Food and drink

A sixth-floor Chinatown hangout, Charmkrung is a “Thai tapas bar” from the team behind curry restaurant Charmgang. Chef Aruss “Jai” Lerlerstkull’s menu of small plates pairs well with wine and works just as well as a second dinner or late-night snack. Charmkrung pays homage to the 1960s and 1970s, when Thai-Chinese chefs used their experience making European food in hotel kitchens to create new fusion dishes for their own small “cookshops”.
839 Charoen Krung Road, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100

When it opened in 2010, David Thompson’s Nahm prompted a bout of soul-searching over the changing nature of local cuisine. Luckily the Australian-born Thompson was able to answer the scrutiny with delicious food (although he has since left). Traditional Thai cooking methods take centre stage at this restaurant but the kitchen isn’t afraid of tweaking a few traditional favourites, such as larb made with minced guinea fowl. This approach has won Nahm a number of ardent fans.

Thonglor is one of Bangkok’s most popular drinking-and-dining districts. This one-of-a-kind courtyard café, cocooned inside a furniture showroom specialising in Scandinavian and Japanese design, is a handy spot for a restorative coffee or bite to eat. The homely décor creates a sense of calm and there are plenty of comfy spots where you can while away an afternoon.
cafecraftbychanintr.com

Despite the surrounding encroachment of coffee chains, sushi bars and brunch spots, Saew remains entrenched in its mid-Sukhumvit location, serving as a magnet for scores of office workers. The diner specialises in soup noodles such as bamee or Chinese-style egg noodles with pork, including the hard-to-find bamee ban (flat egg noodles).