Guru by Bangkok Post's pick of the most exciting products, activities, food and travel to indulge in.
EAT
Kobayashi Dog / Nan Tei Yakitori
Nan Tei Yakitori on Surawong Road is spicing up late-night snacking with the "Kobayashi Dog”. A Japanese-style hot dog, it features tsukune (flourless minced chicken with tare sauce), that adds a Japanese twist to the familiar concept of hot dogs. The signature hot dog is named after the legendary Kobayashi-san, a six-time hot dog eating world champion. The concept behind the Kobayashi Dog is to blend the joy of late-night junk food with an Asian touch, adding a unique flavour to the familiar Western street food. Served from 9om to midnight, the hot dog is priced at less than B200. Nan Tei’s late night snacks feature: Classic hot dog, German style hot dog, Cheese hot dog, Korean style hot dog, Tsukune burger, and Chicken/pork katsu burger. The "Sip and Socialize" campaign from 5-7pm offers three glasses of preferred alcohol, accompanied by a special offer on snacks.
Festive afternoon tea / The St. Regis Bangkok / Until Jan 31
The Festive Afternoon Tea highlightes childhood classic culinary treats infused with holiday cheer at The St. Regis Bar and The Drawing Room. The savoury selection features Duck breast, accentuated with all spice and quail egg. Coronation turkey is elevated with a touch of nutmeg and aubergine, served alongside Alaskan king crab, subtly blended with cardamom and topped with salmon roe. The King oyster mushroom presents vegetarian bites paired with star anise and truffle brie, while the sumptuous Foie gras is complemented with the classic holiday flavours of cinnamon and fig. The dessert menu features Golden cardamom-coconut macarons, Star anise-orange-apple tartlettes, Bourbon-cinnamon-cherry bavaroise, Vanilla glazed-chocolate-nutmeg Christmas bauble, a Strawberry-clove-pistachio choux and Candied orange-all spice-raisin scones, with a choice of freshly brewed tea or coffee.
Buffet extravaganza / Ventisi, Centara Grand at CentralWorld / Dec 24-25
Ventisi Restaurant at the Centara Grand at CentralWorld will host a festive feast on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Indulge in a luxurious buffet that artfully presents Italian and Thai cuisine, featuring live cooking stations and an extensive array of international dishes with a festive twist. The buffet has an impressive seafood display, including river prawns, slipper lobsters, mussels, prawns, and oysters, complemented by an assortment of sushi and sashimi. Begin your culinary journey with a variety of appetisers, fresh salads, artisanal bread, and heart-warming soups. Savour the flavours of Thai favourites and Italian classics alongside festive Christmas specialities such as honey-glazed ham, Brussel sprouts with mashed potatoes, Christmas turkey, and prime rib. The celebration continues with an array of pastries, desserts, and a fine selection of international cheeses, all included for one festive price.
First Christmas / Innside by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit
The new Innside by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit will celebrate its first festive season with delectable Spanish menus, buffet feasts and a sky-high countdown party, all accompanied with sweeping views of Bangkok’s skyline and a distinct Ibiza vibe. The hotel’s festive programme’s dress code is "Ibiza glam"; think flowing white dresses, shirts and pants, with a touch of glitter and gold. Commanding the hotel’s uppermost floors, Luz Bangkok Tapas Bar will take diners on a culinary journey of Spain with set menus crafted by chef Laia Ferrer from 6-10pm on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan 1. After 10pm on each night, an after-party with live music and a DJ spinning tunes will continue until late. By night the hotel’s Giang Swing Pool Bar will evoke an Ibiza mood, becoming an upper-floor extension of the bar. All-day dining restaurant The Kites Eatery will serve, under the stewardship of executive chef Katisak Pinkaew, a buffet dinner on Christmas Eve from 6-10pm and New Year’s Eve buffet from 6-11pm, as well as buffet brunches from 12-3pm on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The buffets will brim with all sorts of delights including seafood on ice, salads, cheeses, a Japanese corner with assorted sashimi, BBQ seafood, soup, noodles, a carving station with roast turkey, an array of main courses, desserts and more. Revellers will farewell 2023 and count down the new year at the Giant Swing Bar for a night of rooftop fun and music from live DJs from 6pm on Dec 31 until 1am on Jan 1.
