Guru By Bangkok Post's pick of the most exciting products, activities, food and travel to indulge in.
STUFF
Home collection / Jim Thompson
Jim Thompson presents designed cushion covers, blankets and dining table accessories, using their heritage in quality fabrics and skill in contemporary design to adorn living rooms, bedrooms and dining areas of the most discerning of homeowners. Focusing on four prevalent colours, the Jim Thompson’s home collection provides powerful tools to arouse the desired atmosphere in a curated space. The power of the palette and its mind-altering qualities can transform the atmosphere of an interior space. Visit the website.
Reopened store / Bottega Veneta
Located on the ground level of Emporium, the new store's design draws inspiration from Bottega Veneta’s birthplace with a palette of materials derived from the Veneto region. Creative director Matthieu Blazy’s concept of "Craft In Motion" is found throughout the store, that features an innovative use of materials channelling a spirit of dynamism and movement. Elements include white Cimento tiles, marmorino (commonly known as Venetian plaster), teak wood, concrete and brass. Sodalite marble also accents the store. Characterised by an uneven surface of blue, white, black and yellow, the marble is reminiscent of water, an element inseparable from Venice. House motifs appear throughout the space, with details including door handles and hanging hooks in the shape of Drop and Sardine motifs, and Intrecciato-like weaving on leather furniture. Wooden volumes and soft textures create cozy, domestic-seeming corners, with modular shelving units, supple leather seating and wool carpets. The store also offers an exclusive selection from the Summer Solstice collection.
Farm fresh collection / Casetify
Casetify announced their latest collab with Sonny Angel, a creation of Toru Soeya. The collection will take inspiration from Sonny Angel’s best-selling Harvest series, resulting in an assortment of accessories highlighting summer fruits and veggies. Fans of the figurines can shop the collection from July 19 via Casetify's website. The collaboration will showcase three unique designs including the Sonny Angels Harvest Medley Case, the Heavenly Angel Case, and the Harvest Heart Series Case where fans can choose to represent their favourite figurine (or multiple) from the collection.
EAT
20 years / Tsu Japanese Restaurant / Until Nov 30
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Tsu Japanese Restaurant at the JW Marriott Bangkok will take diners on a five-month culinary adventure, inviting them to experience Japanese cuisine through the lens of the five senses — sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch — with the exclusive “5 Senses” menu series. Until Nov 30, each month will feature a unique menu focused on a specific sense. For July, the “Visual Feast” highlights hassun and Miyazaki striploin. For August, the “Aroma Of Memories” will see “Three Kinds Of A La Minute Smoked”. September sees the “Sounds Of Cuisine” with sizzling Seared Wagyu, Salmon and Hamachi sushi, and the rhythmic scraping of Chan-Chan Yaki. October will offer a “Symphony Of Flavors” , and November will have "Textures And Temperatures”. Visit the hotel’s website.
Dinner buffet / The St. Regis Bangkok / Until Aug 31
The St. Regis Bangkok invites guests to explore an extensive selection of surf and turf with its Epic Dinner Buffet until Aug 31. Available every Friday and Saturday, the buffet feast offers a vast choice of delectable dishes from land to sea, served directly to the table. Indulge in a premium all-you-can-eat seafood extravaganza, featuring river prawns, tiger prawns, barramundi fillets, king mackerel, New Zealand mussels, sweet local sea snails, squid, scallops and a selection of the finest oysters such as Fine de Claire, Fine de Normandie and Irish oysters, freshly grilled or steamed, complemented by a variety of delectable sauces. Each guest will also enjoy a special serving of Boston lobster, prepared either as lobster Thermidor or grilled lobster. Visit the hotel’s website.
