Praya Dining
Royal Thai cuisine in a hidden riverside mansion
Part of the charm of Praya Dining is that you can’t simply walk in from the street. Tucked inside Praya Palazzo, a restored early-20th-century villa on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya, the restaurant is reached by the hotel’s small boat from Phra Arthit Pier. The short crossing already slows everything down – Bangkok fades into the background and the pale-yellow mansion comes into view behind the garden and pool. prayapalazzo.com+1
Inside, Praya Dining leans into the house’s character: high ceilings, warm red walls, polished wooden floors and dark timber beams. It feels more like stepping into someone’s private riverside residence than a typical hotel restaurant – with just enough formality to suit the food, and enough softness to make you want to linger.
A dining room steeped in Siamese history
The main dining room is intimate and atmospheric: chandeliers, mirrors, antique-style furniture and Thai porcelain set the tone, while tall arched windows frame hints of the river and courtyard outside. On quieter evenings it can feel almost like a private salon; at busier times the gentle hum of conversation suits the old-house acoustics.
In good weather, the riverside areas of the property come into play – the pool, the bar and terrace – so you can pair dinner or afternoon tea with fresh air and Chao Phraya views. Candlelight, the sound of boats passing and the sense of being slightly removed from the city give Praya Dining a distinctly romantic edge, especially after dark.
Service is warm and personal rather than hyper-formal. Staff are happy to explain dishes, storylines and ingredients, and there’s time built into the pacing so you can enjoy the setting between courses. The dress code is smart casual: light dresses, shirts, long trousers, loafers or clean sneakers work well; beachwear and flip-flops feel out of place.
A journey through royal Thai cuisine
The menu is built as a narrative through Thai culinary history. Praya Dining highlights dishes associated with different eras – from Sukhothai and Ayutthaya to the early Rattanakosin period and modern Bangkok – with a particular focus on royal Thai recipes and their refined techniques.
Set menus and sharing sets are the best way to experience the kitchen. Expect intricately prepared starters – delicate canapés in crisp pastry shells, latticed egg nets, aromatic salads – followed by curries and stir-fries that lean on freshly made pastes, slow-simmered sauces and carefully balanced spice. Signature dishes often feature river prawns, rich coconut curries, turmeric and lemongrass, or recipes drawn from old cookbooks that have been gently adapted for contemporary tastes.
Executive Chef Patnithi “Joe” Tangpeerapat grounds the experience in technique and memory: he trained abroad but draws heavily on his grandmother’s kitchen and the discipline of royal Thai cooking, making pastes and sauces by hand. The result is food that feels polished yet sincere – aromatic, layered and detailed, without slipping into fusion or gimmickry.
Beyond dinner, Praya Dining also runs an afternoon tea that leans into Thai flavours – traditional sweets, savouries and fruit served in classic ceramics – as well as special experiences like romantic set-ups by the river and chef’s table menus in more private spaces inside the mansion.
When Praya Dining works best
Praya Dining is ideal when you want a Thai dinner that feels distinctly local yet removed from the usual riverfront circuits. The boat transfer, the historic house and the relatively small number of tables make it well suited to anniversaries, date nights and intimate celebrations.
It’s also a strong choice if you’re staying around the Old Town, Khao San or Phra Athit and want a destination restaurant that doesn’t require crossing half the city. The setting encourages you to take your time: arrive a little early to enjoy the property and bar by the pool, then settle into the dining room as the sky goes from blue to deep orange and the river turns dark.
Lunch is quieter and better for seeing the house and river in daylight; dinner is more atmospheric and better suited to the restaurant’s candlelit, heritage mood. In both cases, reservations are strongly recommended – especially if you’re planning around the boat transfer or a special occasion.
Mr. Bangkok Fazit
Praya Dining is one of those places that still feels like a discovery. The combination of boat-only access, a century-old riverside mansion and a menu that takes royal Thai cooking seriously gives it a very particular character on the Chao Phraya.
If you’re looking for Thai cuisine that goes beyond the greatest hits – and you like the idea of dinner feeling a little like stepping into another time – Praya Dining is a quietly memorable choice for an evening by the river.
Praya Dining
Praya Palazzo Boutique Hotel
757/1 Somdej Prapinklao Soi 2, Bang Yi Khan, Bang Phlat, Bangkok 10700
Opening Hours
Open daily | 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
(Operating hours can occasionally change; confirm when reserving.)
Access
Hotel boat from Phra Arthit Pier (near Phra Sumen Fort and Phra Athit Road); the crossing takes just a few minutes and is included with reservations.
Dress Code
Smart casual (no beachwear or flip-flops).
Web & Contact
Website: prayapalazzo.com/praya-dining
Email: reservation@prayapalazzo.com
Phone: +66 (0)2 883 2998, +66 (0)81 402 8118
Instagram: @prayapalazzo
