of trapping the fish, is served with a delicate avocado sauce -- sounds improbable but the two subtle flavors really complement each other.

Other specialties include risotto with langoustine sauce and salt cod with zucchini flowers.

Former premier Mario Monti and the French actor Alain Delon are said to be among regular diners.

Dishes from €19.

Restaurant Roof Garden, Hotel Forum, Via Tor Dei Conti 31; +39 6679 2447

Marzapane

Tiny, recently opened Marzapane, with its simple black-and-white interior, is already one of the most popular experimental eateries in Rome.

Oysters topped with sugared ginger and vodka and piglet in strawberry sauce are among the dishes you can watch being prepared in the open kitchen-cum-laboratory.  

You can get gourmet salads and sandwiches at lunch, tea with pistachio and ricotta mousse in the afternoon and salami aperitifs in the evening.

Dishes from €10.

Marzapane, Via Velletri 39; +39 6 6478 1692

Fish Market

The fish at Fish Market virtually flop their way here from the port."The fish is affordable and zero-food mile. It comes directly from the fishermen's nets in the port of Anzio to the table," says Italian food and wine magazine Gambero Rosso of Fish Market.

To order here you line up, market-like, at the counter, where a net's worth of fresh fish is on show, write what you want on a piece of paper, pay in advance, then sit down to be served.

It's a fun and efficient way to dine and this trattoria is so popular it doesn't take reservations.

Set in the young, popular neighborhood of Trastevere, overlooking the Tiber River, there's a modern, Scandinavian-style design and a lively atmosphere.

Dishes from €8.

Fish Market, Vicolo della Luce 3/5; +39 366 9144 157

Arancia Blu

Vegans and vegetarians were long ill-served in the Italian capital but finally the vegetable is receiving its due.

Combining Italian cuisine with Asian and Middle Eastern influences to spicy, creative effect, Arancia (meaning "orange") Blu is one of Rome's top vegan restaurants.

You'll get egg-free mayonnaise with lemon and ginger on the avocado, almond and cumin salad.

Mustard ravioli and saffron and pepper trennette pasta are more experimental.

Dishes from €9.

Arancia Blu, Via Cesare Beccaria 3; +39 6361 0801

Insider Guide: Best of Bangkok

Posted: 14 Oct 2013 04:39 PM PDT

Golden temples, addictive street food, amazing hotels and Asia's craziest nightlife. Thailand's megacity has far more to offer than you imagine

So, you're in Thailand on a mission to cram the best of Bangkok into a weekend? It's a big task -- there's no city in the world like this one -- but it can be done.

With incredible street food, world-class hotels, killer nightlife, packed markets and temples so sparkly they make your eyes water, there's almost too much to choose from.

But you're in luck. This quick guide ensures you can at least hit the highlights on your quest for the best of Bangkok

It's worth keeping in mind that hotel prices vary dramatically depending on the time of year. High season runs from October to April, so the best bargains can be had May to September.

Print and go -- Our traveler-friendly one-page guide here: Best of Bangkok

Hotels 

Luxury 

The Siam

the siamThe lobby.This stunning, antique-laced property on the Chao Praya River recalls the time of King Rama V (1853-1910), a period when Bangkok was a tranquil, smog-free riverside idyll.

Since opening in 2012 the accolades have been rolling in from travel rags around the world.

With great restaurants, a poolside bar, muay Thai gym and spa, this 39-room resort set on three acres is almost a vacation unto itself.

Though a bit of a hike from the city center, there's a regular hotel-operated ferry that shuttles guests to the Taksin pier, where they can jump on the BTS Skytrain

The Siam, 3/2 Thanon Khao; +66 (0)2 206 6999; from 14,500 baht ($500)

 

Four Seasons Bangkok

The trouble with the Explorer's Suite is guests won't actually want to go out and explore. It's that good. Within walking distance of the best of Bangkok shopping in Rajaprasong, the Four Seasons Bangkok lives up to its big-brand hype.

Airport transfers in Bangkok's only Wi-Fi-equipped Mercedes. Luxurious rooms decorated with Thai art and decor. Four incredible restaurants and a super stylish lounge (Aqua) that's packed with well-heeled locals on any given night. 

