The food and the boat are both stunning.

Departing from the revamped River City, this stylish little cruise ship just big enough for 40 diners is hoping to woo you, cynical Bangkokians who wouldn’t be caught dead eating afloat on the Chao Phraya. The galley is currently being trained and run by Supanniga Thonglor’s chef—a restaurant that made the Top Tables Top 10 a couple years back. The ship is entirely open-air, making it a cool pick for alfresco dining this winter. Comfortable and compact, there’s the feeling of being in a little floating salon, hovering above the water.

The food is on par with the Sukhumvit Soi 55 mothership, and includes the same nods to Trat and Khon Kaen, meaning you can still expect some of the best fish sauce and mackerel in town (here served with betel leaves and Koh Chang shrimp paste). The presentation starts off dainty—bite-sized kratong tong cups, mini pomelo salad, minced pork inside an orange wedge—but culminates in sharing portions of Supanniga’s famous moo cha muang (pork stewed in cowa leaves), crispy leaf fish, and steamed crabmeat custard. Along with a few other dishes, a welcome drink, dessert, petit fours and tea, it’s all part of the prix fixe B3,250 menu.

The cruise lasts two hours, departing from River City at 6:15pm, passing the beautiful French and Portuguese embassies, Wat Arun and the Grand Palace before turning back at Rama VIII Bridge and heading all the way to Asiatique’s giant ferris wheel.

Drinking water is included and any extra drinks you order are priced like they’d be on terra firma: B320-450 for cocktails designed by the crack team from Vesper is pretty reasonable. Two wines by the glass (B300) and eight bottles (B1,650-2550) from Italy and Germany are also in stow.

Alernatively, there's a one-hour sunset cruise departing earlier, with no food served. It comes with a standard drink (B1,250) or a glass of Taittinger Champagne (B1,550).

It’s too early to speak of who will be your co-diners—rather chic visitors we hope. Is it touristy? Yes, there’s no denying it (although the food is perfectly authentic). Would it make a lovely romantic evening for a Bangkokian couple? Yes, and we’d pick this over most rooftop restaurants.

Book ahead at 02-714-7608 or www.supannigacruise.com.

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