Methavalai Sorndaeng Restaurant
Methavalai Sorndaeng is an old-fashioned Thai restaurant frozen in time, just next to the Democracy Monument, not far from Khao San. There are so many Thai restaurants in Bangkok finding something original for a special occasion will be difficult. Of course, you might think Rooftop or Fancy place, but we wanted something Thai and surprisingly different, so we went to Methavalai Sorndaeng.
Methavalai Sorndaeng restaurant caught our attention several times while driving around old Bangkok… the whole area has a feel of the Champs-Elysées at the beginning of a past century, with a long wide street lined by art-deco buildings and the majestic circle of the Democracy Monument. The Restaurant, with its awnings, terrace, lampposts and name written in red neon lights, transports you are in another era.
Inside Methavalai Sorndaeng, the atmosphere is retro classy and very polite waiters dressed as cruise liner captains glide around in their white jackets. Waitresses in traditional Thai dresses and a quartet accompanying a singer with violins, bass and piano playing old tunes from the past add to this surreal ambience. As it was our wedding anniversary dinner, we were a bit worried at first, thinking that Thai food usually tastes better in the street and Thai restaurants with fancy decor are usually tasteless tourist venues. So with some apprehension, we just ordered everything that came to our mind, dishes as Thai as possible, just the way we liked them.
And good it was! food was promptly served, and all were truly Thai, prepared in a traditional way, not too spicy since we are in Bangkok, but just right.
We ordered Yum Hua Plee (banana flower salad), Lon Poo Dam (boiled veggies with a shrimp and crab paste), which is a variation of the better known Nam Prik, Gaeng Pa Nua (Beef curry with eggplants), Yum Makua Yao (Eggplant Salad), Mee Krob (Crispy vermicelli with a sweet sauce)
The atmosphere was not what you could call trendy, and the quartet wasn’t professional, but it matched the retro atmosphere. The price is not too high, about 2,500 Baht for 5 dishes and a bit of wine, and we will certainly go again.
Methavalai Sorndaeng Info
Location: Old City (Democracy Monument)
Address: 78 2 Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Wat Bowon Niwet, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
Open: 10:30 am – 10 pm
Phone: 02 224 3088
Price: reasonable
Methavalai Sorndaeng Map
Born in France a long long time ago, I started to travel the world early until I settled in Phuket in 1994. For the past 30 years, my passion for photography and my curiosity have taken me to every corner of Phuket, Bangkok and everywhere I could go in Thailand. My goal is to share my discoveries, photos and tips to help travellers plan their holidays by making Phuket 101 as easy as possible to use for everyone!