Romantic restaurants to impress your date around Thailand

You get only one chance to make a good first impression. So if you’re planning a perfect date, go that extra mile and make it memorable. Start off by planning a meal that includes top tables with views of the river; a private chat with celebrity chefs; or romantic stroll along a picturesque hill. For Mastercard cardholders, you’ll be receiving special privileges at certain establishments. Here are some of the best places to set the perfect mood for your date.

Araksa Tea Garden

Where: Chiang Mai

If he or she is your cup of tea, you can bond over your shared love for the hot drink at Araksa Tea Garden. You’ll have plenty to do together, and we know how partaking in a shared activity binds like no other. Stroll through the lush tea plantations – it’s the perfect, picturesque setting to learn more about each other, as well as how tea leaves are picked and processed using traditional methods. Then, take a break sampling different types of teas and a Thai snack, before you try your hand at creating your very own blend which you can take home as a gift. The date rounds off nicely with a three-course Thai lunch in the Tea House.

Priceless moment: Get a guided tour of the plantations, learn how to pluck tea from experienced growers and whip up your very tea blend.

Blue by Alain Ducasse

Where: Bangkok

Reservations to this one-Michelin-starred restaurant are no longer a chore thanks to the priority reservation Mastercard cardholders can enjoy. The world-famous French chef, Alain Ducasse, first launched Blue at ICONSIAM to much fanfare in 2019. Don’t let its mall location deter you, as one of the privileges cardholders can indulge in includes access to the best seats in the house. Get welcomed with champagne in the lounge, before diving into the nine-course contemporary French dinner. It’s a stunning treat for both the stomach and eyes with dishes like golden caviar and pomelo.

Priceless moment: Gorgeous views of the Chao Phraya river because you’re in the best seats in the house, plus a private tour of the kitchen where you get to meet the talents behind your dishes.

Nusara

Where: Bangkok 

This latest brainchild of chef Thitid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn, Nusara, serves up “colorful Thai cuisine” that is a unique blend of traditional recipes with modern appeal. The food takes after recipe books that came from King Rama V’s royal kitchens. Feast on their 12-course Thai tasting menu, which comprises of small, creative dishes, before moving onto larger dishes meant for sharing. Delicious standouts include the wok-fried Wagyu beef with basil, as well as the chef’s signature crab curry served on a crispy betel leaf and topped with horseshoe crab roe.
 
Priceless moment: Indulging in creative 12-course Thai tasting menu that strikes the perfect balance between traditional and modernity. Set in a sophisticated shophouse right around the Ta Tien area, guests can head to the balcony before or after dinner for lovely views of Wat Pho.  

Samut

Where: Phuket

If you love your seafood, this new, buzzing establishment showcases impressive Thai seafood fine-dining. Samut means ocean in Thai, which is fitting as no land meat is served. The 8-course tasting menu, which includes 16 dishes, will bring you all over Phuket’s coastline with its bold flavors on razor clams, lobsters, red snappers, tiger prawns, and more. As the focus is on local ingredients and a fiery, southern palate, you’ll also discover the chef’s reinterpretation of Phuket dim sum. Service is attentive and exceptional red and white wines are available, as well as helpful recommendations on wine pairings.

Priceless moment: Utmost privacy of being surrounded by only four other tables, while enjoying gastronomic delicacies made with the freshest catches from local fishermen. 

Le Du

Where: Bangkok

It’s not hard to see why Chef Thitid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn is a huge culinary star in Thailand’s food industry. When he opened his Thai fine-dining restaurant, Le Du, his groundbreaking reinterpretation of Thai food and mastery of French techniques would pave the way for future chefs to also elevate Thai food to spectacular, haute cuisine. The one-Michelin-starred restaurant is now one of the most impossible-to-book hotspots, but fret not, as Mastercard cardholders have the privilege of priority access to this top dining destination. His famed khao khluk kapi, (rice cooked with salty shrimp paste and pork jam) makes the basic comfort dish impressively memorable with a side serving of river prawns.

Priceless moment: Besides dining at the world-renowned restaurant, you’ll also get to meet the man himself, who is a celebrity of Thailand’s culinary circuit. Learn about Chef Ton’s philosophy or ask him about his days working in the New York kitchens of Jean-Georges.  

La Sala di Otto

Where: Bangkok

It’s hard to go wrong with Italian and plush seating when it comes to proper date nights. La Sala di Otto is in the perfect setting: it’s located in the newly-rebranded boutique hotel, Muu Bangkok, where you’ll likely brush shoulders with the cities’ most beautiful and snazzy tribes. There are only 12 seats at this fine Italian restaurant. Chef Joe uses the finest ingredients to create delicious Italian fare and vibrant Mediterranean flavors, with a cave of organic wines and exclusive fine wines to fully create the Italian fine-dining experience.

Priceless moment: Besides priority reservations, meet and greet with chef Joe at the end of your meal and also receive a special surprise dish from the chef.

Produced by Sawasdee for Mastercard