Asiatique: A Night Out By the River in Bangkok

Kevin Revolinski

If you’re looking for a nice night out on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, you could do a lot worse than the new restaurant/shopping/entertainment center called Asiatique. Located south of Saphan Taksin/Central Pier, Asiatique is set between the river and Charoen Krung Road. It’s also not a bad area to find a hotel in Bangkok. The buildings, designed to look like old warehouses, contain myriad small shops like a Chatuchak market gone fancy, and also feature a variety of restaurants serving a variety of cuisines: Korean, Japanese, Italian, Chinese, seafood, and the usual Thai and fusion options. There’s an Irish-style pub (Flann O’Brien’s), a pizza joint, ice cream, and several good places to get a drink as well. The traditional Thai puppetry of the Joe Louis Theater has also moved in here since their eviction from the former night market near Lumphini Park.

Many of the outlets have live music which can be a bonus or a torment. Some of it can be too loud for dinner conversation. There is a main stage in the center of the warehouses. When we went for outdoor seafood, we were treated by some surprising acoustic cover songs including a few John Denver songs. Nothing quite as odd as singing about West Virginia on a hot and humid Bangkok night by the river.

It intends to have a sort of museum element to it, hearkening back to yesteryear. Some old machinery parts, statues of Chinese workers eating a meal, train rails laid in the concrete.

We had a fabulous seafood meal at Chic Grill seafood lover with a table a tolerable distance from a second live music stage (the John Denver folks).

Turkish ice cream is served with all the tricks and treats of the talented Turkish ice cream man. Typically good for a laugh as he torments customers with their own cones.

Curried crab anyone? (Also from Chic Grill)

And no matter how upscale this place may seem, it’s still Thailand and there is always room for soi dogs.

Perhaps my favorite place in the mix is DibDib Kitchen & Bar in Warehouse 10. They had a stellar deal on a whole roasted chicken for 200 baht and a pitcher of Asahi thrown in for another 100 baht. But beyond the specials there were some really nice seafood dishes, and this four versions of ceviche plate. Bottled beers included the best deal on Delirium Nocturnum in Bangkok, 200 baht. It’s an open kitchen and there’s a sort of private room in an elevated cargo container where the DJ perches and plays some cool tunes. Sadly, it wasn’t at all busy when we went, so I worry for its future.

GETTING THERE

Located along Charoen Krung Road opposite Soi 93. Or take the free Asiatique shuttle boat from Central Pier/Saphan Taksin. When you arrive at Central Pier from the Saphan Taksin BTS station, go left along the piers to find the shuttle. Be aware that lines can get long but the boat is only for Asiatique and starts empty in either direction. Still you may have to wait for a second one during peak times. Buses down Charoen Krung Road include Nos. 1 and 75. A taxi would take just a few minutes from here (about 2 km, around 40 baht).