One-Michelin-star French fine dining at ICONSIAM with sculptural interiors, floor-to-ceiling river views and polished, contemporary tasting menus.
Blue by Alain Ducasse is Bangkok’s most cinematic take on French fine dining: a curved, softly lit dining room at ICONSIAM, wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass and looking straight out over the Chao Phraya. Designed by Parisian studio Jouin Manku, the space feels like a modern salon – all sculptural ceilings, pale leather chairs and deep-blue walls – while the kitchen delivers precisely the kind of polished, contemporary French tasting menus you’d expect from Alain Ducasse’s first restaurant in Thailand. It’s a place for anniversaries, gastronomy weekends and “only-in-Bangkok” evenings where the room, the river and the plates all play equal roles.
Arriving at Blue feels a little like entering a private club hidden inside ICONSIAM. You step through the foyer and lounge into a circular main room where everything curves: the central banquette, the ceiling, even the line of the glass that follows the river outside. Tables are spaced generously, the lighting is warm rather than harsh, and the view – city towers and barges drifting past – keeps reminding you that you’re in Bangkok, even while the mood feels distinctly Paris-meets-riverfront.
The kitchen leans firmly into contemporary French cuisine. Menus are mostly structured as multi-course journeys – from shorter lunch options to the full Voyage or Discovery experiences – with each plate built around pristine produce and precise saucing rather than gimmicks. Expect langoustine and caviar, delicately handled seafood, beautifully cooked meats and desserts that feel like miniature architecture. Wine is a big part of the experience: the list focuses on France, particularly Burgundy and Bordeaux, with thoughtful pairings if you want to surrender the choices to the sommelier.
Despite the one-Michelin-star status and the Ducasse name, the tone is more welcoming than intimidating. Staff move with the kind of calm efficiency that lets the evening unfold smoothly – topping up glasses, adjusting pacing, quietly steering you through the menu – so you can focus on the people at your table and the show outside the windows.
Blue is first and foremost a tasting-menu restaurant, with contemporary French set menus available at both lunch and dinner. Lunch might be a compact business-friendly sequence, while the longer menus add extra savoury courses and more elaborate desserts – ideal for destination dinners and special trips. À-la-carte options appear in the lounge and café side, making it possible to drop in for a lighter meal or desserts and drinks without committing to the full experience.
Alongside the main dining room, Blue also offers:
Dress code is smart chic – think shirts, dresses and light tailoring – and advance reservations are essential, especially for weekends and special events.