Judging by the throngs at VivoCity, we’re guessing that practically every Singaporean has been there by now. Besides lining your shopping bags with good buys, you can line your stomachs with great food. From Japanese to German, chocolates to teacakes, modern Thai food to café bites, VivoCity’s got it all. Here’s where you can go when you need an energy boost.

Aji by Hanabi

#01-158, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6376-9788.
This modern Japanese restaurant looks impressive. Classy, sleek, minimalistic, with lacquered tables, a stunning waterfront view, and soothing Japanese music, it is a joy to be in. And we were just as impressed with the quality of the food, which is inspired, creative, different and tasty. The grilled red snapper with capsicums ($18) was a lovely creation of crispy, deep-fried red snapper seasoned with cream, soy sauce, chili and wasabi. The textures were great and the flavors blended well. We suggest you try the grilled beef with Japanese herbs ($22)—an elaborate construction of crispy, fried noodles, with medium-rare beef nestled in the middle and crunchy slices of sweet potato around. Also try the pan fried goose liver with radish ($18). Eat the goose liver and the radish in the same mouthful and you’ll experience the dish at its best. End your meal with the green tea ice-cream and red bean paste ($6). Open Mon-Thu 11:30am-3pm, 6-10:30pm; Fri 11:30am-3pm, 6-11pm (last order at 10:30pm); Sat 11:30am-11pm; Sun 11:30-10:30pm.

Brotzeit

#01-149/151, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6272-8815.
This enormous, airy German restaurant is a bier (beer) bar and restaurant. The German beers are brewed according to the Purity Law of 1516, and include well-known ones like Paulaner. This restaurant uses a lot of warm, woody surfaces, with dark, wooden pull-out benches. The amiable Chef de Cuisine, Hans Lüftenegger, recommended a few specialties. The gulaschsuppe ($7.50) is spicy beef goulash served with a huge pretzel, and is an excellent appetizer. No one eats at a German restaurant without trying the sausages, so we had gänseleberwurst—goose liver sausage with German spätzle, cranberry sauce and red cabbage ($26.50). The sausages were tender and juicy and the spätzle (a concoction of flour and egg cooked in water) was addictive. If you like spätzle, you’ll want to order the käsespatzle ($14.90), a Bavarian specialty of homemade spätzle and topped with melted cheese and onion rings. It’s pretty filling, so share it with your friends! Germany is the home of black forest cake, so you might want to end your meal with that. The schwarzwälderkirschtorte as it’s called, is made up of chocolate sponge cake, cherries and whipped cream. Check out the wall mural behind the bar while you’re there. It’s very German, whimsical and even has the Merlion and Sir Raffles in it! Open daily noon-12am.

Thai Accent

#02-145/146, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6376-9282.
Authentic and not-too-expensive Thai food is pretty hard to find, but Thai Accent fits the bill. Tastefully decorated and brand new, this spacious restaurant has a modern, fresh approach to Thai cuisine. If you like slightly salty curries, the green chicken curry ($12.90) is good to start with. The flavor was robust, and the chicken soft and juicy. We tried the tom yam prawn soup ($9.90) and were pleased with the delectable soup, fresh prawns and crunchy straw mushrooms. Another restaurant fave was the crispy catfish with mango salad ($11.90). Fried to crispy, golden perfection, the catfish was incredibly light, with an almost airy consistency. The mango salad is tangy and moist—which provides the perfect balance. Try the stir-fried minced chicken with hot basil leaves, served with rice and a sunny-side up egg ($11.90). Check out some Thai desserts too—the water chestnut served with coconut milk ($3.90) and mango sticky rice ($6.90). The former is swimming with generous, large pieces of water chestnut and the latter is a gorgeous mix of sweet mango and milky glutinous rice. If the waiting time gets slightly long, be patient—because the food is honestly good. Open Mon-Thu 11:30am-3pm, 6-10pm; Fri-Sun 11:30am-10pm.

White Dog Café

#02-131/132, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6376-9970.
This is a great place to rest after you’ve walked a long way. This one-month-plus old funky café boasts a wide selection of cakes, muffins, appetizers, pizzas, pastas, main courses, ice-blended drinks, smoothies, frappes and loads more. The crisp soft shell crab ($8.50) started our meal and in Japanese-style with wasabi tobiko and lime sauce. The calamari rings which arrived with it deserve special mention because they are huge, crispy, fried just enough and tender. Pasta lovers should try the crabmeat linguini ($16.90), which has quite a lot of crab meat, crunchy pasta and a yummy tomato cream sauce with white wine, chili and onions. The warm chocolate cake served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream ($6.80) and the mocha frappe ($6.90) make a filling, rich end to a very decent meal. An added bonus is that this café uses no pork nor lard in its preparation. Open Mon-Sun 11:30am-10pm (last food order 10pm, last beverage order 10:30pm).