The swanky Explorer's Suite is a huge, two-bedroom space filled with Southeast Asian art and furniture, two sitting rooms and a dining area.

Good luck reverting to normalcy. 

Four Seasons Bangkok, 455 Rajadamri Road; BTS: Chidlom or Rajdamri; +66 (0) 2 253 9195; from 6,000 baht ($200)

 

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Cure that bout of writer's block by checking into the Mandarin Oriental's Graham Greene suite. This Bangkok institution is a step back to a time when luggage was carried in trunks, dinner dress was de rigueur (tropics or not) and tea on the veranda was served with a stiff G&T to ward off mosquitoes.

More than 100 years old, the Oriental's Author's Wing retains its magical aura with its picturesque parlors, each named for a scribe they once hosted, including the likes of Somerset Maugham, Joseph Conrad and Ernest Hemingway.

The Garden Wing offers similar heights of nostalgic luxury, while the modern River Wing and Tower have a more contemporary design.

And if it weren't patently obvious from the never-ending stream of awards rained upon this five-star, best of Bangkok landmark, high tea in the Mandarin Oriental's library is simply too civilized for the mere words of us regrettably non-famous authors.

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, 48 Oriental Avenue; +66 (0) 2 659 9000; from 10,000 baht ($342)

 

Lebua

Lebua's Hangover Suite. The wolf pack would approve. And destroy.If you've seen "The Hangover Part II," this all-suite Bangkok hotel needs no introduction.

A prominent setting in the Thailand-based sequel to the R-rated bachelor romp, Lebua is actually more famous for the views from its incredible rooftop bars and restaurants than the hotel itself.

All 357 luxury suites are spacious, comfortable and offer great views of Bangkok and the Chao Phraya river. 

Extra special are the "Tower Club" suites, which feature 330-thread-count sheets, a range of Bulgari accessories and exclusive access to the Tower Club Lounge on the 52nd floor.

There's also the Hangover Suite, perfect for a bachelor weekend in Bangkok. 

Lebua, 1055 Silom Road; +66 (0) 2 624 9999; from 6,000 baht ($200)

 

St. Regis Bangkok

So Sofitel's Wood element rooms were designed by Thai architect Nithi Sthapitanonda.Nearly a quarter of the 227 guest rooms at this elegant property are suites -- this should give an idea of the level of comfort to which the St. Regis aspires and generally attains. 

A specialty is off-site activities geared toward "the artistic visionary, the epicurean voyager, the passionate connoisseur."

Care for a deep-sea fishing trip with one of the hotel's celebrated chefs? A private Fendi shopping trip?

The hotel will arrange it.

St. Regis Bangkok, 159 Rajadamri Road; +66 (0)2 207 7777; from 6,000 baht ($200)

 

W Hotel Bangkok

w bangkokWonderful guest room. The stylish W concept remains intact at this 407-room hotel ("chili-hot nightlife" is advertised) located on Bangkok's Embassy Row near a vibrant commercial district.

Rooms are basic but fully wired and come with good robes and a Munchie Box.

Bathrooms come with rainforest showers.

City-view room views are nice.

W Hotel Bangkok, 106 North Sathorn Road; +66 (0)2 344 4000; from 5,000 baht ($171)

 

 

Mid-range

Mode Sathorn

Bangkok makes a great audience.With the opening of Mode Sathorn this year, Siam@Siam gets the second design hotel in its Bangkok portfolio, which the brand is somewhat predictably characterizing as "fashionable lifestyle."

The property has 201 rooms and suites in five categories, each featuring a different design concept, plus a presidential suite on the 36th floor.

F&B offerings come in the form of three restaurants and three bars. Theatre Bar is the standout thanks to a circular TV screen and three areas segregated by your poison of choice, be it wine, beer or cocktails.

As with its sister hotel, Mode Sathorn features a rooftop bar. If live DJs in al fresco vogue settings aren't your thing, Secret M has a private indoor dining cove one floor below.

Mode Sathorn, 144 North Sathorn Road, Silom, Bangkok; +66 2623 4555; from 2,700 baht (US$85) per night

 

Galleria 10 Hotel Bangkok

Formerly the Ramada Encore, the Galleria 10 is a 188-room, chrome-and-glass hotel with modern furnishings.

