Even with great company, gorgeous decor and flawless service, a bird's-eye view of the city never hurts on a romantic dinner, except maybe your wallet. Whether you fancy a hearty, satisfying burger or an elaborate molecular tasting menu with a panorama on the side, here are 12 of the best restaurants in Bangkok with a sweeping view, listed in no particular order.
Scarlett
There's no need to fly to Paris to satisfy a craving for the celebrated fare of Le Relais Louis XIII when you can simply head to Silom Road. The menu at Scarlett, a wine bar and restaurant inside the freshly rebranded Pullman Bangkok Hotel G, takes its cue from the two-Michelin-star institution and features longtime favourites from chef Manuel Martinez that are still served at his Paris restaurant today.
Scarlett's menu runs the full length of pan-European comfort food, including a generous spread of imported cheeses and cold cuts, pastas, seafood and meat dishes, plus daily specials. Living up to its "wine bar" billing, the list runs to more than 160 labels, 10 of them available by the glass (rotated weekly) should you decide on a low-key evening.
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Sirocco
The prices on Sirocco's menu reflect its exclusive vantage point 247 metres above the pavement. The Mediterranean kitchen is rounded out by drinks from the famous Sky Bar, which shot to fame thanks to the film "The Hangover Part II: From Vegas to Bangkok." If you're keen to lighten your wallet even further, the restaurant also serves caviar, including Almas, the most expensive beluga caviar in the world.
It's best to book dinner no later than 7:30pm, as the live jazz band with a daily soulful singer (Mondays excepted) truly makes the arrival unforgettable, especially for first-timers. A strict dress code is enforced, and turning up tipsy might not be the wisest idea given the narrow stairs leading down from the 64th-floor terrace.
Park Society
Set inside So Sofitel Bangkok, billed as the capital's first true urban design hotel, Park Society carries the theme through with whimsical mirrored walls and intimately lit interiors. But the real visual draw reveals itself through the floor-to-ceiling windows: a battalion of high-rises held in check by the lush expanse of Lumpini Park.
The menu clearly leans into French gastronomy. Dishes change daily depending on the day's harvest. Call your wishes at the chef's table or let chef Paul Smart take the lead with a monthly tasting menu. If you really want to make an impression, you can splurge on a pre-dinner aperitif in the private cabanas, dubbed "Hi-So" after the Thai term for high society, one floor up.
Above Eleven
Serving Peruvian-Japanese cuisine, Above Eleven, perched on the 33rd floor of Frasier Suites Sukhumvit, overlooks the nightlife hotspot of Sukhumvit Soi 11. Filled with artificial turf and wooden furniture, the restaurant sets out to give guests the feel of New York's Central Park. It may be a bit of a stretch, but Above Eleven is certainly more laid-back than most of the city's high-rise venues, and far more affordable.
The menu is a blend of Peru's most iconic dishes, such as ceviche, and plates that highlight the Japanese influence on the South American country's cooking, with various sushi, sashimi and tempura carrying Peruvian notes, known in Peru as "Nikkei cuisine." Nice touches include comfortable sofas and a men's restroom that lets patrons soak up the fantastic city view during their visit.
D'Sens
D'Sens is the only restaurant on this list open for both lunch and dinner. Set on the top floor of the Dusit Thani hotel, the menu is the culinary brainchild of the hotel's own chef Christian Ham and the Michelin-starred twins Jacques and Laurent Pourcel of Le Jardin des Sens.
All seating is indoors, but the slanted walls mean the large windows are perfectly placed to frame a well-composed snapshot of the city skyline with Lumpini Park in the foreground. For intimate moments, book a curtained alcove. For the view, reserve ahead and ask for a window table or the private dining room for 10.
L'Appart
In contrast to the hotel's striking exterior with its geometric Art Deco patterns, the interconnected spaces at L'Appart have an organic flow. Eclectic artwork and photographs fill the walls, the shelves are lined with real cookbooks, and there's even a faux fireplace to complete the homey atmosphere, which stays refined without feeling contrived.
The short menu is made up of chef Jeremy Tourret's ever-changing "market inspirations," a handful of French classics and a selection of tapas to share. The seating is spread out, so you can set up your dinner in the library corner or beside the open kitchen, in a cosy lounge, on a wraparound balcony or in the more formal dining room.