Godiva

#01-116, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6273-1611.
This new outlet is done up in a sophisticated, appealing fashion with open shelves in white oak and ceiling-high cabinet showcases. You’ll find droolsome delicacies such as chocolate-dipped candied fruit ($22 per 100g), as well as Chocolixir beverages ($8). These come in dark, white and milk flavors, and are only available here and Godiva’s CityLink outlet. Choose from the mind-boggling range of truffles ($26 per 100g), pralines ($22 per 100g), dipped strawberries ($9 per piece), caraques ($22 per 100g), cookies ($22 onwards per box) and biscuits ($22 onwards per box). Sinfully irresistible. Open Mon-Thu 10am-10pm; Fri-Sat 10am-10:30pm; Sun 10am-10pm.

Corduroy Café

#01-106, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6376-9895.
You’ll be taken with the lovely interior of this European-styled milk bar and bakery that looks both contemporary and old world. Filled with soft, plush armchairs, shining mirrors and adorned with sepia-toned photographs, it’s a comfy place to relax with friends while tucking into custom-blended drinks and tasty teatime treats. And, you’ll find salads, sandwiches, soup, smoothies, pastries and cakes here too. The Corduroy Café Club sandwich ($12) is a nice bet and so is the beef stroganoff pie ($7). Try the tempting confectionaries that are laid out prettily at the counter. The apple rhubarb crumble with vanilla custard ($6.80) tastes as good as it looks. With names such as nutty muddy ($6.50), chocolate royal ($6.50) and zesty lemon tart ($6), you’ll be hard pressed to choose. Watch out for Corduroy’s special milk concoctions that feature milk in flavors like banana, berry dream, pear cinnamon and many more. Open Mon-Thu 10:30am-11pm; Fri-Sun 10:30am-12am.

One year everyone is going to Paris, the next year Bali, then Korea—what will be the next “it” destination? What about accommodation: Will we be roughin’ it in backpacker hostels or livin’ it up in luxury? And will it be planes, trains, boats or cars as our preferred means of transportation? We were curious, so we asked a few travel professionals and journalists to look into their crystal balls (globes) and tell us what to expect this year.

Boutique Hotels

Smaller-scale, fashionable and smartly designed, boutique hotels are mushrooming all around the Land of Smiles. For frequent travelers who have grown tired of the cookie-cutter chain hotels, and for a generation that places a premium on style and individuality in all aspects of their lives, these are just the ticket.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Best Boutique Hotels online guidebook, there are now 558 hotels in the “boutique” category across the country. (Most experts would probably cut that number in at least half, however. See “Is it the Size That Matters?” next page.) From Hua Hin’s hippest restaurant, Let’s Sea, which now offers not just food, drinks and a great place to chill but also a classy place to crash, to the Dusit group with D2, their trendy residence in the heart of Chiang Mai. Major international chains already have this segment covered: It won’t be long before Bangkok sports a W, joining Dream, the Eugenia, Luxx and all the rest.

The strong point of such hotels is their style, which meets with the demands of a younger clientele who are bored with the same standard vibe and feel chain hotels have to offer. Today’s travelers enjoy a more intimate, private setting, but set in the busy heart of a city. “For the same reason you don’t want to go to McDonald’s all the time, you want something with distinct features, something individualized. That’s when boutique hotels come to mind,” Sirima Eamtako of the travel trade newspaper TTG Asia, explains.

According to Surapol Vuttivakinsakul, Brand Manager of Asian Trails, a regional tour company with offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and elsewhere, the boutique trend hit Thailand several years ago and will continue to grow over the next two to three years. “We are still in the beginning of the trend. This year there are nearly 20 new boutique hotels in Chiang Mai alone, which attract quite a large amount of tourists. But compared to Hong Kong, which is much more advanced than us in this area, there are many things we can improve to catch up, and one of them is service.”

Internationally, 2007 will see the opening of hundreds of “boutique” properties all over the world, most notably by corporate chains. Examples include the 85-room Hotel Indigo in Columbus, Ohio, by the InterContinental Group, Aleenta Soliel D’Or Seychelles and the 77-room Diamant Hotel Sydney by Eight Hotels Australia.

In Thailand, TCC Land is planning a 300-room boutique hotel renovated from the old Imperial Impala on Sukhumvit 24; Siam Motors Group is renovating the Siam Hotel on Phya Thai Road into a 209-room boutique hotel; and there is a nifty 40-room property going up on the corner of Sukhumvit Soi 16, called Maduzi (“have a look” in Thai: ma doo si) which will open next year.

