THAILAND
Where We Eat
From Bangkok’s back-alley skewers to Michelin-starred temples of tasting menus, Thailand delivers one of the most dynamic food cultures in the world. It’s a country where fiery street noodles hold just as much reverence as slow-cooked jungle curries, and where every region tells its story through herbs, heat, and ritual. We’ve curated a shortlist of the most memorable, design-forward, and deeply flavorful dining experiences across the country—some elegant, some electric, all unmistakably Thai. This isn’t a roundup of every “must-try” dish. It’s a Hala-coded map of where we actually want to eat.
Breakfast And Brunch
Carrot Coffee
Image courtesy of Wanderlog
Chiang Mai
Price: $$
Location: ร้าน Carrot Coffee CNX เลขที่ 42/1 , 42/2 42/3 Ratchamanka Rd Soi 7, พระสิงห์ Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Vibe: Design-forward, Japanese-influenced, mellow
Must order: Japanese-style tamago sando and iced matcha latte
Need to know: Closed on Wednesdays; seating is limited, and it’s worth arriving early for fresh pastries and terrace spots.
With a minimalist interior, curated playlists, and third-wave coffee to rival any global capital, Carrot is one of Chiang Mai’s most stylish morning stops. Set in a calming concrete-and-wood space on a quiet side street, it’s beloved by digital creatives and design lovers for its aesthetic sensibility and specialty menu. Expect Japanese-style sandos, creamy omelettes, seasonal fruits, and wildly good pastries—all served with hand-poured coffee or matcha.
Brekkie Organic Cafe
Image courtesy of Brekkie Cafe
Bangkok
Price: $$
Location: Bangkok, Thailand (Sukhumvit Soi 39)
Vibe: Wellness-driven, Bali-inspired, leafy-modern
Must order: Superfood acai bowl and truffle mushroom toast
Need to know: Offers gluten-free, vegan, and keto options; delivery and takeaway available via Grab.
This Bangkok favorite blends health-forward fare with tropical cool, serving nutrient-dense breakfast and brunch dishes in a light-filled corner space in leafy Sukhumvit. Everything from the turmeric quinoa bowls to the smoked salmon benedict is as Instagrammable as it is nourishing. The drinks menu includes house-made kombucha, adaptogen lattes, and cold-pressed juices, making it a regular stop for the city’s wellness crowd. Brekkie feels like Bali-meets-Bangkok.
Rustic And Blue
Image courtesy of Rustic And Blue
Phuket
Price: $$
Location: 95, Viset Road, Rawai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83130, Thailand
Vibe: Bohemian, lush garden, slow brunch
Must order: Farm eggs benedict and lavender honey latte
Need to know: They host occasional weekend pop-ups and themed brunch events, especially during peak season.
Rustic and Blue feels like a beach getaway with a hyper-local twist. Their brunch menu is centered around farm-to-table ingredients sourced from nearby producers, including free-range eggs, heirloom greens, and artisanal breads. The space has a rustic-luxe vibe, with fairy lights, hanging plants, and plenty of outdoor seating. Portions are generous, presentation is flawless, and the whole experience has a relaxed yet elevated feel.
Lunch And Dinner
Samrub Samrub Thai
Image courtesy of Samrub Samrub Thai
Bangkok
Price: $$$$
Location: 39/11 Yommarat Alley, Si Lom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Vibe: Intimate, innovative, heritage-driven
Must order: The full tasting menu (it changes often)
Need to know: The chefs take time to explain each dish to diners, making it feel more like a dinner party than a restaurant. This spot is frequently listed in Asia’s 50 Best.
With just a few tables, a nightly tasting menu, and a chef who trained under David Thompson, Samrub Samrub Thai redefines what modern Thai fine dining can be. Tucked into a modest building in Bangkok’s old town, it offers a rare, intimate glimpse into royal and regional Thai recipes you won't find elsewhere. It's not just a dinner—it’s a lesson in Thai culinary heritage, technique, and creativity. A must for serious food lovers.
Sorn
Image courtesy of Sorn
Bangkok
Price: $$$$
Location: 56 Sukhumvit 26, Khlong Tan Nuea, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Vibe: Formal, storytelling-driven, elevated
Must order: You can’t order a la carte—opt into the full tasting menu
Need to know: The waitlist is long and bookings open monthly, usually selling out in minutes. It’s one of the highest-ranked restaurants in all of Thailand and a must-do for culinary travelers.
Sorn is the Michelin two-star restaurant that changed the conversation around southern Thai food. Located in a traditional Thai house in Bangkok, it brings the fiery, fragrant, and intensely layered flavors of Thailand’s south into the realm of haute cuisine. Each course arrives with personal stories from the chef’s upbringing, using rare ingredients and time-intensive techniques you won’t experience elsewhere. The experience is deeply rooted in culture yet plated with precision and elegance.
Raan Jay Fai
Image courtesy of L’Enclume
Bangkok
Price: $$$
Location: 327 Maha Chai Rd, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Vibe: Iconic, old-school, theatrical
Must order: Crab omelette
Need to know: Bookings are now available online, but walk-ins often wait 2+ hours. The vibe is casual, but the prices reflect her global reputation.
Raan Jay Fai earned a Michelin star cooking with a single wok in her goggles and lipstick, and became a global name after her feature on Netflix’s Street Food. Her famed crab omelette is more burrito than breakfast: golden, charred, and packed with massive hunks of fresh crab meat. You’ll wait hours and pay handsomely, but there's no other street food experience like it. Jay Fai herself still cooks every dish, often with a line of tourists and foodies snapping photos through the open-air kitchen. This is street food at its most legendary.
