Bangkok is one of those cities where it almost feels impossible to have a bad meal. From late-night street food stalls to rooftop cocktail bars and Michelin-recognized restaurants, food can be found within nearly every part of the city. But every once in a while, you come across a restaurant that feels like more than just a place to eat.
After seeing plenty of videos and reviews online of the Issay Siamese Club in Bangkok, we figured we would have to try it out for ourselves. If there’s one restaurant in Bangkok that completely surprised us, it was Issaya Siamese Club. Hidden inside a restored 100-year-old Thai villa surrounded by tropical gardens, this place feels more like stepping into someone’s private estate than walking into a restaurant in the middle of Bangkok.
Bangkok is notably known for its food scene, so we were quite excited about going to Isaaya Siamese Club for dinner.
For couples visiting Bangkok looking for a special dinner spot that still feels relaxed and creative, this is a greta recommendation. Check out our top spots in Bangkok here!
One Small Critique
The only small critique we had was the atmosphere later in the evening.
We had dinner reservations at 21:00, and by that point the restaurant had become extremely quiet. We were pretty much the only table left dining for a large portion of the evening.
While the peaceful setting was still beautiful, we personally tend to enjoy dining in a slightly livelier atmosphere with more energy and people around. Part of what we love about restaurants is the atmosphere created by a busy dining room.
So if you also enjoy that kind of ambiance, we’d probably recommend booking an earlier reservation time instead.
That said, the quieter atmosphere definitely allowed the service to feel even more attentive and personal.
Why is Isaaya Siamese Club so popular?
Before we even sat down, we understood why so many people recommend Issaya.
The restaurant is set inside a bright, colourful colonial-style mansion tucked away off a quiet street in Bangkok. Definitely something you would not expect to find. But the second you walk through the entrance off the street, you are greeted by nice lush gardens and greenery.
It’s one of those places where you immediately slow down and enjoy the experience. We took many photos before even entering the restaurant.
The restaurant was created by Ian Kittichai, one of Thailand’s most internationally recognized chefs, and the menu blends traditional Thai flavours with modern presentation and techniques.
For us, it is always more than just the food
For us, we usually judge restaurants on more than just the food alone. That said, the food here is genuinely excellent, but what really makes Issaya Siamese Club stand out is the overall experience. Between the atmosphere, setting, and uniqueness of the restaurant itself, it felt completely worth the price. We also opted in to do the Chef Ian Kittichai Tasting Menu which worked out to be around 2,990 baht a person.
What the food was actually like?
We decided to do the Chef Ian tasting menu at Issaya Siamese Club, and honestly, it ended up being one of the most memorable and cool dining experiences we’ve had in Bangkok. Every course felt like a piece of art, not just visually, but in the way the flavours, textures, and presentation all came together.
What we loved most was that it never felt overly pretentious or complicated for the sake of fine dining. The dishes still felt rooted in Thai flavours, just elevated in a really creative and thoughtful way. Each course felt completely different from the last, and there was always that moment when the plate arrived where you almost didn’t want to touch it because it looked so good.
For us, we went to Issaya Siamese Club specifically for the tasting menu and it was worth it. It first, we did not think it was going to be enough food for us as we were really hungry, but by the end of the experience we all were pretty full.
Now, is it worth the cost?
Yes! Especially if you want one memorable dining experience while visiting Bangkok.
Bangkok is famous for affordable street food, and rightly so, but part of what makes the city so incredible is that you can also experience world-class restaurants at prices that are still significantly cheaper than cities like Vancouver, New York, or Tokyo and that is exactly why we opted in to do a chef tasting menu in Bangkok rather than other Cities.
Issaya feels like an experience rather than just dinner, as we mentioned above.
For us, it was less about checking off a famous restaurant and more about spending an evening somewhere that genuinely felt special.
Tips Before You Go
Make a reservation
Issaya is popular, especially for dinner. Booking ahead is highly recommended.
Dress smart casual
You don’t need formal clothes, but it definitely feels more elevated than a casual street food dinner.
Budget more than a typical Bangkok meal
This is a higher-end restaurant by Bangkok standards, but still good value compared to fine dining in North America.