Pool Villas

Isn’t it nice to swim in a stream all your own—or at least a pool? Pool villas are all the rage these days and they will become a major feature in even more 4- and 5-star hotels in 2007. Perfected by the Banyan Tree and Six Senses, pool villas offer not just a private place to splash around but more importantly matchless high-end luxury. Of course, you miss out on the hot body contest poolside, but that’s just the way it goes. You could always slum it at the common pool when you need a little eye candy. But that would be missing the point: Pool villas are for couples.

Prices start as low as B5,000 and run up to hundreds of thousands of baht per night; most are in the B10,000-20,000 range. For that, guests in a pool villa can expect a higher level of service, with amenities such as butler service, in-villa dining, in-villa spa treatments, afternoon tea and more.

The same sort of people who once stayed in suites now overwhelmingly choose pool villas (which are often suites). The 5-star guest will always choose what is more exclusive or fun, and pool villas are both. “Suites are boring,” agrees Pongpet Mekloy, the editor of the Bangkok Post travel section Horizons.

“Pool villas will grow more and more as they continue to attract both rich locals and foreigners,” Surapol says. “Compared to abroad, pool villas in Thailand are an especially good deal. For the most part pool villas here are cheaper, bigger and nicer in terms of ambiance.”

At the newly opened Putahracsa Resort Hua Hin, the owner Velvadi Sritrairatana is in the process of adding pool villas. They will be ready for guests around March next year. “I’ve seen increased demand for pool villas since I was in the planning stages of the resort. And today many guests, mostly Thai, Korean and Japanese, ask me a lot about our future pool villas,” says Velvadi.

Pattaya

One Thai destination that is expected to attract more travelers than ever before in 2007 is Pattaya. From Suvarnabhumi Airport, tourists can drive to Pattaya within an hour and a half. For Bangkokians, a new highway is being constructed for an even faster drive, expected to be finished early to mid next year.

Money has been pouring into Pattaya and the city has benefitted greatly. Its infrastructure is much improved, and it now sports a tourist bus service. The beachside walkway has been cleared and the beach umbrella and lounger scene is well-organized. Even though Pattaya beach will never be as it once was, or even a genuine rival of Patong, the facelift has made it look a lot better. Those who haven’t been to Jomtien recently will be surprised by its fresh new look, as well.

“There are more people and it looks more lively,” says Kanjana, 53, a bar owner in Jomtien, of the beach. “It’s also a lot cleaner and all the umbrellas are in good order. Sellers dress a more neatly and it’s now OK to look at again.”

What really signalled the change in Pattaya’s fortunes was the arrival of the international hotel chains. These include Amari, Sheraton, Marriott and Mercure. InterContinental will soon join the mix in Pattaya with its InterContinental Resort Pattaya, to be opened later this year, followed by Le Meridien Pattaya Resort in the beginning of 2009.

China

The most frequent international destination for Thais will still most likely be China. It’s a large country rich with culture and most importantly (let’s be honest here) cheap goods. In 2006, travel to China from Thailand was up 26.54% from 2005. And it’s said that over the next decade, China will be the second most popular vacation spot in the world, after the US.

Sirima, the TTG reporter, says that the main reason for China getting the most attention from Thai travelers is that Thais are very still cost-conscious. “What I’ve learned is that 50% of Thais consider a trip by the cost. Most of them will get on a three-day/two-night journey for around B20,000. So China has the most potential for its low cost travel. While going to Japan or Korea will cost about B35,000-40,000.”

The hype surrounding the Beijing Olympics in 2008 will contribute to the increasing popularity of China as a holiday destination. US airlines know this, and they are bidding for non-stop flights to the mainland—Northwest, United, American and Continental. Chain hotels are marching in, as well, with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide leading the pack. Rumor has it that budget airline AirAsia will have routes to China next year.

Low-cost Flying

Speaking of AirAsia, the hottest kind of transportation in 2007 will without doubt be low cost airlines. They’re cheap, they’re accessible and in some cases you can even pay for flights at 7-Eleven. The initial fear that the wings of low-cost carrier planes would fall off mid-air has worn off and people are heartily embracing this mode of travel.

OAG, a global travel and transport information company, reports that the number of low-cost airlines has more than doubled in just five years. In Thailand, AirAsia has almost doubled its passengers from 1.6 million in 2005 to 2.4 million this year. And between January and September 2006, Nok Air’s passenger count increased 20.7%.

Accordingly, low cost airlines are expanding their routes. You can now fly to Sydney and Cairns with Jetstar, to Hanoi with AirAsia, to Krabi with One-Two-Go, and next year, to the moon with Nok Air (no kidding—see “Out of This World,” page 23).

Premium Economy

Just because you can’t afford a seat in business class doesn’t mean you have to be miserable. Expect more and more airlines on more and more routes to offer premium economy class. This trend began in the US in 1999 and has expanded to Europe and other countries, including Thailand.

