Must-see restaurants in Thailand

  • Saawaan

    Bangkok

    Two exceptionally talented chefs run what can easily be called one of the finest Thai restaurants in the world. Its name meaning 'heaven', this chic…

  • Le Du

    Bangkok

    A play on the Thai word for 'season', Le Du intertwines Thai dishes with Western flavours, and applies 21st-century deconstructionist cooking techniques…

  • Gaa

    Siam Square, Pratunam, Phloen Chit & Ratchathewi

    This uber-acclaimed restaurant is run by Michelin-starred chef Garima Arora (a protégé of former Bangkok chef Gaggan Anand) who also honed her craft at…

  • BANGKOK, THAILAND - 2010/08/29: The interiors of David Thompson's restaurant, Nahm, in Bangkok. Thompson, an Australian native, is widely regarded as the world's foremost expert in Thai cuisine and cooking. (Photo by Leisa Tyler/LightRocket via Getty Images)

    nahm

    Bangkok

    In the modern-day melee of top-notch restaurants here, nahm may no longer be on top of the competition, but it's still one of Bangkok's nicest Thai…

  • Sühring

    Bangkok

    Twin chefs Mathias and Thomas Sühring from Germany present a mix of family recipes in explosive renditions that could be framed and hung in a modern art…

  • Men preparing food, Thip Samai.

    Thip Samai

    Banglamphu

    This institution reputedly serves the definitive version of pàt tai (fried noodles) – period. Every evening, scores of eager diners queue on the pavement…

  • Chaloklum Food Market

    Ko Pha-Ngan

    Ko Pha-Ngan's most authentically local food market is in the far north, where every Sunday in front of the village pier, a series of red tables and chairs…

  • Acqua

    Hat Patong

    At Phuket's top Italian restaurant, amid sleek, monochrome decor, you can dine on homebaked focaccia, deliciously creamy buffalo mozzarella and house-made…

  • Chiang Dao Nest

    Chiang Dao

    The undisputed culinary highlight of the area, Chiang Dao Nest is worth the trip from Chiang Mai all by itself. Discover imported ales, fine wines and…

  • Dining on the Rocks

    Ko Samui

    At the isolated Six Senses Samui, the island's ultimate fusion dining experience takes place on nine cantilevered verandas yawning over the gulf. After…

  • Ta Khai

    Hat Patong

    Inspired by traditional fishing-village architecture, with lotus ponds, a glassed-in pavilion and skilled Trang-born chefs, the outstanding, seaside…

  • Jay Fai

    Banglamphu

    Wearing ski goggles and furiously cooking over a charcoal fire, septuagenarian Jay Fai is renowned for serving Bangkok’s tastiest (and priciest) crab…

  • Suay

    Phuket

    Launched in 2017 in a sleek glassed-in space, the Cherngtalay branch of star Phuket chef Noi Tammasak's sought-after Suay is a fusion-tastic sensation…

  • Il Bolognese

    Bangkok

    Run by a passionate, hands-on Italian chef, this fabulous restaurant serves a sturdy range of northern Italian goodies in its casual yet stylish premises…

  • Suay

    Phuket Town

    Fabulous fusion and fine wines, courtesy of top Phuket chef-owner Noi Tammasak, are the draw at this converted house just south of the Old Town. Spicy…

  • Ting Song Tam

    Chiang Khan

    One of our favourite restaurants in Loei Province. There's a full Isan menu but its speciality is đôrng dêng noodles (a super-thick version of kà·nŏm jeen…

  • Morning Market

    Mae Hong Son

    Mae Hong Son's morning market is a fun place to have breakfast. Several vendors at the northern end of the market sell unusual fare such as tòo·a poo ùn,…

  • Som Tam Petmanee 2

    Northeastern Thailand

    Also known as Som Tom Mae Pet, this simple Isan restaurant by Wat Salaloi is Surin's most famous purveyor of sôm·đam (spicy green-papaya salad) and gài…

  • Bao Pradit

    Northeastern Thailand

    It’s a bit of a trek south of the centre, but this is a real Isan restaurant with dishes such as gôry kài mót daang (raw meat 'salad' with red-ant eggs)…

