BK Magazine 831

JU ST DE SSERTS

Pour some sugar on me.

THE BIG LIST OF WHERE TO SATE YOUR BANGKOK SWEET TOOTH.

BANGKOK WEED MAP

This isn’t just any list, it’s the very best places in Bangkok to find dispensaries, cafes and lounges.

EVERY ENTRY CERTIFIED BY COCONUTS

Quality Products

Knowledgeable Staff

Top Locations

Value for Money

See the full list

Are you a dispensary owner who wants on the list? Reach out to us at piti@coconuts.co

WHO’S IN CHARGE?

BK EDITORIAL

Managing Director Dietrich Neu

Managing Editor Tyler Roney

Art Director Wirankan Saiyasombut

GROVE: COCONUTS BRAND STUDIO

Senior Brand Editor Julianne Greco

Associate Thai Editor Pakvipa Rimdusit

Branded Content Writer Moe Thet War

Senior Project Manager

Sirinart Panyasricharoen

Senior Account Manager Hafiz Rasid

Senior Digital Account Manager Nuttajuk

Kittichailuk

Art Director Tan Kar Liang

Senior Graphic Designer Umporn Jiaranai

Production Manager Komkrit Klinkaeo

Head of Business Development

Elizabeth Chua

Senior Business Development Manager

Piti Rungrojanaluck

Business Development Manager

Chalida Anuwattanawong

Business Development Executives

Joel Chua, Anna Dumont, and Liyana Juhari

Publisher, Printer, and Editor

Tara Rattanaphas

BK MAGAZINE IS A COCONUTS MEDIA PUBLICATION.

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upfront

BUILD AND ARK

It’s September, and that means the floods are coming. Every year from September to October, Bangkok floods. The good news is that every year is a new opportunity to fix the problem. The bad news is that it’s going to get worse every year.

Bangkok is sinking at 1-2cm a year due to climate change according to Rangsit University.

September will see 22 rainy days

Rainfall is expected to increase in volume by 20-30% over the next decade.

YOU SAID WHAT?

“Has felt more like half a century.”

— Instagram user @you_dont_see_that_ everyday on the nearly half a decade it took to open Pathumwananurak Park.

“Just when I thought vegan couldn’t get any more off putting, they throw their hats in the ring of mukbang and competitive eating.”

— Facebook user Nicholas Ian Cortese on Eat Co’s 12-inch, 3.75 kilo vegan burger.

“Or.... it could be yet another celebrity supporting Move Forward.”

— Instagram user @adebkk72 on Lisa from Blackpink boosing orange sales.

HOT OR NOT

70,000,000 people in Thailand will be affected by floods over the next few years, according to the Climate Change and Disaster Center.

Day of the Triffids

We got a new Salad Smith last month, a new Salad Stop this month, and we also got a new plant forward nightclub, UFO, ready to open its doors very soon. Keep an eye out for clever plants.

Better dead than red

Some old school red shirts had enough with Pheu Thai’s backroom dealings this month. In their effort to woo the Senate-poisoned parliament, Pheu Thai made its first deal with the devil with the BJP. Unhappy party members have been throwing their shirts at their perceived betrayers.

Orange is the new black

A day after Thai K-pop singer Lalisa Manobal posted pictures of herself enjoying a glass of orange juice in Paris, vendors in her northeastern hometown of Buriram reported a boost in sales.

Busy sidewalks

Bangkok isn’t a very nice place to walk, but the governor is on it, saying obstacles will be removed in 50 districts, on 329 sidewalks, for a total of 27,128 places. Get your walking shoes on.

Thailand is 43 on the Global Climate Risk Index.

Flood relief in Thailand topped B23,000,000,000 last year.

RESTAURANTS

BK’s Best Eats is back for 2023

Best Eats is back. You may not even remember, but there was this sort of pandemic last year? Yeah, BK had to skip Best Eats 2022, but we return this year with a list of all the best in casual dining and comfort food.

This year’s guide reflects a renewed passion for easy eats and fun, inventive hangs as well as the important mainstays of the city’s dining scene.

Whether you’re a vegan with a sweet tooth or are on the hunt for the best hummus in Bangkok, Best Eats 2023 is an important guide for our stomach (and your wallet) that puts the focus on food that’s easy to love.

Find the guide online in print inside at participating venues.

Also, don’t forget to keep an eye out later this year for our Top Tables 2023 in which we’ll be diving into all the best in Bangkok fine dining.

Look forward to a big event in November. Maybe we’ll see you there.

THINGS TO DO Pathumwananurak Park finally opens after nearly half a decade of delays

BK reported on the opening of Pathumwananurak Park back in 2018, and after a series of delays, the park next to Central World has finally opened.

In January this year, several metal-sheeted hovels from longtime residents were demolished to finally make way for the long-awaited park 49 months after the park itself was supposed to be finished.

After the government claimed eminent domain over the space in 2017, a struggle with the more than 1,000 residents of the area, some of whom had been in the area for more than 30 years, ensued. Only one remained as of February.

The centrally located park boasts 40 rai (64,000sqm) of green space and has been mostly ready since December 2018 and is located on Ratchadamri Road, featuring a small amphitheater, an exhibition space, and is connected to Ratchaprasong intersection by an elevated walkway.

NIGHTLIFE

BKK Social Club named Best Bar in Thailand at Asia’s 50 Best Bar Awards

At an event in Hong Kong, the 1-50 Asia’s Best Bar Awards were announced and saw four more Bangkok bars make the list, with BKK Social Club at the top of the pile.

