The best restaurants and cafes in Ekkamai

Originally a viral hit in Singapore, Pralet has landed in Ekkamai and wasted no time making itself at home. The format here is unusual – square sourdough doughnuts, made using a natural starter that's been kept alive for over 14 years and bubbles up through a 72-hour fermentation process that yields dough that's genuinely light and notably not greasy. The burnt butter honey glaze is the shop’s signature: glossy, fragrant, sweet against a faintly bitter note. For the more adventurous, the catfish nam prik doughnut – crispy fish, prawn floss, kaffir lime and dried kombu – is worth the leap. If that’s a step too far, pistachio raspberry crunch rounds things out for the more gourmet-leaning crowd. Pralet BKK. Ekkamai Corner. 9am-8pm

Ekkamai gets a lively new player with Somsak, a modern Isan spot from the team behind Fatboy Izakaya and Kim Jeong Grill. The restaurant is named after Somsak, a taxi driver who won the lottery in London before returning to Bangkok to open this personality-packed eatery. The space is full of personality, with music, colour and a slightly chaotic energy that sets the tone from the start. The menu runs wide, covering som tam, laab, grilled meats and sharing plates, all dialled up with punchy seasoning. Start with fried squid tossed in laab spices, or for seafood fans, garlic tomalley river prawns and pla dib with wasabi nam jim seafood. There are also grilled cuts and playful twists across the menu. Whether you’re settling in for a proper meal or just swinging by for a lively night with friends, this place gets the energy to match. Open now. Somsak, Ekkamai Corner, Sukhumvit Rd. Sunday-Wednesday 11am-10.30pm, Thursday-Saturday 11am-11.30pm

There's a brass pot at the entrance here that has been bubbling for more than 40 years. The kitchen never fully extinguishes it, so each morning's broth begins as a continuation of the day before, drawing from decades of accumulated flavour and collagen until the liquid turns dark, rich and almost mahogany.  That's the foundation for the kuay teow neua, one of Bangkok's great  beef noodle institutions: gelatinous, herbal, deeply savoury and perfumed with Chinese medicinal herbs, star anise and cinnamon. It comes topped with brisket, melt-soft stewed beef, springy meatballs and tendon. Choose your noodle – fine, wide or glass – then settle in at one of the ground-floor steel tables, non-air-conditioned, worn-in and exactly as it should be. The goat stew is the move if you want to go deeper. Dishes to order: Kuay teow neua (beef noodles), slow-simmered goat stew. Price range: B80-200 336-338 Ekkamai Rd., Watthana. Open daily 9am-7pm

What is it?: Chef Francesco Lenzi’s Italian eatery in Soi Phrom Si brings the tastes of Tuscany to Bangkok. Why we love it: The art of charcoal wood-fired grilling is much in evidence here with Chef Stefano Merlo leading the charge. Having honed his skills at three-star Michelin restaurant Le Calendre, Merlo knows how to cook with fire and flair. For a meaty delight, try grilled Tasmanian grass-fed lamb chop (B1,280) – tender, medium-rare lamb paired with a creamy carrot puree. Alternatively, if you’re really hungry, a hearty serving of roast beef (B3,800) will do the trick. Made with top-tier Black Angus beef from Australia, this 500g sirloin is grilled to perfection, robed in a rich red wine sauce, and topped with a Parmesan samayon – a silky sauce made with egg yolks, sugar and wine.  Time Out tip: For dessert, the restaurant keeps it classic with Italian favourites such as bomboloncini ripieni (B230), which is deep-fried doughnuts stuffed with creamy Italian goodness and drizzled with berry sauce.

Get ready to test just how wide you can open your mouth at Pinki's Deli, a newly opened sandwich spot at the Earth Ekkamai project. Giant, fully loaded sandwiches packed to the brim with fillings in every single bite. Bestseller ‘OG Melt’ brings together tuna, shiso pesto, mustard and gooey melted cheese inside your choice of sourdough – plain or spiked with jalapenos and cheese. One bite and you'll experience an explosion of juicy flavours: the bright tang of lemon, the creaminess of cheese and a gentle herbal aroma all blending together. It's a true sourdough lover's delight, an indulgent sandwich experience you'll want to try at least once. That aside, the coffee is also top notch, served fresh and hot just as you like it. Pinki’s Deli. Earth Ekkamai, Watthana. 7.15am-4pm

This new noodle parlor specializes in soupy street-style egg noodles with barbequed pork and pork wontons. The eatery is highly popular during lunch among hungry office workers so you may want to consider popping in early to avoid waiting in line.

Tucked in the bustling Ekkamai stretch is this pad thai parlor which are popular among all-nighters after the clubs in the neighborhoods are closed. The highlight is the river prawn pad thai which comes out on neither too dry nor wet, served wrapped in omelet that’s filled with delicate smoky flavor and two jumbo size prawns with fresh sprout and bean curd served separately on the side (B150). For a budget option, a simple pad thai with dried shrimps is also a good choice for good old classic throwback. 

Yes, it’s stylised as ‘Cüm’ – pronounced ‘coohm’. Inside The Office coworking space in Thonglor, this coffee kiosk serves respectable specialty brews, from dark-roast Brazil Santos to lighter seasonal blends. Then comes the limited-run ‘Cum Drops’ menu, with flavours such as Yuzu Cum and Butter Cum. The tagline, ‘Thanks for cüming’, isn't exactly subtle either.  125/1 Soi Sukhumvit 63, Thong Lo, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110. Daily, 8.30am-8pm

Institutional German eatery Bei Otto has been churning out some of the most impressive Bavarian flavors in Bangkok for nearly 30 years. When we heard that one of the driving forces behind this long-standing restaurant was opening his own establishment, we were overwhelmed with excitement, but we also had high expectations. We were not disappointed. Alexander’s German Eatery is a revelation, serving a splendid procession of home-style German fare. Tucked on Soi Ekkamai 12 (an alley that has seen a recent mushrooming of modern Instagrammable joints), Alexander’s German Eatery is one part beer bar, one part restaurant. The bar setting starts out in the patio, which has been filled with communal tables that can accommodate many an Oktoberfest celebration, and continues inside with a counter made from chest-sized beer barrels. The main dining room is upstairs, a homey space reminiscent of a chalet in the European countryside, complete with fake chimney, taxidermized deer head, and pictures of Bavarian landmarks. Owner Alexander von Wnuk-Lipinski is probably the city’s best ambassador for authentic German fare. His schweinshaxe (pork knuckles, B520) moves away from the fried versions—an abomination to Germans—that are usually served at other Bavarian-style joints. At Alexander’s, the pork knuckles are roasted to reveal crispy skin but tender and juicy meat — it’s one of the best we’ve had in Bangkok, served alongside white cabbage salad. The pork tenderloin is another must, and...

An artful bakery where each croissant is served fresh from the oven. Try playful creations like the six-eye spectre cookie (B130) or sun-kissed strawberry crust (B359). For a local spin, there’s a Thai tea custard croissant (B129) or pandan custard (B159), offering a familiar flavour profile in flaky form.