It's geared toward "always-on-the-go" business travelers, with high-speed Internet access included in the room rate, 40-inch LCD TV with satellite channels, good-sized working areas, direct dial telephones and HDMI easy plug-in.

There are some nice outdoor spaces for drinks around the pool.

Galleria 10 Hotel Bangkok, 21 Sukhumvit Soi 10; +66 (0)2 615 0999; from 1,900 baht ($66)

 

Bangkok Treehouse

Bangkok Treehouse's "View with a Room." Inspired by Henry David Thoreau's "Walden," the 12-suite Bangkok Treehouse allows guests to get back to nature in Bang Krajao, the "green lungs of Bangkok."

Guests arrive via a dedicated shuttle boat across the Chao Phraya, disembarking onto a floating pontoon overlooked by the hotel's gourmet organic restaurant.

Each standard suite is divided into three levels (living room, bedroom and roof deck), offering views of the surrounding river, mangroves and coconut plantations.

Inside, the rooms are comfortable and cozy, with all the expected features (TV, DVD, Wi-Fi) and optional air-conditioning. 

Bangkok Treehouse, 400 meters east of Baan Namphueng Nok Temple in Bang Krajao; from 3,400 baht ($116)

 

Loy La Long

Quirky and comfy, the seven color-coded rooms at this two-story wood property on the edge of Chinatown range from a four-bedroom family dorm (guests pay per bed) to the river-view suite that allows you to wake up to the sight of barges floating past -- along with the occasional roaring longtail engine.

There's a fantastic "living room," where guests can park on a floor cushion and watch the life on the river pass by.

Near Tha Tien Pier, Loy La Long is hidden behind a temple complex right on the edge of Chinatown. Not easy to find, but the payoff is worth it. 

Loy La Long, 1620/2 (inside Patumkongka Rachaworawiharn Temple), Song Wat Road; dorm bed from 1,300 baht ($40)

 

Budget

Lub D

Double deluxe room at Lub D.That's a lot of D's. D.Lub D proves that being on a budget doesn't have to mean losing out on style or location.

There are two Lub D "hostels" in Bangkok, both rocking an industrial chic designThe original is on Decho Road, off Silom. 

The newer Siam location is opposite National Stadium, close to the BTS SkyTrain and a short walk to Siam Square and the malls of Rajaprasong. It has four-bed dorms, economy twin rooms, doubles and, our favorite, a queen-bed suite with a private bathroom and LCD TV. 

The Wi-Fi is free and the beer cheap. You won't find those attributes in too many five-star establishments. 

Siam Lub D, 925/9 Rama 1 Road; from 500 baht ($17) ; +66 (0) 2 612 4999

Silom Lub D,4 Decho Road, off Silom Road, BTS: Sala Daeng; from 380 baht ($13); +66 (0) 2 634 7999

 

Dining

Nahm

Nahm offers one of Bangkok's most memorable meals. Offering Thai fine dining with exquisite attention to detail, the best ingredients and authenticity, Nahm provides the best of Bangkok culinary experiences.

Head Chef David Thompson, who received a Michelin star for his London-based Thai restaurant of the same name, opened this branch in the Metropolitan Hotel in 2010.

If that doesn't sell you, perhaps the fact it's the only Thai restaurant to crack the top 10 of the world's 50 best restaurants list will.

Through recipes based on archaic Siamese cookbooks and other dishes passed down in "funeral books," you'll receive both perfect renditions of Thai classics such as tom yum goong, as well as fresh surprises difficult to find outside the Thai home.

Nahm, Metropolitan Hotel, South Sathorn Road; +66 (0) 2 625 3388; expensive

 

Issaya Siamese ClubIssaya Siamese Club is set in a beautifully restored Thai colonial house. Issaya Siamese Club

Issaya Siamese Club is internationally acclaimed Thai chef Ian Kittichai's first flagship Bangkok restaurant.

The menu in this beautifully restored colonial house features traditional Thai cuisine combined with modern cooking methods.

There a few misses but for the most part everything on the menu is unique, delicious and oh-so-pretty. We recommend the banana blossom Thai salad, chili-glazed baby back ribs and massaman lamb. 