BKK Social Club at the plush Four Seasons on the river and led by Berliner bar manager Philip Bischoff came in at a very high No.3 on the list, beating their ranking last year at No.10. BKK Social Club also ranked No.14 on the World’s 50 Best Bars last year.

Next up for Thailand are the flower motifs and white-washed bricks of Tropic City at a close No. 6, Charoenkrung’s tiki-inspired bar Tropic City was the only other Bangkok bar to make it on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2022 1-50.

Two other Bangkok bars made the 1-50 list, with Vesper at 12 and Mahaniyom at 22. Vesper ranked No. 79 last year in the World’s 50 Best Bars 51-100, but Mahaniyom is the new kid on the block with a first time showing high on this list.

EVENTS

Bangkok will host an international classical guitar competition in September

The 23rd annual Asia International Guitar Festival & Competition will kick off from Sep 1-3 at Avani Sukhumvit, featuring world class talent and a chance for Bangkok hopefuls to test their mettle against the best.

The event—from the Thailand Guitar Society in association with Savarez Strings, the Faculty of Music, Silpakorn University, and Fai-Fah—will feature three days of guitar-focused festivities, competition, and learning on the classical guitar.

The opening concert, the guitar test, and mini-concert—all in the Cashmere room at Avani—are free to attend, but the evening concert featuring nearly a dozen guitar talents from France to Vietnam, costs B500.

There will be international talent such as Gérard Abiton and Leon Koudelak as well as talent from Thailand including Pongpat Pongpradit, Panuphan Prasithikunaporn, and Worrrapat Yansupap alongside the Siam Guitar Quartet and CGO Classic Guitar Orchestra. ●

Pathumwananurak Park BKK Social Club

Phoebe Storm

For

Brassica

Brassica first opened in 2018 as a fun, hip diner focusing on fried chicken and donuts, and now it’s easily one of the finest doughnut spots in Bangkok. Moving from their Nanglinchee spot last year and renowned for their fluffy dough and unique flavors, must-tries include their Leche Flan donut (B120), Kaya Butter, and our favorite, the Burnt Cheesecake. Their doughnuts are in high demand and favorites can sell out quickly, so arrive early.

19/12, Ekkamai Soi 12, Sukhumvit 63, 096-297-5467. Open daily 10am-6pm.

Brioche From Heaven

These rolls put Cinnabon to shame. You have to try their original Pecan Brioche (B180)— though the macadamia option is also delectable—and pair your treat with an affogato if you can snag a Parisian-style outdoor table. Other than brioche buns, their tangy yuzu flavored tartlets (B140) are a must-try. The banoffee pie will get the Brits among you emotional, and be sure to keep an eye out for seasonal specials.

156, Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Rd., 064-847-0049. Open daily 9:30am-7:30pm.

Homu

Elegant, sophisticated, and sweet—this Japanese dessert spot in Bangkok is irresistibly chic in a vintage sort of way. They serve traditional Japanese wagashi, and it’s all about the daifuku filled with sweet red bean paste, sakura dango, raindrop cakes, stretchy warabi mochi topped with kinako, and tofu annin. 32, Charoen Krung Soi 44, 091-655-4796. Open daily 8am-6pm.

when you want to skip straight to the good stuff, here is your big list of Bangkok’s tastiest dedicated dessert spots, bakeries, pâtisseries, chocolateries, and parlors.

Kad Kokoa

Bangkok’s OG Thai chocolate masters have opened a new spot at Velaa shopping center in Langsuan, the latest for this cacao brand, now with four very different outlets in Bangkok. Found behind the garden area of Velaa and featuring walls lined with their famous chocolates, the new space in the glittering, hotel-heavy area of Bangkok will feature a menu only at this spot. In addition to bites and oh-so chocolatey drinks, the new spot features chocolate cacao cocktails and mocktails, as well as a small selection of wines. Peruse the chocolatier, grab a drink, or just pick up some bars to snaffle at home.

87, C115, Langsuan Soi 1. Open daily 11am-8pm.

Thongyoy Cafe

Have you ever been eating cake and thought, “There just aren’t enough plastic flowers around me right now”? Thongyoy solves this problem. The kitschy, whimsical Ari location is a content creator’s dream come true. The saccharine aesthetics are largely for the decor though, with desserts taking on a more subtle sweetness of Asia-inspired treats. The Thai dessert set is absolutely gorgeous, but the passionfruit cheesecake (B150) is our favorite with its thick biscuit base. They also have a branch in Siam Paragon which is equally OTT.

24, 4 Soi Ari, 4 Fang Nua, 098-748-4661. Open daily 9:30am-9:30pm.

AndJo Atelier Pâtisserie

This is a go-to spot for a stunning pack of macarons (5 for B300) for a last-minute birthday gift—or, no one’s watching, just eat it. Tucked down a tiny soi in Sathorn, order their larger custom desserts—like their magical fig tart—in advance for special occasions, but also drop into their cafe space for a passion fruit tartlet and a coffee for a rainy afternoon.

1741 Chan Kao Rd., 092-519-6291. Open Tues-Sun 9am-6pm.

Make Me Mango

Treat the mango lover in your life to a sweet yellow tropical feast. Get the massive one-liter mango, sago, and coconut smoothie (B245), and if you hate mango (are you mad?), they do have other seasonal fruit special desserts and drinks. Protip: Their adorable two-storey cafe on the riverside has gorgeous views of Wat Arun, perfect if you can score a balcony seat at sunset.