Afternoon teas / Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok
Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok debuts two Afternoon Tea Signature Sets at Maa-Lai Library. The “Afternoon Tea At The Library” includes an array of luxurious bites, including highlights such as Salmon on beetroot toast, Lobster salad on crostini, Foie gras summer roll, Raspberry cream éclairs and Chocolate caramel lava cakes. The Vegetarian Signature Set features delicious meat-free bites such as Stuffed conchiglie pasta, Avo toast, Honey macadamia tarts, Mango crunch cheesecakes and Strawberry choux au craquelin. Both sets come with two pots of premium Thai loose-leaf tea from Monteaco, including two blends exclusive to the hotel. With the launch of Maa-Lai Library's "Sundowner At The Library," guests can savour bites like Coal-roasted oysters, Goat cheese croquettes and Cauliflower bites. Choose your favourite drink, such as the house favourite Lumduan Milk Punch or a tippling glass of Maa-Lai Martini. Visit the hotel’s website.
Laylanta Shrimp / Pagoda Chinese Restaurant / Until Aug 31
Pagoda Chinese Restaurant at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park is offering four dishes with Laylanta shrimp, a local and sustainable delicacy from Thailand’s southern seas, until Aug 31. Sourced from the Ulak Lawoi tribe in Koh Lanta, Krabi, expect to taste the shrimp in a variety of styles, from Sichuan to Hong Kong. Choose from Braised Laylanta shrimp in house-made Sichuan hot and sour chili sauce, with mantou, or Steamed Laylanta shrimp with vermicelli, garlic and ham in a clay pot, or Wok-fried Laylanta shrimp with supreme soy sauce, spring onion and dried chili.
Yum cha / Asiatique Ancient Tea House / Until Aug 31
Asiatique Ancient Tea House is offering an “All-You-Can-Eat Yum Cha” until Aug 31. Diners can indulge in more than 30 delectable delicacies. Signature dishes include prawn Har gao and asparagus, crispy pastry with shrimp and prosciutto ham, foie gras, steamed crispy prawn rice roll, deep-fried purple sweet potato shrimp and pork, and beef brisket egg noodle in chicken broth. Every dining experience can end on a sweet note with a choice of traditional desserts. The delights can be complemented with premium Chinese teas, including steaming pots of Baimudan, Dragon Well, Tieguanyin, Chrysanthemum tea, as well as special tea-infused cocktails. Visit the restaurant's website.
New concepts / Chatrium Grand Bangkok
Savio, the popular all-day dining destination at Chatrium Grand Bangkok, is delighted to announce the launch of its innovative new weekday and weekend buffet concepts. The weekday buffets offer the Regular Buffet Lunch or the Premium Buffet Lunch, featuring a wide variety of premium dishes and a dim sum trolley. In the evenings, indulge in the Regular Buffet Dinner or the Premium Buffet Dinner. This option boasts all-you-can-eat premium sushi and sashimi, including Blue-fin tuna, Otoro, Chutoro, Akami, Hamachi, Salmon Trout, free-flow Singha beer and much more. The weekday buffets are available Monday through Thursday. Savio’s weekend buffets offer a vibrant and bountiful selection, with all-you-can-eat Wagyu tomahawk, one-time serving of Foie gras, Lobster tail Thermidor and Beef Rossini. Visit the hotel’s website.
Flavours of Spain / Goji Kitchen + Bar / Until July 28
Goji Kitchen + Bar at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park will host chef Miguel Blanco Díaz-Cardama, the executive sous chef from Hotel Arts Barcelona. For 10 days, he will delight diners with a selection of Spanish delicacies. Enjoy six hot and cold tapas plates. Diners will also be able to savour a selection of chef Miguel’s signature dishes, including Suquet de gamba roja y merluza con codium (traditional fish stew with hake, red prawns and codium), and two types of Spanish paella: Seafood and chicken. Visit the hotel’s website.
A la carte delights / Ventisi Restaurant
Step into a world of flavours at Ventisi Restaurant at the Centara Grand at CentralWorld, Bangkok. The latest a la carte menus celebrate the traditions of Italian and Thai cuisine, each dish a testament to the culinary expertise of talented chefs. Indulge in the authentic tastes of Italy and Thailand, ensuring a dining experience that honours the rich culinary heritage of both countries. At the Italian station, the a la carte menu offers pizzas to fresh pasta, seafood salad, antipasto misto of sliced arancini, fried calamari, truffle schiacciata, Parma ham, speck, salami di Felino, burrata and cherry tomatoes, marinated olives, marinated white anchovies and fried olives. The Thai menu begins with crispy crab meat and herbs in lotus leaf or the marinated minced shrimp with salted egg yolk Chiang Rai Pal Dao walnut wrapped in an egg net. The flower dumplings stuffed with salmon are beautifully presented and delicious, while the seabite salad with crab meat provides a refreshing and light option. Visit the hotel's website.
