A Wine Lover's Playbook to Bangkok

Hey guys!

I’ve spent the past week eating and drinking my way through Bangkok, and I’m genuinely blown away by the scene here. This might be one of the most impressive gastronomic cities I’ve ever visited, and I can’t believe it took me this long to see it for myself. From Michelin star restaurants to tiny street vendors and tucked-away wine bars, the options in the Thai capital feel endless. Here’s a full rundown 🇹🇭

The wine access in Thailand completely surprised me, in the best way. I had no idea how deeply Bangkok embraced natural wine, and even after a week, I feel like I barely scratched the surface. Here’s a quick summary:

Mod Kaew Wine Bar is such a beautifully designed space. It feels like you’re walking into the cantina in Star Wars. You’re greeted with the walls lined with an impressive collection of empty bottles as well. The selection is both deep and very affordable and we opened up some fantastic stuff when we went.

No Bar Wine Bar is a small but mighty spot with one of the best wine selections in the city. It’s exactly what you hope to find when you wander into a new place looking for a glass (or bottle) of wine. Grab a seat at the bar and strike up a conversation with another traveler; it’s the perfect place for that.

Verlan is part wine cave, part restaurant, all set inside a gorgeous mid-century modern building. The wine list features bottles you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the world. I only stopped in for drinks and honestly I regret not staying for dinner, the menu looked incredible.

Other Spots to Save: Chenin BKK, Swirl, Vinyl & Wine, Salon Kiku, Wine Climats

The fine dining scene in Bangkok is among some of the best in the world and we we’re fortunate enough to try a few while in town. Here’s the highlights:

Gaggan is Bangkok’s most famous restaurant, built around a 14-seat chef’s counter and a 25-course menu that feels closer to interactive theatre than traditional fine dining. Led by Kolkata-born chef Gaggan Anand, the experience mixes progressive Indian cooking with global influences and a high-energy style. The team walks you through each dish, blasts music, and engages directly with the guests, it’s truly unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The wine program, curated by Vladimir Kojic, leans into natural wines and sakes that pair seamlessly with the progression of the meal. It was the highlight of the trip for me.

Sühring left me speechless. The newly-awarded three Michelin star restaurant in Bangkok celebrates German cooking at the highest level, with twin brothers Matthias and Thomas bringing an extraordinary precision to every dish and detail. We went for lunch and saw firsthand what true 3 star execution looks like. It was a real privilege to dine here.

Potong is a Thai-Chinese fine dining restaurant led by chef Pichaya “Pam” Soontornyanakij, set inside her family’s former Chinese pharmacy, an old four-story Sino-Portuguese building thoughtfully renovated to house the entire experience under one roof. The tasting menu is progressive, rooted in Chinese ingredients and intentional storytelling. There’s an excellent bar on the ground floor, the kitchen on the second, the main dining room on the third, and a covered rooftop at the very top. The building and its history are every bit as captivating as the food and wine.

Other Spots to Save: Nusara, Ms. Maria / Mr. Singh, Le Du, Charmkrung, E-San

Outside of the ranked restaurants, Bangkok has one of the most vibrant street food scenes in the world. Some of these spots are so good they’ve even earned Michelin recognition. Here’s a few to check out:

This was the first thing I ate after an 18-hour trek to Bangkok, and it absolutely hit the spot. In my quick research before arriving, I learned that even some of the city’s street food is Michelin-rated, and this spot kept popping up at the top. Supinya Junsuta runs the place, famously cooking over open flames in her signature black ski goggles. We ordered the crab omelette and the prawns in yellow curry, both were phenomenal.

We came here on a recommendation from Gaggan himself, it’s his go-to spot for noodles in the city. It’s everything you picture when you think of Bangkok street dining: a tiny hole-in-the-wall, a cart out front, one incredible broth, and you just pick your noodles. I’d come back every day if I could.

You’ll find mango sticky rice all over Bangkok, it’s one of the city’s signature desserts, but this one was on another level. The dish is as simple as it gets: sliced mango, warm sticky rice, and a drizzle of coconut syrup. The mango here was so ripe it practically melted in your mouth, and the rice was perfectly firm and lightly sweet. It quickly became one of those things I craved every day.

Other Spots to Save: Nhong Rim Klong, Thipsamai Pad Thai, Wattana Panich, Bamee Kon Sae Lee, Khao Gaeng Jek Pui, Thong Smith, Rung Rueang Pork Noodles

December’s wines are heading out soon! We’re really excited about this month’s theme and hope you enjoy the selections. If you have any questions or run into any issues, feel free to reach out to [email protected] and they’ll help you out.

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That’s it for this week! I truly can’t recommend this city enough, Bangkok is a special place and deserves a spot at the very top of your list. Huge thank you to everyone who made the week so memorable.

Stay tuned for more Bangkok content! Until then thanks so much for reading and, as always, drink responsibly 🇹🇭🥂