67, Maha Rat Rd., 02-622-0899. Open daily 10:30am8pm. There are 3 other location in Central World, King Power Rangnam, and Nonthaburi.

Yellow Spoon

Australians, rejoice! Sticky date pudding (B110), the staple trendy cafe dessert—which is conspicuously missing from menus in Thailand—can be found at Yellow Spoon’s delightful Ekkamai coffee shop. We love their cannelés, and the lemon meringue pie fans won’t be disappointed either. Their signature venue is (thankfully) not in a mall and boasts adorable sunny yellow interiors, perfect for a sweet date.

582/15 Soi Sukhumvit 63, Watthana, 085-482-2842. Open daily 10am-8pm. There are 4 other locations in Emquartier, Central Festival Eastville, Central Rama 3, and Little Walk Bangna.

Patisserie Rosie

This beautifully vintage shophouse in Thonglor has two levels of seating and a distinctly Parisian vibe. The extravagant patisseries feel very posh and are certain to please your Instagram-happy friends—but they’re also delicious. Try the Cherry Ripe (B255). And if you have a birthday to go to, be the favorite guest by arriving with a one pound Rosie’s Burnt Basque Cheesecake (B1,290).

113/2, Thonglor 10, 092-542-9900. Open Tue-Sun 10:30am-7pm.

Kad Kokoa Brassica

Patisserie Rosie

Guss Damn Good

There seems to be another gelato or ice cream spot popping up every week, but Guss is still a favorite. The rapidly expanding chain now has at least 15 locations around town, but check out Ari where you’ll find the widest selection and space to sit. With more than 40 flavors on rotation, you will always find something new. Our go-tos are B-Cube (brownie, brown butter, and brown sugar) and Joy (milk caramel and salted butter biscuit) (B160 for two scoops).

1199, Phahonyothin Rd., 097-356-9268. Open daily 10am-11pm. There are 14 other locations in Bangkok.

Paris Mikki

An oldie but still a goodie. Chef Carol Boosaba who graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Paris, is about to celebrate a decade of making patisseries in Bangkok. They turn out picture-perfect French treats for the traditionalist, each one consistent and flawless. The Mille-Feuille is just gorgeous, as are their croissants, but apple pie lovers have to try the Tarte Tatin (B235).

27, Sukhumvit Soi 19, 088-870-0020. Open daily 11am-9pm There are 4 other locations in Bangkok at Central Embassy, Central World, MBK, and EmQuartier.

Ici

Mousse that looks exactly like a crab claw? Or a starfish? Sure. Why not? ICI is a must just for the surprise factor alone. Adorable little desserts which are as delicious as they are cute. We love the three little pigs cream puffs (B295) and the strawberry soda with sorbet (B185) is a treat. Both locations provide a stylish and comfy backdrop to your sweet afternoon snack.

24 Sukhumvit Soi 27, 02-007-3113. Open TueSun 10am-6pm. There is another location at Mahanakhon Eatery.

Puffy Bearkery

Who doesn’t like things that jiggle? Jiggly chiffon cheesecakes, jiggly souffle pancakes, jiggly flan puddings, they really put the puff in their desserts. Our favorite treat is their tiramisu souffle pancakes (B119). Their cutesy cafe in Bangkok’s old town is a great little oasis from the hustle and bustle. They do large cakes for parties as well.

1367, Charoen Krung Rd., 084-014-3801. Open Mon-Sat, 9am-7pm.

Baan Dok Pud

Thai desserts are diverse, creative, and exciting, and Baan Dok Pud is where to go to experience treats you never could have imagined. The location is a surprising sanctuary, a hidden mansion on the way out to Lat Phrao, decked out with lush greenery and koi ponds. Sample all the mysterious sweets from Luk Chupminiature fruits made from mung bean paste, to Kanom Tom - sticky rice dumplings, and everything Foi Thong - golden threads made from egg yolks, sugar, and coconut milk. This is THE place to take your international visitors.

48, Ladprao, Yak 28-16, 085-441-7549. Open Tues-Sun 8pm-5pm.

The Tiramisu Lab

We have been assured by our Italian friends that this place is legit and the best in the city. They specialize in tiramisu - which means “pick me up” in Italian - with its luscious layers of espressosoaked ladyfingers, velvety mascarpone cheese, and dusting of cocoa. It is not too sweet, but super rich and decadent. They keep the menu simple, with just a few fruity variations on the classic. They include cherry, coconut, and even durian for those brave enough. We stick to the original though (B139 for the small).

G/F, The Trendy Office Building, Sukhumvit Soi 13, Watthana, 094-663-6965. Open daily 8:30ammidnight.

Tempered

Another incredible Thai chocolatier only using only the best cacao beans sourced from local Thai farmers. Their Ploenchit cafe opened in March of 2022 to serve up homemade coffees and other beverages along with their desserts (and some savory items) in a funky minimalist industrial loft space with floor to ceiling glass walls. You should try the Scarlet—a white chocolate panna cotta and raspberry masterpiece (B245).

59, Prim Raumrudee, Soi Ruamrudee 2. 092-8285444. Open daily 8am-6pm.

Holy Donut Paczkarnia

You might not have heard of this Polish donut shop which quietly opened back in 2020, but we promise, you are missing out. They have a new cute retro pink shop near Chula with some outdoor seating. Do try the Apple Pie Pączek (B75), the Strawberry Pączek (B55) and some of the best thick milkshakes in Thailand (B99). Leaving its former location inside the 515 Victory Mall last year, Holy Donut Paczkarnia’s new shop is in the Samyan area on Soi Chula

131, Suanluang Square, Chula Soi 5, 080-1135453. Open Thu-Mon 12pm-9pm.