STAY
Exclusive package / Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket / Until Aug 30
The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket has launched the “4 Nights in Paradise” package. The package includes an array of benefits for travellers who book a minimum four-night stay. Guests will be able to start each day with complimentary breakfast for two adults and two children (below the age of 12) and enjoy a 20% discount on à la carte menu items and drinks (excluding alcohol). Wellness seekers can also enjoy a generous 20% discount on à la carte spa treatments, including massages, body scrubs, wraps and facials. Bookings can be made until Aug 30 for stays before Sept 30.
New ship / Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has unveiled a new ship, “Seven Seas Prestige”. Regent’s first new ship class in 10 years will be delivered in 2026. At 77,000 tonnes and hosting up to 850 guests, the ship will boast one of the highest space-to-guest ratios in the cruise industry. “Seven Seas Prestige” is the first of two prestige-class ships, the second of which will be launched in 2029.
Celebrating marriage equality / 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok
June 2024 marked a historic moment as Thailand joined a growing list of countries that have embraced marriage equality. To celebrate this milestone, 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok is offering an inclusive experience for every couple. Under the “Romantic Getaway Package”, couples can enjoy a night’s accommodation in the Sukhothai Suite with breakfast, a floral display in the bathtub, chocolates and Champagne Vieille France Brut Vintage 2006, a spa treatment for two, a four-course dinner at Nimitr Restaurant & Rooftop Bar, 24-hour access to the rooftop pool, personal butler service and access to the Baan Borneo Club with various daily benefits. Visit the hotel’s website.
An iconic return / Dusit Thani Bangkok / Sept 27
The rebuilt-from-scratch Dusit Thani Bangkok aims for an iconic return and is ready to welcome guests from Sept 27. It'll be back taller and bigger than its previous height of 22 floors and 18 rai. Things will get even more exclusive and luxurious at Dusit Thani Bangkok, which now occupies 23 rai, as it reduces the number of accommodation units by half in comparison to its predecessor. The new hotel features 257 rooms (from 517 of its previous incarnation) across 39 single-corridor floors with a guaranteed view of Lumphini Park. Rooms start spacious at 50sqm and each comes with a piece-de-resistance "Golden Box", which is a bay-window-side daybed from where guests can take in the uninterrupted view of lush Lumphini Park from their indoor comfort through seamless five-by-two-metres glass. The inviting interior subtly oozes Thainess through small details such khan tok tray and wall coverings inspired by traditional walls at Thai houses. There are several more floors at the top of the new Dusit Thani Bangkok for rooftop revelry while its original golden spire will be on display there, albeit with a new twist. While there are many new things awaiting guests, there will be several reminders of the hotel's long history such as a new take on the lotus-inspired lobby and the nine-stepped waterfall. More impressively, the muralled columns and walls of Thai restaurant Benjarong are preserved, touched up and turned into art pieces to greet guests. Booking is available via its website.
JOIN
Nigerian film / TK Park (Thailand Knowledge Park) / July 27
The second film screening of the "2024 Contemporary World Film Series" will be the Nigerian film, "Lionheart", on July 27 at TK Park (Thailand Knowledge Park), CentralWorld, at 4pm. Tickets are B20. The movie stars one the most famous actresses of Nigeria, who plays the daughter of a businessman trying to manage her father’s transport-business, when he suddenly falls ill. The film is an inspiring tale of a strong Nigerian woman, who faces all crises with equanimity, even though she has many self-doubts herself. It’s truly a tribute to African womanhood. The lead-actress also directs the film. The Embassy of Nigeria will host a reception of snacks and drinks after the screening, with the Nigerian Charge D’ Affaires Mohammed Haidara introducing the film. Email filmforum17@gmail.com for tickets.
