"Bangkok - eating and shopping ..." a Bangkok Travel Page by Audrey118

My favourite time to travel to Bangkok would be late December - early January, where there is big sales and milder weather. I love eating and shopping, you will be spoiled for choice here.

TO EAT LIST DEC TRIP
* Harmonique Restaurant (all time fav)
22 Charoenkrung 34 +662 6306270

And must return to Baan Kanitha - along Sathon Tai (South) Road which is just couple of doors away from Banyan Tree and Sukothai hotel. The restaurant is always busy, lots of tourists but the place is really charming.

STREET FOOD - Thip Samai Noodle Shop
Phat Thai Koong Sod (Fried noodle and egg with prawn)
Opposite Soi Samranrat. Daily 5pm-3am (221-6280)
Long waiting line for take-home can be seen everyday between 18:00-21:00. Proved to be the best Phat Thai in Bangkok, Thip Samai has been opened since September 9, 1966 and closed only every last Wednesday of the month. The restaurant menu ranges from regular Phat Thai priced at Bht25 to the special one with glass noodle, crab meat, grind cuttlefish, slice mango, prawn and shrimp roe with the price of Bht120.

Chote Jit Thai Restaurant
Couple shophouses off Tanao Road inside Phraeng Phuton area
Chote Jit is another one fine restaurant in the middle of old-style row houses. It has been opened for approximately 80 years. Don't forget to order Mee Krob, Kaeng Som, Kaeng Lieng. This place is an all-time favorite restaurant of a Bangkok Post food critic.

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Ton Po Riverside Thai Restaurant
Phra Athit road. Daily 11am-10pm (280-0452)

A riverside restaurant with a real Thai flavour. Ton Po once had a wide covered veranda on the Chao Phraya river but was removed to give way to a riverside walkway project by the city of Bangkok. The cool breeze and the view of the river still can be obtained with a table right by the river. Most of the foods here are delicious and the special menus are 'Steamed Snakehead Fish with Curry Paste and Herb' and 'Spicy Gurami Soup Mixed Herb and Tamarind Leaves'.

Potch Spa Karn
Thai Restaurant
Sao Ching Cha Intersection. Daily 10am-9pm (222-2686)
Opened for more than 70 years but just moved to this facility, Potch Spa Karn cooks its foods based on a recipe from the royal Thai kitchen. Try Kang Jeud Look Rok and Mee Krob.


Mitr Ko Yuan
Democracy Monument. Daily 10am-11pm (224-3088)
Mitr Ko Yuan, a one row-house shop, has been opened for business for more than 65 years. Well-known for the taste and variety of its food, this restaurant serves Thai, Chinese and Western foods. A favourite menu is Mee Krob Rama V, Tom Yum Koong, Phad Poy Xian, Sirloin Salad, Cow-tongue Stew and Steak. A tiny and kind owner always walk around asking the ups and downs of his frequent customers. If you are not a regular, you may sweat when the bill come. Several zeros are added to the real total just for the sake of the fun from the owner. Lately, the interior has been renovated so the old feeling is gone but the taste's still the same since day one.

Takiang Restaurant
Wisut Kasat. Mon-Fri 10am-2pm & 5pm-11pm, Sat-Sun 5pm-11pm (281-2837)
This dimmy restaurant has a huge collection of antique lamps, hence the name of the restaurant. The food are so delicious. You can order anything from the menu, there are all mouth-watering. If you don't know what to choose, pick from the recommended items. You won't be disappointed. Kang Som is good for a soup. Cost for two is about Bht500 (exclusive of alcohol)

Polo Fried Chicken 137/1-3 Soi Oilo
Wireless Road, Lumpini 011-66-1252-2252
Here is lots of flies flying around...but i did not get sick eating here... so perhaps my stomach was well trained - but overall quite delicious. Although a bit out of the way - must go by cab.

Somboon seafood Rest - go where the locals eat - here they serve delicious crab curry, and great vermicelli noodle. Also nice catfish etc. and bbq suiqd and crab. Very modest in pricing but service stuff do not speak much english.

Remember to get the 5 pct Visitor Discount Card from the Customer Service Sec of each large departmental store...and also get those tax refunds.... In the year 2005, Thai Government has launched a discount card for tourist, Thailand Visitor Card 2005 so everyone should visit the toursit office TAT Head Office on Phetburi Road (just below Phetchaburi subway station)

Remember also the daily claim for the tax refund, you need to endorse the documents on a DAILY basis.

If you need a map for shopping, the map by Nancy Chandler can be very helpful.

Otop City? at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani. The gift show begins tomorrow in Halls 1 to 8 with a load of ?One Tambon One Product? products. Skilled traditional weaves and a fine and beautiful collection of hand-crafted products, using an array of local materials, await. This annual grand sale is hosted by the government.
The nine-day fair is open from 9am to 10pm and runs until December 25.
For additional information, call
(02) 622 3157.

If you are into Jim THompson stuff, you must visit their sales outlets. Although at the sales outlets, the varieties are not the latest, but if you are into upholstery there is soooo much to choose from. The one I visit is at Soi 93, take the Skytrain to On Nut station and then jump into a cab - you be there in a jiffy. There is one sales outlet albeit smaller, lesser collection - but near to the main Store in Surawong Road, 149/4-6 Surawong Road. But for the latest stuff - you just have to visit the shops in many large malls.

Over the past years we have mainly stayed at the Marriott hotel, and the Banyan Tree Bangkok Hotel. We also liked the Marriott Resort and Spa,
which is down far away along the wrong side of the Chao Phraya but has great access to BTS station at Sathorn Taksin.

Our recent choie of accomodaiton in Bkk is serviced apartment - there are so many located around Chidlom Central, but we remained at the Mayfair Marriott - simply becos it is under the Marriott umbrella, and there is a convenient kiosk behind it. The only snag is it is a good 10 min walk iunder the very hot sun to the Central mall, or even to the Skytrain. Across the street there is yet another serviced apartment, which has spa facilities.

Many of these hotels have their in house spas, but there are also plenty outside in the city equally good. If you have time to venture it is worth it.

Nibhana Spa at the Central Chidlom is haven when you need to put up your feet after hectic shopping!!!
Nibhana Spa
Natural Ville Residence; 8th Floor; 61 Lang Suan Soi 2 Road; Lumpini
Bangkok
+66(0)2 2507058-9

For a local flavour, try Ruen Nuad Massage
42 Convent Road, Silom
Bangkok
+662 6322662-3

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Links
the Skytrain with also any special fairs available
http://www.bts.co.th/en/index.asp

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