Issaya Siamese Club, 4 Soi Sri Aksorn, Chuaphloeng Road, +66 (0)2 672 9040; moderate to expensive

 

Bo.Lan

Not your exoected Thai fare: Salted Spanish mackerel and minced pork in coconut cream served with chicken dumplings. Bo.Lan has been making waves in Bangkok's culinary scene since it opened in 2009. Serving hard-to-find Thai dishes in an upscale, hip atmosphere, the restaurant is true to Thai cuisine's roots, yet still manages to add a special twist.

Located in a renovated house on Sukhumvit Soi 26, Bo.Lan stars include the smoked Chiang Mai river trout salad, green curry stuffed egg yolks and stir-fried beef with dried shrimp paste.

This place is good for a romantic dinner or a work meeting with colleagues who appreciate fine food. For the especially ravenous, there's a large set menu.

Bo.Lan, 42 Soi Pichai Ronnarong Songkram, Soi Sukhumvit 26; +66 (0) 2260 2962; moderate to expensive

 

Gaggan

Earning 10th place on this year's "Asia's 50 best restaurants" list, progressive Indian restaurant Gaggan is one of the most exciting venues to arrive in Bangkok in recent years.

But don't go into this place thinking you're going to be enjoying the usual Indian dishes like butter chicken or mutton biryani.

El-Bulli-trained chef Gaggan Anand uses molecular technology to put a funky twist on classic dishes from his native India, rendering many of them unrecognizable while giving you that "a-ha!" moment as the connection hits your taste buds.

The best table in this two-story colonial Thai home offers a window right into the kitchen, where you can see Gaggan and his staff in action. Culinary theater at its best.

Gaggan, 68/1 Soi Langsuan (opposite Soi 3); +66 (0) 2 652 1700; moderate to expensive

 

Suppaniga Eating RoomAlmost every dish here is colorful and the mood is casual. Supanniga Eating Room

If you want more from Thai cuisine than green curry, pad Thai and papaya salad Supanniga Eating Room is a great new Bangkok option.

It's located in a narrow, three-story Thonglor shophouse, decked out with raw cement walls, yellow booths and outdoor sofas on the top floor.

Inspired by Trat province on Thailand's southeastern coast and the northeast Isaan region, the menu has rewards for the uninitiated.

Highlights include yam pla salid thod krob (sweet and sour salad with crispy fish) and sweet and herbal moo chor muang (fatty chunks of pork in an earthy curry of sour leaves).

Almost every dish here is colorful -- yes, you'll be taking pictures of it before you eat -- and the mood is casual.

Supanniga Eating Room, 160/11 Soi Thonglor; +66 (0)2 714 7508; moderate

 

Somtum Der

At this little eatery you get personal service and authentic Isaan-style street food without the street.

The restaurant is air-conditioned, which is a good thing since dishes have plenty of spice.

Chicken, pork and seafood are grilled nicely and come with sticky rice. Veggies are fresh and crisp.

A great quick, flip-flop-friendly pit stop.

Somtum Der, 5/5 Soi Sala Daeng, Silom Road; +66 (0)2 632 4499; budget

 

Soul Food Mahanakorn

The concept at Soul Food Mahanakorn is summed up on its website: "Wholesome ingredients. Honest cooking. Serious drinks."An expat favorite, low-key lighting and wood finishing define the cozy interior of this three-floor shop house.

Soul Food Mahanakorn's kitchen revolves around what's fresh in the markets -- seafood from Sam Yan one day or meat from Or Tor Kor another.

Healthy organic foods, such as rice, meats and some vegetables, are sourced from organic farmers in the northeast.

Recommended dishes: everything. It's all good here. The cocktails are fantastic, too, especially the "Bangkok Bastard," a mojito-like drink with a Thai-style twist.

Soul Food Mahanakorn, 56/10 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Soi Thonglor); +66 (0) 85 904 2691; moderate

 

Shop houses and street food 

Stir-fried pork and basil topped with a fried egg. So simple, so wonderful. Bangkok is famous for its street food and shop-house restaurants, which makes picking just one vendor difficult.

To experience the best of Bangkok street food, we advise hitting some of the more famous eating neighborhoods and start sampling. Most shop houses or street vendors specialize in one dish, whether it's duck noodles, pad Thai or red pork on rice. 

