There, the sky’s the limit!
By Aiden Jewelle Gonzales
While the city may be brimming with culinary offerings from across the globe, there are still a few cuisines that are slowly yet surely finding their way to the Bangkokian heart via our stomachs. Spanish fare is one such example, with many in the city recently discovering the joys of paella and the similarity of tapas dishes with the concept of Thai sharing plates. With much of the food from my own Motherland deriving from Spanish cuisine, it’s personally been a delight to see the cuisine gaining traction among locals, so it was with a lot of anticipation that I visited the newly-opened LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar, perched on the 33rd and 34th floor of INNSiDE by Melia Bangkok Sukhumvit.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I’d been told by a Spanish friend that in Spain, the Spanish Melia brand was synonymous with luxury and elegance, and as I walked into the plush lobby of the hotel, replete with marble fittings, sculpted artwork, and light globes gently illuminating the space; I could see why. But that was only the beginning – when I stepped into the restaurant and bar, I’ll admit that it took my breath away. With uninterrupted 360-degree views of downtown Sukhumvit, you feel like you’re on top of the world, with an array of inviting seating that beckons you to take a moment for yourself and simply enjoy. Simultaneously classy yet contemporary, the space boasts a dynamic tile pattern in black and white; a bar done up in seafoam-green and gold marble that’s easily the star of the show; and when you look up, the glass floor of a pool on the floor above, reminiscent of scenes from TV shows about the lives of the rich and famous.
FOOD AND DRINK
Like the design of the space, the food served at LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar ranges from classic to creative, with a few Spanish street-food favourites thrown into the mix. Most of their dishes consist of tapas to share, which is exactly the way I love to have my meals with friends and family. We started by tucking into the Ensaladilla (THB 650 with uni, THB 210 plain), a cold potato salad with the option of adding uni as a delicacy, which whisked me away to my childhood and was a refreshing start to the meal. Next, the Las croquetas (THB 610 for truffle, THB 520 for iberico ham, THB 420 for plain), iberico ham croquets with a range of toppings of your choice, were surprisingly filling and melted in your mouth – a must-try even if you’re just looking for bar bites to pair with your sundowners.
However, if you’re looking for a bit of a kick, the Gambas al ajillo (THB 450) will hit the spot and was one of my favourites appetisers, made with sautéed prawns, garlic, chilli, and extra virgin olive oil. Or, if you’re vegetarian, consider the Pimientos del padrón (THB 357), blistered padrón peppers in generous sizes, seasoned with sea salt. I was told that the dish had both sweet or spicy peppers, and which one you bit into was supposed to be a surprise – a fun element to a moreish dish. Of course, we had the classic Spanish starter, Gazpacho (THB 210), a cold soup of tomatoes that I considered the perfect way to begin an al fresco meal in Bangkok’s tropical climate.
For our mains, we tucked into their scrumptious Pulpo a nuestra manera (THB 860), octopus prepared perfectly and paired with mashed potatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and paprika for some colour. The restaurant also has a special menu that changes seasonally, and we sampled the Tuna tataki (THB 490) from the options available to us, not a usual Spanish dish but nevertheless delicious and beautifully-plated, with hints of Spanish flavours in the sauce and seasoning. For dessert, make sure to order the Tarta de queso (THB 270), a basque burnt cheesecake whose sweetness is offset by the creamy cheese’s natural savoury flavour. We couldn’t get enough!
One can’t visit a rooftop bar without checking out their signature cocktail offerings, and LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar has plenty of those, as well as an impressive selection of wine labels. If you’re a whisky connoisseur, The INNSiDERS (THB 360) will be your drink of choice, made with 12-year-old pulteney scotch whisky, cinnamon, lime, cranberry juice, honey, and egg whites – a dangerously smooth drink that goes down like a dream. If you’re in the mood for something sweeter, opt for the Honey pine elements (THB 360) comprised of Phraya Elements rum, honey, clove syrup, pineapple juice, lime juice, and egg white; or if you’re a gin lover (like me), order the Saúco (THB 360), which means ‘elder’, a reference to the elderflower mixed in with the Caorunn gin and Cointreau.
Whatever you order, and whether you’ve booked a table for a special occasion or simply after-work sundowners, LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar is sure to make an impression; a new rooftop gem in Bangkok’s glittering skyline.
MASALA RECOMMENDS
The Arroz caldoso de marisco (THB 1,250), a seafood rice stew with chopped squid and prawns that’s similar to a paella, and packed full of flavour. The portion was generous and was made to share, but we ate every last morsel. For drinks, I’d recommend ordering the classic Sangria (THB 360), which was made perfectly, without any element overpowering the other.
LUZ BANGKOK TAPAS BAR
Floor 33 and 34, INNSiDE by Melia Bangkok Sukhumvit
1472 Sukhumvit Road,
Phra Khanong, Bangkok 10110
Open daily from 4pm to 12am
Tel: 02 340 5499
Facebook: @Luzbangkok
www.melia.com/en/hotels/thailand/bangkok/innside- bangkok-sukhumvit/restaurants/ luz-bangkok-tapas-bar
