What is it?: Born into tough times at the height of the pandemic, Yen Akat’s Clara has quickly risen to become one of the best-loved and most innovative Italian restaurants, featuring dishes that are as delicious and homey as they are experimental
Why we love it: Like so many of Bangkok’s most beloved restaurants, Clara is set in a beautiful old home that just welcomes you in. And a lot of that welcoming energy is brought by Chef Christian Martena and his wife, maître d’ and restaurant namesake Clara Del Corso-Martena, who, along with their team, provide classic Italian hospitality. But don’t expect more of the same Italian standards. In either their six-course (Starting at B 3,880) or eight-course (Starting at B4,880) options, Clara’s dishes lean towards the avant-garde, with unexpected but deeply thoughtful ingredient combinations (artichokes with Cynar, why didn’t we think of that?) and laser-precise flavours.
Time Out tip: While Clara is a great time no matter what, we’re particularly taken with the seats at the kitchen counter, and if you opt for the chef’s table, you’ll be sitting in leather chairs individually tattooed with truffles and figs my Thai tattoo master Tantai – possibly Bangkok’s coolest pieces of furniture.