Lusso lab, Jeongdong

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Lusso Lab is located in the quiet historical area of Jeongdong, not far from Deoksugung Palace. The quaint neighborhood is beautiful for a stroll after a meal. The interior is spacious with industrial-style decor. There is an enticing display of cakes by the counter. The staff was friendly but spoke minimal English.

The menu offers Western food such as French toast, American breakfast, eggs benedicts, and more. Brunch sets are also available.

I settled for brunch set C, which consists of an American breakfast set, a Cobb salad, and two cups of coffee. We opted for a latte and cappuccino. Also, I ordered a Tiramisu, brioche bread with bechamel sauce, ham, cheese, egg, grilled asparagus, and Brioche French toast.

The brioche French toast came with homemade ricotta cheese, bacon, walnuts, blueberries, and maple syrup. The French toast was pillowy soft. The ricotta cheese was creamy and smooth with a hint of sweetness, and the bacon was not too salty – a good balance between sweet and savory. The tiramisu could be better. Some parts of the sponge cake were dry, and the coffee tasted weak.

Compared to the other dishes, I did not enjoy the American breakfast. It was a bit bland, and I would have preferred toasted bread. The brioche bread with bechamel sauce was good, and the creamy bechamel sauce paired with cheese and ham – was delicious!

Overall, it is an excellent spot for brunch!

Vanilla french toast 12,800 won.

Croque Madame 9,800 won

Brunch set C 25,800 won

Lusso Lab, Jeongdong branch

Website: https://www.lussolab.co.kr/main.do

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 20:00 p.m

Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 20:00 p.m.

Telephone: 02-772-9935

Address: 17 Jeongdong-gil, Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul

Silavadee pool spa resort

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Silavadee Pool Spa Resort is nestled on a rocky beach between Chaweng and Lamai beaches, offering breathtaking sea views. The tropical-style rooms are cozy, comfortable, well-equipped, and clean. The complimentary fruit was a nice touch. The resort’s facilities include two infinity pools, a private beach, a spa, and a fitness center.

I stayed for two nights at the resort. I booked the deluxe room with an ocean view and a hot tub. The view from the room was picturesque. There is also a great view of the sea from the bathroom. I stayed in room 213, a corner room, and you can view the sunset from the balcony. Unfortunately, I had a noise disturbance at 1 am, 7 am, and 9 am. I called reception each time to report the noise. They dealt with it right away. The next day, they unexpectedly upgraded me to a pool villa with a partial sea view. The room was quiet and spacious. I was able to get a good night’s rest.

The staff there was friendly, courteous, and accommodating, one of the resort’s highlights.

In-room dining

Ceaser salad and spaghetti bolognese

Both were delicious.

Breakfast at Moon restaurant

The hotel offers a good breakfast spread of both Asian and Western cuisine. In addition, there are a variety of tropical fruit juices, smoothies, and local herbal teas. There is also a menu for made-to-order/ hot dishes such as eggs benedict, roti, steamed fish fillet, etc.

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This is a beautiful resort surrounded by lush greens, in balance and harmony with its surroundings. The attentive care of the staff is a testament to Thai hospitality. I left feeling energized and relaxed!

Silavadee Pool Spa Resort

Website:https://www.silavadeeresort.com/

Telephone: +66(0)77-960-555

Address: 208/66 Ko Samui District, Surat Thani 84310, Thailand

STAR bar, Silavadee

I love this rooftop bar. The view is spectacular, with a panoramic view of the sea and mountains. It is the ideal place to grab a drink, relax, and watch the sunset. The atmosphere is laid-back yet romantic. Reservations are highly recommended if you prefer a specific seating area. I made a reservation and got a seat at one of the four sunken tables.

There is an excellent selection of cocktails and an international menu for those who want to order food. For couples, a special romantic dinner is available, which needs to be booked ahead of time. There is also a live saxophone performance and a seafood barbeque buffet every Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m.

STAR bar

Website: https://www.silavadeeresort.com/silavadee-dining

Opening hours: Daily 17:00 p.m. – 23:00 p.m.

Telephone: +66 77 960 555

Address: 208/66 Ko Samui District, Surat Thani 84310, Thailand

The Height, Silavadee

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The Height is a Thai restaurant atop the Silavadee Pool Spa Resort hillside. The uninterrupted panoramic sea view from the terrace is stunning. The extensive menu offers Northern and Southern Thai dishes, including Khantoke, served on a pedestal tray.

