Eat

Baan Klai Wang

11 Nabkehas Rd., near Putahracsa Resort, 032-531-260/1
If you wanted one word to describe this eatery, whose name roughly means house by the palace, it would have to be cute. Set in a period-style seaside home it features a pretty, if slightly overgrown, garden with views over the Gulf of Thailand. The food matches the vibe with a strong emphasis on yummy homemade cakes to snack on while you gaze across the waves.

Platoo

241/44 Ruamchit Rd., 032-451-355, 032-508-175. Open daily 10am-10pm. www.platoorestaurant.com
A fish lovers’ heaven, Platoo, named after the Thai word for mackerel, whips up a wide list of fish dishes from salt-coated grilled sea bass to deep-fried grouper with three-flavored sauce. But it is the platoo that’s the real highlight, served as either delicious tom yam soup or stir-fried with chili paste.

Madame Green Jae Keao

42 Moo Baan Khao Takieb, Nong Kae, 032-536-899/6900. Open daily 10am-10pm
Hidden on a tiny road on the way to Khao Takieb, this Hua Hin institution has been a favorite for its fresh and tasty seafood for decades. Go for the simple deep-fried sea bass with fish sauce, soft shell crab with garlic or fried squid with salted egg and oyster omelet.

Raya Restaurant and Seafood

264/2, Ruamjit Road, Cha Am, 032-472-641/-5. Open daily 10am-10pm
Opened earlier this year, Raya is fast making a name for itself thanks to the exciting dishes served up by European trained Thai Chef Susie S. Nilklad. Situated in a traditional Thai style wooden house and located right on the beach, its menu offers an intriguing mix of Western classics. Imported products from New Zealand, Norway and Australia go alongside Thai favorites like spicy papaya salad with pickled crab and plenty of fresh seafood.

You Yen

51 Naebkaehat Rd., 032-531-191. Open daily 10am-10pm. www.youyen.com
Situated in a pale-green colonial mansion on a calm beach with a beautiful garden, You Yen gives off plenty of nostalgic charm. Its kitchen serves up a variety of Thai and seafood dishes—and recommendations include stir-fried crab meat with curry sauce, sweet and sour squid soup and the deep-fried sea bass with lemongrass salad.

LET’S SEA

83/188 Soi Talay 12, Khaotakieb, Hua Hin Rd. 032-536-888. Open 7-12 am. www.letussea.com
Let’s Sea cooks up “modern seaside cuisine,” think inter favorites (like spaghetti vongole) spruced up with a healthy dose of local herbs, spices and a contemporary presentation. But Let’s Sea has also been paying particular attention to its wine list, which now includes over 100 affordable, mid-range wines.

Drink

Hi-4

41/48 Phetkasem Rd., Hua-Hin (next to Hin Nam Sai Suay Hotel 1), 085-299-2903. Open daily 8pm-3am
This long lasting nightlife destination is a Thong-Lor-Ekkamai-inspired club on a larger scale—about the size of Thong Lor’s Arena 10. Expect the house band every day along with DJ interludes. Big city outfits like Sqweez Animal and Krungthep Marathon even show up on occasion. The outdoor space is pretty nice and chill, too, but don’t get too casual: flip-flops (and shorts for guys) not allowed.

Going somewhere else? Check out Thailand's Best Restaurants and Bars.

Eat

Fern Forest Café

2/2 Singharak Soi 4, 053-416-204. Open daily 8:30am-8:30pm
A doctor and his wife have turned their house into a homey café with tables scattered among lush green trees and huge ferns, so it’s easy to relax as you sip their unique Sylvanian coffee. Having their own coffee farm, this place promises strong, bitter brews that go well with their sweet homemade pastries. If he’s in a good mood, the owner will even show you to the secrets of his ferns.

Charcoa

4 Sripoom Soi 1, 053-212-681. Open daily 7am-9.30pm. www.charcoa.com
Hidden in a tiny soi, this petite café is decked out in a Mediterranean-cum-Lanna aesthetic with frescos and natural materials. They do an extensive list of Western food with a touch of Thai fare, and a famed bakery menu, including the stand out Charcoa chocolate fudge cake.

Vieng Joom On

53 Charoenraj Rd., Wat Gate, 053-303-113. Open daily 10am-7pm. www.vjoteahouse.com
The name means pink town in the Lanna tongue, and this attention-grabbing teahouse is, you guessed it, as pink as can be. Your girly friends will ooh and ahh over the kitschy, feminine decor, as well as the extensive range of teas on offer. You can also head outside to a riverside patio to enjoy the views.

W by Wanlamun

Chang Moi Soi 2, 053-232-328. Open Tue-Sun 11:30am-10pm. www.wanlamun.com
This classic white wood house is one of Chiang Mai’s top destinations for tasty dishes and creamy pastries. The few small tables in the front yard are perfect for hanging out on cooler days, but the air-con room, decked out in classic English style, offers a welcome respite from the heat or rain. The popular tiramisu or fruit tart, along with cups of herbal tea, come highly recommended.

