From new restaurants to hotels and school campuses, here’s our roundup.

By Ashima Sethi

Waki Waki

Conveniently located in Sukhumvit Soi 24, Waki Waki (pictured above) is the city’s newest must-visit sushi joint. What sets it apart is that the restaurant offers a full vegetarian menu, with options ranging from appetisers and salads to sashimi, maki rolls, rice dishes, and more. Considering it’s rare to find Japanese cuisine that puts an emphasis on veggie-friendly dining rather than seafood, the new establishment is a welcome addition to Bangkok’s diverse restaurant landscape. Some of their most recommended items include the Hijack maki (THB 280) that combines jackfruit ‘tuna’ with cucumber, avocado, and jalapeño; Naked samurai maki (THB 310) consisting of beetroot tempura, asparagus, and avocado, all topped with spicy mayo and roasted golden needle mushroom; and the Avocado black hole maki (THB 320), a roll crumbed with tempura flakes, topped with teriyaki sauce and stuffed with avocado and truffle mayo. Facebook: @wakiwaki.bkk

Doc Club & Pub

Doc Club & Pub is a must-visit for cinephiles living in Bangkok. Open inside the Woof Pack Building in Sala Daeng, it combines a café with a cinema concept, and boasts versatile spaces for arts and culture events, too. Currently easing out of its soft opening stage, the ‘doc club’ has various screening rooms. Their LG-C1 77 screen can be booked out for private screenings for 8-12 people and you can choose from a selection of great films including The Quest of Alain Ducasse (2017), Ai Weiwei: Yours Truly (2019), and new release Oasis: Knebworth 1996. Their larger 50-seat screening room is where they screen a range of different films you can buy tickets for, from underrated movies and award-winning features to documentaries and cult favourites. Beyond just movies, the café serves up both Asian and Western cuisine, fresh coffee, and other refreshments.
Facebook: @docclubandpub

Munch Box by Nidhi

Founded in 2020, Munch Box by Nidhi started as a home kitchen which soon expanded to having a presence at farmers markets across the city. After months of building a loyal fan following, they embarked on a new journey by establishing a dine-in restaurant inside Bambini Villa near Sukhumvit Soi 26. Following a unique concept, the restaurant serves up vegan Indian fusion food by taking classic dishes from the U.S., United Kingdom, Mexico, Japan, Italy, and beyond and giving them a uniquely Indian twist. Tempting menu items include the Mexican papdi chaat bowl (THB 235) served with various chutneys; the Twisty tandoori masala mac ‘n’ cheese (THB 295), and the Best butter chicken lasagna (THB 325) made with layers of omni meat, pasta, and a fusion alfredo and butter chicken sauce. www.munchboxvegan.com

Mindscape by Bottomless

Coffee roasters Bottomless shot to fame after the opening of their flagship store in Nonthaburi, which follows a unique industrial-style concept complete with metal tables and marble countertops. However, for those who can’t make the trek north of Bangkok for their morning brew, check out Mindscape by Bottomless. Now open in Huay Khwang, this branch is styled in a similar way to its predecessor, however it also boasts an oasis-like garden area complete with wooden furniture and giant lamps should you want to sip al fresco. On the menu is a tempting selection of cakes, custards, pies and signature drinks including the Ying and Yang (THB 150), cold brew coffee with almond milk; Espresso strawberry fizz (THB 250) that is served in a flute; and the sparkling Yuzu honey lemon (THB 150). Facebook: @mindscapecafebybottomless

First Pride by Tyson Foods

Founded in Arkansas, USA, in 1935 and established in Thailand in 1991, Tyson Foods is a purveyor of high-quality chicken products, and has been considered one of the Top 3 processed chicken exporters in the country. With the growing demand for meat alternatives worldwide, Tyson Foods has entered the plant-based space with their newly-launched First Pride label. Offering 100 percent plant-based products that mimic real chicken, their options include their deliciously tender Crispy Nuggets (THB 99), their Popcorn Bites (THB 99) made with a three-step coating process that includes real popcorn flakes, and their crunchy Larb Bites (THB 99) which are packed with Thai spices. Grab your first bite at your nearest supermarket, or order online on Lazada, Shopee and https://tyson.co.th/en/collections/first-pride Facebook and Instagram: @firstprideth

Green and Sunny Vegan Kitchen

With the aim to make vegan food even more accessible in Thailand, Green and Sunny Vegan Kitchen specialises in frozen plant-based ready meals that you can just heat up and enjoy. All of their dishes are vegan and crafted using natural ingredients with no preservatives. Currently, their line of meals include their Chinese black olive fried rice (THB 89), Green curry fried rice with crispy jackfruit (THB 119), Massaman curry (THB 150), Banana blossom calamari (THB 119), Vegan satay with peanut sauce (THB 130), and more. They also sell vegan cashew nut cheese and vegan lemon mayonnaise for snacks you’re looking to prep at home.
Facebook: @greenandsunnyvegan

Avani+ Mai Khao Phuket Suites & Villas

Avani’s ninth property in Thailand and their first in Phuket, Avani+ Mai Khao Phuket Suites & Villas is located only 15 minutes’ drive from Phuket International Airport on the pristine Mai Khao Beach. Formerly the Anantara Vacation Club, the resort houses 70 one, two, and three-bedroom suites and 30 one-to-four bedroom pool villas. It is also home to various facilities including an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, kids’ club, and several restaurants encompassing La Sala for lagoonside breakfast bites; Tiffin by La Sala that serves up Indian cuisine; Tree House, the resort’s omakase experience; Sea.Fire.Salt for grilling and chilling; and Aqua for poolside cocktails. www.avanihotels.com/en/mai-khao-phuket/restaurants

Stone Goat Climbing

If you’re a climbing enthusiast, you’re going to want to visit brand-new Stone Goat Climbing located in Sukhumvit 69 near BTS Phra Khanong station. One of the biggest gyms of its kind in Southeast Asia, their facilities are specifically built for bouldering, which differs from rock climbing as it centres on smaller walls and climbers don’t use any ropes when scaling them. This particular gym houses six walls and different climbing routes that cater to all levels, from beginners to veterans. These routes are also changed every six weeks to keep things interesting for return customers. At the minute, you can purchase a day pass to see what the hype is about, as well as 10-day passes and monthly memberships priced around THB 2,000 per month. www.stonegoatclimb.com

IPS Bangkhae Campus

International Pioneers School (IPS) have announced the opening of their second campus, IPS Bangkhae Campus, located on Phutthamonthon Sai 2. Having opened its doors in 1998 as a kindergarten, the institution has since grown into an international school with classes through to Year 13. The impetus for establishing this new campus is to provide even more world class facilities to their growing number of students. Recognised and licensed by the Ministry of Education, IPS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA), offering a curriculum modelled on the National Curriculum for England, which has been adapted to meet the needs of local and overseas students. ips.ac.th

Bumrungrad COVID-19 Recovery Clinic

Bumrungrad International have launched their COVID-19 Recovery Clinic, which aims to deliver COVID-19 related services to three target groups: the never infected, the infected, and the previously infected who now test negative. A substantial discovery that has arisen as a result of the pandemic is that many patients will suffer post-COVID complications called “Long COVID-19,” which can remain for one to six months and require holistic treatment programmes to aid with recovery. The hospital’s new clinic aims to provide these necessary procedures with the help of an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, a network of hospitals across the country, and the latest medical technology. Beyond treatment, the clinic will also offer information on how to prevent getting ill, and how to live with the current pandemic situation, including general health, providing necessary documents for travel, vaccines, and so forth.
www.bumrungrad.com