You know how you go into a coffee shop hoping to see an empty sofa to sink into, only to find that they’re all taken? At Hip Hut Café, this would never happen, because the place is positively packed with plush red couches. And while they serve a range of international food, their specialty is spicy Thai dishes. Recommendations include the tub-tim fish, steamed hor mok pla, tom yum river kung and lemongrass fried chicken with somtam.
You know how you go into a coffee shop hoping to see an empty sofa to sink into, only to find that they’re all taken? At Hip Hut Café, this would never happen, because the place is positively packed with plush red couches. And while they serve a range of international food, their specialty is spicy Thai dishes. Recommendations include the tub-tim fish, steamed hor mok pla, tom yum river kung and lemongrass fried chicken with somtam.
With its red and black checker theme, wine bar (lots of affordable Italian wines) and grill, Beccofino has an almost laid-back quality. But a closer look at the menu indicates the kitchen can go well beyond basics: pan-fried US scallops with bacon, vegetarian couscous and asparagus mousse; agnolotti filled with braised guinea fowl, parmesan fondue, fresh thyme and pan-ju; or even fillet of turbot served with couscous, baby vegetables and saffron foa. Too complicated? They have wood-fired oven pizzas, too.
With its red and black checker theme, wine bar (lots of affordable Italian wines) and grill, Beccofino has an almost laid-back quality. But a closer look at the menu indicates the kitchen can go well beyond basics: pan-fried US scallops with bacon, vegetarian couscous and asparagus mousse; agnolotti filled with braised guinea fowl, parmesan fondue, fresh thyme and pan-ju; or even fillet of turbot served with couscous, baby vegetables and saffron foa. Too complicated? They have wood-fired oven pizzas, too.
Opened: September, 2009.
The buzz: Despite the already stiff competition in Thonglor, the celeb couple and former teen TV stars, Jenny and Un, look to show they’ve grown up a bit with a new venue catering to the neighborhoods’ voracious night crawlers.
Fresh from a revamp, Ei8ght Thonglor has also added some cool new stores. Our favorite is a compact, neo-Victorian shop, Storia, that sits at the boutique mall’s furthest end. It all started when five friends decided to create something reminiscent of Japan’s zakka stores, which look more like a living room where everything is for sale than a traditional shop. The gang studied in England, where such shops are growing in popularity too, and wanted to start the trend here.
The buzz: Apart from Fat Gut’z and Iron Fairies, Thong Lor is pretty lacking in the jazz and blues department. Fortunately, a group of musicians has just opened this bar to bring a bit more soul to the party strip.
The decor: This one-room bar dedicates a third of its space to the stage, including a piano, and clearly decoration wasn’t their main focus. There are a bunch of Route 66 signs and pictures of old jazz legends to set the mood and some exposed bricks for that steamy jazz bar feel.
Formerly known as Whiskey Mist, the corner of Thong Lor Soi 10 is now Wine Republic, another hot spot among neighborhood area. The management remains the same; the just wanted to their previously dancey place to be more chill. Numbers of wooden dining tables are filled all over the indoor and outdoor space which goes very well with their new installment of Italian cuisine and over 170 labels of wine. Imported beers are also available both in bottle and tap.
The Buzz: The Powder Room is dead, long live The Catbird Seat, occupying this 4/F rooftop location on Thong Lor. Catbirds stick to the topmost branches of a tree, meaning catbird seats are the best to see and be seen. Whether this new venue can pull that off, given the location (the elevator leading to it is not easy to find), only time will tell. While there’s a solid restaurant menu, there’s also a strong focus on tapas, live DJs and drinks, so the place has a bar-like vibe.
