The Sala, Hua Hin Hills Vineyard
Hua Hin Hills is the beach resorts first boutique winery, and The Sala is its signature restaurant. The Thai-inspired pavilion blends traditional Thai elements with contemporary designs for a very elegant bistro and wine bar as well as wine cellar, retail shop and meeting facilities. The wine bar provides the chance for visitors to sample different wines by the glass, while the bistro’s kitchen prepares and serves a gourmet inspired menu of Thai and international fare to match Siam Winery’s finest selections, all deliciously seasoned by the ocean air and views of nearly 100 acres of vineyards with distant mountains as a backdrop. (204 Moo 2, Baan Khork, Chang Patana, Nong Plup, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan Tel: +66 (0) 8 1701 8874 www.huahinhilssvineyard.com)
Agaligo, Bangkok
Agaligo is a small, comfortable café nestled into a quiet corner close to Thong Lor, a now bustling Bangkok neighborhood. The name, which comes from Pali, means infinity, or limitless time, and this does reflect the ambience. While the service is attentive, nothing is rushed. Soft classical music seems to set the cadence. If the weather is right, the attached garden can feel even more tranquil. In addition to the selection of fresh ground coffees and fragrant teas, Agaligo also serves a selection of delicious cakes and pastries that you need to give time to savor each bite. Agaligo is an ideal venue to spend a moment alone or with a close companion. (Boonjirathorn Building, Sukhumvit Soi 51, Sukhumvit Rd., Bangkok)
Vieng Joom On Teahouse, Chiang Mai
If you crave petit fours and mint cake at four, the Vieng Joom On Teahouse is where you have to go. When you first arrive, you pass through the teashop, but before you shop, take a seat at one of the Ping riverfront tables or in the cool comfort of the elegant, second-floor sitting room and slowly sip your freshly brewed tea in between small bites of the sandwiches and pastries. Once your hunger and thirst have been satisfied, browse the fragrant shop that stocks a wide collection of pots and filters in addition to as many as 50 blends of tea all dispensed in the teahouse’s specially designed paper bags and tins.
(53 Charoenraj Rd., Wat Gate, Chiang Mai 50000 Tel: +66 (0) 5330 3113 Fax: +66 (0) 5330 3114 www.VJOTeahouse.com)
Thai Sweets, Khao Wang, Petchaburi
Khao Wang is an historic palace built on a hilltop by King Mongkut, or Rama IV. Known in Thai as Phra Nakhon Khiri, it has an observatory as the king was a devout astronomer. Petchburi’s Khao Wang is probably as famous for its market down by the road, selling Khanom Mo Keang, a Thai sweet made of crushed steamed mung bean, egg, coconut milk and sugar, and Khao Kriap, a dry pastry prepared with coconut, sugar and sesame and then grilled over a charcoal fire. There are also delicious custards and cookies as well as caramelized fruit to delight those with a sweet tooth.
Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise
When night descends, the Chao Phraya lights up with a full range of dinner boats, from traditional teak barges to luxury yachts, cruising the river. Sumptuous buffets and elegant dinners are served on these craft as they pass the ancient temples and landmarks. Along the banks are also old wooden markets and houses interspersed with soaring skyscrapers and luxury hotels the show just how diverse and dynamic the Thai capital is. It all combines into a lesson in Thai history, culture and design, making a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya a feast for all the senses.
Dune & Pub Restaurant, Hua Hin
Not only is the food a delight, so is the seating. First, there’s the very hip and cozy indoor dining section. An outdoor terrace serves those who want to dine alfresco, and for a venue more intimate there’s rooftop lounge. Dune & Pub serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu is a fusion of savory Asian and Continental flavors. Recommended dishes include Parsley Crusted Snow Fish with Dijonaise Sauce and the Golden Sari Crispy Prawns. The Rooftop Lounge is also known for its assortment of exotic cocktails to be enjoyed either before your meal at sunset or after a fine meal when you want to watch the moon high overhead reflected in the tranquil sea. (5/5 Naebkhehars Road, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan Tel: +66 (0) 3251 5051 www.dunehuahin.com
Aleenta, Hua Hin-Pranburi
Aleenta can best be described as Mediterranean chic. Set right by the powder white beach, the romantic Pool Suites, thatched-roof, single bedroom bungalows with plunge pools, Jacuzzi and a private veranda, open right out to the sea. High above, enjoying a commanding view of the coastline and majestic Three Hundred Peaks National Park is the resort’s gem, The Penthouse, featuring every creature comfort, including a stone tub for two. But the lure doesn’t end here; not when there’s a smorgasbord of world class dining matched with an incredible selection of fine wines. (183 Moo 4, Pak Nam Pran, Pranburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77230 Tel: +66 (0) 2514 8112 http://www.aleenta.com
Primo Posto del Khao Yai
If you want to visit a mountain villa serving Italian cuisine and don’t have the time for a quick flight to Rome, then Primo Posto del Khao Yai is a terrific alternative. It’s an easy two-hour drive into the dense mountain range north of Bangkok. Here, nestled along Phankhuk-Kutkhla Road, the turn off for Khao Yai from Friendship Highway, you come to a small cluster of Italian-style buildings painted in earthy yellows and oranges. The cuisine is authentic Italian and there is also a café and ice cream parlor for those who don’t want to sit down to a full-course meal. The only way to describe Primo Posto would be, “bella e delizioso.” (Tel: +66 (0) 8 4035 8554, www.primo-posto.net)
Waroros Market, Chiang Mai
While virtually every visitor to Chiang Mai has heard about Chiang Mai’s Night Bazaar, not so many know anything about Chiang Mai’s oldest shopping arcade, Waroros Market. This is where the locals go, and it is a sight to behold. The maze of stalls leads you to every product imaginable. It runs from the Ping riverfront back towards the old city’s moat. Some say it’s overwhelming, even disorientating, but the sights, scents and flavors are something to behold. Of particular note are the many fresh cut flowers and selection of local silk and cotton fabrics. You will also find a whole menu of noodle stalls downstairs, and rice dishes on the second floor. (Corner of Chang Moi and Wichayanon roads, Kad Luang, Chiang Mai City)