  • Breeze

    Phuket

    Elegant yet understated, one of Phuket's finest restaurants sits in glorious hilltop, sea-surrounded seclusion, 20km northeast of Phuket Town. Blue…

  • Sangkhlaburi Night Market

    Kanchanaburi Province

    There's as much Mon and Burmese food as Thai at Sangkhlaburi's small but popular night market. Keep an eye out for Myanmar yam kôw soy, a noodle and tofu…

  • Blue Rice

    Kanchanaburi

    Masterful spice blends, a creative menu and peaceful river views make this one of the most irresistible restaurants in Kanchanaburi. The signature…

  • Laap Kao Cham Chaa

    Chiang Mai

    Popularised by the late, great Anthony Bourdain, this low-key street stall beneath a rain tree (after which it is named) is now a staple for authentic…

  • Bampot

    Phuket

    Cool-blue booths, an open-plan kitchen and white-brick walls plastered with artwork set the scene for chef Jamie Wakeford's ambitious, contemporary…

  • Woo

    Chiang Mai

    A riverside, three-in-one stop for delicious meals, contemporary art and perhaps a bit of shopping. The stylish, modern cafe specialises in Thai food,…

  • Krua Apsorn

    Banglamphu

    This cafeteria-like dining room is a favourite of members of the Thai royal family and restaurant critics alike. Just about all of the central and…

  • Larp Khom Huay Poo

    Pai

    Escape the wheatgrass-and-tofu crowd at this unabashedly carnivorous local eatery. The house special is 'larp moo kua', northern-style lâhp (minced pork…

  • Salima Restaurant

    Chiang Rai Province

    One of the friendliest restaurants in town also happens to be the one serving the tastiest food. Salima does tasty Muslim-Chinese dishes, including a rich…

  • Jek Pia

    Hua Hin

    Once just a coffee shop, this 50-plus-year-old restaurant is one of Hua Hin's top culinary destinations. The late mother of the current owner invited her…

  • Huean Jai Yong

    Chiang Mai

    Northern Thai food enthusiasts shouldn't miss this out-of-town gem, where authentic, hard-to-find dishes beloved by the people of Myanmar's Shan State …

  • Supanniga Eating Room

    Bangkok

    Supanniga has three outlets across Bangkok (plus a superpopular dinner cruise), but this branch in Sathorn is a favourite in terms of ambience and service…

  • Khao Soi Pa Orn

    Chiang Khong

    The Chiang Khong version of kôw soy – the famous northern curry noodle soup – forgoes the curry broth and replaces it with clear soup topped with a rich,…

  • Bacco

    Thanon Sukhumvit

    The slightly cheesy interior of this osteria (Italian-style wine bar) serves as a cover for a fabulous Italian menu. There’s an abundance of delicious…

  • Night Market

    Nakhon Si Thammarat

    One of the two long lines stretching along the main road sells everything from mobile phone cases to knock off labels, but the other, busier one serves up…

  • Ban Mai

    Phitsanulok

    Dinner at this local favourite is what a meal at your grandparents’ place might be like: opinionated conversation, frumpy furniture and an overfed cat…

  • Noochy Seafood

    Ko Kut

    The quaint east-coast stilt fishing village of Ao Yai is home to several excellent seafood restaurants, where the catch is fresh and the range impressive…

  • Krua Apsorn

    Bangkok

    This is the original branch of this homey, award-winning and royally patronised restaurant. Expect a clientele of large families and middle-aged ladies,…

  • Turm-Rom

    Khon Kaen

    This superb place combines one of the best kitchens in town with a covered garden to create the perfect place for a night out, rain or shine. The þá·sá…

  • Rice Paddy

    Phang-Nga Province

    This sweet, German-owned Thai-international kitchen is very special. Flash-fried sôm·đam (spicy green papaya salad), fantastic falafel and hummus, spicy,…

  • Chicken and Bee

    Hua Hin & the Upper Gulf

    Against the lush greenery of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Chicken and Bee is an organic farm and open-air restaurant where you are sure to feel at home…