ANNE-SOPHIE PIC AT LE NORMANDIE
French haute cuisine above the Chao Phraya
There are dining rooms that feel like they’ve seen a lifetime of stories. Le Normandie at the Mandarin Oriental is one of them. Crystal chandeliers, mirrored walls, white tablecloths and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the slow movement of the Chao Phraya – the room has the air of an old-world salon, yet nothing about it feels stuck in the past.
Since 1958, this space has been Bangkok’s most iconic address for French fine dining. Today, it begins a new chapter as Anne-Sophie Pic at Le Normandie – a collaboration between the legendary hotel and the world’s most Michelin-decorated female chef. The result is a restaurant where heritage and modernity sit comfortably at the same table.
A legendary dining room, reimagined
The first impression is pure romance: soft light catching cut glass, fresh flowers arranged with quiet precision, the river just beyond the glass. The dining room, redesigned by Humbert & Poyet, keeps the classic bones of Le Normandie but softens them – curved lines, warm tones and generous spacing between tables create a feeling of intimacy, even when the room is full.
There is a sense of occasion without stiffness. Jackets are required for gentlemen at dinner, and guests of all ages (from seven upwards) are asked to dress elegantly – a subtle reminder that this is not just another night out, but an evening you will likely remember. Yet the staff’s warmth keeps the atmosphere from tipping into formality; service is polished, anticipatory and genuinely kind.
Cuisine by Anne-Sophie Pic
In the kitchen, Anne-Sophie Pic’s philosophy of Suffusion sets the tone – an approach that layers flavours through infusions, marinades, smoking and delicate acidity rather than heavy sauces. Her cuisine is rooted in classic French technique, but the ideas and aromas often look outward to Asia.
Menus centre around a Voyage tasting menu and shorter lunch menus, alongside a carefully composed à-la-carte selection. Plates are architectural but never fussy: perhaps Hokkaido sea urchin with whisky and kuromame cream; Brittany lobster in a red-fruit dashi that nods to both French coastal cooking and Japanese broth; or her signature Berlingots – delicate pasta parcels filled with smoked cheese or seasonal combinations, bathed in an intensely aromatic consommé.
Flavours tend to build slowly rather than shout: bitterness balanced by floral notes, smokiness grounded by gentle sweetness, vegetables treated with the same respect as caviar or lobster. Desserts follow the same language – a white-on-white millefeuille scented with jasmine, or compositions that play with ginger, citrus and vanilla in light, almost ethereal textures.
It is food that invites attention without demanding it; the kind of cuisine where a second bite often reveals more than the first.
Service, wine and the art of occasion
Much of the experience here lives in the details. Napkins are placed and replaced almost invisibly; water and wine appear just before you realise you were about to reach for them. The team moves with quiet choreography, explaining dishes with enough precision to satisfy serious food lovers but never overwhelming those who simply want to enjoy the moment.
The wine programme, led by a dedicated sommelier team, draws heavily on France but weaves in thoughtful selections from the Old and New World – from serious bottles befitting anniversaries and business celebrations to more approachable pairings for lunch. Classic pairings sit alongside more adventurous combinations designed to echo Pic’s aromatic focus.
This is very much a destination for celebrations: engagements, milestone birthdays, once-in-a-trip dinners. At the same time, the calm rhythm of the room and the gentle pace of service make it surprisingly intimate for a date night, especially at a window table with the river drifting by below.
Mr. Bangkok Fazit
Anne-Sophie Pic at Le Normandie is not just another fine-dining address; it is a piece of Bangkok’s culinary history, carefully brought into the present. The setting is timeless, the service quietly impeccable, and the cuisine both precise and deeply emotional.
For those who love French gastronomy, this is a must-visit. For anyone simply looking for a night that feels truly special – the kind you plan around and think about long after – this riverside dining room above the Chao Phraya remains one of Bangkok’s most remarkable experiences.
Anne-Sophie Pic at Le Normandie
5th Floor, Chao Phraya Wing, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
48 Oriental Avenue (Soi Charoen Krung 40), Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
Opening Hours
Wednesday – Sunday | Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (last order 1:30 p.m.)
Wednesday – Sunday | Dinner 6:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. (last order 9:00 p.m.)
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Dress Code
Elegant attire; jacket required for gentlemen at dinner
Web & Reservations
mandarinoriental.com/bangkok | mobkk-normandie@mohg.com |
+66 (0)2 659 9000
Instagram: @pic.lenormandie
