Waldorf Astoria Bangkok has brought back to life the legendary steakhouse that was once the gastronomic pride of the institutional hotel brand’s New York headquarters. The now-defunct Bull & Bear in New York had the lasting reputation of being one of the best steak experiences in the “Big Apple.” Now that experience has been transposed to the “Big Mango”—the new Bull & Bear in Bangkok offers, in addition to amazing grilled meats, impeccable service and million-dollar views of Bangkok’s glittering skyline.
Alluding to its Manhattan origins, the entrance of Bull & Bear welcomes guests with the statues of a bull and a bear in combative poses, the animals symbolic of the stock market trends in Wall Street (New York’s financial district). The dining room—like the rest of the five-star hotel— teems with art deco elements, from the gigantic, feather-like chandelier at the center of the room, to the elongated ceiling lamps, to the geometric patterns in the room partitions.
A good number of dishes are prepared on the restaurant’s customized dome grill, which can be adjusted to cook different types of meats as well as other ingredients. Commence your meal with a light appetizer like the BBQ caesar salad (B400), which puts together grilled romaine lettuce, maple bacon and anchovy vinaigrette, or the flavorful jumbo crab cake (B800) served with smoky remoulade. The lobster bisque (B500), which takes on a smooth richness with the injection of cognac, is another great way to start the meal.
You can’t go wrong when it comes to mains. Bull & Bear has prime steak cuts in various sizes, including a bone-in New York strip steak (B2,200) that features highly marbled 55-day aged Black Onyx beef and a heftily portioned, impressively tender 55-day aged Ranger Valley bone-in ribeye (B5,900). For a better steak experience, pair your perfectly grilled meats with the restaurant’s take on the Old Fashioned (B420).
Non-meat eaters can cozy up to the seafood selections like smoked Scottish salmon with leek, spinach and celeriac (B880). A meal at Bull & Bear at Waldorf Astoria Bangkok does not come cheap. But given that you’re taking in world-class dishes and stunning views in one of the city’s most prestigious addresses, it’s worth every baht