Youngr in Bangkok / Lido Connect / July 26
Youngr will perform live in Bangkok on July 26 at Lido Connect Hall 3. Get ready for an electrifying musical experience as the talented Youngr brings his one-of-a-kind performance to the City of Angels. There will be music, dance sequences and abundant, exhilarating energy. Prepare to be enthralled as Youngr delivers chart-topping singles such as "Out Of My System" and "Remember”, along with other hits that will have you dancing the night away. Youngr is known for his dynamic stage presence and genre-defying music. Buy tickets at tinyurl.com/mrsbvpr6.
Friday Night / Lost and Found / July 19
Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel is hosting an extravagant display of lights, sound and a special show featuring all-time hits from the superstar, “Katy Perry”, performed by the talented Drag Queen, “Lucy Bulls” at Lost & Found, the bar and restaurant with a mysterious tunnel ambiance, on July 19. Visit the hotel’s website.
Fiesta Mexicana / Diplomat Bar / July 19
A “Margarita Fiesta” will be held at the Diplomat Bar, Conrad Bangkok until July 31. However, on July 19 get ready to immerse in margaritas that are timeless classics or ones with innovative twists. On July 19, at the "Fiesta Mexicana” event enjoy an evening filled with sipping, savouring and celebration. Visit the hotel’s website.
12th anniversary / Above Eleven / July 25
Above Eleven, Bangkok’s iconic Peruvian Japanese rooftop restaurant, is turning 12, and they're throwing an epic bash to celebrate the anniversary along with Peru's Independence Day on July 25. The evening promises a vibrant mix of music, dance and cultural festivities with DJ performances, live music, dance acts and a percussionist to keep the beats alive. The nightspot will also host a lucky draw with 12 prizes, including a B10,000 dining voucher. Visit the website.
For Japanophiles / TCDC / Until July 28
Appreciate soft power from Japan at this exhibition, which is dedicated to a parade of yokai, a catchall term for all kinds of supernatural beings and mysterious phenomena. The yokai cavalcade is curated by Yumoto Koiji, an honourary director of Miyoshi Mononoke Museum. The museum in Hiroshima is famous for its 5,000 artworks and objects related to yokai so you probably can't find anyone who's more well-versed in this subject. Meet all kinds of yokai — from harmless to scary — at the gallery room on the first floor of TCDC Bangkok. It closes on Mondays. The exhibition is a collaboration between The Japan Foundation and Creative Economy Agency.
Healing exhibition / MunMun Srinakarin / Until July 12, 2025
This therapeutic space/art show by Eyedropper Fill is designed for anyone who needs a cheer-me-up. It's divided into various room for visitors to engage in self-reflection, embrace their emotions, close their eyes and recharge and listen to stories from others. Plenty of photo ops amid mesmerising light design are added bonuses. This is a ticketed event and you can buy a ticket from Eventpop. MunMun Srinakarin is on the second floor of Seacon Square Srinagarindra.
200 years of Thai art / The National Gallery of Thailand / Until Aug 31
The National Gallery of Thailand (Chao Fa Art Gallery) and The Art Auction Center to go on a journey through the history of modern Thai art. "200 Years Journey Through Thai Modern Art History" gathers noted art pieces to illustrate the evolution of Thai art scene from Khrua In Khong (a painter who lived in the reigns of King Rama III and IV), Alex Face's three-eyed baby to Crybaby Molly's adorable sculptures. It showcases more than 100 rare and significant artworks from the collection of Kornkamol and Piriya Vachajitpan, art collectors and founders of The Art Auction Center, Thailand's leading art auction company. Their concept of a "public art museum" opens the door for art enthusiasts to appreciate masterpieces by veteran masters and emerging talents, who have brought Thai art to international acclaim. This is a ticketed event but free admission for students in uniform, monks, novices, clergy of other religions and senior citizens.
