Chakrabongse Riverside Restaurant Bangkok

Chakrabongse Riverside Restaurant Bangkok overlooks the River of Kings, affording a gorgeous view of the Temple of Dawn across the legendary waterway. With outdoor and indoor dining areas, the celebrated Bangkok restaurant opens for dinner only, serving mouthwatering Royal Thai Cuisine with a different tasting menu each evening. It closes Mondays. Advance reservations are necessary.

In This Post

The Back Story

Who doesn’t like Thai cuisine? In fact, Thai cuisine has got to be one of the world’s most popular cooking styles. But what exactly is Royal Thai Cuisine? And what sets it apart from the Thai most of us have come to love?

According to Michelin, Royal Thai Cuisine is the “apex” of Thai cuisine. And there are “specific rules and high standards that set it apart from central Thai cuisine”. And this puts Royal Thai Cuisine in class of its own.

First of all, all ingredients must be the best and freshest ingredients available. Secondly, any bones, pits, or stones must be removed (I like it already!). Thirdly, flavours must be in perfect balance. In other words, not too sweet, not too sour, not too salty, and not too spicy.

I knew I was in for a treat when I learned that Secret Retreats had arranged dinner for me at Chakrabongse Dining, whose menus are inspired by original family recipes from the kitchens of the Grand Palace.

Restaurant Overview

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Chakrabongse Dining occupies a privileged location at the front of the lush tropical gardens of Chakrabongse Villas, a prestigious boutique hotel with only seven rooms and suites

Overlooking the River of Kings, a.k.a. the Chao Phraya, it offers a view of the Temple of Dawn, a.k.a. Wat Arun. And the view of the imposing temple is especially captivating at sunset.

Restaurant Menu

Chakrabongse Dining serves a multi-course degustation menu. And it changes daily. While there are no a la carte dishes, the menu can be adjusted if you have any special dietary requirements or preferences.

Not only are vegetables sourced from the restaurant’s very own organic garden. In addition, there is good news for vegetarians! The price for the Bangkok restaurant’s vegetarian menu is substantially lower than the price for its ordinary menu.

The Riverside Dining Pavilion serves a different degustation menu each night. It starts with appetizers. The main course comprises several dishes, which are served all at the same time. And it concludes with a simple – but mouth-watering – dessert.

My Dinner

My dinner was sponsored by Secret Retreats. And a rundown of the dishes I was served follows.

My dinner began with three mouthwatering appetizers, which were beautifully plated. And they included dried fish with watermelon, stir-fried Chayote shots topped with mushroom sauce, and deep-fried river prawns drizzled with tamarind sauce.

OMG! The gorgeous presentation really got my mouth watering. And my palate was not disappointed. To clarify, the starters were absolutely delicious!

BTW, chayote is an edible plant belonging to the gourd family.

The main course consisted of several dishes served in a lovely round platter. In addition, there was a yummy yellow curry on the side. And it was accompanied by red rice cooked in a banana leaf.

Steamed flower shaped dumpling filled with minced chicken.
Chicken satay served with sweet chili sauce.
Chakrabongse garden house herbs salad.
Roasted duck fillets in spicy and sour broth with Thai sweet basil leaves.
Green Curry with beef and chilies.
Stir-fried Pak Choi with mushroom sauce.

What a wonderful introduction to Royal Thai Cuisine! Was this the best Thai dinner I’ve ever had? It was surely a dinner fit for a king!

My dinner concluded with simple but delicious dessert: coconut ice cream and diced mango accompanied by seasonal fruit. And it was washed down with – what else? – a mojito!

The Ambiance

Chakrabongse Dining features both indoor and outdoor dining spaces. Weather permitting, the outdoor terrace is ideal, with that stunning view of the River of Kings and the Temple of Dawn in the distance.

And that is where I had dinner. I particularly enjoyed watching the on-going parade of pleasure craft and floating restaurants, which provided a lovely backdrop to my sumptuous dining experience. And the view of the Temple of Dawn at sunset was absolutely gorgeous.

If, however, it is raining or it is particularly hot, you might prefer to dine in the indoor dining room, which offers an elegant dining space in air-conditioned comfort.

The Verdict

My dinner was absolutely fantastic! What a wonderful way to kick-start my two-month sojourn through the Land of Smiles. In terms of the food, the setting, and the service, I would have to give Chakrabongse Dining an enthusiastic two thumbs up!

The Location

Chakrabongse Riverside Restaurant – 396 Maharaj Road, Tatien, Bangkok, Thailand.

The hotel is located along the banks of the Chao Praya River in Bangkok’s Old Town. It is a short walk from the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and a short tuk-tuk ride from the Grand Palace.

Secret Retreats

Chakrabongse Villas is a member of Secret Retreats, a collection of unique properties and experiences – including boutique hotels, villas, cruises, restaurants, and exclusive itineraries – throughout Asia. It is a community built by independent owners and chefs to share resources and ideas.

Together, it offers guests authentic travel experiences that go beyond typical offerings to connect to the very heart of Asian culture and traditions. Secret Retreats Members are vibrant advocates of their surroundings and passionate about sharing special moments with travelers curious to discover the “essence of Asia”.

All properties and experiences also emphasize supporting local communities, environments. and sustainability efforts in which they are based to ensure continued opportunities for both locals and travelers for years to come. Learn more at here: Secret Retreats.