Some of the best Bangkok street food zones to hit include Bang Rak (between Taksin BTS station and the junction of Charoen Krung and Silom Road), Victory Monument (BTS: Victory Monument), Soi Ari (BTS: Ari), Chinatown, Wongwian Yai and Ratchawat.   

 

Nightlife

La Derriere at Q Bar  

Same club, new look: Bangkok's Q Bar has recently undergone extensive renovations.Located behind the popular Q Bar (you have to walk through this Bangkok nightclub mainstay to get in), this lounge feels a lot like 1920s Paris, with a beautiful zinc bar, red velvet furniture, frilly hanging lamps, mirrors and beveled wall panels.

There's a semi-outdoor space with decaying white walls for smokers (cigars available).

Booze-wise, the main attractions here are the champagne and absinthe and the small food menu does French things like oysters by the dozen and cheese and cold cuts.

Le Derriere, Behind Q Bar, 34 Sukhumvit Soi 11; BTS: Nana; +66 (0)2 252 3274; moderate

 

The Speakeasy 

Just like Prohibition.An upmarket bar with great views, The Speakeasy at Hotel Muse is set in a beautiful space on the 24th and 25th floors.

Designed to bring back some Prohibition Era nostalgia, it consists of two bars, a cigar lounge, private salas and a boardroom.

The Speakeasy, Hotel Muse, 55/555 Lang Suan Road; +66 (0)2 630 4000; expensive


 

Sukhumvit Soi 11

In recent years, this busy Bangkok street in the city's Nana area has been pumped full of hotels, tourist-friendly pubs, nightclubs and restaurants.

Though Bangkok lost Bed Supperclub this year -- arguably the hottest clubbing joint in town -- the soi (street) is still filled with some great nightlife options, including the aforementioned Q Bar.

Soi 11 newcomers worth checking out include Apoteka -- great live music, stiff drinks and craft beer -- and Levels, an enormous, high-ceilinged room whose centerpiece is a circular, glowing bar with a jazzy LED chandelier overhead.

The latter has house-heavy DJs every night, with the occasional visiting big deal international act. 

Apoteka, Sukhumvit Soi 11; BTS: Nana station; +66 (0)83 720 5586; moderate

Levels, 6/F, Aloft Hotel, 35 Sukhumvit Soi 11; BTS: Nana; +66 (0)82 308 3246; moderate-to-expensive

 

RCA 

Another great place for bar hopping -- if you don't mind hanging with the under-25 set -- the numerous clubs and pubs that line Royal City Avenue (taxi drivers all know it as RCA) provide a congregation point for youngsters looking to chill out.

Named for the historic American highway, Route 66 is the mother of all clubs here, where the ghetto riche and urban fab descend in throngs to dance to a variety of music.

For live music, there's Cosmic Café.  

RCA, Royal City Avenue, Rama 9 Road

 

WTF/Opposite Mess Hall

WTF is for those who want to avoid massive nightclubs and crowded hangouts, though it's only a short distance from the Ekamai/Thonglor madness.Curious name aside, WTF on Sukhumvit Soi 51 lives up to its multi-faceted concept of food-drink-art-friendship, attracting the city's intellectual and creative class.

WTF is comfortably tiny, with a few tables scattered around on the first floor near a well-stocked bar, while the second floor serves as a gallery space.

Right across the street, WTF's owners recently opened a cozy, second-floor "bar with food" called Opposite Mess Hall.

That's a huge understatement given the man behind the menu is chef Jess Barnes, formerly of Quince. Go for the food, stay for the drinks.

WTF, 7 Soi Thonglor 51, BTS: Thonglor; +66 (0) 2 626 6246; moderate

 

Sonic

Dance like no one's watching. Except the guy behind the camera who will put it all on the Internet.With a giant white statue of a mustachioed hipster out front, Sonic positions itself as a dancing venue.

They've already made a name for themselves by hosting events for Bangkok's local party series, such as the well attended Paradise Bangkok gigs and collectives like Trasher and Dudesweet, as well as big name acts such as Skrillex and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.

That doesn't leave much room for a regular night, but on that rare occasion, you can buy an unpretentious drink and grab a table at the outdoor space, where resident DJs spins indie rock.

