French is a tough list to make, in no small part because fusion with French is how many cuisines try to elevate themselves. Places like Cross BKK and Den Kushi Flori mix Chinese and Japanese flavors respectively with French to create something altogether new–to say nothing of somewhere like Cote by Mauro Colagreco which boasts two Michelin stars and takes its inspiration from the whole riviera. This list is by no means exhaustive–with spots like JP Restaurant, Artur, and Cafe Claire well worth your time–but we’re going to stick to very French flavors. 

Each year, BK Magazine hosts its annual Top Tables restaurant awards, which lists the top 100 venues in the city, regardless of cuisine type, for that calendar year according to a panel of journalists, restaurateurs, chefs, and foodies that we know get out and eat. Following that event, we break that top 100 down into region-specific lists like this to share to readers. 

Blue by Alain Ducasse

Ranked #15 Overall Restaurant in Top Tables 2024

Launched in 2019 with legendary French chef Alain Ducasse’s name on the marquee, Blue by Alain Ducasse has become a beacon for those seeking a French gastronomic experience on the other side of the river. Tucked away at Icon Siam, the venue is wrapped with a panoramic view of the Chao Phraya River. The plush carpets and curved walls add to the luxurious atmosphere. You can expect top-shelf French fine dining in a sophisticated “less is more” presentation. The amberjack fish served with nicoise salad, bluefin senaka tuna served in a tart shell, and the assortment of puffed pastries are all highlights.

1F, Icon Siam, 065-731-2346. Open Tue-Wed 6-9pm; Thu-Mon noon-1:45, 6-9pm.

Mezzaluna

Ranked #18 Overall Restaurant in Top Tables 2024

Mezzaluna, meaning “half moon,” offers an elegant experience on the 65th floor of the State Tower. Under the guidance of the mastermind chef Ryuki bringing quality French cuisine with ingredients from the chef’s hometown in Niigata prefecture, this spot crafts unforgettable dishes that you can find only in Mezzaluna—and don’t forget the world-class wine cellar. Each table offers some of the best views of Bangkok amid the crisp, luxurious decorations of white linen, white flowers, and vivid chandeliers.

65/F, State Tower, 1055, Silom, 02-624-9555. Open Mon-Sat 6pm-midnight.

Elements

Ranked #21 Overall Restaurant in Top Tables 2024

Inspired by French style and Japanese cuisine amid the views of downtown Bangkok at the Okura Prestige, dark wood interior design, and dim warm lights, chef Ciel Bleu’s brand and the professional team behind him present a seasonal menu that balances Japanese techniques and flavors with fine dining flair. Chef Gerard Villaret most recently launched their Autumn Guestronomic Journey, featuring Ishikawa Kinmedai a la Menuiere and Pigeon On Croute De Sel, featuring pigeon with shitake mushrooms, Awaji onion, and a rich Madeira foie gras jus.

25F, 57 Witthayu Rd, Pathum Wan, 02-687-9000. Open Wed-Sun 6pm-10:30pm.

Brasserie 9

Top Tables 2024 Official Selection

Herve Frerard, executive chef of Brasserie 9 aims to unite haute cuisine with a casual bistro flair. The colonial style venue peels back to a homey atmosphere with lush greens and retro decoration dotting the room. The menu acts as a guidebook for French cuisine taking you through favorites like foie gras with fig jam and toasted sourdough to the slow cooked wagyu beef cheek or desserts like the chestnut cream souffle. They source locally with the exception of some imports to nail that authentic French fare.

27 Soi Sathorn 6, 02-234-2588. Open daily 11:30ammidnight.

Chef’s Table (Lebua)

Top Tables 2024 Official Selection

At this point, Lebua at the State Tower hotel is a destination and a tourist attraction in itself, but the real treat is inside. Originally from the Loire Valley, Chef Vincent Thierry’s sophisticated modern French cooking has created one of the top spots for the city’s fine diners. The open kitchen is located in the center of the dining room, so guests are treated to a proper show of culinary talent.

61/F Tower Club at Lebua, 1055, Silom Rd., 02-624-9555. Open Tue-Sun 6pm-12am.

iODE

Top Tables 2024 Official Selection

There’s plenty of French restaurants lining up on the streets of Sathorn. But iODE stands out among the bunch with their neo bistro take, making French fine dining approachable and perfect for the social media crowd. Chef Franck Le Bayon brings his culinary prowess to highlights like the continuously sold out five days dry-aged seabream sashimi and red meat dishes like the porterhouse beef served with foyot sauce. Imported French seafood like fine de claire oysters, bulot, shrimp, and clams are ready to transport you to a vista vacation.

76/8-9 Soi Si Bamphen, 065 045 5628. Open daily 5-11pm.

Le Normandie

Top Tables 2024 Official Selection

Considered by many to be the gold standard when it comes to French cuisine in Bangkok, Le Normandie takes a refined, elegant approach to their food. Chef Phil Hickman’s delicate French fare is found in an opulent setting of blues and golds, complete with clockworklike service over the Chao Phraya—featuring the likes of Kagoshima Wagyu with Krystal caviar and limousin veal sweet bread.

Mandarin Oriental, 48, Oriental Ave., 02-659-9000. Open Tue-Thu noon-3:30pm, 6:30-11:30pm.

Maison Dunand

Top Tables 2024 Official Selection

Chef Arnaud Dunand Sauthier traded the heights of the Le Normandie and the Mandarin Oriental for his own space in Sathorn at Maison Dunand—a more understated but by no means more simplistic ode to French cuisine. The food follows inspiration from the Savoie Region, featuring regional cheeses, careful plating, and seasonal ingredients, and Maison Dunand is open for lunch, dinner, and a la carte.

