The A-Z of Bangkok Sunday Brunch
Tuck in!
5 years ago
See also: The ultimate guide to Bangkok’s best hotel brunches
A is for Affordable
Theo Mio
It’s not a buffet (more like an all-you-caneat a la carte deal), but the Intercontinental’s Theo Mio at B1,588 per person including alcohol is an incredible deal. As for buffets, Millennium Hilton’s B2,999 food and booze price is net (includes all taxes and service), while Le Meridien’s La Dolce Vita brunch is even cheaper at B2,400.
B is for Beef
“Fatty but flavorless” would sum up most of the brunch-service prime ribs we’ve tasted. At Siam Kempinski’s Sunday Champagne Brunch (B2,400-4,500), however they roast up a huge chunk of rump steak that results in something altogether juicier and worthy of second, third and fourth helpings.
C is for Cheese
Credit: www.facebook.com/Hiltonbangkok
Millennium Hilton (see “A” for “Affordable”) isn’t the only place in town to offer a cheese room. At Marriott Sukhumvit’s District Grill (B2,800-4,900 net) and Sofitel Sukhumvit’s Voila (B2,400-4,950) you also get a walk-in selection of brie, comte, tomme de savoie and other stinky treasures.
D is for Duck Eggs
Any hard-core bruncher will know that duck eggs beat chicken eggs any day. Check out the brunch menu at D’Ark, where you can try their tasty Mornay duck eggs, with smoked duck, crispy potato galette and parmesan crisp, smothered in truffle Mornay sauce (B280). For a Latin alternative, check out Osito’s duck eggs on a skillet with roast beef, sauerkraut, grilled tomato and avocado.
E is for Expensive
The Athenee Hotel
For the highest-priced brunch in town, make your way to Anantara Siam and ask for the Vintage Champagne package (see “F” for “Free-flow”)— an eye-watering B9,500. Elsewhere, St. Regis’s B4,950 brunch with free-flow Veuve Clicquot just inches out The Athenee’s B4,872 brunch (free-flow Moët) to become Bangkok’s second-most expensive Sunday feast.
F is for Free-flow
Credit: www.facebook.com/centaragrandatcentralworld
For serious Champagne snobs, Anantara Siam’s Vintage Champagne Package (see “E” for “Expensive”) includes Taittinger Rose and Vintage Brut. Our top tip for the best-priced genuine Champagne package is Centara Grand, where the B3,555 buffet includes free-flow Mumm. If you’re not fussed about Champagne and will settle for sparkling, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit currently has a B999 offer on its freeflow package (B3,499 including the food). Not bad!
G is for Goose liver
We had a word with the head chef at J.W. (see “R” for “Reader’s Choice”), who said he gets through over 130 plates (or 8-10kg) of pan-fried foie gras every Sunday. Times that by about 20 for every five-star hotel in Bangkok offering foie gras at their Sunday buffet and you have a vegetarian’s worst nightmare.
H is for Hangover
As boozy brunches go, the new one at Park Hyatt’s Penthouse (B1,990-2,990) takes some beating. For one, they serve a knock-out punch in the main grill room, but that’s not the main attraction. Upstairs, they turn the bar into a games room complete with freeflow gin and tonics and a virtual-reality arcade. Too bad it’s just once a month.
I is for Indian
Punjab Grill
We love Indian brunches. In fact, they might just be our absolute favorite—just go easy on the naan if you want to stay awake in the afternoon. Maya at Holiday Inn costs a pocket-friendly B800-1,200 per person, Rang Mahal B990-B1,790 net and Punjab Grill B1,000-1,600 net
J is for Jazz
The Living Room
With its stage complete with baby grand piano, The Living Room at Sheraton Grande makes maybe the finest live jazz joint for Sunday brunch in town (B2,500-3,499). Brunch here actually spans three restaurants—though call and book a seat in The Living Room if you want to take in the live music.
K is for Kids
The five-star hotel digs and a dedicated children’s corner (complete with magician and clown) at Shangri-La make brunch at Next2 Cafe one of Bangkok’s most family-friendly options. It’ll set you back B2,300 through Sep (regular price B2,888), while kids under 12 dine half price.
L is for Leftovers
We’ll leave this one to the dearly departed Mr. Bourdain: “Buzzword here, 'Brunch Menu'. Translation? 'Old, nasty odds and ends… a horrible, cynical way of unloading leftovers and charging three times as much as you ordinarily charge for breakfast."
M is for Maine Lobster
Maine lobster at The Sukhothai
No decent seafood tower should be without a steady supply of lobster. If feasting on imported Maine lobster is all you want and you don’t care about booze, then Intercon’s Bubbly Sunday Brunch is among the cheapest at B2,590 net (drink packages take the price to B4,199). The Sukhothai (B3,000-4,500) and Okura Prestige (B2,600-3,900) also do all-you-can-eat Maine lobster.