Ghignoni

Bangkok’s authentic Italian gelato shop now shares space with Brainwake Café in Phrom Phong. Originally founded in 1981 by an Italian Champion Ice Cream Maker, they came to Thailand in 2015. The gelato is prepared each day, adhering to the same time-honored techniques practiced in Italy. Their flavors, such as the delightful pistachio made from genuine Sicilian pistachios, contain no artificial coloring or preservatives. We personally go for the lemon sorbet (B129 for a small).

27, 1 Sukhumvit Soi 33, Watthana, 087-811-6462. Open daily 7am-6:30pm.

The Cream Factory

This dedicated cookie space had to be on the list. These NYC style cookies are never dry because they are stuffed with goodness like peanut butter (B120), lemon cheese pie, strawberry cheesecake, or chocolate. They are plump, huge, and moist, and come in cute gift packs of six, so you can butter up to your friends.

39, Sukhumvit Soi 21, 098-963-5644. Open daily 10am-9pm. ●

Holy Donut Paczkarnia

Ghignoni The Cream Factory

Public House launches a classy, kitschy brunch for the Phrom Phong crowd

The chic, artsy Public House opened earlier this year with a lot of a bar, co-working space, and high-end eatery open on the ground floor. Now they’re bringing a very special brunch for the Phrom Phong crowd with a quartet playing popular hits. Inspired by the popular Netflix series Bridgerton, Thai musicians serenade brunchers for a mimosa-fueled brunch at Fest playing modern pop hits in orchestral style. Fest, which opened at the same time as the hotel, is a comfort food eatery and its menu has its roots in D’ark. The brunch kicks off at 11am and runs until 3pm and will involve the 60 delicacies from their a la carte menu. The venue features an open kitchen area indoors, but you can take your bites outside to the busy Soi 31 and Phrom Chit Alley.

The food wizards at Canvas release artistic new bites

For fans of plating, the folks at Canvas need no introduction—food that looks as good as it tastes. The artsy spot recently released a new menu at their Thonglor resto turning color into flavor. The new 20 serving tasting menu (and art) from Chef Riley Sanders features a focus on seasonal ingredients and high-end techniques. It’s all about the local ingredients. The Flavor of Color dish encompasses the theme, with seasonal ikejime-style fish from Surat Thani. There’s caviar from Hua Hin and lobster from Phuket, and the duck in their Duck in Chartreuse, Violet, and Vermillion hails from Khao Yai, complete with banana chili, prickly ash, garlic, long bean sweet basil, yogurt, and shitake—using every part of the duck.

Anju

is the Korean rooftop restaurant Bangkok needed

Anju Korean Rooftop Bar and Restaurant opened its doors on the 31st floor of the Sindhorn Midtown Hotel with new Korean bites and a party-like atmosphere. If you know your Korean food, you know anju refers to the tiny bites you get at every Korean restaurant to kick off your meal, and this new spot will be featuring ‘Seoul food’ and Korea-inspired cocktails. The menu includes street food favorites like cheesy tteokbokki and long-time favorites like kimchi jigae. There are some creative bites here too, such as the spicy sea snails with noodles on a bed of lettuce. The signature drinks skew even more creative. If you’ve walked through the streets of Korea long, you’ll know that silkworm pupae are big with the kids, and Anju will be serving them up in their Beon-De-Gi.

Public House

Canvas

Anju Korean Rooftop Bar and Restaurant

Araksa

After 3.5 years, Sala Rim Naam returns with its show and royal cuisine

The Mandarin Oriental’s signature Thai restaurant, Sala Rim Naam combining classic “royal Thai” cuisine with a theater experience, will reopen on Aug 3 this week after a three and a half year absence. Sala Rim Naam, meaning “room at the water’s edge,” has a history of more than 40 years and has long been a favorite for Thais with out-of-town friends as it boasts some of the country’s best classical Thai performers to pair with their royal Thai dishes. Found at the Mandarin Oriental—Bangkok’s most historic hotel—the reopening with views of the river former diners are unlikely to have forgotten, the cuisine maintains its royal roots with Thai fine dining, and comes with a four (B2,800) and five (B3,400) course dinner option to accompany the show.

Chic new Araksa Tea Room brings Chiang Mai chai to Charoen Krung

Traveling tea lovers may already know the name Araksa and their organic tea made in the Banchang forests of Chiang Mai. Now Bangkokians can delve into their chai and bites at their fashionable new spot in Charoen Krung. Like the tea, the new spot Araksa Tea Room is all about authenticity and sustainability—awash in sustainably vintage, second-hand, and reclaimed wood furniture, bamboo walls sourced from their tea plantation in Chiang Mai, and local and antique artwork. It gives off “Are we even still in Bangkok?” vibes. But you definitely still are in Bangkok, on the corner of a Charoen Krung alley that’s Instagram-worthy in its own right. On offer, tea lovers will be pleased to find a classic afternoon tea as well as a tea pairing menu. ●

PEPÉ

173, 3 Soi Sukhumvit 16, 084-264-9291.