EVA is well-known for its premium economy, and you can now enjoy the added comfort on flights operated by British Airways, Air France, Air New Zealand, China Southern and even Thai Airways.

Though not exactly “cheap,” it’s nowhere near as expensive as business class. Those who are willing to pay a little bit more can stretch out and relax in bigger and wider seats, with more legroom, on-demand entertainment systems, a larger luggage allowance and many other privileges—some airlines even include pre-flight Champagne. A seat in the Premier Economy Class of British Airways will cost you around B34,870 (taxes and surcharges not included) from Bangkok to London, compared to B20,361 for standard cattle class.

Online Booking

Travel agents aren’t happy, but one of prime drivers of growth in the travel industry is the internet. More people are using the internet to plan and book their trips. In the case of low-cost carriers, online booking is the only way to secure those amazingly cheap fares you see advertised everywhere. Even major carriers offer internet-only rates.

Many hotels are doing the same, inviting internet geeks to visit their websites for cheaper internet rates. Dusit Best Rates guarantee that it’s cheaper than any rate you can find online, for example.

Great deals can also be found on third-party sites, such as the popular asia-room.net. At the site, you can get a B1,540 deal for single room at Central Duangtawan Chiang Mai, versus the hotel’s rack rate of B1,700.

Kattiya, 29, used www.hotelsthailand.com to get a room at Casa del Mare in Hua Hin. “I paid only B2,850 per night, while the rate the hotel quoted me was more than B4,000.”

More and more tech-savvy young people, especially, will be turning to the net instead of a travel agent. “Travel agencies will need to adjust to new technology to stay alive,” Sirima from TTG points out. As travel planning becomes increasingly self-service, it will be a case of adapt or die.

Up until recently, the only wines labeled “organic” were bad wines. This is not to say that there weren’t excellent organic wines out there—but they weren’t labeled as such, because to the average consumer, “organic” meant hippie health food that you consumed for the sake of ideology, not taste. So even if you were a winemaker who did follow organic practices, you would only hurt your sales by advertising this fact.

In the last few years, with increased concern about health and the environment, organic foods have moved into the mainstream and more and more consumers are asking questions about organic wines. “Organic wines were considered inferior, a ‘green’ fad, an anti-establishment statement. But now there is a clear trend in the demand for cleaner, purer products, and so the marketing of wine has gone in that direction,” says Alain Chabanon, who makes organic wines in the Languedoc region of southern France.

What exactly is organic?

Originally all wine was organic—before man started messing around with chemicals. So really this “new” trend is a return to old methods. But there isn’t agreement on what organic means in the modern day. Standards, rules and enforcement (if any) are different all over the world. In some countries the government decides; in other countries a private certification organization sets the rules.

In general terms, an “organic” wine is made without any chemical fertilizers or pesticides—that applies to the grapes growing in the vineyards as well as to the winemaking in the winery.

Depending on the country, the percentage of organic grapes required for a wine to be considered organic can vary from 100% to as little as 70%. In some countries, winemakers are not allowed to add sulfites and still call their wines organic; in others this is OK. In some countries, the organic standard must also apply to sterilization of the equipment, bottles and corks used; others aren’t so strict. And not every wine that is labeled organic has been independently certified.

“Because there isn’t one set of guidelines or rules, it can be really confusing. But as long as people get a rough idea of what organic wines are, that’s the important thing. More and more people want to put less chemicals in their body, and that’s where these wines come in,” Niall Keddie, resort sommelier at the Evason Hideaway and Evason Hua Hin Resort, says.

What do you gain?

There are three main reasons why you might want to go organic. The first is concern for the environment. “The decision to make organic wine is part of my life philosophy. I try to do my part by not adding pollution to an already polluted planet earth,” says Mr. Chabanon, who would eventually like to go beyond organic and make biodynamic wines.
The second is for your health. “People are better informed, they want to put healthier things in their bodies and expose themselves less to chemicals. And the lack of manmade substances can only be a good thing,” Mr. Keddie says.

The third reason is simply because they are better—or they can be, in the hands of a skilled winemaker. According to Mr. Chabanon, organic grapes make better wine. “The taste is better due to the reduced yield,” he insists.

What do you give up?

An organic wine will nearly always be more expensive than a comparable non-organic wine. Without the use of herbicides, winemakers need to spend more time taking care of the plants, which means higher labor costs. Also, by not using chemical fertilizers their vines won’t produce as many grapes as they would if they did use them.

Another disadvantage for consumers is that you have fewer choices. Most of the wines on the market are non-organic. And those that are organic are not always easy to find.

How do you find them?

