Renowned Jim Thompson textile company introduces a Bangkok restaurant matching fine Thai cuisine with exceptional wines
November 5th, 2012
The JIM THOMPSON brand has become synonymous with the Thai silk industry since its founding in Bangkok in the 1950’s. Taking its name from the legendary founder, JIM THOMPSON has remained a Thai-owned enterprise that now enjoys global recognition for its celebrated hand-woven silk textile products. In addition to being the world’s largest maker of hand-woven textiles, in recent years the JIM THOMPSON brand has expanded to embrace the hospitality market, with restaurants opened in Singapore, Japan and Thailand. The new Bangkok restaurant is located within the tranquil garden compound that also holds the restored traditional Thai teak homes that Jim Thompson had re-constructed as his residence in the 1960’s. The Jim Thompson House Museum is now one of Bangkok’s most popular destinations for foreign tourists.
The Jim Thompson Restaurant & Wine Bar has recently evolved from the original casual garden cafe that served visiting tourists to the Museum, and occupies a two level space in a large teakwood building adjacent to the Museum. Modeled on the successful concept of the award winning Singapore flagship Jim Thompson Restaurant, the new Bangkok restaurant serves a fresh, authentic Thai cuisine, carefully matched with selections of premium quality wines to create an exceptional dining experience. The elegant ground floor Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily, with the first floor Wine Bar open daily from 5 pm.
The restored traditional northern Thai teak building that houses the Restaurant on the ground floor and Wine Bar on the first floor.
The concept of pairing individual wines to match the variety of flavours typically experienced over the course of a Thai meal service aims to overcome the difficulty often faced by diners in trying to select a single wine label to satisfactorily accompany the entire meal. Diverging from the traditional Thai meal service where most dishes are served at the one time, the new concept at Jim Thompson Restaurant adopts the Western approach of serving one course at a time, and matching each course with a different style wine that offers the most harmonious pairing of taste. Guests are offered the option of two set dinner menus of five courses, paired with four different wines- including champagne and dessert wine ( Set Dinner Menus priced at THB1,200- not including wine). Alternatively, the a la carte menu offers a selection of over 50 authentic Thai dishes. A concise selection of nine different red, white and sparkling wines are available by the glass, with a starting price of THB 200 per glass, and exceptionally, Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial is also served by the glass.
The selection of premium vintage bottled wines runs to over 80 labels, sourced by the former sommelier of the Singapore restaurant from the leading global wine producing districts, and expertly curated to best compliment the Thai cuisine.
The main dining area of the Restaurant- furnished in an elegant, contemporary Thai style.
The main dining room extends towards the garden area at the rear of the Jim Thompson Museum compound- where an open-air terrace offers a more casual setting.
The bold red timber panels on the wall and ceiling contrast with the natural timbers and muted shades of the other furnishings.
A series of table settings extend along the wall that faces out towards the klong ( canal) behind the compound. Traditional silk upholstered Thai Triangle Pillows are placed on the long teak bench.
Thompson Wine Bar
The Thompson Wine Bar is located upstairs above the main restaurant dining room. The stylish Wine Bar decor features a contemporary Thai-style- with a warm palette of teak timber flooring and panelled ceiling, and settings of sofas and armchairs, with soft furnishings in shades of brown and cream. The outlook through the floor to ceiling glasswall over the lush tropical garden towards the House Museum provides an atmosphere of serene escape from the nearby frenetic urban landscape. The Wine Bar offers a relaxing space for enjoying pre or post dinner drinks, or just to gather with friends anytime during the evening to enjoy some excellent wines.
Entrance to the Thompson Wine bar on the first floor of the teak building
The room features an elevated bar counter, and perfectly appointed contemporary furnishings in warm, earthen tones that blend with the teakwood flooring and panelled ceiling.
Lounge settings look out over the verdant tropical gardens through floor to ceiling glass.
The stylish bar is a popular choice for relaxed after-work or pre-dinner drinks.
The outdoor balcony of the first floor Wine Bar overlooks the adjacent klong (canal).
Selections from the A La Carte Menu of Thai cuisine
Starter- TRADITIONAL ASSORTMENT– Goong Sorn Klin, Chi Muang, Goong Ma Praow Thod, Kang Khao Puak
Tom Ka Ti Hua Pli Pla Grob- Sour soup with crispy fish and banana blossom, in coconut milk.
Sang Wah Gong Kub Pla Duke Foo- Old fashioned grilled prawn salad with traditional herbs, fresh vegetables and crispy catfish.
Thompson Mai Tai- light rum, dark rum, orange liqueur, orange juice, pineapple juice.
Goong Sauce Ma Kham- deep fried river prawns topped with tamarind sauce and fried garlic.
Seau Rong Hai (“The tiger weeps”)- Signature Dish: Thai-style grilled rib-eye steak served with ground roasted rice, shallots, chili and tamarind sauce.
Jim Thompson Restaurant & Wine Bar, Bangkok
Address: 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok 10330. Thailand
BTS: National Stadium Station
Reservations: +66.2. 612 3601
Website: www.jimthompson.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jimthompsonrestaurants.thailand
Opening Hours:
Lunch: Daily 11:00 am~ 5:00 pm
Dinner: Daily 7:00 pm ~ 11:00 pm