Festive celebrations / Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit / Dec 24-25, Dec 31, Jan 1
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit will host “The Grande Festive Celebrations” – a series of spectacular dining experiences for Christmas and New Year, including live performances, dazzling décor and exclusive occasions. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Orchid Café will offer festive seafood buffet lunches and dinners. These feasts will showcase a wide range of international dishes, including seafood on ice, freshly shucked oysters, hand-cut sushi and sashimi, homemade pasta, Indian delights, grilled meats & seafood, roasted Christmas turkey, honey-glazed ham and much more, accompanied by plenty of sweet treats, optional beverage packages and a visit from Santa Claus. Rossini’s will stage a Christmas Brunch on Dec 24-25. A lively New Year’s Eve Brunch at Rossini’s and The Living Room will showcase an array of international delicacies, from fresh seafood to traditional carved meats, divine desserts and much more. Orchid Café will stage an uplifting New Year’s Eve Seafood Buffet. After dinner, revellers can count down to the end of the year in style with a choice of New Year’s Eve Countdown Parties! The Living Room and The Library will be inviting guests to a cosmopolitan evening of live jazz music, cool drinks and à la carte bites, while partygoers seeking an upbeat evening can head to BarSu. A relaxing New Year’s Brunch at Rossini’s and The Living Room will include a live jazz performance.
Festive afternoon tea / The Peninsula Bangkok / Until Dec 30
Indulge in new delights and classic treats at the Lobby restaurant, celebrating winter holidays in refined style. The Festive Afternoon Tea, curated by executive pastry chef David Guimaraes, offers fresh-baked scones with clotted cream, refined savoury preparations such as foie gras terrine with pistachio and apple chutney; a winter vegetable tart with roasted pumpkin and pickled beetroot; and steamed egg custard with snow crab meat and edible flowers. The sweet offerings, however, are truly sumptuous — and include exquisite, shaped pastries like a cinnamon-orange snowflake macaron, a chestnut and meringue sleigh bell Mont Blanc, and a Black Forest chocolate reindeer choux. Additional selections available from a dessert trolley include Christmas cookies, panettone and house-made gingerbread ice cream. A portion of the proceeds from each Festive Afternoon Tea sale is donated to The Mirror Foundation, supporting indigenous hill tribes in northern Thailand. There is also a plant-based tea offered.
Festive afternoon tea / Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok / Until Jan 5
The special tea is served in the timeless elegance of The Authors' Lounge and comes with a promise of the holiday spirit. It features 13 artisanal pastries, Danish and savoury items, all inspired by the festive season. Highlights include a Canadian lobster arranged to resemble a Christmas wreath, Chaource cheese with grape and Champagne chutney shaped like a red snowball, foie gras with roasted apple speculoos in the form of a star ornament, mandarin and dulcey chocolate shaped like a gingerbread man, a chestnut and blackcurrant mont blanc cake fashioned to mimic Santa Claus’s jolly belly, and a slice of our house-baked Panettone. Served daily from noon to 6pm.
New Opening / Ventisi Pasticceria
Ventisi Pasticceria is the latest addition to the F&B offerings at Centara Grand at CentralWorld. Ventisi Pasticceria serves a sweet slice of Italy in the city's heart. At the new pastry and cake shop, those with a sweet tooth can indulge in an array of authentic Italian desserts and sweets, crafted by pastry chef Francesco Mino, in an inviting atmosphere alongside stunning city views from the 24 floor. The 30-seat shop is where you can sip a Pascucci coffee and enjoy 'la dolce vita (sweet life)' with the likes of Italian and Christmas pastries, creamy gelatos and milkshakes. Chef Mino will take you on a journey as his sweet creations pay homage to different parts of Italy, starting with Tartufo from Pizzo, Mimosa cake from Rieti, Montenegro cake to Sicilian ricotta-filled cannoli. Ventisi Pasticceria opens from 6.30am-10.30pm.
JOIN
Renew everything / The Secret Garden Spa, Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui
The spa’s reimagined experiences promote balance in consciousness and the inherent natural element, through the traditional Thai concept of “Tard Chao Ruan”. The Secret Garden Spa at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui serves as a retreat for body and being. Find transformative effects of ancient Thai healing traditions, coalesced in modern techniques at The Secret Garden Spa.
Chef in residence / Sri Sala Private Thai Villa / Dec 17-18
Chef Christopher Kostow from Napa Valley, California, takes residence at Siri Sala Private Thai Villa to welcome 30 guests per night on Dec 17-18. Showcasing his trademark style of good food cooked well, chef Kostow draws upon his American upbringing and the bounty of the season to cook food that is thoughtful, personal and in concert with his community and collaborators. Chef Kostow will be cooking in the style reminiscent of The Restaurant at Meadowood. In this exchange of cultures through food, the best of America and Thailand will be experienced through food, drinks and music. The theme is "Happy Holidays" and diners will be able to fulfill wishes from foundations such as Sati, Na Projects, Music For Life and local organisations such as a khon dance school and a temple. Dinner begins with a boat ride at 6pm from Saphan Taksin pier.
