Here on one of Bangkok’s swankiest restaurant strips sits the city’s coolest Vietnamese joint. And suddenly, after an expensive makeover, it’s even cooler (or is that cooler-than-thou?), with black slate, wood, iron latticework and deep house toons now filling this moody, faintly cubist-inspired two-leveller. Diners can elect to sit in this dim, yuppie cocktail lounge… [more]

Saigon Rimsai must be doing something right – it’s packed with Thais. Part of the appeal is the space – warmly lit, with a view over the tranquil garden-seating area, it makes everything pretty. The fresh food is served up in generous and photogenic portions – fried spring rolls are crisp and succulent, ricepaper wrappers… [more]

351/3 Sukhumvit 55 (near Thong Lor Soi 17), 02-185-2619; www.xuanmairestaurant.com. BTS Thong Lo. Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 6pm-11pm (11.30pm Fri-Sat). ซวนมาย ทองหล่อ ซ.17 A few years ago, former FBI agent and unintentional chef Meyung Robson’s popular Vietnamese restaurant left the homey confines of Soi 13 for the main stage of Thong Lor. Small, friendly and delicious, this… [more]