Open Tue-Sun, 5pm-midnight

Serving up top-notch fusion cuisine using only the highest quality ingredients, every dish at Pepé’s looks like it came straight out of a culinary magazine. Diners rave about the venue’s cozy vibes, thanks to the first-class service and mellow background music. The salmon baguette starter is as delicious as it is inventive, although their fish crudo (featuring three different types of fish) and homemade potato focaccia are also worth a shout. For mains, vegetarians will appreciate the creamy mushroom spätzle, but the highlights on the otherwise meat-heavy menu are the grilled seafood curry which includes prawn, squid, and the fish of the day, and the roasted duck breast served with guava hoisin sauce. Make sure to leave room for their mouthwatering homemade desserts—go classic with apple pie à la mode which comes with a side of pecan pralines, or try something different via the jasmine rice ice cream or the balsamic and mascarpone parfait.

Sala Rim Naam

TIBET GATE IS A BIG NEW BANGKOK SPACE FOR HIMALAYAN FOOD

The buzz: What happened to that large building that housed the dark live music pub Check Inn 99 on Soi 33, you might be wondering. Well, obviously, it has been turned into a giant twofloor Tibetan restaurant with karaoke, prayer wheels, a massive mural of Potala Palace, and a yellow Royal Enfield Meteor at the entrance. Of course.

The vibe: The transformation to Tibet Gate is staggering. What was once an old school music bar with working girls is now a bright blue and gold homage to Tibetan culture, food, and style. It’s hard to miss this giant yellow and maroon building festooned in prayer flags while walking down Soi 33. This spot comes from a Tibetan family who came to Bangkok to inject a little fun—and booze—into this Bangkok dining niche with a hell-for-leather Tibetan kitsch design.

The food: On the menu you’ll find a lot of Himalayan classics, and novices will likely want to delve into their selection of momos (B200-B220). The choices are extensive, and they mix in some veggie varieties along with the beef, pork, and chicken. You can also “Choose Your Momo” selection (B230) featuring paneer, shogo and cheese, and Chinese chives. For those who like their momos fried, grab their half pan-fried kothay momos (B230), half pan-fried dumplings, or their shabalep. One classic you’ll

definitely want to try—and one that’s baked into a lot of the drink deals—is the thenthuk, a traditional Tibetan dish of hand-pulled noodles with a choice of meat or veg. You’ll find some classic Chinese dishes, such as chow mein and the stir fried potatoes in the tudousi style.

The drinks: Another important facet of this new venue is that they’re bringing a certain amount of nightlife style to this very bright spot. First off are the roving drink deals. Recently they offered their “Tibetan Way of Eating Meat Dish” (which is boiled lamb by the kilo) with a selection of bottles and buckets of beer. The lamb is a tough one but fun if you like ripping at bones between beers. They’re also boasting ladies night on Tuesdays and Fridays, with a selection of cocktails and beers for B80. If you have one too many and feel the urge to start belting out tunes, we’ve got some good news. There’s still a stage at this spot, but now it’s in the center, surrounded by tables lit with Tibetan drum lights ready for karaoke.

Why we’ll be back: For all the interesting food, this is a spot Bangkok diners just won’t expect, either in scale or execution. Pop in, eat some momos, down a bucket of beer, and maybe grab the mic if you’re feeling brave. This venue is definitely doing something different. ●

Tyler Roney

Lamb by the kilo, karaoke, buckets of beer, and momos for days.

Wana Yook’s khao gaeng gets an inventive new menu

Wana Yook—which made it onto Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 51-100 for the first time this year and into BK’s Top Tables 2022—has launched a new menu in its classic homage to khao gaeng. Designed by Chef Chalee Kader of 100 Mahaseth, Mahaniyom, and incidentally one of Bangkok’s sexiest male chefs in 2018, the new menu will be live through September and features a fulsome list of khao gaeng treats ranging from nostalgic snacks to classic takes on Thai treats. The meal kicks off with three snacks from the past. First is khao maew (meaning “cat food”) with fillets of mackerel with hill-tribe rice, shallots, and chili, served with crispy kai pen

A Bangkok cafe now serves a 12inch, 3.75 kilo vegan burger

Bangkok is no stranger to gimmicky burgers. And now the vegans are getting in on the action with the whopping great “The Plant Beast” at Eat Co in Phrom Phong. Weighing in at 3.7kg and measuring 12 inches across, the vegan cafe Eat Co recently launched the veggie burger this week, with Let’s Plant Meat, plant-based Swees cheese, and a house-made vegan bun. The pizza-sized burger costs B1,999 and can be shared between eight people—but Eat Co is not the boss of you so do what you want. You do, however, need to order this gigantic vegan burger 48 hours in advance. Eat Co began in 2014 Koh Phangan before opening up their Phrom Phong shop in Bangkok. If you’re interested in more veggie burgers at this stop but don’t want to commit to eating a small baby’s worth of plant-based meat, you can also check out their So Mush’room burger or their Beyond Meat Bun in a Million burger.

Africa to Paris to Bangkok, new spot brings home-cooked poulet braise

It’s a simple, easy lunch that originated in West Africa before gaining popularity in France. Le Poulet Braisé Bangkok is a delivery-only shop currently based in Nana serving up braised chicken with fun sauces and baguette sandwiches. Opening in May this year, the new spot serves an elegantly simple poulet braise (braised chicken) on a bed of rice with an array of creative sauces and fried banana. Simple it may be but it’s a fulsome lunch shedding light on an unappreciated dish. If you’re thinking “braised chicken on rice, big deal” then you should know that this dish is all about the sauce. Here you get four creatively designed homemade sauces and maggi.

