• By GROVE
  • | Jul 26, 2017

A high-end residential enclave with a fashionable reputation, Phrom Phong and mid-Sukhumvit aren’t just about the luxury brands which plaster the facades of EmQuartier and Emporium. From the 29 rai of parkland, basketball courts and jogging track of Benjasiri, to the sun-dappled side streets of sois 31-49, it’s also one of the greenest neighborhoods on Sukhumvit. No wonder, then, that so many expats and locals earning a hefty pay packet choose to call it home. And no wonder the neighborhood’s always first on the radar of anyone looking to open a new cafe or bistro. Here, we round up the new businesses making sure that Phrom Phong remains one of the hottest parts of town.


Cafes


4th Floor Drip Bar
 
The new 4th Floor Drip Bar (4/F, Baker Gonna Bake Cafe, Sukhumvit Soi 26, 099-591-9142) boasts some of the greenest city views of any cafe in town. At this sun-drenched spot, the team behind Baker Gonna Bake teams up with barista Worawut Joowattanapong to offer slow-brew coffee (from B150), tea (from B120) and other coffee- and tea-based drinks. Equally as focused on quality coffee, Coffeas (G/F, Green Connect, Sukhumvit Soi 31, 081-923-0499) roaster has expanded to a full-time cafe and coffee school run by certified Q Grader and SCAA-certified instructor Nisakorn Sinsawat. The cafe aims to showcase specialty Thai coffee rigins (from B80 for espresso and B120 for drip coffee) through rotating house-roasted beans, mainly from Chiang Rai. If it's sweets you're after, check out Patisez (Parc 39, 5/9 Sukhumvit Soi 39, 02-185-3258), a cafe chain from Canberra that claims to be the original creator of the “freakshake” (those trending milkshakes piled high with cookies, cream and other dessert toppings). All cost B230 and come in five different varieties: nutella pretzel, mint chocolate, banana caramel, Thai tea white chocolate (exclusive to Bangkok), and watermelon and berries.
 

Restaurants

Asian flavors abound in some fo Phrom Phong's best restaurant openings, like Soba Factory (Marriott Marquis, Sukhumvit Soi 22, 02-059-5999). Coming from a family that makes soba noodles for the Japanese Royal family, chef Mizuho Nagao brings his 23 years to hand-kneaded noodles made every day using 80- to 100-percent buckwheat. The result is al-dente soba, which is recommended to be eaten within a few minutes of serving from B290). Over at EmQuartier, the most upscale branch of giant hotpot chain MK, MK Live (7/F, EmQuartier, Sukhumvit Rd.) markets itself as the healthiest branch yet. Amid green-dominated decor flooded with light, they serve a new steamed shabu option where you’re given wooden boxes filled with sliced meats and veggies in kurobuta pork (B550), Australian beef (B650) and Japanese wagyu beef (B1,100) sets. 

 
For the neigborhood's hottest dinner reservation, book yourself into Sri Trat (90 Sukhumvit Soi 33, 02-088-0968), which specializes in one of the lesser-known regions of Thai cuisine: the eastern provinces, especially Trat, where the owner’s family comes from. The fish sauce, salted fish, sun-dried squid, chamuang leaves and shrimp paste all come from Trat province. Here you’ll find the Eastern staple of moo chamuang (stewed pork belly with chamuang leaves, B220) and crab roe chili dip (B250), as well as creative takes on the cuisine, like a chili dip version of moo chamuang (B220).


Le Cochon Blanc

For some real-deal barbecue, Le Cochon Blanc (26 Soi Phrom Chit, Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-662-3814) comes from French restaurateur Fred Meyer (of other such bastions of good taste as Issaya, Pizza Massilia and Kom-Ba-Wa). Between two separate dining rooms sits a massive grill pit, where chef Chandler Schultz cooks up smoked pork ribs (B580 for half; B890 for full rack) and steaks (prices range from B1,000 for hanger steak to B350/g of wagyu tomahwak). 
 