Frequent local bands perform, both on the main stage and in small party rooms.

Sonic, 90 Ekamai 63, between subsois 8 and 10; +66 (0)2 382 3397

 

Maggie Choo's

It may be located in the basement of a hotel (accessed via a separate, dark entrance), but this speakeasy-like bar with a Shanghai opium den vibe comes with the solid pedigree of nightlife mogul Ashley Sutton.

Sutton is behind several of the city's time warping establishments, such as Iron Fairies and Fat Gutz.

At Maggie Choo's, you get live jazz, leather armchairs, bank vaults and Queen Victoria busts juxtaposed with cocktails, tile work, lattice and heavy wooden doors. Beautiful women clad in cheongsams hang from swings and drape themselves across the bar.

Maggie Choo's, Hotel Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom, 320 Silom Road; +66 (0)2 635 6055

Shopping

Thai fashion designers

Beyond the city's many Louis Vuitton, Hermès and other big-brand boutiques at high-end malls are some talented local designers earning global praise as well.

Last year year, Thai designer Wisharawish Akarasantisook won top prize at the Mango Fashion Awards in Barcelona. In 2011, Ek Thongprasert became the first Thai designer to join the fashion savvy W Hotel's Global Fashion Next initiative.

So where to find Thailand's hottest young designers? Gaysorn Plaza has popular brands like Sretsis and Issue, while celeb favorite Kloset has shops at Siam Center, Siam Paragon and CentralWorld. 

To check out the designs of up-and-comer k and i, head to Zen at CentralWorld.

Gaysorn Plaza, 999 Ploenchit Road, on the corner of Ratchadamri Road, BTS: Chidlom; open daily, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., +66 (0) 26 56 1149

Siam Center, 989 Rama 1 Road, BTS: Siam; open daily, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; +66 (0)2 658 1000
 
Siam Paragon, 991 Rama 1 Road, BTS: Siam; open daily, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; +66 (0)2 610 8000
 
CentralWorld, 999 Rama 1 Road, BTS: Chidlom; open daily, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; +66 (0)2 793 7400
 

Jatujak Weekend Market 

Jatujak Weekend Market: It's a haystack, only with a lot of needles.Bangkok's Jatujak (or Chatuchak) Weekend Market -- JJ for short -- is one of the biggest in Asia. Covering 35 acres, it has thousands of vendors and attracts as many as 200,000 shoppers on weekends,

It's the place to go for Thai handicrafts, artwork, clothing, household goods and even pets.

The downside? It's hot. It's crowded. And it's easy to get lost amid the labyrinthine network of stalls.

Yet that's why some people love it.

The rest of us avoid the madness by going early in the morning, before 9 a.m., or later in the day, at about 4 p.m.

Jatujak Weekend MarketBTS, Mo Chit station; MRT: Chatuchak Park Station; open Fri, 6 p.m.-late and Sat-Sun, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

 

Asiatique The Riverfront

Asiatique The Riverfront is a huge shopping and entertainment complex beside Bangkok's Chao Phraya river.

Inspired by the city's days as a riverside trading post in the early 1900s, it resembles a traditional pier with rows of warehouses.  

The restaurants and bars include a mixture of upscale bistro-style restaurants serving Thai, Japanese, French and Italian, as well as an Irish pub and a wine bar.

There's also an outdoor, covered food court.  

The best way to get there is to hop on the free shuttle boat that runs regularly from the BTS Thaksin pier.

Asiatique, 2194 Charoenkrung 72-74 Road; open daily, 5 p.m. to midnight; +66 (0)2 108 4489

Attractions

Ancient City

Ancient City features dozens of scale versions of Thailand's most significant landmarks. This is the only way to tour Thailand's most significant historical sites in a day.

About a 45-minute drive from the city, this Samut Prakan attraction features replicas of dozens of major Thai landmarks, from the Grand Palace in Bangkok to the contested Preah Vihear temple on the border with Cambodia. 

Given Ancient City's size, walking isn't recommended. Better to rent a golf cart or a bike to cruise around the park. 

