11 Best Restaurants in Around Bangkok, Thailand

Handsome locally fired floor tiles are among the original features of the century-old teak home this atmospheric old restaurant occupies. Step onto the riverside terrace and you could be in Venice—the waterway throbs with life, with tiny tugs pulling impossibly large barges loaded with rice, and a small jetty where guests get picked up for a dinner cruise.

This quiet garden restaurant is decked out in wood with lots of local flourishes, from the thatched roof to the colorful woven tablecloths and settings. The signature dish, Massaman curry, is a righteous version of the classic—thick, mildly spiced, and made with heaps of palm sugar, it's a good balm for stomachs struggling with chili overdose.

This large restaurant with white tablecloth seating inside and a pleasant garden outside is just the sort of local restaurant that you shouldn't miss. The menu is Thai-Chinese and you can feast on regional specialties and good seafood.

This terrace restaurant, covered in classic Thai wood furniture, is nestled in a little garden overlooking the wooden bridge and the lake. You can order local fish dishes, Thai and Burmese specialties, as well as salads, sandwiches, and Western-style breakfasts.

For cheap eats, the market opens early in the evening with dozens of vendors selling Thai soups, rice dishes, satays, and other delights. The blended frozen fruit drinks are particularly good. All sorts of electronics, clothing, and other goods are also for sale.

It's worth the effort to get to this excellent restaurant in the countryside, located just over the river Kwai Yai on the way to Sai Yok National Park. The food is just as enticing, with the authentic and uncompromising Thai flavors showcased in classics such as tom yum (hot, sour soup) and hor mok (steamed Thai fish custard) expertly rendered. 

With a great view of the River Kwai Bridge from its terraces and lots of lush greenery, this floating restaurant has a sophisticated yet comfortable feel. It caters mostly to Thais, so the food can be quite spicy—if you can't handle it, ask the waiter to tone the heat down (say "mai phet").

This is a great option for tasty vegan and vegetarian specialities from the northeast of Thailand, including curries that pack a fiery kick. The eponymous owner also offers cooking classes and it's clear from the punchy dishes that she has plenty of wisdom to pass on. Desserts of mango or jackfruit with sticky rice provide a toothsome finale to any meal. 

An appealing mélange of local flora and traditional Thai decor greets patrons as they enter this charming bar and restaurant on the bank of the Pa Sak River. The visual delights continue in the low-ceilinged dining areas, which are packed with collectibles, from old bottles to timepieces, and half the restaurant sits on a pontoon floating on the water. Try the grilled river prawns: an Ayutthaya signature.

In a small wooden house by the river, this family-run restaurant attached to Rabieng Guesthouse serves many classic Thai dishes and a few Western ones for very reasonable prices. It opens early at 8 am but is one of just a few places in the area that stays open after sunset (until midnight daily).

You'll find all the Thai classics at this typically lively night market, but what makes Sangklaburi's nightly open-air food fest different is the range of stalls selling interesting Karen, Mon, and Burmese dishes. Stroll around and see which direction your tastebuds take you.