Sala Rattanakosin Eatery & Bar

The buzz: This stylish, so-called “restaurant with guestrooms” has been pretty much packed since its opening a few months ago. Both locals and expats have been flocking here to indulge in the Western and Thai dishes made by British Chef Tony Wrigley, as they feast their eyes on the splendid view of Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) across the river.

The décor: The design sees traces of the original building (think unfinished brick walls) accompanied by a minimal blackand- white theme. If you’re lucky enough to drop by when the weather is cool (and dry), grab a spot on the spacious deck or get more comfy and enjoy the better view of Wat Arun from the air-con second floor. There’s also a rooftop bar up on the 5/F which is pretty stunning (though it does get windy up there). To go with your drinks, you can enjoy a BBQ from Chef Wrigley Fri-Sat, from 6-10pm.

The food: Chef Wrigley’s been living in Phuket for about four years, picking up authentic Thai recipes from a local auntie. As a result, you can enjoy long list of classic Thai recipes with a few twists like the twice-cooked crispy pork belly (B590) which is cooked in a Western style but with Asian flavors courtesy of a tamarind glaze and the accompanying pad pak bung (stir-fried morning glory). Also notable is the zesty yam puu nim tord mamuang (soft shell crab in spicy salad, B290) battered in a tempura style and served with green mango. While Thai dishes take center stage, you can also feast on a few elevated global dishes like roasted quinoa salad with feta cheese, avocado and black olives (B310) and roasted whole baby chicken with Chermoula spice (B520).

The drinks: This really is a great place for a drink, especially on the rooftop. Classic cocktails start from B220 with signature items like The Rooftop Punch (light rum, dark rum, Grand Marnier, Cointreau, lime juice and fruit punch, B275) and River Breeze (Thai rum, triple sec, lime juice and pineapple juice, B220). Smoothies are pretty nice, too, starting from B130. Bottled beers are Singha and Heineken (B130) while the choice of no less than 18 different wines by the glass starts from B190.

The crowds: Snap-happy young couples who like to tag themselves at trendy venues and savvy tourists in the know. Pieng-or Mongkolkumnuankhet