Call it controversial, but one of our favorite ways to spend this time of year is by the beach—ideally somewhere chic, laidback, and with a cool breeze, like Cannes or Saint-Tropez. If, unfortunately, you’re not able to make it to the ocean this holiday season, grab a table at Bistrot De La Mer, whose incredible seafood menu will transport you right to an oceanfront bistro in the French Riviera.

Located in the classy Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, Bistrot De La Mer specializes in French-Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis on (as it says in the name) the ocean. Think fresh, carefully-sourced seafood like mussels, oysters, and lobsters. 

If you’re a seafood aficionado, we’d highly recommend the Fruits de Mer platter—upgrade to the Royale option, which includes a succulent Maine lobster, fresh scallops ceviche, and marinated razor clams. Another stellar sharing option is the flavor-packed bouillabaisse. If that’s just a little too much seafood for you, you can get just the lobster entrée as well, served either thermidor-style in cognac sauce, or grilled with your choice of side. Using fresh, homemade pasta, the Mediterranean seafood tagliatelle is another oceanic delight with its abundant assortment of shellfish tossed in a tomato sauce.

Every weekday until March 31, 2024, the restaurant hosts their Menu De Jour special set lunch (two-course at B790++, three-course at B990++), which showcases the rich flavors of French-Mediterranean cuisine crafted with fresh and premium ingredients. All you have to do is bring a very empty stomach.

Don’t let Bistrot De La Mer’s name fool you, however, because the restaurant also has several non-seafood options. The beef tartare and the foie gras—both served with homemade bread—appetizers hold their own against their seafood counterparts. Split the grilled chicken breast, which comes in a creamy mushroom sauce and with a side of equally creamy potato gratin. Beef lovers will want to go for the prime rib-eye steak, which allows you to choose your own side and sauce. In an impressive and very welcome move, there are also a couple of vegetarian entrées—the grilled eggplant steak with quinoa and salsa verde is prepared with the same attention to flavors and culinary techniques that is present throughout the rest of the menu, as is the creamy white asparagus risotto served with a nutty aged parmesan.

You can’t leave a French meal without having dessert. The crêpes Suzette are Bistrot De La Mer’s signature sweet dish, prepared with an orange butter sauce whose sweetness is balanced out by a splash of Grand Marnier; of course, it comes with a dollop of vanilla ice-cream. Other French classics round out the dessert menu, including a crème brulée with that delightful crackling top, and tarte tatin with luscious calvados ice-cream and butterscotch sauce.

Bistrot De La Mer is open daily, with lunch service commencing from noon to 3pm and dinner service commencing from 5pm to 10pm. For bookings and enquiries, call 02-095-9999 or email [email protected].