Dinner on Top of the World

BANGKOK, Thailand — Bangkok is crowded, crammed, and chaotic. But if you’re lucky enough to be able to rise above that, it’s a different kind of beautiful from above.

Bangkok City View at Night
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Filed Under: Thailand

Bangkok is the very epitome of a bustling city. Crowded, crammed, and chaotic. Amid all that, there are still millions of bites of beauty around many of the city’s corners. But you get a totally different perspective from up high.

Some of the fancy newer hotels have realized this and added rooftop restaurants. And we’re not talking buildings that are two or three stories high.

I took these photos during dinner at the Vertigo restaurant on top of the Banyan Tree Hotel. The restaurant is on the 61st floor. And this is the view. Not bad. Not bad at all. And the food was also excellent, even if it cost several times what you’d expect to pay without the view–a budget meal, this is very much not.

Bangkok City View at Night
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel

Bangkok City View at Night
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel

Bangkok City View at Night
Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will Travel

What to Know Before You Go

This is not a budget-friendly restaurant. While I don’t want to dwell on it, if you go with the expectation of Thai street-food prices, you’ll be in for a shock.

Anyone who actually suffers from vertigo would be well advised to try somewhere else. As you can see from the photos, there are no 10-foot high barricades here.

To the extent you can, factor in the weather when making your booking. That’s obviously easier said than done in the tropics.

Attire: This is what they say on their website: “Smart casual but no shorts, sleeveless shirts, sandals or flip flops.”

David Coleman / Photographer

David Coleman

I'm a freelance travel photographer based in Washington DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and a bunch of places in between. My images have appeared in numerous publications, and you can check out some of my gear reviews and tips here. More »