Discover Authentic Bangkok: Navigate the City's Secrets With Anantara's Streetwise Guru

Anantara’s Streetwise Guru Waiyawit (Diamond) Thongserm.

Step behind the tourist scenes to uncover Bangkok’s best street food and hidden cultural highlights with Anantara Riverside Bangkok Hotel’s Streetwise Guru Waiyawit (Diamond) Thongserm as your expert local guide.

Diamond has developed a Bangkok gastronomy hot list that is second to none, meaning that guests needn’t navigate the city’s overwhelming choices and can simply head straight for the places that boast his experienced seal of approval. Guests can expect a wide array of tantalising and authentic Bangkok street food such as roasted duck noodles, BBQ pork noodles, fish ball noodles, pork satay, and spicy tom yum soups, to name but a very few of the delights in store.

Bangkok’s energetic markets are brimming with colourful produce, fresh herbs and exotic spices and a visit not only provides an eye-catching glimpse into local daily life, but also an introduction to the broad range of ingredients that create the distinctive sweet, sour, salty, and pungent flavours that Thai cuisine is famed for.

Diamond particularly recommends one of Bangkok’s oldest communities, Talard Bangrak, which can be reached by a short boat ride from the resort where he raves about the diversity of dry herbs and spices which make for great souvenirs, as well as the variety of good local restaurants that are dated well over 100 years old.

By comparison, China Town’s vast bazaar network is packed with market stalls, street-side cafés, wooden shop houses serving as Chinese medicine stores, and probably the greatest concentration of gold shops in the city.  From here guests can stroll to Phahurat Market and ask Diamond to help them haggle over high-quality materials to be made into dresses and suits by expert local tailors.  Visitors wishing to encounter Thailand’s skilled craftsmanship can request a trip to Bann Bat village to see how the brass alms bowls that Buddhist monks carry on their morning rounds are hammered out by hand, as they have been since the late 18th century.

Following his motto of “great food, great place, great company”, Diamond takes into account the overall experience when suggesting the perfect local restaurant. At his recommended riverside venues, diners watch cruise boats drift by as they savour fresh seafood grilled to perfection, rich Thai curries, sizzling stir-fries, and spicy herb-infused salads in a romantic waterfront atmosphere.

While to top off a great night, Anantara’s all-around guru also knows the most appealing dinner shows and even the liveliest karaoke hangouts!