Gaggan

Seven Spoons

The Aston Gastro Bar

Why we love it: This charming little bistro combines all the things we like when eating out: affordable food that’s interesting and comforting, lots of imported beers and a laidback atmosphere with sophisticated touches.

The menu: A combination of Asian flavors and a French sensibility, mostly in the ever-popular tapas form.

What to eat: The roasted bone marrow with salsa verde and crusty bread (B130), where the cartilaginous, fatty texture of the marrow is balanced with the garlicky salsa. Other dishes, too, feature high quality ingredients competently handled, such as the seared duck breast (with Asian pear and orange jelly, B280)—generous slices of fresh and fatty meat cooked to medium-rare perfection.

What to drink: Choose one of the myriad imported beers. Try the St. Louis, a sweet Belgian lambic that comes in different fruit flavours (B150).

2/F, Crystal Design Center, 1420 Praditmanoontham Rd., 02-102-2323. Open Tue-Sun 5pm-midnight.

Bangkok Burger Company

Why we love it: For a while it seemed like Iron Fairies was the only place doing just burgers. But with the opening of Bangkok Burger Company we have perhaps the first serious restaurant dedicated exclusively to everyone’s favorite food.

The menu: Classic, artery-clogging burger goodness with modern twists for someone who likes a little extra.

What to eat: Unlike other burger menus elsewhere, the variations here are quite wide and interesting, from The Swiss (with Swiss cheese, garlic mushrooms and sautéed onions, B230/295) to The Italian (with Mozzarella cheese, olives, pesto oregano and marinara sauce on the side, B230/295).

What to drink: Apart from the nice, American touch of ice cream shakes (B95-110), they do what they call “grown-up shakes” that are ice cream shakes with shots of liqueur, like the cookies and cream (Oreos, ice cream, butterscotch schnapps and chocolate liqueur, B195).

G/F Opus Building, Thong Lor Soi 10, 02-715-9407. Open daily 11am-11pm.

Gastro 1/6 (RMA Institute)

Why we love it: This adorable garden café with loads of hanging greenery has become very popular, among Thais and expats alike, as one of the few places in the city with a non-buffet brunch.

The menu: Arguably some of the best egg breakfasts in the city, which often overshadows their stellar lunch choices.

What to eat: The tortilla with Spanish ham (a kind of egg and potato frittata, B180) and the full English breakfast (B380) which boasts, in addition to good eggs and proper toasted baguette, homemade Cumberland sausages, sautéed mushrooms and very garlicky spinach. The lunch menu is brief, but delicious and changes frequently.

What to drink: It’s hard to find a decent coffee in Bangkok, but they have frothy lattes and espressos that’ll satisfy at least some caffeine afficionados.

RMA Institute, Soi Sap Namthip 2, 238 Sukumvit Soi 26. Open Tue-Sun 8:30am-3pm.

Mellow

Why we love it: Mellow lives up to its name: warm, cozy, wood-heavy décor involving beams and brick walls, high (but not too high) ceilings and friendly staff. It’s the kind of place you might go to on a Saturday night with your friends, or with your beloved on a Sunday night to wind down after a long weekend of partying.

The menu: Pastas, salads, and a few fusion items. Typical but solidly executed.

What to eat: The buffalo wings appetizer (B150) comes with a crackling batter that holds up firmly against the sauce and moist, seasoned chicken inside. The rocket salad with Italian sausage (B260) packs generous amounts of seared sausage and a mountain of fresh rocket, even if it falls victim to some slight overdressing.

What to drink: Good cocktails you can enjoy at their happy hour (2 for 1, Sun-Thu from 5-7pm). Apple martinis are B250, Midori sours are B180.

1/F Penny’s Balcony, Thong Lor Soi 16, 02-382-0064. Open daily 11-1am.

Oskar

Why we love it: Two houses down from Bed Supperclub, Oskar Bistro is a restaurant with a slightly clubby vibe. It certainly packs a lot of things under one roof: a hearty menu, a long list of cheap drinks and a live DJ spinning music that makes eating dinner feel like you’re swaying slowly on a dance floor.

The menu: The predominantly French ownership behind Oskar means that some Southern French dishes make their way onto the menu, alongside hearty American dishes and comfort food.

What to eat: Their signature Oskar salad (B230) is composed of duck confit, ham, plums, eggs and truffle oil. They do a brief selection of wood-oven pizzas (B195-325)—including some more unusual ones like the Casablanca, with minced lamb chop and merguez sausage—as well as some cocottes (French casserole stews) like the duck parmentier (B250) and the ratatouille (B220).

What to drink: There is a pretty wide, exciting (and affordable) choice of booze, from the ten wines by the glass (B135-265) to the cocktails (B150-225); there’s even several Scotch whiskey options for under B300 a glass.

24 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-255-3377. Open daily 6-11pm. BTS Nana.

Roast

Why we love it: With its huge windows, marble tables and solid, comfy seating, Roast is definitely one of the most handsome places to open this year. The brunch was an instant hit, but it took Roast a while to figure out its dinnertime offering: affordable wines and tasty tapas.

The menu: Full on breakfast and brunch dishes in the day time, and a tapas menu in the evening. The tapas are heavy on the lime and garlic and flavors are refreshingly Mediterranean despite the Thai ingredients. Many dishes follow the same winning formula: comforting, fried produce with tangy, lime-heavy sauces to cut through the fat.