With over 20 organic wines on their list, the sister Evason properties in Hua Hin most likely have the biggest selection in Thailand. This is no small feat. You won’t find “organic” stickers on bottles in wine shops or supermarkets. We even called two of Thailand’s leading wine importers and asked them to recommend some of their organic wines. Neither could—or was willing to—identify even one. “We’ve never thought about it,” was one response.

“It takes some detective work. Most organic winemakers don’t advertise this fact. When I was making this list I asked our suppliers, but most didn’t know if their wines were organic,” explains Mr. Keddie. Also, remember that some winemakers make organic and non-organic wines.
In the end you’ll have to decide whether it’s worth the extra effort. “There are no guarantees, of course. But I think that organic wines are very exciting and in the future they are going to become even more important.”

Resources

Wines from these six producers are available in Thailand: Domaine Alan Chabanon, Languedoc, France (www.domainechabanon.com); Alois Lageder, Alto Adige, Italy (www.lageder.com); Frankland Estate, Frankland River, Western Australia; M. Chapoutier, Rhone, France (www.chapoutier.com); Wittman Westhofener, Rheinhessen, Germany; Vietti, Piemonte, Italy (www.vietti.com).
Importers of their wines: Wine Care, 9/7 Sukhumvit Soi 33, 02-261-4602; Take Fin, 8/22 Soi Sammitre, Ratchadaphisek Rd., 02-653-0154, www.take-fin.com.

The old-fashioned way

Some facts about winemaking at Domaine Alain Chabanon

No fertilizer or pesticides are used in the vineyards
They prune the plants a lot to keep yields low
The grapes are picked by hand and only in the morning
After picking, the grapes are immediately taken to the winery in shallow (so they don’t get squashed), open-weave (so they can breathe) baskets
The grapes are sorted by hand
The grapes are not pumped into the tanks—gravity does the trick (the tanks are in the basement and are filled from above)
The grapes get a foot-massage (really)—pigeage in French
The wine is not filtered
The wine is not fined (adding something to make the wine more clear)—collage in French
They do not add yeast

Skybar at Sirocco

63-64/F, The Dome, State Tower, 1055/111 Silom Rd., 02-624-9555. Open daily noon-1am.
Though #1 for nightmarish accounts about the prices, the service, the food, the GM, etc., this is still the place to take out-of-town guests. From the elevator ride up to the live jazz and steep stairs to the standup bar that changes colors to the "floating" platform...wow.

Moon Bar at Vertigo

61/F, Banyan Tree, 21/100 South Sathorn Rd., 02-679-1200. Open daily 5pm-1am .
Sky-high open-air rooftop bar offers a panoramic view of the city, with telescopes on hand to provide close up views. Some call it a poor cousin to Skybar, but it's more like the little brother who got a better education. Great for sunsets—arrive early to get one of the more comfortable seats.

Phranakorn Bar

58/2 Soi Damnoenklang Tai. 02-622-0282. Open daily 6pm-1am.
This artsy venue featuring two floors and a rooftop bar not only boasts an art gallery showing the works of young promising artists, but also a relatively cheap (and good) menu of drinks and Thai food. The music is a mix of Thai pop, classical and jazz.

Sin Bar

18 Sukhumvit Soi 4, (02) 656-4840-1. Open daily 3pm-1am. www.sin-bangkok.com.
All-in-one vogue nightspot with club, rooftop garden, restaurant and lounge. DJ selections along the lines of hip hop, R&B and house keep the dance floor busy every night. Pool tables and views of naughty Nana.

Big Planet

Here’s an item for adventurers—this latest Nike Oregon Series Alti-Compass is much more than just a watch. With a solid aluminum case, rugged style and water-resistance up to 100 meters of depth, it is designed to suit all outdoor activities. Other highlights include a 1,000 hour chronograph, a weather sensing barometer and real-time digital compass functions. B10,250. Available at leading stores. (Try Nike Corner in Supersports, 4/F Central Chidlom 1027 Ploenchit Rd., 02-793-7777).

Beyond healthy

Working out is good for you, but only when you do it the right way. With this in mind, ChiroFit (8/F, Home Place Bldg., Soi Thonglor 13, 02-712-7383/-6. www.chirofitbangkok.com) offers many courses conducted by professional chiropractors to ensure a good, healthy workout. Being both a medical center and holistic fitness center, ChiroFit is determined to create an exercise program that suits each individual person. Thus, a health checkup, fitness test and lab test are offered to every first-time visitor for free. Additionally, yoga and Pilates classes are available. Just walk in for a free health checkup. For the first 250 persons, membership is B42,000 per year (standard rate B72,000).

Correction

A standard check-up at Testcar (641/2 Srinakarin Rd., 02-320-4490. Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm. www.testcar.co.th) for passenger cars is B3,200; B5,200 is the price for SUVs and pickup trucks (Marketplace, Nov 17).