Visiting practitioner / Urban Wellness Centre at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River / Until Jan 7
Phil Davies returns to the Four Seasons offering a transformative array of healing modalities. Davies brings over two decades of expertise in Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), energy healing, hypnotherapy, vibrational attunement therapy, and past life regression. his extensive experience encompasses working with diverse challenges, including addiction, anxiety, phobias, PTSD, stress and sleeping disorders, among others. Sessions offered include: hypnotherapy, past life regression and EFT. Davis' methodologies are specifically tailored to individual needs, incorporating comprehensive consultations before sessions to identify challenges and desired outcomes. Hypnotherapy sessions utilise customised scripts to address each client's specific requirements, inducing a relaxed state conducive to behavioural shifts through subconscious suggestions.
Gingerbread House Academy / Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel / Dec 16, 17 and 23
Get creative with the season’s most popular family activity — gingerbread house decorating. A workshop led by the pastry team of Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, each session runs from noon to 5pm with refreshments, tips and festive cheer served along the way. Create lasting memories filled with joy and artistic expression for the family to enjoy on weekends at Mocha & Muffins.
Group exhibition / River City Bangkok / Dec 21 to Jan 21
Nine young Thai artists, Art of Hongtae, Chickenmew, D-Jai Kosiyabong, Nut Dao, Thireq Pecko, Tuna Dunn, UnderHatDaddy, Vachboy and Wichuda Khuntijit, join forces in “Come Rain Or Shine”. As you may have guessed from the title, they invite you to reflect on the highs and lows of your life’s journey. Celebrate the moments of reaching the finishing line, while embracing the time of stumbling or defeat. A way to prepare yourself for a fresh sprint in 2024. It will take place at RCB Galleria 1 on the 2nd floor of River City Bangkok in Charoen Krung 24.
Thailand Coffee Fest Year End 2023 & Thailand Rice Fest 2023 / QSNCC / Until Dec 17
Explore the charm of Thai coffee and rice at the same time as Thailand Coffee Fest Year End 2023 and Thailand Rice Fest 2023 are taking place at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre’s (QSNCC) Halls 5-6. There are around 200 booths, workshops and activities. Sip coffee created by award-winning baristas. Check out tour and camping packages at coffee farms in the north of Thailand. Sample new rice strains and learn about rice terrace farming. Educate yourself on rice-related innovations at three exhibitions. Buy coffee and rice products as New Year gifts.
Festive activities / King Power Mahanakhon / Dec 15 to Jan 1
King Power Mahanakhon is hosting festive activities and has set up holiday-themed decorations to usher in 2024. From 6pm today, Mahanakhon Square will come alive with an electrifying performance by 4EVE, Thailand’s hottest T-Pop band. Expect highlights such as games, food trucks, live bands on Dec 15, 22 and 29) and DJ sets on weekends (5-7pm at Indoor Observatory on the 74th floor of King Power Mahanakhon). If you don't suffer from acrophobia, check out the glass skywalk on the 78th floor. Time your visit well as Santa Claus and carol singing will show up at Mahanakhon SkyWalk, Mahanakhon Eatery and Mahanakhon Square on Xmas Eve and Xmas Day. A live performance by Tom Isara will take place at Mahanakhon SkyWalk on Jan 1 but you'll need a ticket.
Moxy PLayground - Unlock To Play / The Market Bangkok / Dec 15-16
To announce soon-to-open Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong, a special event will be held this weekendn for you to enjoy arcade games, take cool photos and get a vibe of what the upcoming hotel is all about. Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong, which is slated for opening in the first quarter of 2024 and is the biggest Moxy hotel in Asia Pacific with 500 rooms, prioritises play and fun. The pop-up playground takes place at R Walk of The Market Bangkok Ratchaprasong.