N is for Nitro Brew
Eureka
If you’re still bleary-eyed come brunch time, then a good cup of nitro brew is sure to set you straight. Aussie-inspired Kaizen Coffee Co. is a chic all-white enterprise that serves up a range of nitrogen-brewed concoctions, plus brunch favorites like bacon and eggs on ciabatta or tomatoes, avocado and feta on sourdough. If you’re not too peckish, then why not try your eggs in liquid form with nitro-specialist Eureka’s cold-brew salted egg latte (B120)?
O is for Oysters
Rain Tree Cafe Credit: www.facebook.com/pg/theraintreecafe
If you want to gorge on oysters then you can’t beat a five-star hotel buffet. Rain Tree Cafe at The Athenee Hotel lays on an impressive array of fresh seafood, including Fines de Claire, Belon, Irish and US oysters plus a whole lot more (B2,400). For something a little more laid back, get a taste of The Big Easy at Bourbon Street Restaurant & Oyster Bar, where they serve fresh, grilled and traditional Bienville oysters (B285).
P is for Plus Plus
You do realize B3,990 is actually B4,668 after service charge and VAT? A couple years back, when we polled hotel managers and restaurant owners on how much of the 10-percent service charge goes to staff, we also found that only half of it does.
Q is for Queen’s Park
When Marriott took over the biggest hotel in Bangkok (an astounding 1,287 rooms), they furnished it with the well-priced buffet stylings of Goji Terrace, whose Sunday brunch at B2,199 makes a delicious feast.
R is for Readers’ Choice
JW Marriott’s Sunday service walked away with the “Best Brunch” category in our Readers’ Choice Awards earlier this year. A lineup of sashimi, curries and prime rib (FYI any Brits reading: best Yorkshire puds in town), supplemented by that essential of any award-winning Bangkok brunch—the a la minute pan-fried foie gras station.
S is for Suckling Pig
Head to Tang Jai Yoo for an old-school Teochew take on classic suckling pig (B1,800). Endorsed by the late, great Anthony Bourdain, this dish is not for the squeamish as it comes replete with snout, eyes and ears intact. With a Lazy Susan table setup, this is the perfect spot for pigging out with a big group of friends.
T is for Toast
It may seem like going back to brunch basics but the toast at After You Dessert Cafe is anything but simple. The super-buttery honey toast (picture a giant slab of bread several inches tall) comes topped with vanilla ice cream and a side of whipped cream, whilst there are equally decadent variations with nutella, matcha, strawberries or even cheddar cheese.
U is for Under B1,000
Rang Mahal
There’s cheap, and then there’s cheapest. Indian buffets like Maya and Rang Mahal (see “I” for Indian) represent an absolute bargain. For an international buffet, turn up to Le Meridien on a Saturday instead of Sunday and food costs B900 rather than B1,700.
V is for Views
Uno Mas
While most brunches tend to happen in riverside terraces and lobby lounges, we do have some excellent recommendations for sky-high views: Okura Prestige (24th floor and with an outdoor balcony overlooking Phloen Chit), Uno Mas (55th floor and in a stunning open-air space); and St. Regis (only the 12th floor but looking straight onto the Royal Bangkok Sports Club).
W is for Waffles
Brooklyn Baker Credit: www.facebook.com/brooklynbkk
With a crispy shell, a fluffy inside, and a surface that’s perfect for retaining syrup, waffles simply can’t be beaten as a brunch staple. Ink & Lion pairs its award-winning coffee (from B75) with fresh butter waffles (B155) for a winning brunch combo. For a savory take, Brooklyn Baker’s thick American-style buttermilk waffle is served with super- crispy chicken breast and a sunny sideup egg (B275, weekends only).
X is for X.O. Sauce
For a Cantonese brunch with class, head to the Mandarin Oriental, where China House (B1,000-1,500) stands apart for its dim sum feast and sultry dining space.
Y is for Yamazato
Credit: www.facebook.com/YamazatoBangkok
If sashimi ranks highest on your buffet priorities, then head to Okura Prestige (B2,600-3,900, also see “V” for “Views”). With the fresh fish supplied by its on-site kaiseki restaurant, Yamazato—who in turn get it from Tsukiji—it’s some of the best in town.
Z is for Zero-Waste
Bangkok-based food-waste expert Benjamin Lephilibert, managing director of Lightblue Consulting, reckons hotels create anywhere from 25-40-percent waste from all the food they purchase. Think about that the next time you’re going up for more crab’s legs cos you can’t be bothered to get at the tricky flesh. To get on board with the zero-waste revolution, head to Haoma, whose brunch dishes are filled with ingredients from their urban farm and whose vegetable-peel cocktails take on a no-vegetable-left-behind mentality.
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