While some of our leaders don’t seem to respect it, or even understand it, in BK-land we take democracy very, very seriously. So for five years now, we’ve asked you to tell us what you like (and dislike) about Bangkok. And then we print the results. In this, part one of our two-part 5th Anniversary celebration, we present your picks and pans for 2006. Some will jeer, some will cheer. But the numbers don’t lie.

DINING

Best New Restaurant: Koi

Over a third of our readers picked this slick Japanese fusion eatery from the other City of Angels as the best of the new. The combination of cool black decor, creative sushi and a scene straight out of LA at Koi (26 Sukhumvit Soi 20, 02-663-4990/-1) has proven to be a winner among the beautiful people.
Runners Up: Ishq, Chine Chine and Le Vendôme

Favorite Restaurants: Ishq, Guisto, Le Vendôme

We received such a wide range of responses (more than 50 different venues in all) that it would be hard to conclude which one is truly your favorite. But Ishq was technically the “winner,” by a very, very small margin. There’s something for everyone on the Pan-Asian menu, but the real attraction at Ishq (North Sathorn Rd., 02-634-5398/-9) is of course the charming colonial setting—and those restrooms.

Best Caffeine Hangout: Starbucks at Sunset Street

Our readers really love you, Starbucks! (Can we have more ads, please?) The international coffee chain where employees have university degrees and unbelievably cheery dispositions is now five for five in our awards. This year it was the old-style Khao San Road branch (Sunset Street, Khao San Rd., 02-629-5450) that took top honors.
Runners Up: Baan Rai Coffee Ekamai, Agaligo

Most Sinful Dessert: Coffee Beans by Dao

There’s the to-die-for cheesecake, but pretty much everything at Coffee Beans by Dao (47/2 Ekamai Soi 12, 02-713-2508) is worth the time you spend in the gym burning it off.
Runner Up: Le Nôtre

Most Stylish Restaurant: Bed Supperclub

This year our readers chose the white, white and white of Bed (26 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-651-3537) over more colorful competition. Food optional. (Who needs food when you have eye candy like this?)
Runners Up: To Die For, Ishq

Best Outdoor Dining: Vertigo

The best place to enjoy the great outdoors is from the top of a building, our readers said. And Vertigo (61/F, Banyan Tree Bangkok, 21/100 South Sathorn Rd., 02-679-1200), following a much-needed renovation (moving the stairs was a good idea), is tops.
Runners Up: River Bar, Spring/Summer/Winter

Best Place to Blow Your Savings: Le Normandie

Nothing is ordinary at Le Normandie (5/F, The Oriental Bangkok, 48 Oriental Ave., 02-659-9000), from the food to the wine to the service. You’ll spend a lot, but you’ll also get a lot.
Runners Up: Mezzaluna, Cy’an

Best Cheap Eats: Yaowaraj

The results show that we love street food everywhere, but Yaowaraj more than anywhere else. All-day and all-night, Chinatown is a great place to fill your stomach.
Runners Up: Silom Road, Sam Yan

Best Hotel for Dining and Wining: The Oriental

For the second consecutive year, the prize goes to our 100-year-old favorite, The Oriental Bangkok (48 Oriental Ave., 02-659-9000) for the quality of its outlets: Le Normandie, Lord Jim’s, Sala Rim Naam, China House, The Riverside Terrace, The Verandah, Ciao, Author’s Lounge and Bamboo Bar.
Runners Up: Four Seasons, Conrad

Best Sunday Brunch: Crêpes & Co.

Cozy little Crêpes & Co. (18/1 Sukhumvit Soi 12, 02-653-3990/-1) received the most votes in this category, which is usually dominated by gargantuan hotel buffets. In addition to the laid-back atmosphere, other reasons to visit include food promotions and a menu that changes regularly.
Runners Up: The Sukhothai, Four Seasons Hotel

Most Overrated Restaurant: Mezzaluna/Sirocco

Sorry, guys. If the management of the Dome hasn’t already tossed the BK Readers’ Choice Award Sirocco earned in 2005 for Best New Alfresco Restaurant, they surely will now. Despite receiving international recognition that they are obviously obscenely proud of, our readers don’t believe the hype about Sirocco and Mezzaluna (63 and 64/F, State Tower, 1055 Silom Rd., 02-624-9555)—and the voting wasn’t even close.
Runners Up: Koi, Mahanaga