Drink

the Good View

13 Charoenraj Rd., Wat Gate, 053-302-764, 053-241-866. Open daily 10am-1am. www.goodview.co.th
For a relaxed, informal but seriously fun night out, wander down to the river and seek out the Good View. This Chiang Mai institution is a cavernous, semi-open-air bar-cum-restaurant-cum-live music venue that always seems to be bursting at the seams. Book early if you want to get a table out by the river.

Mandalay

5/3 Phra Poklao, Phra Singha, 053-208-395/-8. Open daily 9pm-2am
Located near Thapae Gate, Mandalay has been the popular spot for the Chiang Mai gay scene for as long as we can remember. The lofty, but suitably dark, space is filled with a variety of music ranging from international hits to Thai favorites as well as some live dance performances by coyote boys. It’s packed every weekend with local gays and their gal-pals.

Monkey Club

Nimmanhaemin Soi 9, 053-226-997. Open daily 6pm-1am
People-watching is the name of the game at this tried-and-tested watering hole. The outdoor area is decked out in a tropical garden style with an acoustic band playing softly in the background. Step inside and get ready to sweat, dance and monkey around with trendy local party animals and flight attendants while house bands serve up thumping pop/rock.

Going somewhere else? Check out Thailand's Best Restaurants and Bars.

Pre-Party

You need build up some pre-club energy, but don’t want to get your hair all smokey at those tam sang stalls that are everywhere on Thong Lor. Consider Niyom Pochana (125 Sukhumvit Soi 55, 02-3911517. Open daily 4pm-12am) for a wide variety of standards, even if they aren’t always that cheap. Get the real-deal poo pad pong kari (yellow crab curry, count B1,000 for a big crab) or the tom yam kung mae nam (tom yam with river prawns, B600). Less pricey but equally delicious is their moo satay (B80 for small). The place is situated in an old shophouse and is perpetually packed with local families, so do come early. Further up is the Vietnamese Nam Nueng (400 Sukhumvit Soi 55, 02-714-9575. Open daily 8am-10pm). Try their recommended dishes like the guay jub yuan (Vietnamese noodles, B60) and gung pun aoi (sugar cane wrapped with minced prawns, B100 for small).

post-Party

So you’re done partying, you’re all out of cash and you need a late-night eat. Paikiew (081-826-9352. Open daily 12pm-5pm, 6pm-midnight) is located in front of Family Mart, Thonglor Soi 17, and attracts lots of people like you, so you can sometimes have a long wait. But it’s worth it for their tangy roasted duck which comes in a bamee ped (noodle soup with slices of duck, B40). Or, if it’s really late, you can go to the famed 55 Pochana at the beginning of Soi Thong Lor (1087-1093 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-391-2021. Open daily 5pm-3am). The must-orders are the or-suan (oyster omelette, B150) or dok kajon pad kai (stir-fried flowers with egg, B80). Be warned, though, the service can sometimes be a little gruff. But if you’re drunk and hungry, you won’t care. Just a few steps away is the hidden treasure Khao Tom Prung (1083 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-391-8433. Open Tue-Sun 4.30pm-10.30pm), with its diversity of toppings. A quality khao tom pla (rice soup with fish) dish is only B80. It’s fresh and tastes homemade. If you’re a real fish fan, there are also fish eggs and fresh fish maw, but for those, you have to show up before 7:30pm or call ahead to reserve.

Old Classics

It’s so hot and trendy, it’s hard to remember that Thong Lor has its army of classic cateries that folks flock to from all parts of the city. Our favorite among them is Hoy Tod Chao Lay (25 Sukhumvit Soi 55, 085-128-3996. Open daily 9am-9pm). They do hoy tod (crispy oyster omelet, B60), or-suan (B100), and pad Thai (B80) and are very generous with portions. Further up, on the same side, is the legendary Mandarin (729/1 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-391-4062. Open daily 9.30am-6pm). A dish of khao naa ped or bamee ped costs you only B55, and the crispy skin on the roast duck is pretty delectable, but weekends do get crazy. And who can not love Khao Mun Kai Boon Tong Kiat (440/5 in front of Thonglor Soi 16, 02-390-2508. Open daily 10am-10pm). Their khao mun kai (B65) comes with lovely, fatty rice and strong sauces. Finally, for dessert, there’s Maewaree (1 Sukhumvit Soi 55, 02-392-4304. Open 24/7, khao niew only available 5am-11pm), whose vast mango displays take up half the sidewalk and where you can order khao niew moon (sticky rice with coconut milk) with chunks of sweet mango for B90. (Sometimes they do sneak in the seed, though.)

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