The buzz: Pastel & Monochrome is a shining example of what Thonglor is all about: beautiful people, beautiful decor and a long international menu that does French, Japanese, Thai, Italian and fusion. Set in a decades-old house the space is split between a leafy, manicured garden and a moody, dimly lit dining room.

The décor: The garden side is particularly impressive, with its generous use of marble (the tables, terrace and even an abstract sculpture sitting in the carp pond), 50s-looking leather chairs, pebbled alleys and carefully-landscaped trees and shrubs. The interior’s mismatched wooden chairs and couches are just as well selected while the dim lighting, coming from massive theatrical lights, lends a dramatic and intimate ambience to the space.

The food: This is one long menu that leaves few cuisines or food styles untouched. International appetizers include spicy chicken wings with blue cheese dipping sauce (B190), tuna and wakame with wasabi and mayo dressing (B240) and the Pastel & Monochrome salad (black olive, asparagus, eggs and seared tuna with Italian dressing, B220). Mains are equally broad in their choices, from green curry with pork topped with deep-fried black ink angel hair (B240) to Australian rib eye steak (B900) or chicken breast stuffed with mango (B290). There is also a long list of pizzas, tapas, Thai favourites and even breakfast options.

The drinks: Cocktails come with a big focus on presentation. The clinical sounding O Negative (vodka, dry orange liquor, red jelly and lime juice, B280), for example, is served with a syringe. Wines are from both New and Old World and range from B780-B12,000. Draught beers are Hoegaarden Rosé (B240) and Stella Artois (B220). Other imports include Estrella Damm Inedit (B590), Sapporo (B190) and Chimay Blue (B350). They also have Java coffee starting from B80.

The crowd: The restaurant’s well-heeled owners are tapping their similarly young network of up-and-coming professionals—this is Thonglor, after all. Pieng-or Mongkolkumnuankhet