Iconsiam

You are certainly not short of places to take coffee and a break or to dine in style at Iconsiam on the river in Thonburi, the largest shopping emporium in SE Asia.

Today we preview two of the very best and we highly recommend that you try them yourself.

The first is the ultimate coffee shop Starbucks Reserve Chao Phraya Riverfront at Iconsiam is on the 7th floor West wing which has to be the largest Starbucks in Thailand at an area of 1,260 square metre. Americas finest from Seattle serves up a treat and is accessed by its own escalators and or lifts which deliver you to a huge inner area and even an outside terrace overlooking the Chao Phraya river. Apparently it comfortably seats 350 seats inside in air controlled heaven and a further 80 outdoors sheltered from the sun.

We chose our beverage of choice – a large latte for me and Iced Pistachio Pure Matcha Latte for my guest and assorted croissants, meringues and Danish pastries and then searched for somewhere to sit and people watch. Despite it’s size both the well appointed lounge inside and the outside terrace were pretty full when we arrived at lunchtime and it must have had 3 – 400 people in it at least!

We found somewhere to sit, set about the tasty pastries and coffee and discussed what was to come our assault on the eight floors of shopping and hundreds of prestige brands ahead of us.

This particular Starbucks even sells alcohol – I did not see anyone partaking so early in the day but we were surrounded by all age groups from adolescent teenagers to families taking Grandma and Grandpa out shopping. People talking animately all around us deep in conversation or enjoying their beverage of choice.

This new store will not only serve signature menus, but also has a mixologist bar that can serve alcoholic drinks to customers for the first time in Thailand. Thailand is the fifth country in which Starbucks launched a menu featuring alcoholic drinks, following the US, China, Japan and Taiwan.

After an hour or so devising a plan of action for the day we left Starbucks and set off for the real task of the day – shopping!

The other dining venue that I would like to cover was Blue by Alan Ducasse which is situated in the Iconluxe area of Iconsiam. Tucked discreetly away on the downriver corner of the building, on top of Gucci and near Jim Thompson and the lifts, it is on the first floor alongside a gallery or breakout space.

Iconluxe is what it says it is the home of all of the luxury brands of Iconsiam: Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, Hermes, Bentley, Cartier, Dior and all the other exclusive brands and labels that cluster together over three floors.

This fine dining restaurant has already been awarded one Michelin star in December 2020 and from what I saw it is well on the way to another. A la carte, a set menu or a “tasters” menu the panoramic view is spectacular looking over the Chao Phraya to the luxury hotels across the river.

Alain Ducasse has 28 restaurants around the world now in Hong Kong, Macau, Tokyo, Paris, New York, Las Vegas and of course across France.

Whether it is a special occasion or just a lunch break between the shopping or at the end of the day Blue is a fine dining experience you are not likely to forget. [email protected]