NIGHTLIFE

Best New Nightspot: Astra

Even before construction had been completed Astra (Block C, Royal City Avenue, Rama 9 Rd., 09-497-8422, 02-622-2572) was the hot kid on the block. The place packs ‘em in nightly and attracts an impressive and ever-growing list of top international DJs.
Runners Up: Inch, 3Some

Favorite Nightspot: Q Bar

Congratulations to Q Bar (34 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-252-3274)! Your write-in campaign seems to have worked in this category. That’s democracy in action, for you. Don’t forget that our sister publication in Singapore, I-S, has its own Readers’ Choice Awards.
Runners Up: Bed, Astra

Best Place to Dance: Route 66

While others around it came and went, Route 66 (29/33-40 Block B, Royal City Avenue, Rama 9 Rd., 01-916-2898) has survived through the boom, bust and boom of RCA. Eurotrance has since been replaced with hip-hop, and there’s now a dress code, but the sign remains the same.
Runners Up: Bed, Astra

Best Place to Chill: Spring/Summer/Winter

With a huge lawn that must make condo developers drool and comfy all-weather cushions, the seasonal complex on Soi Promsi (199 Soi Promsi, Sukhumvit Soi 39, 02-391-2747/-8) was our readers’ top chillin’ space, barely beating out the Four Seasons’ courtyard bar Aqua. Don’t forget your mosquito repellent.
Runners Up: Aqua, Distil

Best Place to Ogle Beautiful People: Bed

The white backdrop and futuristic lighting make everyone look like a model at Bed. (Well, almost everyone.) That’s three years in a row.
Runners Up: Escudo (21.2%), Nang Len/Escobar (19.2%), Route 66 (12.2%)

Best DJs: Astra

No surprise! Astra was voted #1 by a large margin.
Runners Up: Café Democ, Narcissus

Best Drinks/Bartenders: Q Bar

With a w-i-d-e range of drinks mixed by sexy bartenders, Q Bar wins this one legitimately.
Runners Up: Syn Bar, Inch

Best Parties: Chivas

It’s not just our sales department that likes Chivas and their raucous parties—our readers do too, by nearly a two-to-one margin over the first runner-up. When’s the next one?
Runners Up: Heineken, Redioactive

Best Live Music: Saxophone

Outside of hotels, there aren’t many places to hear real live music—especially jazz. (See below.) But over the years Saxophone (3/8 Victory Monument, Phayathai Rd., 02-264-5472) has deservedly earned a reputation for excellence despite being neither “hip” nor “chic” nor “trendy.”
Runners Up: Brick Bar, Tokyo Joe’s

Best Jazz: Saxophone

Attracting uni newbies, professional musicians and everyone in between, Saxophone is our readers’ choice for jazz, just barely beating out Brown Sugar and Bamboo Bar.
Runners Up: Brown Sugar, Bamboo Bar

Most Overrated Bar: Q Bar

Wait a minute. Your Favorite Nightspot is also the Most Overrated?
Runners Up: Bed Supperclub, Distil

Best After-Hours Bar: Sin Bar

There were too many different venues to count (are there really that many speakeasies in Fun City?), but Sin Bar (34 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-252-3274) was your favorite. Don’t worry: Cops don’t read BK.

Most Embarrassing Place to be Seen at 5am: RCA

What the hell are you doing at RCA at 5am? (Well, it’s better than the police station.)
Runners Up: Nana, Police Station

SHOPPING

Local Fashion You Like Most: Greyhound

As long as dek-naew fever is still hotter than girly, tribal or avant-garde—and hi-so youngsters still have money to burn—the prize goes to Greyhound and Playhound by a huge margin.
Runners Up: Sretsis, Issue

Best Mall: Central Chidlom

Sometimes bigger doesn’t mean better. Central Chidlom (Ploenchit Rd., 02-655-7777) packs plenty of products into a modest space, allowing you to cruise the entire mall before deciding on a purchase. Try that at Paragon and your feet will kill you.
Runners Up: The Emporium, Siam Paragon

Best Market: JJ

We love a shopping spree on the cheap, so JJ Market is the biggest and best—and most popular by far.
Runner Up: Suan Lum Night Bazaar

I’d Blow A Month’s Salary On: Clothing

Clothing is one of life’s necessities. Why not buy something new to wear each day?
Runners Up: Shopping, Traveling

Most Wanted Tech Toy: iPod and Plasma TV

A tie! They’re equally hip, chic, sleek and cool, so pick up an iPod if you’ve got a few thousand saved up, or a plasma TV if you’re really loaded.
Runners Up: Laptop, Xbox