Bangkok gets a second Salad Stop at Marche

Only a few months ago, Thonglor welcomed a new 60,000sqm and 24-hour outdoor mall at Marche Thonglor. And now those in the mood for a healthy lunch in the area can stop by the stall at Salad Stop. Salad Stop—or SaladStop! for the dramatic—is big in Singapore where it was grown, but also operates in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Spain, Korea, and Vietnam. The new spot on the ground floor of Marche Thonglor adds to their existing branch at Central Chitlom. Their big hits are their signature dishes, which you can have as either a salad or a wrap. The Hail Ceasar (B270) is romaine, roasted chicken, bacon bits, parmesan, grated eggs, and croutons for a classic caesar. ●

RED LOBSTER

G/F, Queen Sirikit Convention Center, 60 Ratchadaphisek Rd., 062243-8237. Open daily, 11am-10pm

The Bangkok branch of Red Lobster, aka the American sit-down dining staple with claws, has all the old Americana favorites— including their famed Cheddar Bay Biscuits and their lobster thermidor. If you’re not feeling too hungry, try the spaghetti aglio olio with lobster tail, a succulent lobster roll, or the salmon New Orleans. If you are coming with an appetite, the big lobsters come with tableside service if you can’t mash them up yourself, and you can have a little bit of everything with the Signature Feast, featuring snow crab legs, a lobster tail, and shrimp you can lather in melted butter. But seafood isn’t all that’s on the menu. The ultimate surf and turf features a ribeye and lobster tail with several vegetable sides, or you can go full turf and get just a piece of premium ribeye, tangy buffalo wings, or a succulent wagyu bacon cheeseburger.

Get 10% discount on food only when spending THB 5,000 or more /sales slip via UOB Credit Card or TMRW Credit Card (excluding beverages)

Privileges are available to Citi-branded card members

1 Jan ’23 – 31 Dec ’23

Terms and Conditions apply

Wana Yook

River City shop for beginner art buyers now open

River City has a new space opening, featuring pieces that skew cool and include fashionable jewelry, fashion, and ceramics— fine art that’s useful—to attract a new generation of art buyers.

The Art Haus featuring pieces from around the world and local artists will open next week on the second floor of the art-rich River City.

In connection with La Lanta Fine art, the new space will feature work from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the US alongside work from local artists and will open on Aug 5. The shop is already featuring works from Peerapol Aintoom, Tal Nehoray, Natasha Barnes, Betsy, Enzenberger, and more.

The idea behind the store is to appeal to young consumers with a kitschy and creative array of small sculptures, art toys, prints, paintings, and more for young consumers as well as a venue for young artists to get their feet wet in a sometimes stolid market

Adidas launches retro kicks for Bangkok sneaker lovers

Yesterday the sneaker giant Adidas launched its classic Superstar XLG shoes at Central World and Siam Square One, a shoe that’s endured for more than half a century.

On Monday, Adidas went retro with the launch of the new (and customizable) sneaker at their two Bangkok shops, Adidas Brand Center and Adidas Originals Siam Center as well as participating venues throughout the city, with special deals lasting until August 6.

The 54-year-old design features classic white leather uppers with a bulky body giving it a real vintage look.

The sneakers run for B4,300 baht and B2,800 and B3,000 for kids. ●

Jim Thompson partners with Goh M for art-forward fashion

The renowned Jim Thompson brand partnered with Goh M for a limited collaboration project that sees the pedigree of Jim Thompson with the pop art and graffiti-chic of Goh M.

Goh M, or Kittipong Khamsat, combines the cartoony and bubbly street art to create a sort of tropical design colorscape. The artist’s style fuses pop art, street art, and a bold use of pastels for a bright, summery feel that’s just a little bit retro.

Expect silk, cotton, and linen to feature in the offerings. Women can find flowing oversized dresses, silk shirts, T-shirts, and silk fisherman pants, and men can find silk Hawaiian shirts, T-shirts, and linen shorts.

This new range comes courtesy of Jim Thompson’s “Artist in Residence” campaign has featured the collections of artists with three distinct collections.

The Artist in Residence series kicked off earlier this year with the works of award-winning artist Pichaya “Nuss” Osothcharoenpol and later in April with Nakrob Moonmanas.

FORGET THE BEACH AND LIVE THAT MUAK LEK RIVER LIFE

For those of us here, the magic of nearby Thai beaches can fade. During the day the seashore is filled with selfiesnapping goons and Septuagenarian Europeans in speedos, and don’t forget the inescapable lullaby of nightly godawful techno.

The expense, the transport, the apocalyptic piles of plastic washed in with every tide—there is a better way. While Khao Yai is hardly a secret from the tourist hordes, outside the national park are Thai-run hotels on lazy rivers like Muak Lek with enough space to never have to see a selfie stick.

The larger hotels can have rivers— they can even be quiet—but for anyone wanting a chill time to commune with nature in a tube drinking vodka sodas from a thermos, these just won’t do. Sorry, Intercontinental Khao Yai, you’re amazing, but this isn’t about you.

A cheap example (and a favorite) is the Baan Mailueang Hotel in Muak Lek about nine kilometers north of the highway—simple, basic

bungalows. Their river on one side is a thick greenery, and on the other filled with camping families in tents and barbecuing, all with running water and a stream split by greenery. Take a folding chair, a cooler, and sit in the clear river water eating pad kaprao until you go pruney. There are a dozen similar spots just like these on the Muak Lek stream—Rai Thanthip Resort, Rai Kusuma Resort, Ban Ing Nam Resort—take your pick of rooms less than B1,000 a night.

Just south of that is the Ndol Streamside Thai Villas that’s perhaps a little more hotel-goer friendly—think big, modern rooms and a small stream play area for getting your feet wet. If you want to go the other direction, tent up and head for Jeab Camp Muaklek, which is a campground with fun on both sides of the river.

