Restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand
Michelin-starred Thai: book it for special occasions.
NAWA holds a Michelin star (2024) and serves a bi-annual central Thai tasting menu at the ฿฿฿ price point, one tier below most of its Michelin-recognised Bangkok peers. The format moves from small bites through modified main courses in a low-lit, contemporary room in Ekkamai. Book at least three to four weeks ahead — this is not a walk-in venue.
NAWA is the right choice for a special occasion dinner where you want the full arc of a tasting menu, not just a good meal. If you are planning a celebration, a considered date night, or a business dinner where the food does the work, NAWA delivers a Michelin-starred experience at the ฿฿฿ price point — a meaningful gap below most of its Michelin-decorated peers in Bangkok. The format is a seasonal tasting menu of finger food, small bites, and modified central Thai main courses, built around modern technique applied to authentic flavour. If that progression suits you, book it. If you prefer à la carte or a more casual format, look elsewhere.
NAWA earned its Michelin star in 2024, and the award reflects a clear culinary point of view: central Thai cuisine pushed through a contemporary lens, without losing the flavour logic that makes Thai food work in the first place. Chefs Joe and Saki Hoshino built the restaurant around a concept they named explicitly — the name itself, derived from the Thai word for innovation, signals the intent before you sit down. The logo, a needle flower formed from the letters N and W, carries that same compressed meaning. This is a kitchen that thinks about what it is doing.
The tasting menu changes twice a year, which matters for repeat visitors and for anyone planning a return trip to Bangkok within twelve months. A bi-annual rotation is less frequent than some fine-dining kitchens that adjust dish by dish with the seasons, but it means each iteration of the menu is more fully developed and coherent as a sequence. You are eating a finished programme, not a work in progress. The structure moves through finger food and small bites before arriving at modified versions of main courses , a format that lets the kitchen introduce bold central Thai flavours gradually, building intensity across the meal rather than front-loading richness.
The dining room reinforces the experience. Low-lit, modern, and designed with considered restraint, the space suits the occasion framing well. It reads as special without being stiff, which makes it workable for both romantic dinners and client-facing business meals. Google reviewers rate it 4.8 from 291 reviews, a score that suggests consistent execution rather than occasional brilliance.
At ฿฿฿, NAWA sits one price tier below the majority of its Michelin-starred Bangkok competition. Sorn, Baan Tepa, and Sühring all sit at ฿฿฿฿. That pricing differential is relevant at the booking stage: NAWA gives you the tasting menu format, the Michelin credential, and the occasion-ready room at a lower spend than most equivalent restaurants in the city. For diners who want the experience architecture of a tasting menu without the financial commitment of a ฿฿฿฿ evening, NAWA is the most direct answer in Bangkok's current fine-dining field.
The venue is located in Park Lane Ekkamai, Watthana , a neighbourhood that has become a reference point for considered dining in Bangkok. The address is accessible without being in the tourist circuit, which tends to mean the room fills with a local and international dining crowd rather than a walk-in tourist volume. That affects atmosphere in a way that matters for special occasion bookings.
For context on what central Thai fine dining looks like across the region, Manāo in Dubai and Chim by Chef Noom in Kuala Lumpur both work the Thai contemporary format in different international markets. Bangkok, however, is where the ingredient sourcing and culinary reference depth are strongest, and NAWA operates with that advantage. Elsewhere in Thailand, PRU in Phuket and Aeeen in Chiang Mai represent the fine-dining ambition of other regions, while Bangkok's own wider field , including R-Haan, Wana Yook, and 80/20 , gives you a full picture of where NAWA sits in the city's Thai contemporary conversation. See our full Bangkok restaurants guide for the broader context.
The Michelin 2024 recognition is the clearest external signal of quality available here, and the 4.8 Google rating from nearly 300 reviews suggests that signal is consistent with the actual dining experience. Both point to a kitchen operating at a level where the tasting menu format is genuinely earned rather than a price-escalation mechanism.
Booking difficulty is assessed as hard. A Michelin star, a tasting menu format, and a dining room that does not scale easily mean tables at NAWA are not available at short notice. If you have a fixed date in mind , an anniversary, a business dinner with a specific guest , plan well ahead. No booking method or direct phone number is listed in current data; check the restaurant's website or a Bangkok-based reservation platform for current availability.
The menu changes twice a year, so if you are visiting Bangkok in a transition window, confirm which menu is currently running. This is worth a direct inquiry at booking stage, particularly if you are returning for a second visit and want to ensure you are eating a different programme.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Michelin | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAWA | Thai contemporary | ฿฿฿ | 1 Star (2024) | Hard |
| Baan Tepa | Thai contemporary | ฿฿฿฿ | Michelin-listed | Hard |
| R-Haan | Thai | ฿฿฿฿ | Michelin-listed | Hard |
| 80/20 | Thai contemporary | ฿฿฿ | Michelin-listed | Moderate |
| Wana Yook | Thai | ฿฿฿ | Michelin-listed | Moderate |
For full Bangkok planning beyond the restaurant itself, see our Bangkok hotels guide, Bangkok bars guide, and Bangkok experiences guide. If you are exploring Thai contemporary dining beyond the capital, AKKEE in Pak Kret and AKKEE Thai Delicacies & Tasting Counter in Nonthaburi offer different reference points, as does Aunglo by Yangrak within Bangkok itself.
Smart casual is the safe call. The dining room is described as modern and elegant, and a Michelin-starred tasting menu in Bangkok generally draws a dressed-up crowd, particularly in the evening. You will not be turned away for being underdressed, but the room's atmosphere suits clothing that reflects the occasion. No formal dress code is published in available data, so if you are uncertain, contact the restaurant directly before your visit.
