The spirit of the place according to Rush Pleansuk
An interior architect, designer and artist, Rush Pleansuk has won numerous awards - Elle Décoration, Denmark Decoration Award in Thailand, G-Mark Japan International Good Design Award. His brand, Sumphat, draws on the ancestral skills of Thailand's rural people, using them to make objects inspired by nature and tradition.
By Cécile Balavoine Photos Ludovic Maisant -
Rush Pleansuk
In Bangkok, I'm always on the lookout for new foodie addresses. I love discovering new restaurants and new chefs. In the Sukhumvit district, I love Upstairs at Mikkeller. Firstly because it's an idyllic place, an old house with a lot of glass, surrounded by a luxuriant garden. On the ground floor or on the terrace, you can drink Danish beers - the concept was born in Copenhagen - but also beers from all over the world. Upstairs, you can enjoy dishes of unprecedented refinement, very contemporary, with food and beer pairings. Dan Bark, a young chef who trained at the Michelin-starred Peninsula Chicago, is as much a visual artist as he is a magician...
In Bangkok, I'm always on the lookout for new foodie addresses. I love discovering new restaurants and new chefs. In the Sukhumvit district, I love Upstairs at Mikkeller. Firstly because it's an idyllic place, an old house with a lot of glass, surrounded by a luxuriant garden. On the ground floor or on the terrace, you can drink Danish beers - the concept was born in Copenhagen - but also beers from all over the world. Upstairs, you can enjoy dishes of unprecedented refinement, very contemporary, with food and beer pairings. Dan Bark, a young chef who trained at the Michelin-starred Peninsula Chicago, is as much a visual artist as he is a flavour magician. Everything is so delicate: caviar on a lemon and celery purée; kingfish soup on a bed of pistachio, yuzu and nasturtium flower... In the same district, I also like Supanniga Eating Room, a designer Thai restaurant with a breathtaking metal roof terrace.
When I'm around, I take the opportunity to do some shopping in the neighbouring malls, particularly at Central Embassy. On the 4th floor, there are design boutiques such as Good Design, as well as a beautiful bookshop, HardCover, where I sell some of my objects. There's also a floor dedicated to Thai designers. Nearby, Siam Discovery and EMQuartier are also interesting.
Bangkok is currently experiencing a real architectural boom, its symbol being the Mahanakhon Tower, also known as the Pixel Tower. At the foot of the tower, you absolutely must dine at the Namsaah Bottling Trust, a stunning pink house dating from the 1910s that was once a royal estate and then a bottle factory. All the old woodwork has been preserved and the atmosphere is intimate, a little Chinese-inspired "baroque&roll", with subdued red lights. Chef Ian Kittichai likes to play with codes and surprise. His Pad Thai is enhanced with fresh foie gras, and his tacos have Asian flavours. You absolutely must try the passion fruit and honey margarita...
Nearby, further south, in a renovated old villa with windows reminiscent of a Le Corbusier building, Frenchman Jérémy Opritesco, one of Namsaah's partners, also launched the YenakArt gallery in 2015. Surrounding the gallery is a large tropical garden where sculptures can be displayed. Young Thai artists often have pride of place here, which is rare in Bangkok. The Numthong Gallery also favours up-and-coming local artists. But when I feel like recapturing a bit of the Thailand of yesteryear, I head for Jim Thompson House. Established in the 1950s by an American adventurer with a passion for Asian art, the Jim Thompson House is a collection of traditional houses and rare objects. It's well worth the diversions. And if you'd like to pick up some pretty old things - silk, wooden objects, tea, clothes, antiques - head for the Chatuchak market! I love wandering around at weekends, looking for something that inspires me...
UPSTAIRS AT MIKKELLERTHE JIM THOMPSON HOUSENAMSAAH BOTTLING TRUSTSIAM DISCOVERY
Rush Pleansuk's good addresses
UPSTAIRS AT MIKKELLER26 Ekkamai Soi 10, Lane 2, Phra Khanong Nuea, Watthana - Tel: +66 91 713 9034 - Internet: mikkeller.dk/location/upstairs-at-mikkeller-bangkok/ SUPANIGA EATING ROOM160/11 Soi Sukhumvit 55 - Klongton Nuea, Watthana - Tel: +66 2 714 7508 - Internet: www.supannigaeatingroom.com CENTRAL EMBASSY1031 Ploenchit road, Pathumwan - Tel: +66 2 119 77 77 - Internet: www.centralembassy.com SIAM DISCOVERYRama I Rd, Pathum Wan - Tel: +66 2 658 1000 - Internet : www.siamdiscovery.co.thEMQUARTIERInternet: www.theemdistrict.com NAMSAAH BOTTLING TRUST401 Silom Soi 7, Silom Road - Tel: +66 2 636 6622 - Internet: www.namsaah.com YENAKART VILLA,
69 Soi Prasat Suk, Yen Akat Road, Kwaeng Chongnonsee, Khet Yannawa - Tel: +66 2 235 9800 - Internet: www.yenakartvilla.com NUMTHONG GALLERY72/3 Aree 5 (North), Phahonyothin 7, Phahonyothin Road, Phyathai - Tel: +66 81 918 5067 - Internet : gallerynumthong.comTHE JIM THOMPSON HOUSE6 Soi Kasem San 2, Rama 1 Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan - Tel: +66 2 216 7368 - Internet : www.jimthompsonhouse.comTHE CHATUCHAK MARKET587/10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak (get off at Kamphaeng Phet station)
By using our site, you consent to the use of cookies.
We use cookies on our site to store and/or access information about your device, in particular to offer you advertising and to compile statistics in order to improve ergonomics, navigation and editorial content.
Analytical cookies enable us to gather valuable information to optimise the performance of our site and improve your user experience.
By accepting cookies, you are supporting the work of our editorial team in providing you with quality information, while enabling us to offer you content and services tailored to your interests.
For more information, please consult our page Privacy policy.
