Look no further than the City of Angels for a high-end eat fest holiday that doesn’t break the bank
By Mavis Teo
Bangkok is one of Singaporeans’ favourite spots for a weekend getaway, especially for cheap street food and bargain shopping. But why go cheap when you can go chic in Bangkok for a fraction of the prices you would pay for similar offerings in other cities?
For just half of what you would pay in Hong Kong or Taipei, you could retire in five-star hotels for the night. You could also feast like a king on tasting menus or at the chef table helmed by chefs of international acclaim for much less than you would pay in Singapore. Whether it’s traditional Thai or innovative Indian you are after, you can have your pick of cuisine. The launch of Michelin Guide Bangkok last December further validated the city’s position as a gastronomic city.
Seventeen restaurants won stars in the 2018 guide, 28 was given the Bib Gourmand while the Michelin Plate introduced in 2018 to acknowledge good quality was conferred on. But because there’s only so much one can eat in a weekend, we have picked out a few we think you shouldn't miss:
5. Grand Hyatt Erawan
To stay really well and remain in the thick of things, look no further than the Grand Hyatt Erawan, a perennial favourite with tourists from Asia. Though it claims prime position – next to a very popular tourist and local attraction – the Grand Erawan Shrine for nearly 30 years, the Grande Dame of hotels in Bangkok is looking no worse for wear, many thanks to a major refurbishment completed in 2014. Get a Spa Cottage Suite tucked away in a corner away from the pool, with your private terrace overlooking a tropical garden. Yes, it sounds more like a villa you’d find in an island resort rather than in the midst of one of Bangkok’s busiest streets. like Did we also mention there’s an oversized bathroom with a mammoth tub and shower with steam function. You’ll be hard-pressed to decide where to surrender yourself to the gentle ministrations of highly skilled therapists in one of the massages in a comprehensive spa menu – the beautiful i.sawan spa on the same floor, or in the sumptuously decked out room complete with a full massage body – in your suite.
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