Muak Lek is perhaps the most wellknown of the easy rivers north of Khao Yai, splitting into several streams the closer you get to the national park. But

A group getaway to Muak Lek is cheap, easy, and quiet—and nary a speedo in sight.

Tyler Roney

when it comes to river life in Khao Yai, you have plenty of options. Another favorite is the Watermill Resort right off the main highway about 25 kilometers from Muak Lek, which combines the best of both worlds on the Lam Takhong, a marriage of a large water area for tubing and chilling (as well as boating and kayaking) with running water . They’ve also got something that’s rare for this price point: a breakfast buffet with freshly made bread and home made bagels.

The wildlife, plush hotels, cowboy festivals—there are a lot of reasons to go to Khao Yai. But, if you’re going with a group and your goal is drink, laugh, and stare at bugs, then you need to fill up a cooler and get yourself to Bangkok’s favorite backyard playground.

Thus, in the words of the Notorious BIG, “f*ck beaches, get muddy”—or something like that. ●

ADVICE FOR RIVER LIFE

MUDDY BOTTOMS

Ew, you might think, hours in mud? Wrong. These are usually man made eddies in the water from mined sand; terrible for the environment, but good for you. You’ll spend time with your toes in the sand just like you would at the beach. Leave your flip-flops on the shore.

GO IN A GROUP

Sure, you can try a romantic weekend in a Khao Yai river, but you should find four or five people you don’t mind chatting in the river with for most of the day—and someone might have to make a beer run.

KNOW YOUR HOTEL

You can’t just pop to the 7-Eleven out here. Make sure your hotel has food and adult beverages of your choice and plan ahead. You can’t drink and drive, so bring a cooler full of food or booze as needed.

FOLDING CHAIR

This isn’t a must, but it can be helpful. Take a few folding chairs you don’t mind getting dirty in the river for when you get tired of trying to float—preferably one with cupholders. Freshwater may be calmer, but it’s less buoyant.

BE NICE

Try and keep your group to a dull roar. Some people are here for a romantic weekend, so don’t ruin it. Also, treat the kayaks, tubes, and boats with respect. Muak Lek prides itself on its cowboys, and you don’t want to find yourself in a High Noon situation—or worse, Deliverance.

WATCH THE SEASONS

Rivers can get a little wild in the wet season, so remember to keep the calendar in mind. Up river spots can get a little rough, and you might miss some running water sounds if it’s deep in the dry season.

6 PLACES IN BANGKOK TO PLAY PICKLEBALL

It seems like everyone and their mother is playing pickleball these days, and an equal number of people have no clue what the sport is or what it has to do with pickles. With the opening of the new Benjakitti sports complex and its five pickleball courts (which are rammed with players from morning till late) it might be time to give the low-impact sport a go—and in our experience it’s the type of game you can have a beer in between rounds if you fancy.

What is it?

Pickleball is often described as a mix of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton. You use ping-pong-like paddles to hit a plastic ball, the court is roughly the size and shape of a badminton court, but the rules are more like tennis. It’s best played with four players at a time, two on each side. Each team takes turns serving, and only the serve-side can score points during a round. Most games are played until one side scores 10 points, but you have to win by two points to end the game. A great way to start out is to join a pickleball group (there are several out there) or hit up one of the drop-in courts around the city—Benjakitti is our favorite right now. Drop-in courts are for everyone, so if you head to a spot alone or with one friend just ask others if you can join.

Low intensity workout

The game is approachable for all ages. We’ve played with college kids and retirees. The plastic ball has holes in it, which make it less bouncy and move slower through the air. The small court means there is also less ground to cover, so you are not going to be sprinting around like a tennis match. All that said, you will work up a sweat. An article in the New York Times late last year mentioned a few studies that concluded playing pickleball was the equivalent of a “moderate intensity workout” similar to hiking, yoga, or watersports.

What do you need to start?

Shirt, shorts, shoes, paddle, ball, and court. Some folks bring their own equipment, but every venue we’ve played at offers all the gear you need (except the clothes) for a cheap rental fee or sometimes for free.

Where to play?

Know another public spot to play pickleball? Let us know at info@ bkmagazine.com and we’ll add it to the list here.

What the hell is pickleball? Here’s what you need to know to hit up a game or two.

Dietrich Neu

Benjakitti Forest Park

Sirisuk Sports & Social Club

Benjakitti Forest Park

Why you should go: The new sports complex at Benjakitti park is one of the best ways to get into pickleball. You will find a mix of new players and experienced veterans. They have both drop-in courts (great for folks looking for new people to play with) and courts you can book through this page. Fair warning, it gets busy here. If you want to book a court, you might have to do it a week in advance.

Location: North side of the park, past the parking lot.

Price: Free

Open: 5am-9pm

Asoke Sports Club

Why you should go: They recently renovated the indoor and outdoor courts here, but a price bump came with it. This is the best location in downtown in terms of pure quality. You get the basic equipment for free, or can shell out B100 premium paddles. Tables and chairs scattered around the club help it double as a social space (the fridge with beers starting at B80 help, too), so it’s not a bad spot to hang around for a bit after the games. They appear to have motel-style rooms here as well, but we’re not going to speculate why.

