From street-side noodle shops that have been operating for generations to riverside dinner cruises and night markets that come alive after dark, Bangkok is abundant with incredible food options.

Bangkok Food tours are one of our most requested additions to Bangkok itineraries. Whether guests are looking for a guided street food walk, a tuk-tuk ride through Chinatown, or a dinner on the river, we have found that these experiences consistently become some of the most talked-about moments of a trip to Thailand. Below are the options we recommend most often.

Thai Bus Food Tour

This tour is Thailand’s first high-end double-decker food bus. It combines a multi-course Michelin Bib Gourmand dining experience with a sightseeing route through Bangkok. It is ideal for those who want to explore Bangkok and its highlights without doing a lot of walking while also getting to try some of the best food that the city has to offer. The menu highlights include Yen Ta Fo (Pink Noodle Soup) and of course Thai classics such as Pad Thai and Massaman curry.

We recommend the Thai Bus Food Tour for those who want to cover Bangkok’s historic sights in a different way and for food lovers who want to try some of the city’s Michelin-recognised dishes. 

Night Tuk Tuk Tour in Chinatown

Chinatown at night is one of Bangkok’s great experiences, and exploring it by tuk-tuk makes it considerably more enjoyable than navigating the crowds on foot. 

The Night Tuk Tuk Tour moves through Chinatown and stops at some of the area’s best-known food spots along the way.  The street food stop covers a broad selection of Thai classics, Satay, Pad Thai, traditional soups like fish ball soup, and crispy duck, alongside local desserts to finish. The tour even offers options for street food recommended in the Michelin guide.

The combination of the tuk-tuk ride itself, the street food stops, alongside exploring Chinatown at night ends up creating one of those special travel nights that guests bring up repeatedly for the rest of their trip.

We recommend this for first-time visitors to Bangkok who want an introduction to the city that goes beyond the daytime sightseeing circuit, and for anyone who has not yet experienced Chinatown at nighttime. It works well as a standalone evening or as a continuation of a daytime visit to Talad Noi or the nearby temples.

Walking Food Tour in Talad Noi

Talad Noi is one of our favorite neighborhoods in Bangkok, and exploring it through food adds a layer to the experience that a standard walking tour does not always capture. The neighborhood has developed a strong café and food culture alongside its street art and historic workshops, and a guided food walk is one of the best ways to move through it at the right pace.

The tour takes in a mix of traditional Thai snacks, creative café stops, and local desserts. Here you can try out local Thai-Chinese cuisine like Chwee kueh (steamed rice cake), Chao Tha (Duck Noodles Soup), and Turnip cake (Chinese dim sum).

We recommend the Talad Noi food walk for guests who enjoy a slower, more exploratory style of travel. We think the combination of street art, riverside atmosphere, and good food in Talad Noi makes for one of the more complete half-day experiences available in central Bangkok.

Dinner at a Bangkok Rooftop Bar or Restaurant

Bangkok’s rooftop dining scene is one of the best in the world. The combination of the food, the views, and the atmosphere of being above the Bangkok skyline at night makes for a special and memorable evening in the city.

From our experience advising guests on where to eat, the key is matching the venue to the occasion and what kind of evening you are looking for.

For a romantic or special night out, Vertigo at the Banyan Tree Hotel is our first recommendation. Sixty-one floors up with open sky on all sides, the setting is dramatic and the fusion tapas menu is genuinely worth ordering from rather than treating as an afterthought.

For something with a more unique culinary identity, Above Eleven stands out. As the first Peruvian-Japanese restaurant in Southeast Asia, the menu offers something most visitors to Bangkok will not have tried before.

We have a guide on the best rooftop bars in Bangkok based on our experience that go into all the details you need to explore the city’s rooftop scene.

Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River

A dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya is one of Bangkok’s classic evening experiences. The quality of dinner cruises varies considerably, which is why we are specific about what we recommend to our guests.

For travelers looking for a refined, classically Bangkok evening on the river, our top recommendation is the Manohra Cruise. For couples and guests celebrating a special occasion, this is the option we suggest most often. The Manohra is a beautifully restored traditional Thai rice barge, and the experience it offers is a world apart from the larger cruise boats. The setting is intimate, the food is excellent, and the overall atmosphere is one of the most elegant ways to spend an evening in Bangkok. 

For a similarly high-quality experience with a slightly different character, the Saffron Cruise by Banyan Tree Bangkok is one we also recommend for couples and guests looking for a special occasion dinner. This is a smaller and more intimate dinner cruise, the atmosphere here is relaxed and the food is excellent, with a rotating seasonal four-course meal every three months.

Traditional in character with a menu that reflects classic Thai cuisine, the Apsara Cruise is another strong option for guests wanting a premium river dining experience. The vessel itself is a beautifully renovated vintage rice barge, and the interior consists of  murals inspired by Thai mythology. We recommend this for those looking for both an authentic and upscale evening in Bangkok. 

For guests looking for a more relaxed, budget-friendly evening with a livelier atmosphere, the Chao Phraya Princess, River Star Cruise, and White Orchid are all solid options. These cruises attract a younger, more social crowd and the atmosphere reflects that, less formal and considerably easier on the budget. They are a good fit for groups or for travelers who want the river cruise experience without the premium price.

Bangkok’s food scene is one of the most diverse in the world, and the experiences above only scratch the surface of what the city has to offer. Whether you are looking for a casual street food walk through a historic neighbourhood, a memorable evening on the river, or a rooftop dinner above the skyline, there is an option to suit every travel style and occasion.

We are happy to help you choose the right experiences based on your itinerary, group, and what kind of trip you are looking for. Food is one of the best ways to experience Bangkok, and we always enjoy helping our guests find the version of it that suits them best.