You are committing to a tasting menu format, not ordering from a menu. The progression moves from finger food and small bites through to modified central Thai main courses, so arrive hungry and allow time for the full sequence. The kitchen's approach applies modern technique to central Thai cuisine, which means the flavours will read as recognisably Thai while the presentation and structure sit firmly in the contemporary fine-dining register. At ฿฿฿, it is one of the more accessible price points for a Michelin-starred tasting menu in Bangkok, which makes it a practical first entry into the city's top-tier dining field.
Book at least three to four weeks ahead for a standard dinner slot, and further in advance if you need a specific date for a celebration or event. NAWA holds a Michelin star earned in 2024, operates a tasting menu format, and sits in a dining room that does not accommodate large covers , all of which compress availability. For peak periods in Bangkok's high season (roughly November through February), six weeks or more is a reasonable target. Do not expect to book this on short notice.
Yes, with one condition: you need to be buying into the tasting menu format itself. If you are, NAWA offers Michelin-starred central Thai cooking at ฿฿฿, a tier below most of its Michelin-recognised Bangkok peers. The bi-annual menu change means the programme is developed and coherent rather than piecemeal. Chefs Joe and Saki Hoshino have built a kitchen with a clear culinary identity, and the 4.8 Google rating from 291 reviews suggests the execution is reliable. For the price point and the credential, the value case is direct.
At ฿฿฿, NAWA is priced below the majority of Michelin-starred tasting menu restaurants in Bangkok. Peers like Baan Tepa and R-Haan sit at ฿฿฿฿. If your benchmark is Michelin-recognised central Thai fine dining in a considered room, NAWA represents a stronger value position than most alternatives at that standard. If your benchmark is a good Thai meal at any price, Bangkok has excellent options at every tier , but NAWA is competing on the quality of its tasting menu architecture, not on price-per-dish efficiency.
No seat count or private dining information is available in current data. Given the tasting menu format and a dining room described as modern and intimate, NAWA is better suited to groups of two to four than to large parties. For larger groups or event bookings, contact the restaurant directly to ask about capacity and any private arrangements. Do not assume a large table will be available without advance confirmation.
NAWA operates a fixed tasting menu , there is no à la carte ordering. The menu changes twice a year and runs through finger food, small bites, and modified central Thai main courses. What is on the menu at the time of your visit will depend on the current seasonal programme. If you have dietary restrictions or preferences, communicate them at the time of booking rather than on the night. The kitchen's approach to central Thai cuisine means bold, layered flavours are a consistent thread regardless of which iteration of the menu you eat.
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAWA | Thai contemporary | The logo, fashioned from an N and a W in the shape of a needle flower, stands for Nawa – Thai for innovation. Chefs Joe and Saki Hoshino embrace this concept using modern techniques to produce central Thai cuisine with authentic yet bold flavours, and a seasonal tasting menu of finger food, small bites and modified versions of main courses. The menu changes twice a year. The low-lit dining room has a modern and elegant design.; The logo, fashioned from an N and a W in the shape of a needle flower, stands for Nawa – Thai for innovation. Chefs Joe and Saki Hoshino embrace this concept using modern techniques to produce central Thai cuisine with authentic yet bold flavours, and a seasonal tasting menu of finger food, small bites and modified versions of main courses. The low-lit dining room has a modern and elegant design.; Michelin 1 Star (2024) | Hard | — |
| Sorn | Southern Thai | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Baan Tepa | Thai contemporary | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Côte by Mauro Colagreco | Mediterranean, Modern Cuisine | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Gaa | Modern Indian, Indian | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Sühring | German | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
What to weigh when choosing between NAWA and alternatives.
The dining room is described as modern and elegant with low lighting, which signals a step above casual dress. Business casual or smart attire fits the room. Shorts and sandals would feel out of place at a Michelin-starred tasting menu restaurant in Bangkok.
NAWA runs a seasonal tasting menu only — there is no à la carte option. The format moves through finger food, small bites, and modified main course presentations, so expect a long, multi-course arc rather than a conventional dinner. The menu changes twice a year, so if you have visited before, the experience will differ on a return. Come hungry and with time to spare.
Book at least 4 to 6 weeks out. NAWA holds a 2024 Michelin star and operates a tasting menu format in a small, low-lit dining room — that combination keeps availability tight. Peak season and weekends will go faster. Do not leave this to the week before.
Yes, if a contemporary tasting menu format suits you. Chefs Joe and Saki Hoshino apply modern technique to central Thai cuisine with a seasonal focus, and the Michelin recognition in 2024 confirms the kitchen is operating at a high level. If you want à la carte Thai food, NAWA is the wrong venue — try Sorn or Baan Tepa instead, both of which offer more traditional formats.
At the ฿฿฿ price point, NAWA sits in Bangkok's upper tier but remains accessible compared to equivalent Michelin tasting menus in London or Tokyo. For a special occasion dinner with a clear culinary concept and a 2024 Michelin star behind it, the value holds. If you are price-sensitive, Sühring charges similarly but in a European format; NAWA is the stronger call if you specifically want contemporary Thai.
The modern, low-lit dining room does not scale easily, and the tasting menu format limits flexibility for large parties. Small groups of two to four are the format's natural fit. For larger celebrations, check the venue's official channels to confirm capacity — the address is Park Lane Ekkamai, Watthana, Bangkok.
NAWA runs a set tasting menu, so ordering is not a choice guests make — the kitchen decides the progression. The menu changes twice a year based on seasonality, so the specific dishes served depend on when you visit. Trust the format and let the kitchen run.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