Long Table
Set on the 25th floor of an office tower/serviced-apartment block, Long Table is one of two venues on this list flying the flag for non-hotel restaurants with a high-rise view. The brainchild of the whimsical minds behind Bed Supperclub, Long Table bears the design signatures of its creators: unique interiors that include the namesake 25-metre-long table and cleverly placed LED installations.
The kitchen turns out Thai fusion that can be hit or miss, but their creative cocktails are all solid hits, and word has it they're currently revamping the menu. Prices lean towards the high end, putting them on par with hotel offerings. Guests can take advantage of food and drink promotions between 5pm and 7:30pm and watch the sun set over Sukhumvit Road, but book two to three days ahead if you want a spot on the terrace at the weekend.
Zense
Zense was reimagined by renowned Thai architect Amata Luphaibun, and the multi-level floor plan splits the vast space into distinct dining nooks, from raised seating on a large platform halfway up the internal staircase to a terrace table overlooking the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. Wherever you choose to settle in, it's worth stopping by the rooftop bar on the terrace to take in the skyline before you get down to business.
For diners who love a menu that goes page after page, Zense offers five kitchens from some of the capital's already-famous names: Thai from White Cafe, Italian from Gianni Ristorante, Japanese from Kikusui, Indian from Red and modern European from To Die For. Zense's own pastry team serves up the sweet treats.
The Speakeasy
Harking back to the roaring 20s almost a century later, The Speakeasy has plush dark decor, a "secret" scotch-and-cigar lounge, a newspaper-style menu and swinging jazz tunes. The 15-page drinks menu lets guests imbibe as if there's no tomorrow, while patrons not on a liquid diet can choose from a modest food list that leans more towards nibbles, with a few meat and fish dishes providing enough sustenance.
For a back-to-basics fix, the selection of gourmet sliders (think Wagyu beef with truffle oil, lamb with mint, teriyaki salmon with wasabi mayo) proves that burgers and beer really do live happily ever after together. The 24th-floor terrace drops you right into the cityscape of Langsuan and Ratchadamri, and for a less vertiginous experience, head through the secret sliding doors to the rooftop lawn on the 25th floor or one of three dining domes for some hushed intrigue.
Elements
Elements drew its inspiration from the two-Michelin-star Ciel Bleu at the sister Okura hotel in Amsterdam, applying the same modern cooking style to conjure an alchemy of textures, flavours and temperatures, sometimes with unexpected combinations. Elements has an open terrace that shares the same cantilevered platform as the swimming pool, 25 storeys up, though for some the view of the gastronomy lab at the chef's table may be more captivating.
Saffron
Sitting in the famous shadow of the rooftop Vertigo restaurant at Banyan Tree, the hotel group's signature Saffron quietly offers wide panoramas from its 51st-52nd floor to the view-hunters in the know. The restaurant serves authentic Thai fare, with an a la carte that includes classic appetisers, Thai "yum" salads, soups and curries, plus handy set menus for guests who want to try a bit of everything.
The floor-to-ceiling windows keep the air-conditioning in, which is welcome for cooling the heat of the spices, while giving an unobstructed view of the Chao Phraya River and the city skyline. The adjacent Latitude Lounge & Bar on the lower floor serves up a view just as good as the Moon Bar (can you really tell the difference between the view from the 51st or the 61st floor?) with far fewer camera-toting tourists.
RR&B
At 25 years old, The Landmark may not be the sexiest hotel around, but its 31st-floor Rib Room & Bar serves serious meat alongside the surrounding city skyline. Hardcore carnivore calling cards include a 1.5-kilogram Tomahawk rib on the bone for two, Wagyu beef short ribs and Australian beef grain-fed for 400 days. Even so, the "Millionaire's Salad" (with Maine lobster, seared foie gras, salmon roe and 25-year-old balsamic dressing) gives the meat a shameless run for its money.
Also on offer are spit-roasted chicken, Maine lobster, lamb and other meat and seafood dishes, along with two vegetarian options that look terribly lonely on the menu. The extensive wine list leans heavily towards red; the sommelier is always on hand to walk you through the private wine collection to accompany your meat feast.
