Bangkok's Fine Dining Revolution: Why the World's Top Chefs Are Calling It THE City to Eat In

The reservation opens at 10 am Bangkok time on the 15th of each month. By 10:03, it’s completely sold out for the following month. Food critics from New York to Copenhagen are calling this eight-seat restaurant the future of fine dining, and you’re watching the chef carefully fold herbs into a curry paste using a mortar and pestle that belonged to his grandmother.

Welcome to Bangkok’s culinary revolution.

While the world was distracted by the usual suspects—Paris, Tokyo, New York—Bangkok quietly assembled what many chefs now consider the most exciting fine dining scene on the planet. This isn’t just about Thai food getting its due recognition. This is about a complete reimagining of what restaurant excellence looks like, led by chefs who are rewriting the rules entirely.

Five restaurants redefining Bangkok dining:

• LAHNYAI (31 Suan Phlu 2 Alley, Sathon) represents everything compelling about Bangkok’s current moment. Chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn, the powerhouse behind Michelin-starred Le Du, opened this intimate spot as a love letter to his grandmother’s cooking. “Lahnyai” means “grandmother’s boy” in Thai, and this tiny jewel box of a restaurant in the beautifully appointed Baan Turtle turns Thai fine dining on its head. Solid technique meets thoughtful innovation, and by the time the samrub (shared main course) arrives, you’ll think you’re full—until you start eating. The value here is exceptional for cooking at this level.

• ORE (11, 31 Thanon Sathu Pradit, Chongnonsi) might be my favorite fine dining experience in Bangkok right now. Young Greek chef Dimitrios Moudios has opened this counter spot in Sathu Pradit, using exclusively Thai ingredients to create a tasting menu of 30+ bites that pushes boundaries in ways that feel peerless not just in Bangkok, but anywhere in the world right now. The focus on vegetables is remarkable, and the beverage pairings highlight little-known Thai spirits that will change how you think about what Thailand can produce. We can’t wait to return in January.

Ore Restaurant - getting ready for service

Ore's Chawanmushi with Corn and Uni

• WANA-YOOK (5 Phaya Thai Road, Thung Phaya Thai) has become a favorite with Bangkok locals, and it’s easy to see why. Chef Chalee Kader has created a beautiful dining room set in a colonial style house nestled between high-rises and decked out in cream tones, but the real attraction is food that balances innovation with soul. We had a beef carpaccio/Gaeng Som (sour curry) dish during our last visit that was one of our favorite courses of the entire trip. The service feels personal and warm—exactly what you want when you’re investing in a serious meal.

Wana Yook exterior

• SAMRUB SAMRUB (39/11 Yommarat Alley, Si Lom, Bang Rak) offers something different entirely. Chef Prin Polsuk has created what feels almost like a festive dinner party with your best Thai friends. It was sweltering when we stepped into the space this summer, and they immediately provided cold towels (a Thai version of oshibori) and set us up with a beautiful cocktail infused with in-season torch ginger. This counter service location changes its menu every season, focusing on cuisine and products from specific regions throughout Thailand. The approach is mind-blowing.

• SORN (56 Sukhumvit 26, Khlong Tan Nuea, Klong Toei) stands alone. There’s nothing worse than visiting a three-Michelin-star restaurant and leaving disappointed. There’s nothing better than visiting one and having your entire perspective on food fundamentally changed. That was our experience at Sorn, Thailand’s only three-star restaurant, and it’s more than deserved. Chef Supaksorn “Ice” Jongsiri is self-taught and pays homage to the food of his youth, sourcing the majority of the restaurant’s ingredients from Southern Thailand. You’ll see everyone online raving about the “Crab Gem Stick,” and yes, that’s remarkable, but so is the entire three-hour experience. If you love Thai food, you’ll leave as a different diner than when you arrived.

Sorn's Andaman squid filled with burnt eggplant and Phuket lobster, covered in squid ink sauce

Beyond the hype

What makes Bangkok’s fine dining scene so compelling isn’t just the individual restaurants—it’s the complete ecosystem that’s emerged. These chefs aren’t cooking for international acclaim; they’re cooking for each other, for their families, for a local dining public that understands the difference between technique and showmanship. The result is food that feels both cutting-edge and deeply rooted, innovative without losing its soul.

This is why chefs from around the world are moving to Bangkok, why food writers are adding extra days to their trips, why reservations that once took a week to secure now require months of planning. Bangkok has quietly become the destination that serious food lovers can’t ignore.

Seasonal bounty presented before service

Where I stay when in Bangkok

Bangkok is also bursting with incredible hotel options, complete with world-class spas. Much like the fine dining, the caliber of hotel you can get for the price makes Bangkok feel like a bargain. A few of my favorite places to stay include:

• Mandarin Oriental Bangkok: Set along the river, this is a classic. Even when I travel to Bangkok and don’t stay here, I always book a reservation at their spa, which you access crossing the river by boat from the main hotel. The convenient location but riverside spot provides a nice oasis from the bustling city. This is a three-Michelin-key property.

• The Sukhothai Bangkok: Near Lumphini Park, this is often my favorite place to stay in the city. The Sukhothai is very special—classic elegance with a slightly modern nod to Thai Lanna style décor. It is tucked behind a wall that when you arrive, seems to close off the looming city to create a lush garden retreat. Service is top-notch and the rooms are elegant yet understated. And it earned two Michelin keys.

• Rosewood Bangkok: This is a newer property (opened in 2019), and conveniently located next to the Phloen Chit BTS station, which can be a real convenience when headed to dinner at peak traffic times in the city. Following in the brand’s reputation for excellence, it recently earned two Michelin keys.

• SO/ Bangkok: This is a modestly priced but very nice option. I love the location just across from Lumphini park and around the corner from a quaint neighborhood perfect for an evening stroll. It also is convenient to the MRT (subway). I also highly recommend this spa for a relaxing massage at the end day before getting ready to head out for dinner. Each treatment room looks out on the city skyline.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Bangkok page.