The buzz: Praya Palazzo, the beautiful restored-mansion boutique hotel on Chao Phraya’s east bank that can only be accessed by boat, has expanded its old-school Thai fine-dining restaurant into town. After spending a few months on Sukhumvit, it’s now found a new, permanent home on Sathorn. 

 

The decor: Situated on the ground floor of a residential building, Siam Spring shares its light, high-ceilinged space with Close to Nature florist shop. In contrast to the solemn atmosphere over at Praya, this one goes down a casual, friendly route with a minimal room stylishly furnished with the occasional contemporary Thai element like the custom chandeliers.

 

The food and drinks: Working closely with her kitchen team, owner Preeyadhorn Pitakvorrarat researched and tested ancient Thai recipes to augment the favorites from Praya Dining. Here though, the plating is less fancy to match the more casual vibe. Expect to find traditional dishes like kaeng jee juan (chicken and pineapple herb curry, B220), kaeng run juan (spicy beef soup with shrimp paste and sweet basil, B190) and kaeng jued sakoo kai kem (clear soup with salted-egg-yolk-stuffed sago balls, B170)—all of which have background stories the owner and her staff are more than willing to share with diners. Other recommended dishes include the kung talai (fresh shrimp in herb salad, B170), kao pad song proad (deep-fried crab and corn cake, B260), pad mi kati (stir-fried noodles with coconut milk sauce, B180) and the pandan-packed aromatic cassava flour dumplings in coconut milk (B90). To drinks, refreshing herbal juices are priced at B65-75 while wine starts at B200 by the glass.

 

Why you should care: Now you don’t have to take a boat to the mysterious mansion to enjoy these hard-to-find dishes from some of the most-treasured recipes ever created. Natcha Sanguankiattichai