Baannai, Bangkok

Very creative! Very elegant! Very delicious! All you can find in one Thai home kitchen! It’s a very well designed elegance restaurant included hotel accommodation in the same building. It gives you a feeling of home dining with traditional Thai cuisine created by the owner of the hotel inherited from her family. Each dish tells you the story! The setting, menu and all the utensils are perfectly matched with the design of the hotel. Indeed a dining experience gives you more than what you taste! A hidden gem you can’t miss when you are in Bangkok!

After hearing Baannai’s reputation from my local friends and reading the excellent reviews on Michelin’s guide, we decided to meet up for lunch on my latest trip. We had such a fantastic time that had to go back for a second meal before leaving Thailand. The house was also gorgeous!! I really wished I could stay there too, but we had to head to Northern Thailand that day. Our food was exquisite, beautifully presented, and best of all, delicious! We loved the grand old-day Thai food that we could hardly see elsewhere. They offered plenty of healthier and lighter dishes. I especially loved the fresh watermelon with dried fish flakes and the edible flower/veggie dish, even as a meat-lover like myself. The staff was sweet, helpful, and attentive. We also got to meet the owners who gave us the backstory of the food and the house. What a wonderful and touching story! Don’t forget to ask them about the history of the house. We will definitely stay here on our next trip. If you’re looking for a peaceful stay in Bangkok, I highly recommend you to stay at Baannai or at least check out their restaurant. Since there are only 3-4 rooms in the house, I think it’s perfect for a couple or a solo traveler. I love that it locates in a calm and quaint area outside of the hectic touristy spots. It’s right next to the Samsen train station, and about 5-10 min taxi ride from BTS (Soi Ari Station) and Chatuchak market. Plenty of taxis and tuktuk to flag down. Tip: There’s no Uber or Lyft in Thailand. Instead, download the app called “Grab” AND set up your account before your trip (Grab will text you a code to your cellphone to finalize the setup. Make sure you have access to your text.)

Yummy traditional Thai food. Some menu are really rare items. Desserts are soso. Beautiful decoration and architecture. Private area is available for up to group of 8.

This restaurant is located in an ex colonial house all renovated. The place is charming and welcoming. Food is really good and you can find very special recepies difficult to find somewhere else. The only thing is...do not arrive to late!The kitchen closes at 21.30 and they will hurry you up if you are late.

Local colleagues took us to lunch in this uniquely wonderful place, which they described as "traditional" and we were just blown away - the house, the decor, the dishes, the vibe and most of all - the glorious food! This is the best restaurant I ate in while in Thailand and I'm sure it would be hailed if it was located in any major city around the world. It's a small place, just a few tables (and 4 hotel rooms above), in a quiet neighborhood. The owner greeted us and provided information regarding the different dishes. This was a true delight: everything was wonderful, from the complicated appetizers through the main courses all the way to desert. Every plate was beautifully decorated. I was specially amazed by the flowers salad - WOW, yet very bite was a true pleasure. I'm definitely coming back!