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We've compiled the best of the best in Around Bangkok - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
This terrace restaurant, covered in classic Thai wood furniture, is nestled in a little garden overlooking the wooden bridge and the lake. You can order local fish dishes, Thai and Burmese specialties, as well as salads, sandwiches, and Western-style breakfasts.
For cheap eats, the market opens early in the evening, with dozens of vendors selling Thai soups, rice dishes, satays, and other delights. The blended frozen fruit drinks are particularly good. All sorts of electronics, clothing, and other goods are also for sale. On Saturday evenings, the street heading west from here to the river is pedestrian-only, and even more vendors line the road.
With a great view of the River Kwai Bridge from its terraces and lots of lush greenery, this floating restaurant has a sophisticated yet comfortable feel. It caters mostly to Thais, so the food can be quite spicy—if you can't handle it, ask the waiter to tone the heat down (say "mai phet").
This is a great option for tasty vegetarian and vegan specialties from the northeast of Thailand, including curries that pack a fiery kick. The eponymous owner also offers cooking classes and it's clear from the punchy dishes that she has plenty of wisdom to pass on. Desserts of mango or jackfruit with sticky rice provide a toothsome finale to any meal.
In a wooden house by the river, this family-run restaurant attached to Rabieng Guesthouse serves many classic Thai dishes and a few Western ones for very reasonable prices. It opens at 10 am but is one of just a few places in the area that stays open after sunset (until midnight daily).
Follow the crowds to this open-air floating restaurant in the shadow of the railway bridge, where the offering includes aromatic Thai favorites and seafood freshly caught in the Kwai Yai and Kwai Noi rivers. The chefs tone down the food considerably for foreigners, so if you want yours spicy, you’ll have to say so.
You'll find all the Thai classics at this typically lively night market, but what makes Sangkhlaburi's nightly open-air food fest different is the range of stalls selling interesting Karen, Mon, and Burmese dishes. Stroll around and see which direction your taste buds take you.
