Heritage riverside café-gallery in Talat Noi set inside 200-year-old warehouses, with antiques, shady gardens and signature Thai-Chinese drinks facing the Chao Phraya.
Babble & Grill is the relaxed heart of Riva Surya, a boutique riverside hotel tucked along leafy Phra Athit Road. Tables spill from the lobby-level café-bar out past the pool to a low terrace almost level with the river, with lanterns, trees and orange parasols framing the Rama VIII Bridge. The menu mixes Thai and Western comfort dishes with a new focus on slow-smoked BBQ, while breakfast, relaxed lunches and sunset cocktails all share the same view of longtail boats sliding past the old city. It’s an easy-going alternative to the big hotel buffets, and one of the most convenient riverside stops if you’re staying near Khao San or exploring Rattanakosin.
Part of the charm here is how compact everything feels. You step through Riva Surya’s small lobby and the space opens into a bright dining room with floor-to-ceiling glass, then out again to a pool deck and a narrow terrace just above the river. From most tables you can see both water and bridge, so even a quick curry or club sandwich comes with a “front row” Chao Phraya backdrop.
The kitchen leans into versatility. Mornings are all about the hotel’s breakfast spread – eggs, fruit, pastries and Thai staples – before shifting into an all-day menu that runs from som tam and pad thai to burgers, ribs, pizzas and pastas. Under the Babble & Grill direction, they’ve added a proper BBQ line-up: 12-hour smoked beef brisket, short ribs, steaks and other smokehouse-style plates, plus hearty sides like fries, cornbread and slaw. It’s not trying to be ultra-fine dining; the appeal is that a mixed group can share Thai dishes, Western comfort food and smoked meats while the river traffic and sunset do most of the heavy lifting on atmosphere.