Location: Sukhumvit 16 (11/F, Foodland building)

Open: 8am-10pm

Price: B100/hour (drop-in court), B600/hour (private court indoors)

Sirisuk Sports & Social Club

Why you should go: For nearly four decades, this has been a nice little enclave off Narathiwas Road for tennis players of all skill levels. In recent years they added a couple of pickleball courts. At B200/hour, this is also one of the more reasonably priced options, especially in this neck of the woods. You have to rent the balls specifically (B60/ ball), which is uncommon, but considering how easy those can get lost we don’t blame them. Paddles are free, though. There are no drop-in games here though so you’ll need to book in advance and show up with a crew.

Location: Sathorn

Open: 7am-6pm

Price: B200/hour

Santisuk English School

Why you should go: The parking lot of the Santisuk English School might seem like an unusual place for two of Thailand’s national pickleball players to hone the game, but you will find them playing here. The school welcomes players of all skill levels to join drop-in games in the parking lot, which has been transformed into a place to play pickleball and basketball. They also have gear you can rent, borrow, or buy on site.

Location: Bang Kapi

Open: Sat 8am-12:30pm, Sun afternoon-7pm.

Price: Free for first-timers, B200 after that. (All games are drop-in.)

Beat Discovery

Why you should go: Beat Discovery is an indoor-outdoor sports complex that just opened this past May and specializes mainly in tennis, offering lessons for players of all ages and skill levels. They do have four pickleball courts, but you will be paying a premium for them. Right now, reservations happen through the complex’s social media pages, so you’ll need to DM one of them to get a spot. If you live outside of the city center on that side of town, this is a good option.

Location: Udom Suk

Open: 7am-10pm

Price: B300/hour (before 5pm), B400/hour (after 5pm)

Shot Selections Beach Club

Why you should go: Known by pickleball players all over the city as the place to play and get a very decent fish & chips, Shot Selections Beach Club offers space to play a wide range of paddle sports, like beach tennis, in addition to pickleball. The man behind the cafe is Piyatat “Ake” Surasawee, a well known tennis coach with over two decades of experience who is also a certified pickleball coach under the Professional Pickleball Registry. Rock up with the crew, smoke some games, and then kick back with some fish and chips and a beer—that’s the kind of pickleball we want to play.

Location: Ari

Open: 8am-8pm

Price: B400/hour, B450/hour (after 6pm) ●

Beat Discovery

Asoke Sports Club

HEAR AND FOUND GIVES A MUSICAL VOICE TO THAILAND’S ETHNIC GROUPS

Sirasa “Mae” Boonma and Pansita “Rak” Sasirawut started Hear and Found to bring the sounds of Thailand’s countryside alive. More than that, they’re fighting discrimination against indigenous peoples by empowering local musicians to tell their stories in their own way. With more than 200 recordings—as well as the birdsong, running rivers, and natural cacophony of Thailand’s biodiversity—Hear and Found is bringing a unique authenticity to the sound of Thailand. BK speaks with Sirasar Boonma to learn more.

Can you tell us a little bit about how Hear and Found started?

We started five years ago. It started from the idea that we want to preserve cultural knowledge, especially music and wisdom in Thailand. And we see a gap in that the new generation can’t access this. That’s how we started. During this process, we discovered that we are losing our cultural treasures because, especially the city people, we don’t have access and indigenous people are discriminated against…discriminated against their language, their dress. Like mothers weaving clothes by themselves and weaving

for their kids, when the kids go to the school, they are bullied because of what they’re wearing…In Thailand, we have around 17 ethnic groups, which is about 7 million people or 1% of the Thai population, which is a huge number. But social media and mass media often talk about the indigenous people in a bad way—that these people are drug dealers or burning forests to cause PM 2.5 smoke. So we want to offer another side to the story for people to recognize and to get to know the indigenous people. We communicate with indigenous people by using music and sound as a tool because music has a special power.

Tyler Roney

Could you also tell us a little bit about how you work with local artists?

So, usually we go to the village. Me and my partner used to work in community-based tourism or sustainable tourism, so we have a network of local communities. With that, we know where we should go. When we work with the community, we usually start off with one question. What is your objective? That’s the first question that we asked the local community. For example, one of the Karen people, one of the indigenous groups, said that to communicate about himself or the community, he wants people to understand that the Karen people do not burn the forest. They have a reason to do that; they have to grow the rice to eat. That’s the objective. I explore that idea by living with them in their house, seeing how they work in everyday life, eating their food, cooking, and just living with them and learning and listening to their stories. And then we go into

design, and by design we mean how can we engage an audience to listen to your songs, to listen to your stories? Sometimes that’s a hard issue. It’s very difficult to understand and to digest. How can we make it simple? Sometimes it can be a music event, exhibitions, or workshop. We did world music events before Covid. We invited them to Bangkok, and we paid the professional rate. Also, they helped us design the lineup of songs and what to talk about. You also do nature recordings, such as bird songs and the sounds of nature. Can you tell us more about that?

With the nature sounds, it comes after COVID. For artists, Covid was tough work. Nature helped us to understand the biodiversity in the area, to understand the context, to understand the space and everything. So we record bird songs, we record rivers, sounds, we record the bamboo forest. It depends on

each community, what they have and what they would like us to get into because when we say ‘community’ it’s not just small houses packed together, but a huge forest area. First we go to the community and the houses, but the second time, the community invites us deep into the forest of their home. So it really depends on the relationship and what they have during that season. How can people support your efforts?

Of course, if you are in Thailand check out our social media, Facebook and Instagram. If you’re in Thailand we might also have exhibitions or events or workshops that you can join, along with audiences from around the world. You can listen to songs and buy songs from our website, and you can support us by buying a license specifically for your media or for your events. We also share this money back with the community and the artist. ●