It was a beautiful night, with a clear view of the moon shining above the horizon—the perfect setting for a memorable dinner. The staff was friendly and helpful.

The prawn curry was creamy with a mild heat, and the prawns were fresh. The curry also included petai, also known as stink beans. Petai is widely used in Southeast Asia. It has a strong odor that lingers in your mouth. As a Malaysian, petai is not foreign to me. The curry helps reduce the strong taste of the petai.

The papaya salad was well seasoned, the fried chicken wings were crispy and juicy, and the fritters were delicious, with crunchy banana goodness.

The prices are pretty high, but the view is worth a trip!

Papaya salad – 331.35 baht

Curry prawns with bamboo – 416.31 baht

Deep-fried banana fritters – 212.40 baht

The Height

Website: https://www.silavadeeresort.com/silavadee-dining.php

Opening hours: Daily 17:00 p.m. – 22:30 p.m.

Telephone: +66 77 960 555

Address: 208/66 Ko Samui District, Surat Thani 84310, Thailand

Paste – Michelin Star Thai restaurant

Paste is a Michelin-starred restaurant located on the 3rd floor of the Gaysorn Village. The head chef, Bee Satongun, is dedicated to restoring and preserving traditional Thai cuisine while adding a modern touch. The restaurant’s interior features contemporary Thai decor, with a large centerpiece of sinuous strips of silkworm cocoons. The high ceiling, airy dining space, and warm colors create a comfortable dining experience. The staff wore traditional Thai-inspired attire.

Spanner crab on a seaweed sesame cracker

The amuse-bouche was exquisite – rich umami flavor.

Old-style hot & sour soup of crisp pork leg, char-grilled shallots,
jackfruit seeds, and roasted tomatoes in a smoky chicken broth.

The soup was lovely and very appetizing. It was tangy and smokey with a reasonable amount of heat.

Loas-Vieng style sour orange curry, line-caught seabass
with roasted mung bean and drum stick flowers

The fish was very fresh and tender. However, the curry was a bit bland, lacking depth of flavor; I preferred a spicier, intense-flavored curry.

Complimentary orange sorbet

The sorbet was a sweet, refreshing ending to the meal.

Overall, the service was attentive, and the food was of excellent quality. However, I have mixed feelings about the restaurant. I was not blown away by the food; the dishes did not justify the price for me. I was expecting more from a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Still water 80 baht

Hot and sour pork leg soup 750 baht

Sour orange seabass curry 1300 baht

Riceberry 150 baht

Paste

Website: https://www.pastebangkok.com/

Opening hours:

Daily
Lunch 12:00 pm – 14:00 pm
Dinner 18:30 pm – 23:00 pm

Telephone: +66(0)2 656 1003

Address: 3rd Floor, Gaysorn, 999 Ploenchit Rd., Lumpini, Bangkok

Khua Kling Pak Sod

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Khua Kling Pak Sod is a family-owned restaurant specializing in authentic Southern Thai cuisine. One of my favorite YouTubers, Marion Grasby, a Thai-Australian cook, highly recommended this restaurant.

One difference between Southern and Northern Thai cuisine is that the spices and herbs are more prominent in Southern dishes.

I ordered a spicy and sour soup with sea bass, stir-fried lump crab meat, and stir-fried morning glory with shrimp paste.

The tanginess makes this soup very appetizing. The sea bass was fresh, and there was a fair amount of herb in the broth. The herbs eaten on their own are quite pungent, but it gives the soup a lovely aroma.

My favorite dish was the stir-fried crab meat. The herbs and chili did not overpower the crab meat’s natural flavors and sweetness. It was a great accompaniment to rice.

A great place to try Southern Thai cuisine.

Tom Yum Pla Grapong 280 baht

Nua Pu Pad Cha 580 baht

Pak Boong Pad Kapi 180 baht

Tom Yum Pla Grapong

Nua Pu Pad Cha

Pak Boong Pad Kapi

Khua Kling Pak Sod

Website: http://www.khuaklingpaksod.com/

Opening hours: Open Daily

Lunch 11:00 a.m. – 14:30 p.m.

Dinner 17:30 p.m. – 21:30 p.m.