296/1 Sukhumvit Road, Bangpoo, Samut Prakan; open daily, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

 

Siam Niramit

An well-designed stage production featuring more than 100 performers, Siam Niramit crams seven centuries of Thai culture into a fantastic 80-minute show that's heavy on special effects.

Shows start daily at 8 p.m. and there's an onsite restaurant offering a fairly standard Thai buffet dinner from 5:30 p.m.

After the show, families can check out onsite attractions like elephant rides, a recreation of a traditional Thai village and other cultural displays.

Siam Niramit19 Tiamruammit Road; MRT: Thailand Cultural Center; +66 (0)2 649 9222; nightly shows at 8 p.m.

 

Jim Thompson House 

Visit Jim Thompson House to see where the legend hung his hat. And silk.The legend of Jim Thompson is outlined in every Thailand guidebook, while the iconic brand's products are in 13 shops around Bangkok and two factory outlets.

For the true experience, head for the historic Jim Thompson House and learn about the brand's mysterious namesake, an American who gained worldwide recognition for rebuilding the Thai silk industry before disappearing in the Malaysian jungle in 1967. 

The traditional Thai-style teak house, surrounded by plants and trees, is filled with Southeast Asian antiques that he acquired through his travels. 

But don't let us convince you of its quality.

Somerset Maugham, who dined with Thompson at this house in 1959, summed it up best: "You have not only beautiful things, but what is rare, you have arranged them with faultless taste."

Jim Thompson House, 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road, BTS: National Stadium; +66 (0) 216 7368

Flow House

Proving there's more to Bangkok than shopping and temples, Flow House is the only place in the center of the city offering a quick adrenaline fix.

Open since 2012, the entertainment venue has a "Double FlowRider," a purpose-built wave machine imported from the United States.

The machine cranks out a perpetual sheet wave that doesn't curl; strong enough to allow for stand-up surfing and body-boarding.

Beginners, brace yourselves. There will be falls and your backside will be tender. But it's worth it. 

If you'd rather just sit back and watch, there's an onsite restaurant and bar. 

A-Square, Sukhumvit Soi 26; +66 (0)2 108 5210; www.flowhousebangkok.com

Museum of Contemporary Art

It's where to get your start on modern Thai art.For a look at Thailand's modern art scene, you'll need to head out of the downtown core to Bangkok's new Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).

A five-story space owned by a Thai telecommunications magnate who wanted to share his huge Thai modern art collection with the masses, MOCA offers a great introduction to those who want a primer on Thailand's art scene.

Most of the country's leading artists of the last 50 years are represented, as well as some lesser-known greats.

Museum of Contemporary Art, 499 Moo3, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road; +66 (0)2 953 1005

 

Museum of Floral Culture

This is one of Bangkok's gorgeous surprises.

The creation of Thai floral artist Sakul Intakul, the museum is for flower and nature lovers and those with an interest in Thai flower culture.

It features exhibits of important floral cultures from civilizations across Asia such as India, China, Japan, Laos and Bali/Indonesia.

It's housed in a beautifully preserved, 100-year-old teak mansion with colonial architecture.

Lush grounds have been transformed into an impeccably landscaped Thai-meets-Zen-style garden.

Museum of Floral Culture, 315 Samsen Road Soi 28, Yaek Soi Ongkarak 13; +66 (0) 2 669 363

 

Temples

Wat Phra Kaew, or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is located at Bangkok's Grand Palace.As Thailand is 95 percent Buddhist, there are of course hundreds of Bangkok temples -- known in Thai as "wats." 

For a look at how locals worship, head to any one of the glittering neighborhood wats, often located far down tiny sois and well out of the way of tourist traffic.

Some are actually in massive complexes filled with halls, schools and revered statues. 

The three big ones on the tourist trail -- the Grand Palace, Wat Po and Wat Arun -- should be a best of Bangkok stop on any first-timer's itinerary, as they are genuinely impressive and loaded with historical significance. 

Grand Palace, Na Phra Lan Road; +66 (0) 2 623 5500 Ext. 1124, 3100 

Wat Po, Sanam Chai Road and Maharaj Road, next to the Grand Palace

Wat Arun, 34 Arun Amarin Road, Kwang Wat Arun, Khet Bangkok Yai. To get there by boat, take a cross-river ferry at Tha Tien Pier; open daily, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 

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