R&R

Best Spa: Devarana

An extensive menu of treatments and standardized services make Devarana (Dusit Thani Hotel, 946 Rama 4 Rd., 02-636-3596) your favorite spa year after year.
Runners Up: I.Sawan, Divana

Favorite Way to Stay in Shape: Gym (29.8%)

Last year we had yoga fever, but this year more of us are getting sweaty at the gym.
Runner Up: Yoga (26.9%)

How I Unwind on the Weekend: Shopping

Shopping is in Thais’ blood!
Runners Up: Beach, Movies, Sports, Sleeping

Best Weekend Gateway: Hua Hin

For the second year, Hua Hin is your favorite for its surf, sand, spas and society—call it the Hamptons of Thailand.
Runners Up: Samet, Phuket

Best Asian Gateway: Hong Kong

We shopping addicts confess: We love Hong Kong for its grand sale season.
Runners Up: Singapore, Seoul

City Living/Culture

Personality of the Year: Sondhi Limthongkul

Sondhi’s outspokenness shook up the government. His charisma won him the support of thousands at Hyde Park and the votes of BK readers.
Runners Up: Tata Young, Tony Ja

Most Overrated Phenomenon: Siam Paragon

We’re not surprised you picked the paragon of excess as Most Overrated. But to be fair, we should point out that you answered this question over one month ago, before most of the shops had opened. And we don’t get Rotiboy, either.
Runners Up: Rotiboy, Academy Fantasia

Best Thai Movie: Puen-Sanit

We can all relate to the pain of unrequited love. This sentimental story stole our hearts.
Runners Up: Tom Yum Koong, The Tin Mine

Best Gallery: Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC)

This newcomer became the talk of the town in no time with its inspiring exhibitions. First it unearthed the roots of urban workers from the northeast with an Isan Retrospective, then Japanese design. You chose the TCDC (6/F, The Emporium, Sukhumvit Soi 24, 02-664-8448) by nearly a two-to-one margin over the runner up.
Runners Up: 100 Tonson Gallery, Gallery F-Stop

Concert/Show/Party That Rocked Your Socks Off: Backstreet Boys

Voting was before the Bangkok 100 Rock Festival…
Runners Up: Chivas Parties, Rain, Tata Young

Best Thing About Bangkok: Food

Lonely Planet rates Bangkok as the Best Foodie Destination, and you agree. Our capital caters to its greedy mouths everywhere whether the forecast is rain, shine, or riots!
Runners Up: People, Nightlife

Worst Thing About Bangkok: Traffic (47.1%)

Yes, we all know that. Governor?
Runners Up: Pollution, Hot weather, 1am closing

My Quality of Life In This City Would Improve If…: Traffic Improved

As always.
Runners Up: Better public transportation, More money

 

Between…. You Preferred…

Mall and Market - Mall (60.6%)
Beer and Wine - Wine (64.4%)
Vodka and Whisky - Vodka (52.4%)
Skytrain and Subway - Skytrain (72.1%)
Golf and Tennis - Tennis (56.7%)
TG and PG - TG (76%)

Haven’t Been There Yet…But I Will: Chiang Mai Night Safari

It’s obvious that you think animal nightlife is interesting. We accept that, but wild meat…ummm.
Runners Up: Siam Ocean World, Sondhi in the Park

So Unhip It’s Cool: Wang Lang Market

Again, we prefer shopping to food or shows. So Bangkok’s best place for secondhand and vintage items gets first place for selection and variety.
Runners Up: New Light Restaurant, Scala Theater, Sala Chalermkrung

Not Looking Forward to in 2006: Return of Bird Flu

We love chicken (when it’s cooked).
Runners Up: Getting to Suvarnabhumi Airport, FTA

Favorite Offbeat Entertainment: Concerts in Lumpini Park

Classical tunes, lush gardens, beautiful people, cool breezes—perfect for a Sunday picnic.
Runners Up: Foreign films at House, Goethe Open-Air Cinema

Most Ridiculous Fashion Trend: Hip Hop and Wrist Bands (tie)

You are not Thaitanium. You are not a professional athelete.
Runners Up: Low-cut jeans, Micro skirts/shorts

Most Alarming/Annoying Trend: Korean Wave

Autumn in My Heart, Full House, Dae Jang-Guem, My Sassy Girl, Rain, Seven, Won Bin—we’re up to here in kimchi. What’s next? Beware the Japanese wave.
Runners Up: Gay-vague, Gigs, Hip-hop

Next Big Thing: New Government/Prime Minister

You got it!