Telephone: 02- 185-3977

Address: 21, 32 Soi Sukhumvit 23, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok

Thong Smith Siamese Boat Noodles

Thong Smith is well-known for its authentic boat noodles. Boat noodles are one of Thailand’s famous noodle dishes served in a thick, aromatic broth. I stumbled upon this restaurant while looking for a place to have dinner at the EmQuartier Mall.

At Thong Smith, you can choose between pork, beef, and chicken boat noodles, as well as three different noodles: original rice noodles, vermicelli, and egg noodles. For those who prefer non-spicy, the chicken boat noodles are served in a clear soup. You can also choose your preferred level of spiciness.

The restaurant’s menu was attractive, with enticing pictures of each dish well presented and reasonable food prices.

I love spicy food, so I ordered beef boat noodles topped with beef slices and beef balls with medium heat (quite spicy). The broth was thick with a great balance of tangy, sweet, spicy, and savory flavors.

The wontons were fried to a crispy golden brown perfection. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Scrumptious!

The pandan noodles with coconut milk is very similar to a dessert back home (Malaysia) called Cendol, which is one of my favorite Malaysian desserts. I was overjoyed when I saw this on the menu. It was the perfect dessert to soothe the tongue after the spicy bowl of noodles.

Roselle juice 69THB

Crispy pork and shrimp wontons 100THB

Beef boat noodles with beef slices and beef balls 149THB

Pandan noodles with coconut milk 79THB

Thong Smith Siamese Boat Noodles

Opening hours: Daily 10:00 a.m – 22:00 p.m

Telephone: 02-003-6226

Address: Seventh floor of the Helix Building at EmQuartier

Amiso Korean Restaurant

Amiso is a Korean BBQ restaurant located on the 5th floor of the Polaris building in Myeongdong. The place is spacious, with an outdoor seating area. The restaurant serves Korean BBQ as well as traditional dishes such as Bibimbap, Ginseng chicken soup, and a variety of stews. The waitress who served us spoke very little English but could speak Chinese. Luckily, my family and I could speak Chinese, so we could order with ease.

My family and I ordered dolsot bibimbap (bibimbap served in a hot stone bowl), Doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew), and Sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew). As customary at all Korean restaurants, we were served several side dishes before our main meal. They were all delicious!

The main dishes we ordered were all good but not spectacular.

dolsot bibimbap 12,000 won (10 USD)

soft tofu stew 12,000 won

soybean paste stew 12,000 won

Amiso

Telephone: +82 2-756-3317

Opening hours: 10:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m Daily

Address: 25 Myeongdong 4-gil, Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea

The Coffee Club

The coffee club is Australia’s largest home-grown cafe group, with many branches in Bangkok. The cafe I visited was at the Citadines hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 23, which was the closest to my hotel. The cafe is spacious, with indoor and outdoor seating. This all-day cafe serves a good mix of Western and Thai dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are also unique drinks on the menu, such as Tim Tam chocolate, coconut frappe, and marshmallow Cappuccino.

I ordered a Cappuccino and smashed avocado with poached eggs and hashbrowns. The Cappuccino was good, the milk foam was smooth, and the coffee was quite strong. The smashed avocado was beautifully plated. The poached egg cooked perfectly. The hashbrown was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside – a healthy breakfast.

Everything on the menu looked enticing; I wished I had more time to try them all!

Cappuccino – 130 baht

Smash Avocado – 280 baht

Hashbrown – 60 baht

The Coffee Club (Citadines Hotel)

Website: https://thecoffeeclub.co.th/

Opening hours: Daily 6:00 a.m. – 22:30 p.m.

Telephone: +66 65 730 4929

Address: Citadiners Hotel 37/7 Sukhumvit Soi 23 Khlong Toei, North, Wattana Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Fisherman’s Village Bophut

Fisherman’s Village is a walking street in the town of Bophut, with cafes, restaurants, and boutique stores.

I had lunch at two restaurants—Happy Elephant and Krua Baan Khaow. I ordered the same food in both restaurants except for the salad. The food in both restaurants was good. Overall, I prefer Krua Baan Khaow. The Happy Elephant is more pricey and popular among tourists. On the other hand, the decor and atmosphere in Krua Baan Khaow feel more authentic, the food tastes homey, and the price is reasonable. It’s good value for money.