BANGKOK
best place for French cuisine. The menu
ranges from the classic (steak tartare, bouil-
labaisse) to the modern (minute of scram-
bled eggs and fresh sea urchin), with dishes
prepared using both unique imported ingre-
dients and produce from Thailand’s Royal
Projects. Reservations recommended.Bei Otto GERMAN $$$
(Map p 92 ; http://www.beiotto.com; 1 Soi 20, Th Sukhumvit;
mains 220-590B; h9am-midnight; a; BTS Asok,
MRT Sukhumvit) Claiming a Bangkok resi-
dence for nearly 20 years, Bei Otto’s major
culinary bragging point is its pork knuckles,
reputedly the best in town. A good selection
of German beers and an attached delicates-
sen with brilliant breads and super sausages
make it even more attractive to go Deutsch.Serenade INTERNATIONAL $$$
(Map p 92 ; %0 2713 8409; 264/1 Soi 12, Soi 55/
Thong Lor, Th Sukhumvit; mains 145-480B; hlunch
& dinner; a; BTS Thong Lo & access by taxi) This
sexy new wine bar excels in tasty tapas-
like dishes such as Greek olives and white
anchovy sautée on baguette with melted
Manchego cheese, or Grilled grass-fed Aus-
tralian black angus strip loin with jim jaew
demiglace.Bharani THAI $
(Sansab Boat Noodle; Map p 92 ; 96/14 Soi 23, Th
Sukhumvit; mains 50-200B; h10am-10pm; a; BTSAsok, MRT Sukhumvit) This cosy Thai restau-
rant dabbles in a bit of everything, from ox-
tongue stew to rice fried with shrimp paste,
but the real reason to come is for the rich,
meaty ‘boat noodles’ – so called because
they used to be sold from boats plying the
klorngs (canals) of Ayuthaya.Bacco – Osteria da Sergio ITALIAN $$$
(Map p 92 ; 35/1 Soi 53, Th Sukhumvit; antipasti
100-1200B, mains 250-850B; hlunch & dinner; a;
BTS Thong Lo) The slightly cheesy interior of
this osteria serves as something of a cover
for one of Bangkok’s better Italian menus.
There’s an abundance of delicious antipasti,
but the emphasis here is breads, from pizza
to piada, all of which are done exceedingly
well.Duc de Praslin CHOCOLATE $
(Map p 92 ; ground fl , RSU Tower, Soi 31/1, Th Su-
khumvit; mains 20-120B; h8am-9pm; a; BTS
Phrom Phong) Travel from sweaty Bangkok
to Olde Europe in one step at this classy
cafe-slash-chocolatier. Other than the spot-
on bonbons and good coff ee, try a hot cocoa,
made in front of your eyes by combining
steaming milk with shards of rich chocolate.Face INTERNATIONAL $$$
(Map p 92 ; %0 2713 6048; 29 Soi 38, Th Sukhum-
vit; mains 310-670B; hlunch & dinner; a; BTS
Thong Lo) This handsome dining complex isBRUNCH BUFFET BONANZASunday brunch has become something of a Bangkok institution among resident for-
eigners, and virtually every large hotel in town puts together decadent buff ets on every
other day as well. The following choices will leave you with more than simply a distended
stomach.
The highly regarded restaurants at the Four Seasons Hotel (Map p 86 ; %0 2250 1000;
155 Th Ratchadamri; buff et 2766B; h11.30am-3pm Sun; a; BTS Ratchadamri) set up steam
tables for their decadent Sunday brunch buff et – reservations are essential.
Even if you can’t aff ord to stay at the Oriental Hotel, you should save up for the river-
side seafood buff et at Lord Jim’s (Map p 80 ; %0 2659 9000; 48 Soi Oriental/38, Th Charoen
Krung; buff et 1472-1943B; hnoon-2.30pm Mon-Fri, 11.30am-3pm Sat, 11am-3pm Sun; a; river
ferry Tha Oriental).
The award-winning buff et at US chain JW Marriott (Map p 92 ; %0 2656 7700; ground fl ,
JW Marriott Hotel, 4 Soi 2, Th Sukhumvit; buff et Sat/Sun 1285/1885B; h11.30am-3pm Sat & Sun;
a; BTS Nana) is likened to Thanksgiving all year-round, and generous options for free-
fl owing beer or wine are also available.
Rang Mahal (Map p 92 ; %0 2261 7100; 26th fl , Rembrandt Hotel, 19 Soi 20, Th Sukhumvit;
buff et 850B; h11am-2.30pm Sun; a; BTS Asok, MRT Sukhumvit), on the top of the Rembrandt
Hotel, couples great views with an all-Indian buff et every Sunday.
And for those who love the sweet stuff , the Sukhothai Hotel (Map p 90 ; %0 2344
8888; 13/3 Th Sathon Tai; buff et 800B; h2-5.30pm Fri-Sun; a; MRT Lumphini) off ers a unique,
entirely cocoa-based chocolate buff et.