Minibar Deli

497
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The great mini

Bangkok's foodies lover - the Minibar Royale has a mini Minibar at the Emporium (for a few years already), and it is, arguably, the most creditable full service cafe in the entire Bangkok's mall food scene.

Minibar Deli ***3/4
5/F Food Hall
the Emporium Shopping Complex
622 Sukhumvit Road
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.259.8826

Open daily : 10 am - 10 pm
Pay (food only for one): around THB 400

*(Updates (2015-Feb): Minibar Deli had vacated her outlet at the Emporium. 

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TWG

480
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A matter of tea

My favorite coffee shop at the Emporium - Salon de L'Oriental had gone, and is now replaced by the TWG Tea Salon and Boutique, a Singaporean tea vendor since 1837. There they offer food that can be elegantly stuffed into our stomach (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea) with a manner of a tea infused touch and a hint of French., besides their renowned selections of tea.

My friends and I found that their food was generous in sodium and pastries were high in sugar (higher than today's Bangkokian standards, and very high against top patisseries standards). Price is modest, and service is flawless since they kept the original team from the Salon de L'Oriental, except the trainees need an intensive training for their face movement - smile.

TWG Tea Salon and Boutique at the Emporium is definitely 'my cup of tea' to meet friends (or even to tea alone) during an afternoon tea hour at the Sukhumvit area, though it may not be my first choice to dine at. 

 














TWG Tea Salon and Boutique ***1/2
G/F the Emporium Shopping Complex
622 Sukhumvit Road
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02. 259.9510

Open daily : 10 am - 10 pm
Pay (food with tea for one): around THB 800

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Penguin Likes Chocolate

455
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Penguin likes calories

Brownies, cream pies, and chocolate cakes are rich, but wonderful, though they deliver extra sinful calories, more than I ever needed.

Penguin Likes Chocolate, run by a local chocolate enthusiast, is a recent addition to the crowded Sukhumvit gourmet strip. While there, I found that their cakes and drinks are modest in sugar, meaning sweet patrons may have less of a chance to visit a diabetes doctor in the future. Glad that now there are more local bakeries (finally) that offer real pastries, but not sugary condensed products!



Penguin Likes Chocolate ***
1/F Rain Hill Community Mall
777 Sukhumvit Road (at Suk Soi 47)
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.261.7115

Open daily : 10 am - 10 pm
Pay (pastry product only for one): around THB 160




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T Lounge afternoon tea

408
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Tea time in the supreme comfort

The T Lounge, closeted in the opulence and elegance of the Siam Kempinski Hotel, offers businessmen immediate privacy to hold a brief meeting in the hustle and bustle of the Siam area, and Paragon shoppers a real nook to relax after their exhausting shopping agenda.

I went to the T Lounge for her signature afternoon tea set with true Kempinski's European flair, and there is a pleasant surprise that her tea list (mainly by Ronnefeldt) covers selections from around the world, includes some pretty rare choices. Of course the T Lounge also serves cocktails, champagne and nice snacks to go with the booze.



T Lounge ***1/2
Siam Kempinski Hotel
991/9 Rama I Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.162.9000
T Lounge

Open daily : 10 - 1 am
Pay (afternoon tea for two): around THB 1,100
* afternoon tea set per person THB 720++

T42

395
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Tea for two

For over a decade T42 at Siam Discovery Centre (moved from its former location in the Siam Centre few months ago) serves Thai and international menu on the home-cooking approach, and its cakes have been claimed to be its strength. I found that the food is not great but a fair life-saver feast for shoppers after a day of Siam hopping and the nearby school kids. But the cakes, forget about it!


pak boong tord, THB 90, deep-fried morning glory

gaeng keo waan, THB 90, green curry with roti

tord mun pla, THB 90, deep-fried spicy fish patties

kuay teow kua gai, THB 90, stir-fried flat rice noodle, chicken & eggs

T42 (Tea for Two) ***
4/F Siam Discovery Centre
979 Rama I Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.251.6197

Open daily : 10 am - 9 pm
Pay (food only for two): around THB 400

St. Regis afternoon tea

389
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Bangkok's best view for tea

The St. Regis Hotel, landed in one of the most premium locations in Bangkok, Rajdamri Road, offers prestige dining choices for the business elites and high-so(ciety) housewives. Most of the hotel's restaurant outlets are on the high floors, with spectacular views of the city and racecourse; even a low-so person like me would like to soak in the indulgence, at least for (just) an afternoon.





Afternoon tea set ***3/4
The St. Regis Bar and the Drawing Room
The St. Regis Bangkok
159 Rajdamri Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02.207.7777
St. Regis Bar and the Drawing Room

Open daily : 12 pm (noon) - 1 am (Fri & Sat 2 am)
Pay (afternoon tea set for two): St. Regis set, THB 950++

Cassia Cafe

369
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Lunch by cassia

Cassia on Soi Sawasdee is a pleasant place to do lunch with friends.






Cassia Cafe and Tea Room ***1/2
20 Sukhumvit Soi 31 (Soi Sawasdee)
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.662.0325

Open daily : 9 am - 10 pm (Sunday opens at 10:30 am)
Pay (food only for two): around THB 900

Cassia Cafe afternoon tea

359
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Tea by the tree and creeper

My foodie friend brought me to Cassia Cafe two months ago for brunch; since then I revisited this lovely tea room several times, either with friends or alone. Once I went there for its English afternoon tea after I was dismissed from a (boring) business meeting on Soi Sawasdee (Suk Soi 31). Thanks to Cassia Cafe, I relaxed and took a sip besides the cassia tress which rescued my tired mood at that moment!



The Cassia's English afternoon tea set consists of choices of tea (among them, some are rare teas brought by the owner from around the world) or coffee, finger sandwiches, and a pair of scones. The finger sandwiches being so-so while the scones were beyond expectations. The pair of butter milk scones, served with (real) clotted cream and jam, did pose a decent Scottish accent. They had an excellent crispy-moist texture, and rich buttery flavor. Simply yummy!

The service was friendly and pleasant, though slow.



Cassia Cafe & Tea Room ***1/2
20 Sukhuvit Soi 31 (Soi Sawasdee)
Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel.: 02.662.0325
Cassia

Open Tuesday-Sunday : 9 am - 10 pm (Sunday opens at 10:30)
Pay (afternoon tea set): THB 199+ per set