Table talk in Bangkok (December 18-24)

R-HAAN presents its new Flavours of Delight menu, a seasonal tasting journey shaped by winter’s most expressive Thai ingredients. The menu reflects the restaurant’s philosophy of honouring regional produce at its peak, weaving together local herbs, river prawns, winter fish and premium imported elements like Canadian lobster, Hokkaido scallops and A5 wagyu. Diners move through an elegant progression of courses, from a five-bite amuse bouche tour of Thailand to dishes such as Iberico pork Korat chili dip, Massaman beef cheek and R-HAAN’s signature tom yam, crafted with a siphon technique. Dessert closes on a classic note, with mango sticky rice or Thai taro custard. It is a thoughtful, beautifully composed menu that celebrates Thai culinary wisdom at Michelin Star level.

Tasting menu from B6,512. Reserve via 095 141 5524. R-HAAN, Thonglor. Available nightly.

ÆTHER is the newest addition to Bangkok’s skyline, a 360-degree rooftop lounge perched 44 floors above Dusit Central Park. The space takes a minimalist, design-first approach to nightlife, pairing panoramic views with a house-driven sound identity and cocktail programme rooted in modern techniques such as rotovap distillation, clarification and ultrasonic infusion. Led by Depp of Rabbit Hole, the menu leans clean, expressive and future-minded, mirroring the venue’s atmosphere-forward philosophy. Anticipate a rooftop experience built around presence, energy and cinematic ambience.

Free entry. RSVP recommended. ÆTHER, Dusit Central Park. 5pm-late.

Gaggan at Louis Vuitton welcomes the festive season with ‘Winter’s Carol’, an eight-course lunch and 11-course dinner menu running from December through February. Inspired by Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, the experience blends nostalgia, transformation and luxury through progressive Asian storytelling. Highlights include the world map trio, moving from a caviar-topped goat cheese and beetroot salad to a Thai spicy Hokkaido scallop salad and a striking foie gras pavlova. Other signatures explore heritage through a modern lens, from bites of India to purple reigns and the two-part surf-and-turf narrative – a tale of two. Desserts close on playful seasonality with shades of orange and a refined coffee and doughnut finale. It is a polished, imaginative expression of the maison’s festive spirit.

Lunch from B8,000 and dinner from B10,000. Reserve via 098 279 5240. Gaggan at Louis Vuitton, LV The Place Bangkok, December-February, 12pm-11pm. Closed Tue-Wed except Dec 16-Jan 7.

Nimitr at 137 Pillars Suites & Residences offers a composed, herb-forward take on Thai dining from its perch on the 27th floor. The menu leans into regional flavours without overstatement, moving between refined small bites, bright relishes and well-judged curries that highlight the kitchen’s ingredient-led approach. Dishes like miang kham king scallops and grilled Thai wagyu speak to the restaurant’s balance of tradition and modern technique, while selections from the nam prik and soup sections bring depth and a sense of place. With its skyline backdrop and warm, understated room, Nimitr feels suited to both leisurely dinners and evenings built around shared plates and flavour-driven cooking.

Reserve via 02 079 7000. Nimitr Thai Restaurant, 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok, 5pm-11pm.

SIWILAI City Club welcomes SAOLE as its new restaurant partner, introducing a seafood-led menu shaped by the flavours of the coast and the mountain roots that inspire the brand. The cooking blends Mediterranean, Yunnan and Lao influences, leaning into clean, wood-smoked dishes layered with wild herbs and sea salt. Highlights include gambero rosso with fish sauce, scallops in butter garlic, white chives with oyster, and SIWILAI-exclusive grilled king river prawn with lemon capers. Two signature spritzes – heatwave negro and saole – round out the experience with a bright, sun-soaked character. It is an easygoing, flavour-driven addition to the rooftop, designed for relaxed meals, good music and the city’s shifting light.

Reserve via 02 160 5631. SAOLE at SIWILAI City Club, Central Embassy. 10am-10pm.