The buzz: With the limited choice of Spanish restaurants in town, the arrival of Hola four months ago, was welcome thanks to its spotlight on authentic Spanish cuisine in an intimate setting.

The décor: Dimly lit, the bare walls of the compact but well managed space are lined with the owner’s eclectic collection of European paintings and art pieces. Red carnations, the national flower of Spain, also feature prominently—as does a framed FC Barcelona jersey. There is a sense of practicality to the way the tables are arranged. A high marble counter separates the open kitchen and the dining area with a few bar stools for curious spectators. A bunch of sofas at the back of the venue provide a comfy little hideaway.

The food: Homey Spanish food. Tapas starts from B100-B200 per dish. Try the gambas ajillo con pan tastado (garlic prawns, B175) and other traditional dishes include paella (rice with prawn, squid, mussels, pork and vegetables, B750 for two), marinated barbecue pork (B120 or chicken, B130) and deep fried potatoes with garlic or spicy sauce (B110). Staff also recommended the cannelloni (ground beef and chicken fillet wrapped in lasagna topped with parmesan cheese, B200). Top it all off with crema Catalana (Spanish creme brulee, B90) or chocolate truffles (B110).

The drinks: It’s refreshing to find a decent selection of Marques de Caceres wines from Spain, which complements the food quite nicely. House wine starts from B210 by the glass. They also offer typical Spanish cocktails like the tinto de verano (red wine with sprite and lime, B155) and clara (beer and sprite, B155). Sangria is available by the pitcher (red, B650, and white, B850) and the glass (B210). Beers include Singha (B120), Heineken (B120) and the El Bulli created Estrella Damm Inedit (B595).

The crowd: Mostly Japanese expats and hi-so Thais after a bit more character than what’s generally found in the area. Tanrak Chiengtong

The buzz: The former owner of boutique hotel Eugenia sold up, and moved along Sukhumvit to the same small dead-end soi that is home to Casa Pagoda and the soon-to-open Quince. There, this interior designer created a purpose-built colonial-style hotel, with more than a touch of the English country house about it. Despite these design themes, the restaurant is resolutely Thai, focusing on dishes you’re more likely to find at a roadside stall than an elegant boutique hotel.

The décor: A blend of Thai mixed with a touch of 1920s Shanghai. That means wooden walls taken from an original Thai house combined with tiled floors, marble top tables, lots of dark wood and plenty of antique bric a brac and furniture. There is also an Edwardian-style private drawing room for intimate dinner parties.

The food: No fusion, no added sugar and no holding back on the spices, just an extensive menu of classic and authentic Isaan, Northern and Laotian dishes, with the occasional Southern offering as well. Recommended dishes include the gai yang takrai, (deep fried chicken wings with lemongrass, B120), the fresh and aromatic laab Laos (B150), and the kow pad Thai Lao Yeh (B180) that mixes seafood, pork and more with the fried rice. There are also plenty of harder to find Northeastern treats like kob tod (deep fried frog, B160) and gaeng pak wan kai-mod-daeng (spicy soup with ants eggs, B160).

The drinks: The presence of the Joy Luck Club bar in the hotel means you can enjoy cocktails mixed by bar staff dressed in 1920s style outfits, who have previously worked at Zuma and Hyde & Seek. The seasonal signature cocktail is currently the Star Ruby (B280), vodka, roselle, amaretto, and mangosteen.

The crowd: Hotel guests and a growing number of inquisitive well of locals coming to check out the new arrival to this increasingly happening foodie neighborhood.