Bangkok: Thai Traditional Dancing
 

Looking for recommendations for a restaurant that might have nice Thai music and Thai traditional dancing. Prefer it not be a tourist bus kinda place. Maybe something small.
Being in the Sukhumvit area would be a plus.

The Oriental Hotel's Thai restaurant, Sala Rim Naam has a very good dance/dinner show. Very intimate. Make your reservation early for good seats. Might be what you are looking for.

I think Carol said Kinnaree does that too. Supatra by the river (which is a great setting) has dancing on Friday and Saturdays and nice food

Kinnaree has Thai music, but I don't recall any dancing. Not enough room in the restaurant for that sort of thing...?

It seems that Vientien (sp) Kitchen, a hut sort of place, had music/dance. But we went there years ago and I don't recall the location. Seems like Sukhumvit. I know it wasn't along the river.

Carol

Vientiane Kitchen... I just looked up a review on TA. According to the patron, the once-softly played Thai music with dance was pleasant and one could talk while listening and watching. Now, a couple of years later, there is a raised stage, more room for Thai music/dance, but the sound has been amplified. Not as pleasant as before.

Too bad...

Thanks for the feedback.

I went to the Vientiane Kitchen once. It was okay, but its open air and too hot except for the winter season. Not sure I'd go back.

Sala Rim Naam and Supatra Restaurants both look great and something I'd like to do. Which one would you do first?

I have done both. Sala rim naam is very touristy BUT the food was good. Supatra has KILLER views and if staying on the river and you book in advance they will send their boat to pick you up and take you back.
Depends what the main criteria is, Food, View or dancing? (can you do both??)

"Depends what the main criteria is, Food, View or dancing? (can you do both??)"

Hey, I want to have it all, in spades! :)

If I had to rank order- First: view, Second: food, Third: dancing

Then i would go to Supatra as the views of the grand palace lit up and wat arun are lovely (be sure to book a terrace table)
Can you do both restuarants? (although if you go to Supatra i am pretty sure they do Thai dancing at the weekends so you get it all). Salam Rim Naam is lovely but the dancing is quite long (the actual Sala itself is lovely though and of course its from the people of the Oriental so the food is very good.) but i wouldn't say its a MUST see place. I enjoyed it but i know others think it goes on a bit.

Unless you are staying at the "O" you probably won't get a great seat at Sala Rim Naam as we did on our first trip to Thailand.

Pre-booking is the key....I think for the Oriental. Hotel guest or not...you will get good seating if you book in advance.
Don't have personal experience of Supatra, so can't comment on that.
Sala rim naam very touristy.......I think not. Can't believe that anyone who has experienced this evening, making such a comment....just isn't so.....sorry to say Smeagol.
On the other hand, I have not experienced Supatra.........YET.
It's on my list for next visit.

Not sure what you mean Leigh? that it's not touristy?? I thought it was, but i still enjoyed it. I know serveral other people who thought it wasn't for them so it clearly divides opinion.
Oh Craig i booked via the O (we were staying there) and did indeed get a fantastic seat.

Thanks for the additional feedback.

Smeagol, I apologise. My reply was somewhat ambiguous. Yes, the show is touristy in that it's not a 'locals' type of experience, nevertheless, an excellent show.
What I meant was that it is not, to quote the OP's question,
''a tourist bus kinda place''.
At least, not in my experience.

Oh totally agree its really NOT a tourist bus kind of place, its touristy in a more upmarket way.... Food was good i remember.

Nobody mentioned prices. What would be the difference in prices between Supatra and the Oriental? Do you order from a menue, buffet or what? Is Supatra like a supper club?

We enjoyed Sala Thip Restaurant in the Shangri La Hotel. Nice riverside restaurant with great food and Siam dancers. I think the menu changes seasonally.

Aloha!

The oriental is a set menu. Supatra is a regular restaurant with Thai dancing on Fri and Sat (I didnt see the thai dancing at Supatra as it was another night we were there AND i suggest you check they still do this) The Oriental Sala rimm naam is more of a "show" can't remember the price but its likely to be on their website. Food at both was good. As i said before Supatra has KILLER night views of the Grand Palace and Wat Arun.

http://www.at-bangkok.com/restaurant...iver_house.php

try the above link )hopefully it will work) has some good photos and descriptions. A terrace table is a MUST