HOTELS
The Peninsula, Bangkok
What is the one thing that most people miss when visiting Bangkok, which they absolutely should not?
Two nearby restaurant recommendations with short descriptions:
Sirocco: Dramatic and exciting are words to describe this restaurant on the 63rd floor of the State Tower Building. Drink and dine here and you will be among the stars both literally and figuratively. Popular with the city's glitterati, it is a place to be seen. The cuisine is Mediterranean and well prepared; portions are large and surprisingly affordable. For those who only want to drink, the Sky Bar provides a view you will never forget. Still to come is a 20,000-bottle wine cellar. 63/F State Tower 1055 Silom Road Bangrak Tel: +66 (0) 2624 9555
Harmonique: Relaxing and welcoming restaurant. Tables are scattered throughout several converted houses decorated with antiques, and a quiet, leafy courtyard; the moderately priced Thai food is varied and excellent - among the seafood specialities, try the crab curry. 22 Soi 34 Thanon Charoen Krung (New Road) Tel: +66 (0) 2237 8175
Two unique/special boutiques in the area:
Cocoon: Passionate Wallpaper readers will love Cocoon, as really anyone with taste would. The design takes its inspiration from ancient Thai traditions all the way through to modern day. Beautiful and practical, the high end homewares, tablewares, candles, incense and other lifestyle products are unique yet simple enough to fit into most interior schemes. The collaboration between three friends (one expat, two Thais), Cocoon is the one shop I also stop into when looking for that perfect present for myself. The Peninsula Pier and Gaysorn Plaza 03-03/04 Tel: +66 (0) 2656 1006
Almeta Silk: Almeta has been wholesaling and exporting the highest quality, hand-woven Thai silk around the world for the past 11 years. It has refined the age-old Thai tradition of hand-weaving silk, relying exclusively on equipment made in Thailand. Almeta literally offers "silk a la carte", as customers can select from an existing range of more than 800 colours or choose any specific colour, as well as choice of yarn type and thickness, as well as whether the fabric should be plain, hand-pleated or even prepared to be machine-washable. There are over 30,000 kinds of silk to choose from. 20/3 Sukhumvit Soi 23 Tel: + 66 (0) 2258 422
Anna Cafe: This restaurant is the flagship of the Anna's Cafe chain of restaurants. The hallmarks of all Anna's outlets are imaginative and well-prepared Thai food, a small but excellent selection of Western dishes, reasonable prices and some of Bangkok's most popular desserts. The Saladaeng branch is bright, modern and always filled with people having a good time and enjoying the food. This is a great official and unofficial office gatherings. 118 Soi Saladaeng Tel: +66 (0) 2632 0620-1
Royal Barge National Museum: Thailand's ornately carved and decorated Royal barges are displayed in boatsheds on Khlong (Canal) Bangkok Noi, just off the Chao Phraya River near Phra Pin Klao Bridge on the Thon Buri side. The barges are used on royal occasions and formerly served as war vessels. 80/1 Rim Klong Bangkok-noi, Arunamarin, Bangkok-noi, Bangkok 10700 Tel: +66 (0) 2424 0004