Time Health & Spa

Time has three main services: facial treatments, body treatments and slimming treatments, all for men. It has many programs to serve different types of skin. Prices start from B800. Currently offering a buy-3-get-1 package.
11/2 Tesaban Nimitai Rd., Prachanivet 1, 02-953-9706/-8. Open daily noon-10pm

CHA Spa

Everything is fusion now—including spas! CHA spa is where modernity meets traditional Chinese heritage. Combining Chinese remedies with new massage techniques, its signature Tui Na treatment (B3,850/150 minutes) focuses on improving the flow of Qi through your body.
9 Thonglor Soi 25, 02-381-7000. Open Tue-Sun 10am-10pm. www.cha.co.th

M Room

More than an ordinary spa, M Room provides you with sports equipment, a Jacuzzi, a steam room and standard spa massage and treatment services.

Differing from other day spas, M Room is designed to be a small place for working people to come and relax after a long day before heading home.

It also serves juice and alcoholic drinks, and every cute, young member of their female staff is carefully chosen. A set of 10 coupons for a workout, Jacuzzi, steam and massage cost B5,500.
39/1 Soi Ruam Rudee 2, Ploenchit Rd., 02-650-9737. Open daily 11am-11pm)

Praduu Spa Club

Here’s a luxurious unisex spa in the heart of Bangkok. To give the most pleasurable experience to both members and guests, Praduu Spa offers male and female spa menus. At B2,500, its 60-minute Garruaud facial treatment for men is a good choice for a super workaholic dad.
83/8 Soi Sukhumvit Soi 63, 02-392-2345. Open daily 10am-10pm. www.praduuspaclub.com

Tantara Health Spa

Giving you a warm, relaxing experience, Tantara offers special packages exclusively for men. A 90-minute body massage, steam sauna and refreshing drink cost B1,600.
8/F, Pathumwan Princess Hotel, 444 MBK Center, 02-216-3700 ext 14. Open daily 8am-10pm. www.tantaraspa.com

If the monotony of your rather drab pad is getting you down, maybe it’s about time you livened it up a little. And, no, we don’t mean just rearranging your furniture around. We’re looking at a complete overhaul here, but if you’re wondering where to get some cool new stuff to fill up your place, look no further than these four cool, stylish and eclectic home deco stores.

Anthropology Homeware

What it’s About: Before you ask, no, the good people at Anthropology are not anthropologists. Instead, the outlet, that was originally set up in 2002 at Holland Village, concerns itself with how you live. The store opened a new outlet in Sep at The Raffles Marketplace that sports a stylish setting, designed by Singapore based Australian-Italian designer Albano Daminato.

Best known as the exclusive distributor of G.O.D.—the popular Hong Kong brand of homewares—Anthropology offers all sorts of chic furniture to add a little pizzazz to your home, from coffee tables to sofa sets and even light fixtures. But if you think that’s all there is to this boutique, then you’re in for quite a surprise. Also offering a host of other brands such as ACME Made from San Francisco, Designers Guild from London and the quirky local designs of Flea Circus, Anthropology sells a variety of other essentials for the modern home too—such as bed wear, organic bath products and even laptop casings. And if you’re not sure of what it is you think your place needs, feel free to ask any of the staff. They’re always eager to help.

If you’re looking for the chic, the stylish and the cool, Anthropology is the place for you to check out. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for their in-house line of leather accessories, like card and CD holders, coming soon.

Where It’s At: #B1-77/78 The Raffles Marketplace, Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Rd., 6336-3655, 16A Lorong Mambong, Holand Village, 6467-2663.

Salad

What it’s About: Nestled in the quietly cool Haji Lane, Salad certainly stands out among the rest of the stores along the street, with its recently revamped color scheme of shocking pink and green, just in time for the coming festive season. Launched early this year by three veterans of the interior and lifestyle business, Salad’s already become a mainstay of the lane, which is fast earning a name for itself with its various fashionable and artistic boutiques.

Targeted mostly at designers, stylists and anyone looking for something a little different, Salad’s products range from chandeliers to cabinets and even to art pieces. On top of that, it also features personalized items like hand-painted shoes, sleek computer bags and even some tasteful bling bling for all you hipsters out there. Its constantly changing themes keep the store fresh and up-to-date with the latest trends and styles.

It takes quite a bit to stand out among the stores of Haji Lane, but Salad’s already earned that right. For anyone looking to take the artistic route with their home deco, this is definitely the place to check out.

Where It’s At: 25/27 Haji Lane, 6299-5805.

Egg3

What it’s About: Looking good just isn’t enough for the people at Egg3. After a visit to their newly expanded store, the guys at this lifestyle concept store want your living space to achieve a sense of harmony and comfort as well.

