Looking for a feast in Bangkok? If you really want to pig out in the City of Angels then head straight to one of the many buffets on offer in the hotels. You can eat as much as you like, and the food is always superb. The prices can be a little steep, but for a bit of a splurge, every once in a while, they are a great meal out. A wide range of international and local dishes are offered. There is almost always a sushi bar, as well as lamb, beef, pork and various other meats. The dessert treats should satisfy any sweet teeth out there, and the cheeses act as the perfect after dinner touch. Here’s a run down of a few of the best buffets in Bangkok:
- We’ll start at the top with the Grand Hyatt Erawan. This is one luxurious buffet, with staff waiting on you hand and foot, and live music settled neatly in the background. The food is top notch, with seafood, pasta, and various roast carvings. The buffet alone will set you back around 1,700 baht. It doesn’t come cheap, but the ambience is charming and it makes for a pleasant evening. The hotel is on Rajdamri Road, close to the Chit Lom BTS stop.
- The Millennium Hilton is located next to the river. To get there, you take the Skytain to Saphan Taksin (the end of the line) and then take the Hilton’s own river boat across the water. The restaurant overlooks the river and provides a pleasing setting for dining. The large, open space loses a lot of its intimacy, but the food is fab.
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The Cheese Room is opened everyday for dinner. Highly recommended is the exclusive Cheese Lovers Table, positioned in front of the wine showcase. Price is THB 950++ per person for entrance to the cheese room only. For guests dining at the Millennium Hilton Bangkok’s exquisite dinner buffet and Sunday Brunch at FLOW, the cheese selection from the Cheese Room is inclusive in the buffet price for THB 1,500++ per person.
And now, every Friday night, join our Cheese and Wine Butlers as they expertly pair the finest international cheeses with five delectable vintages for a night of indulgence at only THB 1,600++ per person.
- Novotel Siam has a buffet for 1,100 baht in The Square restaurant. For the price, the selection is perhaps not as varied as you would hope. Being able to choose your own pizza toppings is an interesting touch, but the sushi and sashimi is not quite fresh enough. There are also decent pasta dishes, as well as choice cuts of beef and lamb. The salad bar is rather basic. The setting of the restaurant makes up for the lack of food, however, as the large chairs are seductively comfortable and the dining area feels distinctly relaxed. The staff are all smiles too. To get there, use the BTS Skytrain and get off at Siam.
- Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit is a refined hotel in an ideal location, right next to the Asok BTS station on Bangkok’s busiest and most famous road. Orchid Café is home to an excellent buffet. There are a number of Indian dishes, as well as succulent pieces of sashimi, and a wide range of quality meats. The price is a little over 1,000 baht.
- Like the Hilton, The Peninsula Hotel can be reached via boat from the pier next to Saphan Taksin BTS station. The buffet can be found at the River Café & Terrace and it will set you back 1,250 baht. It’s rather grand though, with a selection of Indian and pasta dishes, as well as lamb cutlets, chicken satay, and sirloin steaks. As always, there are some delectable cakes and cheeses to wrap things up.
So now you know where to go, how do you approach the task of eating a buffet? You need a strategy for taking on so much food at the same time. Some people choose to starve themselves before heading out for such an eating extravaganza, but this will actually hinder your progress as your stomach will shrink. In preparation for a Bangkok buffet you should have a large breakfast and snack through the day, maybe taking a light lunch if you feel up to it. This will prime your body for the onslaught that is to come.
When you get to the buffet, it’s easy to lose your cool and be overwhelmed by the number of delightful dishes on offer. Take your time, only choose the best bits on offer, and avoid ‘fillers’ such as bread and vegetables. Don’t rush it either, you’ve got all night.
While they are expensive, buffets are the best places to sample good food (lots of it) at your leisure. Whether with friends, on a romantic date, or with your family, this is a surefire way to please everyone.