Bars

From rooftops and sunny terraces to craft-cocktail joints, nightlife in the neighborhood is buzzing. Vanilla Sky Rooftop Bar (35/F, Compass SkyView Hotel 12, Sukhumvit Soi 24, 02-011-1111) has 36th-story views stretching over Thonglor in one direction and towards downtown from the other. Gin and tonics take a starring role in the cocktail menu, all priced at B320. Another hotel opening, Mojjo (32/F, Compass SkyView Hotel, 12 Sukhumvit Soi 24, 02-011-1111) is Bangkok's newest Cuban-themed bar, on the 32nd floor of the Compass SkyView Hotel. It offers rum-heavy drinks amid almost-360-degree views over Benjasiri Park and downtown. 

Meanwhile on Sukhumvit Soi 33, next door to Peppina, the Chinese-themed Dim Dim (27/1 Sukhumvit Soi 33, 02-085-2788) exudes oriental cool through vintage tea boxes and rows of waving lucky cats, while bartenders whip up drinks with Chinese twists like the Oolong Tea & Orange Sour (B280).


Dim Dim


Beauty and wellness

Set in a glasshouse surrounded by lush greenery, Patom (9/2 Sukhumvit Soi 49/1, 098-259-7514) is an organic oasis in the heart of Sukhumvit Soi 49. This spin-off of Suan Sampran riverside eco-park is all about certified organic ingredients sourced from the Sampran network of farmers, meaning fresh fruits and vegetables feature in lunch boxes (B130), salads (B70) and even skincare products. Grab coffee using beans from Casa Lapin (from B80) and sample their mon rose soap (B120) and jasmine shower gel (B120) before taking some back home. Nearby, The Beauty Library (10/8-9 Sukhumvit Soi 33, 02-015-5969) is own of the best new hair salons in town. Try out a new hair color without the worry of harmful chemical side effects thanks to dyes are made with 95-percent organic ingredients, with absolutely no ammonia. Prices start at B3,500 for short hair and B6,000 for long hair. 


Patom

After making its Southeast Asian debut at Erawan Bangkok in 2015, New York’s celeb-endorsed barre studio Physique 57 (2/F, RQ Residence, Sukhumvit Soi 49, 083-034-2857) has now branched out to Sukhumvit 49. The new studio sits on the second floor of RQ Residence, also home to the all-in-one fitness hub of The Racquet Club. Its ballet-inspired workouts combine intervals of cardio, strength training, stretching and recovery. For newbies, they’re offering a two-class package at B1,000 or an eight-class one at B6,000, to be used in one month. Regular drop-ins cost B1,000. 
 


Library

AIS D.C. Creative Space (5/F, The Emporium, Sukhumvit Rd.) is what happened to the fifth floor of Emporium after TCDC moved to Charoenkrung. It’s still keeping the ties with TCDC, but now in league with mobile operator AIS, who together have launched the AIS D.C. Creative Space. There’s a zone for co-working, an exhibition space and a photo studio, as well as something they’re calling the “Playground”, where start-up businesses can go for support. If those floor-to-ceiling book shelves and mid-century-referencing chairs look familiar, it’s because they’re still the work of starchitect Duangrit Bunnag. The best bit of all has to be the membership cost of B1,200 for a year.
 

With the area around Phrom Phong always at the peak of new lifestyle trends, the neighborhood presents one of Bangkok's most-attractive residential prospects. Noble Around Sukhumvit 33 is the latest project contributing to Phrom Phong’s cultured, high-end reputation. 

Just 500 meters from BTS Phrom Phong, Noble Around Sukhumvit 33's 268 units spread across 25 floors don’t only feature finely appointed, youthful design. They’re also blessed with landscaping and green common areas that go beyond expectation, from the ground floor Escape Garden to the Forrest Valley terrace on the 4th floor, to the Napping Valley spread across floors 21-22. Noble Development only chooses to build properties in core areas of downtown Bangkok with amazing growth potential, and nowhere is that truer than here in mid-Sukhumvit. 

Units start at B5.5 million, available for registration at Sales Gallery through Aug 3. Presale: Aug 6 at The Okura Prestige Hotel.

www.noblehome.com

 
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