The best Bangkok dinner cruise?
Aug 24th, 2004, 05:04 PM
#1
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The best Bangkok dinner cruise?
I hope someone can give me advice on which dinner cruise in Bangkok is the best. The Loy Nava? Manohra? or Oriental? I'll only have two days in Bangkok and don't want to waste any time. Thanks.
Aug 25th, 2004, 03:15 PM
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I guess what I really want is the best dinner plus traditional dance combo offered. I will only have two days in Bangkok and prefer dinner to be something special. Good food, but more than that, an excellent "Thai" experience. The traditional dance is by far the most interesting nighttime entertainment I can think of. I thought the dinner cruises would provide that but I guess I am wrong?
Aug 25th, 2004, 06:07 PM
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everyone is different...i have just heard many times that the food is just average, although some will disagree with this...
the sala rim restaurant owned by the oriental hotel has a decent dinner with a dance performance each evening if that is what you desire...my wife liked the food, i thought it was only ok..the dance was good but too long....
i would go to the thalaythip restaurant at the peninsula hotel if i wanted a really nice experience and excellent food--all thai...reservations necessary and only on dry nites...
i would go to biscotti restaurant in the four seasons hotel if i wanted a nice italian dinner in a pleasant atmosphere...
another great thai place is baan khanitha on soi 23, sukhumvit rd...only thai in lovely old house...reservations necessary...
the italian restaurant in the shangri-la hotel is excellent as well and has music and a lovely view onto the hotel gardens, pool and the river...
in the same hotel the thai restuarant is very nice as well out along the river...
lord jim at the oriental and their premier restaurant la normandie are also excellent, both overlook the river...
all of these places require a reservation....a day or two in advance would be adequate...
the sala rim restaurant owned by the oriental hotel has a decent dinner with a dance performance each evening if that is what you desire...my wife liked the food, i thought it was only ok..the dance was good but too long....
i would go to the thalaythip restaurant at the peninsula hotel if i wanted a really nice experience and excellent food--all thai...reservations necessary and only on dry nites...
i would go to biscotti restaurant in the four seasons hotel if i wanted a nice italian dinner in a pleasant atmosphere...
another great thai place is baan khanitha on soi 23, sukhumvit rd...only thai in lovely old house...reservations necessary...
the italian restaurant in the shangri-la hotel is excellent as well and has music and a lovely view onto the hotel gardens, pool and the river...
in the same hotel the thai restuarant is very nice as well out along the river...
lord jim at the oriental and their premier restaurant la normandie are also excellent, both overlook the river...
all of these places require a reservation....a day or two in advance would be adequate...
Aug 26th, 2004, 07:41 AM
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With only two nights in Bangkok, I'd like a great Thai dinner, Thai traditional dancing, and I'd like to combine it all on a cruise. Is that even possible? From what I've read, it looks like I can either do the dinner cruise without dancing or the dinner Thai dancing without the cruise. Whatever the case, I'd like the best food, best performance, and best ambience. Forget the Italian or other food - I can get that anywhere. I may have to do as you suggest - the river during the day and a restaurant at night to get the Thai dance performance. In that case, what is the best restaurant/traditional Thai dance venue? I've read about the Sala Rim and it sounds nice -has anyone else been there? Any other suggestions? Thanks for all advice.
Aug 26th, 2004, 08:07 AM
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I've been to Sala Rim Nam. The dancing was more memorable than the meal, although the meal wasn't bad. We got great photos of the dancers. I did not think the dancing was too long - it lasts about an hour. You do get to "cruise" on the river, at least for a little while - you take a boat over and back from the Oriental.
Aug 26th, 2004, 10:00 AM
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Dot and Craig, I feel so stupid - DUH! I suppose the sunset cruise would be lovely, followed by the Sala Rim dinner (I don't think an hour of dancing is too long at all) - I'm wondering if the longtail boats rent out after sunset? I'd like to see the lights of the city along the river one way or the other and I notice that many water taxis or busses stop running early. I'll check out the schedules more thoroughly but I'm sure it's possible to do it all. Thanks for the advice.
Aug 26th, 2004, 11:37 AM
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The Sala Rim is on the river so you'll see the lights. The dinner and show is inside but it's perfectly easy to go outside and have a drink and see the lights and nightlife of the river -- barges, boats etc. I do it all the time at the Oriental and it's a wonderful way to spend a hour or so.
The Sala Rim is lovely and the peformance is excellent if you like thai dancing. The food inside at night is not as good as it is either outside or at lunch.
The Sala Rim is lovely and the peformance is excellent if you like thai dancing. The food inside at night is not as good as it is either outside or at lunch.
Aug 26th, 2004, 06:48 PM
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just to clarify...i thought the dance was too long becase i hated it...i do not like dance...it was my way of being objective...
i found the food sparce and only mediocre in comparison with say the thai restaurant at the peninsula, whcih was a great combo of thai tastes...
you probably could hire a long tail boat for a 1 hour trip up and down the river...quite honestly, aren;t you staying at the penn??, the view from your room will be lovely and you will be able to see up, down or both ways depending on where your room is...ask for a room up high...better view...
i found the food sparce and only mediocre in comparison with say the thai restaurant at the peninsula, whcih was a great combo of thai tastes...
you probably could hire a long tail boat for a 1 hour trip up and down the river...quite honestly, aren;t you staying at the penn??, the view from your room will be lovely and you will be able to see up, down or both ways depending on where your room is...ask for a room up high...better view...
Aug 27th, 2004, 06:30 AM
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The food for the dance performance in the Sala Rim caters to group tours and is not in any way great thai food. It's very mediocre. They do, however, serve wonderful Thai food either outside (no dancing and an ala carte menu or inside during lunch when they have a terrific buffet.
Aug 27th, 2004, 07:27 AM
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I appreciate all the responses to my question. I love this forum because guide books always let me down, but the first hand, usually up-to-date advice of fodorites is the best. Actually, I'm staying at the Holiday Inn Silom - close to the river but no view. Either the sunset cruise or other river transport will do just fine for the evening. That's taken care of.
The dance and dinner is another matter. I will do further investigation but I am determined to take in a traditional Thai dance performance. If the best is at Sala Rim, then I'll do that and suffer the mediocre food. There are so many great restaurants in Bangkok, I'm sure I'll manage some great food experiences. If anyone has a better suggestion for dinner/dance, I'd love to hear about it.
Again, thanks so much.
The dance and dinner is another matter. I will do further investigation but I am determined to take in a traditional Thai dance performance. If the best is at Sala Rim, then I'll do that and suffer the mediocre food. There are so many great restaurants in Bangkok, I'm sure I'll manage some great food experiences. If anyone has a better suggestion for dinner/dance, I'd love to hear about it.
Again, thanks so much.
