As we head towards 2022, Bangkok is back in full swing and has already welcomed a number of incredible new restaurants. From Mexican delicacies served atop Bangkok’s most famous skyscraper to unusual Northern Thai cuisine, there’s plenty to get excited about on the streets of Bangkok today. So if you’re looking for a new destination to add to your personal list of best restaurants, these new kids on the block are impossible to ignore.
1. Avoid Bangkok
PHOTO: Ojo Bangkok
Opening hours: Every day, 11:30 – 14:30 and 17:30 – 23:30
Address: 114 Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Rd, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
Perched high on the 76th floor of The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, Ojo is a Mexican restaurant unlike any other. Step through the door and you’ll find a retro-glam space with precious colors. The interior is inspired by the precious metals and precious stones of Mexico and subtly alluding to the mystique of the Latin American cultural landscape. In addition to the great interior, you will enjoy the delicious menu while admiring the breathtaking Bangkok skyline.
PHOTO: Ojo Bangkok
One of Mexico’s most prominent chefs, Francisco’ Paco’ Ruano, runs the restaurant. So expect creative and bold dishes that will leave you wanting more. Next-level Mexican food here is prepared using traditional and contemporary Mexican chef techniques with imported and local Thai produce. Perhaps the shining star of the menu is Paco’s Ojo Guacamole, which consists of crab meat with red caviar that goes well with corn tostadas. For the main course, the Birria beef short rib is a must. The birria tender short rib is slow cooked in a Jalisco adobo sauce, then served with a fermented hot sauce and charred baby onions – delicious! Additionally, vegans have plenty of delicious dishes to try as the menu includes fantastic plant-based options. Be sure to try the agave-based cocktails or pair your lively meal with a decadent wine.
2. Villa Frantzén
PHOTO: Villa Frantzén
Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 17:30 – 23:30; Saturday – Sunday, 12:30 – 23:30
Address: 7 Soi Yen Akat 3, Khwaeng Chong Nonsi, Khet Yan Nawa, Bangkok 10120
Villa Frantzén is owned by Swedish chef Björn Frantzén, the three Michelin star chef behind the restaurant empire, the Frantzén Group. Headed by head chef Martin Eström, the restaurant offers a sophisticated 5-course menu of Nordic food with a touch of Asian influence. Each tasting menu comes with 3-4 options. Therefore, you can design your own course and have a special taste journey every time you visit. Highlights include Kavring, a traditional Swedish rye bread served with salted Bordier butter, and cauliflower and morel chawanmushi served with dried mushroom tea, toasted hay oil, lime, split peas and lemon thyme. The restaurant has two different pairings, including wine and non-alcoholic pairings. After your dinner, be sure to try some of their signature cocktails in their bar lounge.
PHOTO: Villa Frantzén
Located in a two-story house on Soi Yen Akat, the space is divided into two different Nordic-style villas: the cocktail lounge and the restaurant. Inside, you’ll find one of the largest open kitchens in Thailand, where you can watch the chefs work their magic. You can choose to dine in the main dining area surrounding the open kitchen, one of 3 private dining areas or in a conservatory overlooking an outdoor patio. With all that it has to offer, Villa Frantzén is probably the best of the bunch that you will want to return to again and again.
3. The White House
PHOTO: The White House
Opening hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 18:00 – 00:00
Address: 199 8 Soi Sukhumvit 16, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
Take a deep dive into Latvian cuisine at the White House. Latvian chef Aleksandrs “Alex” Nasikailovs and his team will take you on a journey full of sensory surprises through 16 pairings of their delicious Latvian food with fantastic cocktails. We recommend you try the White House Experience, which consists of over 10 courses that are visually pleasing and a feast for your taste buds. The star of the menu is the Gillardeau oyster, which comes with pearl yogurt and raspberry vinaigrette.
PHOTO: The White House
Another favorite is the duck liver tortellini. Served with a piece of black trumpet mushroom, pickled grapes and birch syrup under a crispy grid-shaped wafer, the unique taste will have you daydreaming. Don’t forget to accompany your meal with amazing cocktails created by Japanese mixologist Kei Sawada. His quirky but delightful selection of cocktails uses unusual ingredients like blue cheese and wasabi. Yes, it may sound extreme, but you’ll be surprised how great they taste.
4. Noodle No Name the best restaurant in Bangkok
PHOTO: Noodle No Name
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11:00 – 15:00
Address: 2 Attha Kawi 1 Alley, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
No Name Noodle is on its way to becoming the best Japanese restaurant in Bangkok. Shin Inoue, a former chef at Rockment in Thonglor who learned more about Japan’s noodle culture during the Covid-19 pandemic, is the owner of the restaurant. Boasting a seven-seat bar counter, customers can watch the chef craft his signature bowls with attention to detail. Additionally, the limited menu consists of two noodle dishes: Tokusei Kombusui Tsuke Soba and Tokusei Shio Soba.
PHOTO: Noodle No Name
Each slurp-worthy bowl consists of up to 30 ingredients, but you can add more flavor to your taste buds, such as add pepper oil to make it spicy. It can be very difficult to eat at No Name Noodle as, like the menu, they offer limited seating. The restaurant serves only 35 bowls each day in five rounds of seven guests each. So make sure you make a reservation well in advance.
5. North Restaurant the best restaurant in Bangkok
PHOTO: Restaurant Veri
Opening hours: Every day, 11:30 – 14:30 and 18:00 – 23:00
Address: 8 Sukhumvit 33 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Last, but certainly not least, the best new restaurant on our list is North Restaurant. Northern Thai gourmet food is hard to find in Bangkok. That’s why North Restaurant is a breath of fresh air on the capital’s culinary scene. Chiang Rai-born head chef Panupong “Nu” Songsang and his team bring lesser-known ingredients from Thailand’s northern provinces and create them into a fun gastronomic experience. The set dinner menu may change seasonally. However, it usually starts with homemade sourdough bread, followed by an entertaining set. It consists of jackfruit mousse on a betel leaf, a rice cracker with crab hollandaise and crispy fish laab.
PHOTO: Restaurant Veri
Everything on the menu is delicious. But our favorite is the kao soi, which comes with grilled river prawns and angel hair instead of rice noodles. Additionally, to make your dinner even more perfect, a course-by-course wine pairing option is available. Moreover, the colonial-style house with a lush green garden definitely serves as the perfect backdrop for your special Northern Thai dinner. If you’re looking for more privacy, you can book one of the two private balcony-view dining rooms.
Whether you want a taste of Thai flavors or an international gastronomic experience, we strongly suggest you try these new hot spots. For more dining hotspots, check out our article on the best outdoor restaurants in bangkok.