55, Sathorn Soi 10 (Soi Sueksa Witthaya), 065-639-0515. Open daily 5:30-9pm; Sat-Sun noon-2pm, 5:30-9pm.

Palmier by Guillaume Galliot

Top Tables 2024 Official Selection

Four Seasons Bangkok, 300/1, Charoen Krung Rd., 02-032-0885. Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm.

Restaurant Int

Top Tables 2024 Official Selection

Int's menu can be summed up as French in appearance, but with Thai flavors at its heart. Chef Pat-In "Knock" Promsawadi and his team elevate traditional dishes, giving them a twist without losing their bold, authentic flavors. The restaurant offers a 12-course tasting menu presented as “Chapters”. An example of a standout dish is "Lon Pu," featuring a rich crab meat ragu cooked with coconut milk and white wine, wrapped in Italian-style doughnut dough, and topped with white turmeric, yellow chili, and French caviar.

R/F, 17 Sukhumvit 20, Khlong Toei, 093-256-9995. Open Mon-Tue 5:30pm-10pm; Thu-Sun 5:30pm-10pm.

Signature

Top Tables 2024 Official Selection

A long-time favorite for fans of fine dining and French cuisine in Bangkok, Chef Thierry Drapeau, also behind the Chef’s Table at Lebua on this list, is the mind behind Signature. He draws from his "cuisine of the soil" philosophy, crafting classic French flavors from the Loire Valley, incorporating herbs and edible flowers that reflect their origins, bringing a natural elegance to each dish. The seasonal flower bouquet set menus, available in five or eight courses with wine pairings change regularly, so stay posted on their new offerings.

11/F, VIE Hotel Bangkok - MGallery Collection, 117/39-40, Phaya Thai Rd., 065-950-9742. Open Tue-Sun 6pm-11:30pm.

J’Aime by Jean-Michel Lorain

The interior of this spot might blow you away more than the food. The upside down piano on the ceiling is pretty unforgettable, but the legacy of Chef Jean-Michel Lorain continues here through menus concentrating on their French origins. Under chefs Amerigo Sesti of Italy and Yoan Martin, J’aime goes for authentic and sustainable food. 

U Sathorn Bangkok, 105/1 Ngam Duphli, 02 119 4899. Open Mon 12–2:30pm, 6-8:30pm. Thu-Sun 12–2:30pm, 6-8:30pm

Savelberg

From the eponymous Chef Henk Savelberg, this carefully designed space boasts French gastronomy at a house in Cong Nonsi. Here you’ll find French classical dishes served creatively and with a focus on methodology. With the six and four course menus, the flavors are delicately curated into dishes like lobster and shortbread to wild north sea turbot. 

136, 1 Yen Akat Soi 2, 02-252-8001. Open Mon-Wed 6-10pm; Fri-Sun 6-10pm. 

Restaurant Stage

After relocating from its space in Ekkamai, Restaurant Stage has maintained its quality and reputation for classic, careful French cuisine. Helmed by Chef Jay Sangsingkeaw and her team, look for the likes of duck and foie gras and pinjalo with sauce vierge, caviar, and farce leek on their eight-course tasting menu at this spot bursting with atmosphere. 

58 Soi Sathon 9, 088-958-6444. Open Mon-Thu 6pm-10pm.

Bistro de la Mer

Found at the plush Kempinski on Langsuan, Bistrot De La Mer concentrates its flavors on the French sea and all-time favorites done well–think classic bouillabaisse and a curated cheese trolley. For a special treat, try their Crafts of Lobster menu, a seasonal three-course lobster menu with everyone’s favorite imported crustacean. 

Sindhorn Kempinski, 80 Soi Ton Son, 02-095-9999. Open daily noon-3pm; 5-10pm 

Avant

This spot wasn’t eligible for Top Tables this year, but look out for them next year. Though it hasn’t been pulling in headlines, the eleven-seat spot from Chef Haikal Johari is one of the quietest kitchens in Bangkok, working like clockwork to produce largely sea-based French-forward fine dining such as the rough scaled flounder served with tomatoes and brown butter and 36-month comte made into an ice cream.

 30/F, Kimpton Maa-Lai, 78 Soi Ton Son. 082-466-4962. Mon-Sat 6-10pm. 

Bisou Bangkok

Casual dining with a little bit of a nightlife vibe thrown in for the Ploen Chit crowd, Bisou takes its French fare seriously, but this is the type of place where you can pick up a beef tongue sandwich or wagyu beef tartare, but you’ll also want to check out their cocktail list. This is an easy restaurant to relax in during the day, and they’ve got just a dash of sexiness to make the nights worth it. 

68, 9 Soi Langsuan, 096-025-5858. Open daily 5pm-midnight.

Cagette

An old faithful, Cagette has kept things fresh over the years and has earned its reputation as a hangout spot, particularly for their raclette events. Inside and outside, this lively spot is ideal for sitting and ordering a few bottles with friends. The key to Cagette is to check in to see what deals they’re featuring that day, whether it’s oysters on Tuesday, BBQ on Saturday, or their Sunday Royal Brunch. 

15, Yen Akat Rd., 02-249-1684. Open daily 11:30am-11pm.

Bonjour Bonsoir

This one gets a spot on the list not for its food–which is good in any case–but because it’s a new place in Bangkok for the French community and French culture. Thailand’s Franco-Thai cultural center, Alliance Française is known for their cultural programs and events—from animation festivals to Bastille Day celebrations—so this will be a spot to watch for future Francophiles.

179 Witthayu Rd., 095-139-4903. Open Tue-Sun 9am-5pm.