Selling an eclectic blend of traditional and contemporary styled home accessories, as well as fashion and jewelry since its inception in 2004, Egg3 has prided itself on not going with the flow and also selling a mix of products that you wouldn’t normally find under one roof. The staff helpfully encourage visitors to mix and match whatever would work best for their homes and what would make them comfortable. The end result is almost always unconventional, but definitely a perfect fit for anyone looking for an idiosyncratic vibe for their pad.

The store itself is visual eye-candy. After the expansion, the guys at Egg3 had 900 square feet to play with and they certainly went all the way—with a look that is an inspired mix of French and Chinoiserie style. With almost everything you see for sale, you could get lost in the outlet for quite a while.

Their recent collection includes nature-inspired designs for t-shirts, cushion covers and collectible accessories—a collaboration with some of Singapore’s finest graphic designers.

Where It’s At: #01-10/11, 33 Erskine Rd., 6536-6977.

Homebody

What it’s About: If its name conjures up thoughts of simple, yet still stylish, homeware products, then you already have a rough idea of what Homebody’s about. Started by the same people behind the Cocoon Lifestyle spa body care brand, Homebody isn’t bound by any particular style. Be it eastern or western, as long as its trendy, you’ll find it at Homebody.

A tiny shop in Marina Square, Homebody sells a diverse mix of homeware items, furniture and lighting fixtures from around the world. Most of the items are limited in stock, but what really sets Homebody apart is that they will custom-make certain products, such as the chandeliers and triangle cushion seatees. On the flip side, there are also little knick-knacks, like quirky animal magnets, to keep you browsing for a while.

Going that extra step to build relationships with their customers, Homebody has a special Homebuddies mailing list for its regulars, which offers special store discounts and a heads up of what’s new at the store.

Where It’s at: #03-332 Marina Square, 6 Raffles Blvd., 6334-3321.

GreenSpace (Heineken)

The place: The Central World Plaza, Ratchadamri Rd. Open daily 6pm-midnight.

The scene: Plain and simple. This year the big H hasn’t done much to the place in comparison to last year. They have a DJ booth, a moderate size stage, proper light and sound systems, food booths and all the typical offerings. Nine fans throughout the area disperse the heat.

The show: Each night is themed differently, featuring different types of music, including Rock Your World, Jazzy Fiesta and Retro Party. After the well known singers finish entertaining, the unknown but fair enough will take care of you for the rest of the night together with DJs.

The vibe: Fun-loving. Most of the people here are not sipping beers—they’re chugging.

The grub: Nine restaurants have set up booths this year: H&K Avenue Steak, Maxim’s (Western), Sam Muk, Thang Long, Plai Ngarm, Viset Gai Yang, Yuu (Japanese), Page 35 (Western) and Ab Sab by Krour Thanyawan.

A must: Viset gai yang (B115/whole) isn’t bad. Wash it down with a tower of cold Heiny.

The price: Food is B50-200, popcorn and fried shrimp are B30, ice B30, beer B50/glass, B150/jug and B450/tower (3 liters).

Beware: The deep fried spicy mushroom (B60) if you don’t want to spoil your night. If you are in a rush to get drunk, this isn’t the place to do it as it’s severely understaffed. Be patient—good things come to those who wait.

Singha Beer Garden

The place: Central World Plaza, Ratchadamri Rd. Open daily 5pm-midnight.

The scene: Not too interesting. It’s great for people who want to really relax with their friends for a chat. Typical Singha décor with logos and yellow all over the place. Fans to reduce the heat in the air.

The show: Three bands nightly playing Thai and inter hot hits from today and yesterday.

The vibe: Most of people here are young and not-too-professional. The atmosphere isn’t that attractive, at all—people are more here to chill out and would prefer to sit and chat than groove and move. Plenty of staff on hand to wait on you.

The grub: Eight restaurants: Gai Yang Singha (international), Somtam Poosri, Krua Petchakasem, Time Out, Ta-lay, Sushi bar, Krua Gumlaithong and Muu Satay Jueng Ang Luk.

A must: The food is notably good here, especially the gai yang Singha (B110/whole) and crispy pork knuckle (B130-250).
The price: Food is B40-300, ice B10, Corona B150, Miller Draft Beer B120, Singha Beer B50/glass, B120/bottle, B130/jug and B390/tower (3 liters). Singha Light Beer B60/glass.

Beware: If you are looking to meet some cuties, this is not the place to do it. Plentiful staff but sometimes they’re in very bad moods so mind your words.

The Elephant Walk (Chang)

The place: Central World Plaza, Ratchadamri Rd. Open daily 5pm-midnight.

The scene: Cool and trendy bar concept. Two types of seating for you: very comfortable sofas on the right side and beer garden plastic chairs in the middle. The sofas are a very cool idea because they attract numerous clients who like the chill chill style. It’s just like a fantasy garden in your backyard with good beer and good music.