TRAVEL
New tented camp / Visama Mae Chan, Chiang Rai
The community-focused Visama Mae Chan luxury tented camp, which opened its tents on Dec 1, is in Chiang Rai and offers 10 luxuriously tents. Aiming to deliver a holistic and immersive holiday experience combining cultural and nature activities, high-end northern Thai culinary fare, much of it organic and sourced on an adjacent farm, and fully-appointed luxury tents in four categories, each tent range in sizes from 48-80m², including a 12 or 20m² veranda. Amenities include air conditioning, phone, espresso machine, French press coffee pots, WiFi, rain showers, safety deposit box, refrigerator, his and her bathrobes and slippers, bathtub and 24 hour concierge, to name a few. Activities such as pottery, painting, foraging, private picnics, arts and crafts workshops, cooking classes with Lanna-Thai recipes, discussions with guest speakers, tree planting, body and mind sessions, and spa and wellness experiences will be central to the lodge’s diverse activities offerings — as will private trips to heritage attractions such as the opium museum, Doi Mae Salong and Chiang Rai’s aesthetically stunning White Temple. Chef Suphannat "Miu" Amnuayrit and his culinary team have crafted a menu based on traditional Lanna cuisine, nutrition-rich international comfort foods and local specialties based on produce from a neighbouring farm. Much of the produce at the Reu Doo Gaan — “seasons” — restaurant will be organically farmed from around the resort, including “Khao Rai” traditional rice, locally picked teas and herbs. A resort highlight will also be The Ambalama, a fireside gathering place for storytelling and talks by authors and historians. The property supports Friends Of Thai Daughters Foundation, which seeks to prevent child trafficking by empowering girls from hill tribe communities. Visama Mae Chan will also host a farmers’ market once a month. Twelve additional tents will be added in 2024. The property is a 40-minute drive north of Chiang Rai international airport.
Festive island / Centara Reserve Samui / Dec 24-25, Dec 31 and Jan 1
Centara Reserve Samui has kicked off the "Festive Island Celebrations", offering a magical experience set against the pristine shores of Koh Samui. From a festive-filled Christmas Eve to a dazzling New Year countdown, Festive Island Celebrations takes centrestage in the Reserve Celebration festivities, featuring exclusive events and experiences that promise to make this holiday season truly magical. Ring in the season of goodwill with the Festive Fiesta buffet at Centara Reserve Samui's signature dining destinations, The Terrace, Act 5 and Sa-Nga. The Children’s Zone will host activities for the little ones. A Very Merry Vitamin Sea Brunch at Salt Society Beach Bar & Kitchen will be served from 12.30-3.3pm, offering classic Christmas dishes, fresh seafood delights, mouthwatering cold cuts and specially crafted children's dishes. Bid farewell to 2023 in style with "A Night Under The Stars" at the resort’ verdant gardens from 7pm to midnight, with a buffet featuring caviar, fresh seafood, charcuterie, sushi, premium roast meats and more. The magic continues with "Once In A Blue Moon" from 9pm to 2am with "Partygoer Packages" avaialble. The New Year's Eve extravaganza guarantees high-octane entertainment, including a fire show, live performances, DJ sets and a dazzling fireworks display. Welcome the new year with lashings of luxury, optimism and joy at Gourmet Beginnings Brunch at Salt Society Beach Bar & Kitchen, featuring exquisite cuisine, live music and a DJ set.
Sky-high / Meliá Chiang Mai / Until Jan 31
Meliá Chiang Mai is getting the mulled wine ready for its Christmas and New Year’s celebrations featuring sky-high parties, lively buffets, intimate four-course dinners and afternoon tea for two. The hotel marks its second festive season with a programme filled with merriment, including "Vino Caliente De Bayas", "Vino Caliente Con Especias"and "Vino Clinate Clasico" from 5-10pm until Jan 31 at the Ruen Kaew Lounge. The Festive Afternoon Tea will be served from 2-5pm until Jan 31 and inclues Mini Roscón de Reyes, Spanish almond cake, Churros with warm chocolate dipping sauce and Sangria ice popsicles. Stack of Manchego and quince paste, Serrano ham croquetas and Smoked turkey and avocado sandwiches are the savouries, paired with fine tea or freshly brewed coffee, and two glasses of sangria or Spanish cava. Santa Claus will give children gifts to a backdrop of live music at Laan Na Kitchen’s Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet from 6-10pm. Expect Whole roasted turkey, Beef shawarma, Poke bowl counter with salmon, tuna, chilled seafood, tobiko, avocado, nori, egg and winter vegetable toppings, as well as Churros con Chocolate and Tronco de Navidad desserts. Resident DJ Fufu will spin the decks and the Danica band will perform at Mai the Sky Bar’s Christmas Eve R&B Night from 6-12pm. A four-course northern Thai set dinner marks Christmas Day at Mai Restaurant & Bar, while the Mellow Christmas Day Dinner starts with a platter of Creamy chicken choux, Golden shrimp spring roll and Citrus crispy noodles. Mai the Sky Bar’s Christmas Day Pop-Rock Night has Ripeye band performing from 8-11pm. Laan Na Kitchen’s lavish New Year’s Eve Buffet making for a culinary journey around the globe from 6.30-10.30pm. All kids have access to Kidsdom. Ringing in 2024 with a bang as fireworks light up the sky at Mai the Sky Bar’s In The Sky New Year’s Eve Countdown Party from 7pm-1am. Entertainment from Young Brother band and DJ Fufu, with prizes on offer.
