Indian restaurant Maya sits on a striking cantilevered structure on the 29/F of the Holiday Inn Sukhumvit 22. Owned by the Fico food and beverage empire, the venue serves delicious North Indian cooking by Chef Ramneek Singh Lamba, but also comprises a lounge complete with a DJ, elaborate bar snacks and creative cocktails.
The décor combines black steel lattice work resembling Indian patterns offset by fluffy curtains—it’s fairly modern, but also has something of an outdated carpeted hotel lobby vibe to it. The view is awesome, though, thanks to the big bay windows wrapping around the dining room.
The menu features all your classic Indian dishes, with highlights including the wonderfully fragrant murgh chandi kebab (marinated chicken with yogurt, cardamom and mace, B380) and crispy okra with cashew and mango powder (B320). As you walk in, you’re greeted by three large charcoal tandoors, churning out irresistible papadum and aromatic naan (B80) which are just perfect, with crispy charred bits and a fluffy interior. Other hearty options include the jhinga khada masala (king prawns with shallots, tomatoes, spring onion and spices, B800) and dal maya (black lentils with tomatoes, garlic and churned butter, B250), a perfect accompaniment to the naan. If you’re looking for more creativity, there are also dishes incorporating less typical ingredients like the tandoor-grilled marinated lobster with kaffir lime and yellow chili (B1,500).
Maya is also a great spot to drop by for some drinks, even if the hearty “bar snacks” look more like full-on dishes. The reasonably priced wine list (B1,400-7,500 for a bottle) might be pretty standard, but the cocktails do make use of interesting ingredients like beetroot, cinnamon and cumin powder. Signatures include the Vodka Khatta Pudina (vodka, guava juice and cumin powder, B295) and Sugar-hurri-cane (sugarcane juice, vodka, tequila and mint, B295).
Of course, Maya is inevitably compared to the gold standards—Rang Mahal and Indus—and the general consensus seems to be that the latter still come out on top. We were also disappointed at how often all the staff entirely disappeared on our last visit, a marked contrast with the almost overbearing attention in other Indian restaurants. Still, Maya’s food is truly excellent, and for such a stunning view, very well priced.