The show: Three house bands each night and special concert every Friday.

The vibe: Fresh and relaxed. Great place for young adults, who will enjoy the music and atmosphere.

The grub: Five restaurants: ZAPP…ZA, Seafood, Arharn Thai Puen Baan, Bpahnun and German Sausage.

A must: Pla sum rii phao (B250/whole) and tom yum ruam mid (B120) are delicious.

The price: Food is B50-300, ice B20, beer B380/tower (3 liters), B130/jug (1liter), B100/glass, B30/can.

Beware: Those drunk guys sitting at the next table. They’ve polished off two towers already and they’ve got that hungry look in their eyes...

Like Father, Like Son

It seems like the “concept store” trend has grown throughout the city since the birth of Playground! down Thonglor, and now our favorite party spot is celebrating its successful one-year birthday with the opening of a new branch specially designed for “urban street style lovers.” The store is called Manga (1/F, Central World, Zone Forum, 02-613-1177/-8. Open daily 10am-10pm. www.manga.com) and takes its name from the Japanese word for comics and animation. Like its big daddy on Thonglor, Manga features almost everything Playground! has in smaller numbers and in a smaller space. The simple raw-cement store has nothing extraordinary to impress but little bright yellow decorative items and funky products displayed all around. Fashionable products take up the most space, as do home décor items, CDs, books, magazines and a large number of toys. Selections are not as varied as Playground!, but mainly focus on hip or limited items from international street brands to attract a younger male clientele. So forget the neaw looks and get Antwerp urbanite with a pair of Vans by Marc Jacobs, Lee Riders jeans, God’s Absent accessories and Nooka watches. Things are not that pricey but have your platinum card on hand just in case.

Like No other

If you are looking for something plain and ordinary, don’t come around here. The latest outlet on the block from London, Ted Baker (1/F, Eden Zone, Central World, 02-646-1388. www.tedbaker.co.uk) provides fine clothing with great quality at reasonable prices. Finely crafted details line every piece and the brand exhibits a deep understanding of customers’ needs, especially its unique jackets. Designed to serve businessmen, The Red Carpet jacket (B22,800) coated with Teflon is perfect for both working hours and after-work parties. Completely waterproof, if someone spills a little wine on it, there’s no need to worry. Ted Baker not only cares for men’s clothing, but makes quality women’s wear as well. Girls love jewelry and so does Ted. Whether it’s Ted’s blouses, skirts, sweaters, dresses or bags, all come in neat cuts with stylish jeweled details. Moreover, all patterns on Ted’s clothes are original. Visit the shop once, and you’ll surely fall in love with its Brit charm.

Claiming to be the first maid café in Thailand, Akiba (2-3/F, 430/35-36 Siam Square Soi 7, opposite Center Point, 02-654-6228. Open daily 10:30am-8:30pm. www.akiba.co.th) is trying so hard to imitate every detail of Akihabara in its two-story comic and coffee shop.

At first glance, the shop is totally ordinary with nothing too impressive. In fact, it’s easy to walk right past the narrow entrance without noticing it. Fortunately, colorful cartoon posters stopped us from doing so. Once we climbed up the stairs and one of their staff showed up to welcome us, we suddenly saw what makes the place stand out—she was wearing a complete maid uniform: white shirt, black knee-length dress and apron.

“The place is meant to be a meeting point and a one-stop service spot for comics lovers,” said Khun Vee, the shop owner. “We’ve reached our goal in a way, and lots of people drop by,” he continues. And proving the popularity, customers continue to pour in while we are taking a look around.

The second floor of the shop is divided in two between comic shelves and a café. Walking straight to the shelves first, we find tons of comics from Vibulkij, Bongkoj, Burapat, novels from Bliss, Jamsai, Korean, Japanese and Chinese VCDs and DVDs. Khun Vee also explained that Akiba not only focuses on Japanese comics, but “Asian style” products, as well.

Turning to the café, the menu has a wide range of items on offer written in Japanese and Thai. A sparkling soda punch (B35) is called Nana Iro (seven colors) because it has seven colors for you to choose from, while an omelet is called Moe Omelet (B35) according to a popular series from Japan, TV Champion. A blackboard displays a daily special menu, which on the day we visited had takochan (B45) and teriyaki (B50).

Moving up to the third floor, a hiso Japanese-style sticker photobooth in the middle of the room takes up most of the space. On the left is a small corner for a beverage bar and on the right hand side sits a few plastic tables and chairs. Khun Vee explains that this floor is under construction and will soon be a clothing shop where cosplay outfits can be purchased. Everything their waiters and waitresses wear you can expect to see on their clothesracks, including knee-length socks, bow-ties, micro skirts and aprons—all imported from Japan, of course. Prices will range from B800 to B1,500.