Kuppa A great pit stop in Sukhumvit for casual lunch (pizza, Caesar salad, homestyle tuna sandwiches) as well as for Thai specialties and house-roasted coffee. The dinner menu is more upscale; try the crispy duck with wild mushroom risotto. Dinner for two $38. 39 Sukhumvit Rd., Soi; 16 66-2/663-0450
Le Café Siam A Thai-French restaurant in a 1921 house in the Sathorn neighborhood. The languid atmosphere and colonial décor—the antique furniture and lamps are all for sale—nearly overshadows the food. Dinner for two $30. 4 Soi Sri Akson, Chua Ploeng; 66-2/671-0030 www.lecafesiam.com
Q Bar The coolest bar in town, a branch of the Saigon original, is a great place to check out the Bangkok scene after dinner in Sukhumvit. 34 Sukhumvit Rd., Soi 11; 66-2/252-3274 www.qbarbangkok.com
SHOPPING
Central Chidlom The sixth floor of this upscale department store, one Skytrain stop from Siam Square, is filled with traditional Thai merchandise—tableware, wooden utensils, decorative items—much of it from the Chiang Mai area. 1027 Pleonchit Rd.; 66-2/655-7777
Emporium Bangkok's newest upscale shopping plaza, the first in the Sukhumvit area, with such international names as Louis Vuitton and Versace. The witty home-design products at Propaganda (66-2/691-6331; www.propagandaonline.com) make for unusual gifts to take home. Living with Jim Thompson (66-2/664-8616; www.jimthompson.com), the contemporary furnishings line, has an outlet here as well. Sukhumvit Rd., Soi 24; 66-2/664-8000
Neold Collection This shop specializes in Thai baskets, sculptures, and antiques. There is also a branch at the Regent Bangkok. 149/2-3 Suriwong Rd.; 66-2/235-8916
Rasi Sayam A Bangkok fixture that sells high-quality crafts—baskets, ceramics—in a charming old house in Sukhumvit. 32 Sukhumvit Rd., Soi 23; 66-2/258-4195
Siam Center and Siam Discovery Center These adjacent shopping plazas house trendy shops and outlets for most of the top young Thai designers as well as imported brands. The Discovery Center is newer and more upscale, with home décor shops like Habitat, Punta, Fai Sor Kam, and Anyroom (66-2/658-0481), which carries Sakul Intakul's vases. The Gold Class Cinema (66-2/658-0454; www.egvcinemas.com) on the Discovery Center's sixth floor shows first-run Hollywood films and is closer to a private screening room than a traditional theater—reclining seats with footrests, a lounge, and waiters serving drinks and meals. 989 Rama I Rd.; 66-2/658-1000; www.bihc.co.th
Sogo Erawan A full-service department store near the Regent hotel. Cocoon, the elegant Thai home design boutique that sells everything from candles to throw pillows, has a branch here. Rajadamri Rd.; 66-2/256-9131
DAY SPAS
Pirom Spa A full-service day spa in a converted light-filled house and garden. Good massages, and great natural soaps for sale (try the jasmine rice variety). 78 Sukhumvit Rd., Soi Ruen Rudee; 66-2/655-3525-8 fax 66-2/255-6080; www.piromspa.com
Being Spa Currently in with fashion-conscious locals, who go for special treatments such as the Thai-pepper body scrub. 88 Sukhumvit Rd., Soi 51; 66-2/662-6171; www.beingspa.com
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