The Ledbury
Image courtesy of Conde Nast Traveler
London
Price: ££££
Location: 127 Ledbury Rd, Notting Hill, London W11 2AQ
Vibe: Sophisticated but not stiff, inventive, world-class
Must order: Flame-grilled deer with smoked bone marrow
Need to know: After a major revamp, The Ledbury returned to reclaim its spot as one of London’s best — modern, creative, and already lauded again by critics.
At The Ledbury, chef Brett Graham delivers a menu that balances technical mastery with heart. The atmosphere is warm but focused, the plates meticulous yet soulful. It’s a restaurant that redefines contemporary fine dining while staying firmly connected to place.
Restaurant Andrew Fairlie
Image courtesy of Andrew Fairlie
Gleneagles
Price: ££££
Location: Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire PH3 1NF
Vibe: Elegant, hushed, celebratory
Must order: Home-smoked lobster
Need to know: Scotland’s only two-Michelin-starred restaurant, tucked inside the iconic Gleneagles estate. Booking is essential.
Andrew Fairlie is a masterclass in quiet luxury: French-inspired cooking elevated by Scotland’s best produce. The smoked lobster alone has achieved cult status, but every plate — from game to Highland venison — tells a story of refinement and place.
Brat
Image courtesy of Brat
London
Price: £££
Location: 4 Redchurch St, Shoreditch, London E1 6JL
Vibe: Buzzy, smoky, convivial, with Basque influences
Must order: Whole turbot cooked over open fire
Need to know: Brat is Tomos Parry’s ode to Basque grill traditions — expect queues, energy, and a wine list that matches the cooking’s boldness.
At Brat, the fire is the star. Dishes arrive with smoke and char, imbued with rustic flair yet executed with precision. The room hums with Shoreditch energy, making it one of London’s most exciting places for a night of serious food and serious fun.
The Kitchin
Image courtesy of The Kitchin
Edinburgh
Price: £££
Location: 78 Commercial Quay, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6LX
Vibe: Smart, modern, deeply Scottish
Must order: Highland venison with seasonal trimmings
Need to know: Tom Kitchin coined the philosophy “from nature to plate,” and his restaurant in Leith embodies it — Scottish produce interpreted through French technique.
The Kitchin is Edinburgh dining at its most thoughtful — intimate yet serious, rooted in Scotland’s land and waters. The plates are meticulous, the produce second to none, and the atmosphere strikes a rare balance between fine dining and heartfelt hospitality.
Dishoom
Image courtesy of Dishoom
London
Price: ££
Location: Shoreditch, King’s Cross, Covent Garden, and beyond
Vibe: Bombay-style café, soulful and stylish
Must order: Black daal and a side of naan (or the bacon naan roll if you’re here at breakfast)
Need to know: Inspired by the Irani cafés of Bombay, Dishoom redefined Indian dining in the UK. Expect queues even at odd hours; it’s a London (and now nationwide) ritual.
At Dishoom, every detail is steeped in nostalgia — tiled walls, vintage photos, the scent of chai in the air. The food is equally transporting: long-simmered black daal, perfectly charred naan, and cocktails infused with spices. Whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner, it’s one of the UK’s most universally beloved restaurants.
St. John
Image courtesy of St John
London
Price: ££
Location: 26 St John St, Clerkenwell, London EC1M 4AY
Vibe: Minimalist, nose-to-tail British
Must order: Roast bone marrow with parsley salad
Need to know: Fergus Henderson’s pioneering restaurant changed the way the world thought about British food. It’s Michelin-starred yet deeply unfussy — whitewashed walls, plain tables, extraordinary food.
St. John is a landmark of British dining. Since the 1990s, Fergus Henderson has been championing nose-to-tail cooking, bringing dishes like bone marrow or braised offal to cult status. It’s less about luxury, more about pure, honest flavor — and has become one of the most influential restaurants of its time.
Desserts And Sweets
Fortitude Bakehouse
Image courtesy of Fortitude Bakehouse
London
Price: ££
Location: 35 Colonnade, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1JA
Vibe: Generous, fermented, bold
Must order: Oversized, deep‑flavor cinnamon roll fermented for 48 hours
Need to know: These buns are large enough to share and stand out for their complex flavor—thanks to a long fermentation and molasses-rich filling—that strikes a rare balance of indulgence and substance
At Fortitude Bakehouse, sourdough mastery meets comfort food. Their slow-fermented rolls are gooey, darkly spiced, and slightly tangy — a more adult take on the classic cinnamon bun, perfect with a strong coffee.
Hedone Bakery
Image courtesy of Hedone
London
Price: ££
Location: Chiswick, London
Vibe: Obsessive, perfectionist, cult-followed
Must order: The 100% sourdough loaf or the Paris–Brest
Need to know: Mikael Jonsson’s Hedone may be small, but it produces some of the UK’s most technically perfect baked goods, beloved by chefs and food insiders.
Every item at Hedone feels like an obsession — from croissants to baguettes, crafted with meticulous attention to flour, hydration, and time. For pastry purists, it’s one of London’s true grail bakeries.
York Cocoa Works
Image courtesy of York Cocoa Works
York
Price: ££
Location: 10 Castlegate, York YO1 9RN
Vibe: Heritage, artisanal, chocolate-obsessed
Must order: Hot chocolate flight or the handmade truffles
Need to know: York has a centuries-long chocolate heritage. At York Cocoa House, you taste that tradition reborn through small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate.
At York Cocoa House, cacao is elevated to its highest form. Workshops, tasting flights, and bars of single-origin chocolate make this one of the UK’s most indulgent stops for true dessert lovers.
