Sitting down for a meal is cultural currency in Thailand: for a next-level dining experience, these are Thailand’s best restaurants with second-to-none vistas.
Thailand is heralded for its mind-bending flavours – from a warming bowl of Khao Soi in a nest of creamy noodles to bubbling Tom Yum Goong – but not many restaurants boast the view as one of their main attractions.
Whether you prefer to dine overlooking sweeping ocean views, cliffside jungles or sparkling cityscapes, there’s a restaurant for every taste with a view to make your jaw drop, if you know where to look, that is. We’ve done the hard work for you, so now you just must secure the table.
Vertigo at Banyan Tree Bangkok
The name says it all. At a dizzying 61 stories high, the stunning Vertigo rooftop restaurant and Moon Bar guarantees the absolute best views Bangkok has to offer with 360-degree panoramas visible from every. single. seat. It’s recommended to book well in advance to secure a spot at this renowned restaurant hidden atop Banyan Tree Bangkok. Otherwise, chance missing the opportunity to sample spicy seafood linguine or order a concoction from the glass-clad Moon Bar, one of the world’s best of the best where the classic Vertigo Sunset – a melody of pineapple, cranberry and lime juices blended with just the right amount of Malibu – is made for sipping as the sun melts and Bangkok shimmers.
Where: Banyan Tree Bangkok Hotel, 21/100 South Sathorn Road, Sathorn, Bangkok
When: 5pm-12am | Moon Bar: 5pm-1am
Silhouette Bar by Reverie Siam
This adorable restaurant is located at the Reverie Siam resort and is definitely a sight and experience to behold. Inside, you’ll feel the vibes relaxing on vintage chairs and lounges, with aged wood, early 20th century trinkets and New Orlean’s-style jazz music setting the tone. The view from the huge windows, verandah or outside dining area is where the real magic is. The vistas of the lush, green gardens and nearby mountain peaks are phenomenal, reminiscent of a time when leisure was more than an afterthought to hard work. With offerings like Time Machine drip coffee and dessert sets filled with chocolate almond cakes and tangy mini lemon bars, you’ll be set to enjoy your very own reverie at Silhouette Bar.
Where: Reverie Siam Resort, 476 Moo 8, Vieng Tai Pai, Mae Hong Son
When: 7.30-10.30am | 12pm-10pm
Lobby Lounge at Sindhorn Kempinski Bangkok
If there’s one restaurant in Thailand where the interior is just as beautiful as the exterior, then the gorgeous Lobby Lounge at the Sindhorn Kempinski Bangkok is it. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a royal Thai palace, with a huge ornate vaulted ceiling, dark mahogany panelling, marble floors and an interior ornate gazebo full of draping ferns. While you dine on the signature afternoon high tea of scones, sandwiches and earl grey tea, your gaze will be drawn to the lush foliage and serene ponds of the discrete garden sanctuary just beyond, a ‘green corridor’ at the edge of Lumpini Park.
Where: Sindhorn Kempinski Bangkok, 80 Soi Ton Son, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok
When: 7am-10pm
Tunk Ka Café
Espresso tastes better at a high altitude, 42 metres above sea level in fact. Sipping a refreshing glass of pineapple juice or quenching Phuket beer from the raised deck offers quintessential 18-degree vistas from the city’s official viewpoint. Hidden on the edge of a hill and looking towards the iconic Big Budha, Tunk Ka Café was made for golden afternoons and traditional Thai fare, such as the spring rolls with a side of pickled salad. Be sure to try and secure a seat under the gable roof next to the railing or on the deck so you can take in the views while enjoying a reprieve from the sun – if you’re lucky, you might chance upon a coveted table with a dedicated fan.
Where: Khosimbi Road, Muang, Phuket
When: 11.30am-9.30pm weekdays | 11am-10.30pm weekends
360° Bar at The Pavilions Phuket
There’s almost no better combination: sunsets, cocktails and 360-degree vistas. It’s difficult to find a better venue for sundowners, especially when this fittingly named bar is perched in the hills about Bang Tao Beach at The Pavilions Phuket and hidden above a bamboo grange with comfortable loungers sprawled on the open-air and wooden decked terrace. Be sure to order your share of Pinxos tapas and sip a lychee bellini or white negroni with chartreuse green and martini bianco while the sun sets over the sparkling-blue Andaman Sea.
Where: The Pavilions Phuket, Layan Beach, 232/1 Moo 6 Cherngtalay, Phuket
When: 5.30-11.30pm
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