Jim Thompson House

Before he disappeared on a Malaysian walking holiday in 1967, Thompson had turned the declining craft of Thai silk into a global luxury fabric. The house draws flavour from the foods of its communities. Thai restaurants reflect royal and regional specialities, with influences from the traditions of settler groups – Chinese, Indian and Muslim – plus international cuisine.

The huge expatriate quarters support a superb range of restaurants, from Arab to Japanese, American to every kind of European. Meanwhile, most Thais dine streetside, sharing dishes from specialist vendors and beloved holes-in-the-wall.