Known more as a go-to destination for bachelor parties and wild nights, Bangkok has much more going on than merely that: snappy tailors, cutting-edge architecture, secret speakeasies and incredible. The Luxe Nomad certainly knows the top spots for those wanting to keep things above-board.
Get Dressed
There isn't a finer tailor in town than Pinky. Diplomats, expats, Thai-HiSo and the fashion-forward have been coming to Pinky (aka Dalip Singh Sandhu) for decades. And, because it's going to take a few visits to get those measurements and fittings just right, it's advisable to get that first consultation out of the way stat.
Get Groomed
You can make an afternoon or evening of Black Amber’s gamut of all things gentlemanly. Originally opened as a barbershop and tattoo parlour, the boys at Black Amber have now expanded across the alley adding the bespoke tailor shop Toast, the classy vintage shop Mirror Mask, and The Black Amber Thonglor Social Club, an old-timey speakeasy. If you drop in for a chop and shave and you'll be welcomed with a complimentary single-malt.
Image by Flickr user Olivia Ortelpa
See New Heights
Designed by Ole Scheeren, the pixelated peak of MahaNakhon tower looks more like a game of Tetris gone awry, but actually provides residents with unique full-height balconies and greater sunlight penetration. Topping off at 314 m, the MahaNakhon is now the tallest tower in Bangkok, meaning the Ritz Carlton's Rooftop Terrace Bar should offer up the best view in town.
Image courtesy of Ddalbiez
Grab Some Culture
The Erawan Museum is actually a five-story sculpture of Erawan, a three-headed elephant from Hindu mythology. Inside you'll find three floors of Khun Lek Viriyapanta's personal art collection divided up thematically between the underworld, the earth and the heavens. The standout is the stained-glass ceiling, which gives European craftsmanship a run for its money.
A Culinary Masterpiece
At Le Du, playing off the Thai word for season, chef and sommelier Ton Tassanakajohn is shaking things up with his modern take on local ingredients. It's recommended to go for the four-to-seven course set menu, with adventurous dishes like spicy ant larvae with a spiced cold potato mousse on offer.
Keep it Cuban
Look for the old telephone booth on Sukhumvit Soi 11 marked ‘telefono’, then call or message the bar to receive the night’s secret entry code. Use the phone booth to punch in that code and you've just gained entrance to Havana Social. This 1940’s-50’s styled joint is a definite hot-spot for those seeking rum, coca-cola, and other like-minded foreigners in the know.
Stay in Style
With an eclectic black-and-white design spread across three acres of Chao Praya river frontage, no hotel does classic quite like The Siam. The river and garden suites exude a luxurious Bangkok of yesteryear, but Connie’s Cottage - which was transported to the property intact by river ferry - has seen the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Noel Coward and Somerset Maugham within its hallowed walls.
This post originally appeared on the website of our sister publication, Hong Kong Tatler.
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