What to eat: For dinner, try the fried crab cakes with tartar sauce and tomato salsa (B320), meatballs on guacamole (B180), and calamari on a tangy, garlic aioli (B160).

What to drink: Some of the best coffees in town (French press B120-B140, espressos B80-B140). They also serve a great selection of wines all day (B790-B1,290).

2/F Seenspace, Thong Lor Soi 13, 02-185-2866. Open daily, 10am-10:30pm.

Snapper

Why we love it: The Cheap Charlie’s cul-de-sac on Sukhumvit Soi 11 has been seeing some new additions of late. The highlight among them, we think, is Snapper, a simple, very casual restaurant specializing in sustainably fished New Zealand seafood.

The menu: Calling itself Bangkok’s first NZ restaurant, Snapper is currently doing a pretty interesting fish and chips menu, with new dishes due to be added in the weeks to come.

What to eat: Choose from about five types of NZ fish and chips like the fleshy and strongly-flavored Tarakihi (B170) or the slightly milder Southern King Fish (B160). Snacks like the deep-fried mussels (B30) and tiger prawns (B60 each) are also fresh and delicious.

What to drink: A short and sweet wine list comprised of stuff from NZ and Australia: whites and a light Pinot Noir that will go well with your seafood. Bottles range from B1,200-1,700, and they have two wines by the glass at B160.

1/22 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-651-1098. Open 5pm-midnight. BTS Nana.

Do you think Facebook shopping is a sustainable business model? Is it at its peak or is it only just beginning?
Yes, certainly Facebook is a sustainable business model. It’s pretty much almost what a direct-sell model would look like. Once you like a page, you are committed to that page; whatever they post or advertise will appear on your page. It is probably in the early stages now, but many small businesses are testing their new products on Facebook, where it is free or relatively low cost to start a business.

What percentage of your sales comes from Facebook?
At INFRD, around 10% of sales are carried out through Facebook, but over 50% of customers that come visit our shop at one point or another have seen products on our Facebook page before they make their decision to buy.

Have you ever bought anything from a Facebook shop?
I haven’t really bought anything straight from a Facebook shop, but I always use it to help me in my buying decision and before I decide to go to the actual shop.
INFRD is located on Siam Square Soi 2, near the crosswalk.

Why only a Facebook page and not a website?
We used to have a website, but we don’t use it anymore because Facebook is good enough. All the information is on there already: clients can see the pictures and the prices, then they can call or Facebook me directly, negotiate the price and ask for more details. Plus it’s easier to get new fans. People tell their friends, and their friends tell their friends, and so on.

What do most people purchase on Facebook?
Jewelry, normally. It works better if the customer has bought before and knows their size. Our evening dresses are harder to sell online because people want to try them on first. Our dress prices are not that cheap either, so the fit has to be perfect. But it does mean that they can browse our products without having to come to the store.

What do customers expect when they talk to you through Facebook?
People can leave comments and questions on pictures and we can respond. They expect us to reply in one or two days so we have to be timely. It’s more interactive and personal than an external website. They can know that the owner of the Facebook page is me, the designer, and that I am talking to them directly.
Kay’s new vintage jewelry shop opens at Terminal 21 (BTS Asoke) this month.

The goods: Homemade breads: white, sourdough, whole wheat and rye. Some unusual options include the Cuban shallot boule (B145) and the cranberry dark rye sourdough (B160). They also do pantry-stocking items like six-ounce jars of all-natural nut butters like peanut and cashew, a range of pickles and exciting flavors of cream cheese like red pepper, basil and almond (B125 for six ounces). Exact offerings change every week, with new products often introduced.
The seller: Started by a financial consultant, the operation initially worked out of a residential kitchen. But the folks behind Urban Pantry have finally gotten big enough to rent out their own industrial space to keep up with demand: their weekly offerings tend to sell out within a couple of days so order quick.

The deal:
1. “Like” them on Facebook (here) to keep up with with what new products they’re doing and when they become available.
2. Email them to receive their weekly pricelists and product descriptions and to place your order.
3. They’ll write you back to confirm and set up a delivery. There’s usually a small delivery fee.
4. Pay on delivery.

www.central.co.th

Central Online Shopping is simply Central’s version of, say, the Bloomingdale’s or Neiman Marcus websites, but with a slightly edgier interface. Easy features let you scroll through a mix of merchandise as displayed in Central stores, ranging from fashion and accessories to beauty and household products, as well as labels like Muji, Fit Flop or even Vivian Westwood. Free shipping for purchases over B2,500 every Monday (so far). Do pay attention to the sale section, where you might get a set of bed linen for less than B1,500 or a pair of leather shoes for less than B1,000.

www.mods.co.th

Mods (M Online Department Store, by The Mall Group: Paragon, Emporium, etc.) is an online-specialty store and a community site for fashion lovers. While Mods displays thousands of products in several categories, from fashion to electronic devices, you can also stay up to date on the latest design news and products at the Café de Mods section, with its a blog, lookbook and video clips. Again, watch the “sale” section where you might find Playhound pants or Hokuto shirts for discounted prices you can’t get in stores.

Verdict:

Central has a wider selection but Mods is definitely edgier and gets our vote. The Mall wins!