Vivant Table

The buzz: Situated right next to Toot Yung Gallery and owned by a Japanese expat, Vivant Table attempts to draw in the crowds with a rustic ambience generated by bricks, couches, a wine cellar, terrace and European knick knacks. As with most wine pubs around town, the Italian food here has been tailored for the Thai palate. 

The décor: The converted shophouse carries a slightly intimate vibe with its dark tones, dim lighting, candles and tables set well apart from each other. Upstairs is even more private with sheer white curtains, lush red walls, standing lamps and a terrace with a leaf-covered wall, communal table and swing. Both low-ceilinged dining rooms are decorated with mismatched pillows and photos of different cities taken by the owner.

The food: Italian cuisine with flavors tailored for the Thai palate. Expect the usual suspects at slightly high prices, like the rocket salad with smoked duck (B270) or mozzarella cheese with rocket (B280). The pizza comes with a crispy base, but the toppings are proven Thai favorites like pizza with salmon, shrimps and squid (B380), anchovy and garlic (B320) and the chocolate pizza topped with banana, marshmallow and almond (B280). Mains include linguine with truffle cream and black pepper (B340) and pork chop with balsamic sauce (B320). If you plan on dropping by for drinks with friends, our pick are the cold cuts (B320) which come with jamon serrano, parma ham, salami, smoked duck, smoked cheese, camembert cheese and dried fruits.

The drinks: Sit at the bar for a classic cocktail (from B180) or the one option of wine by the glass (B220). As for bottles, the wine list is categorized by country and ranging in price from B1,160-B9,000. Beers are Stella (B350), Inedit (B550) and Hoegaarden (B200).

The crowds: As it’s within walking distance from BTS Ekkamai, thirsty office crowds and a couple of tables of Japanese expats.