There’s another reason to make your way to Langsuan. The upscale neighborhood is now home to a casual French bistrot that’s set on the top floor of luxury hotel Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok. Despite its swanky address, Bistrot De La Mer is so chill and relaxed that a polo shirt and bermudas are a good fit.
Visit during the day and you’ll be stunned by green, gorgeous views of Lumphini Park as seen through floor-to-ceiling windows that also allow sunlight to stream in and cast a gleaming sheen on the restaurant’s marble tables and mosaic flooring. In one corner, fresh produce is kept cool in transparent refrigerators, while velvet cushions and wooden furnishings add warmth to the ambiance. Come nighttime, the lights are dimmed, giving a sense of romance and intimacy to the expansive space.
As its name suggests, Bistrot De La Mer serves seafood-heavy dishes that draw inspiration from the cuisines of the French Riviera and the coastal Mediterranean states. Running the show is Polish chef Slawomir Kowalik, who honed his craft in many prestigious dining rooms around the world, including the two-Michelin-starred Bürgenstock Hotels & Resort Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. He aims to bring a certain delicacy to bistrot fare, keeping dishes casual and accessible without compromising on flavor and quality.
Seat yourself on one of the comfy velvet couches and start your culinary journey with fragrant baked bread and light dishes such as a refreshing Salad Nicoise (yellowtail tuna, olives, quail egg, vegetables and potato dressing, B490), sweet and sour Riviera crab salad (Touteau crab with apple, pink grapefruit, endive, and lime-vanilla vinaigrette, B390) or juicy escargot provencal that’s been buttered to perfection (B480).
You may want to start big and go for the seafood on ice tower (B3,900), which is packed with the fruit de mer, from fresh oysters (Gillardeau and Tsarskaya oysters) to a giant Maine lobster. The boldly flavored bouillabaisse soup (Mediterranean fish, orange fennel and rouille, B1,600) is a can’t-miss and neither is the baked turbot with grilled chili and vegetables (B2,900). Finish off your sumptuous meal with an equally heavenly dessert such as pie topped with apple tarte tartin (apple slices caramelized in brandy, B390).
Your journey to the French Riviera won’t be complete if you don’t have cocktails to drive you along the way. Bistrot De La Mer has an impressive list of creatively crafted tipples that should pair well with everything on the menu. Order Clair et Roti (gin with vermouth and mint, B450) and Lavender Sour (lavender tea with aloe juice, line and egg white, B300) to end your night on a high.
Bistrot De La Mer is open daily for lunch (12:00-15:00) and dinner (17:00-22:00). To book your seats, call 02-095-9999.