The infamous London eatery is wooing diners in the Thai capital. Gemma Shaw booked a table for two
Café Wolseley is now a permanent fixture in Bangkok
Renowned London eatery Café Wolseley has become a permanent fixture at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, much to the delight of Bangkok foodies.
Founded in Mayfair, London, in 2003, The Wolseley quickly gained a reputation as one of the city's most esteemed café-restaurants, frequently visited by celebrities such as Kate Moss, Madonna and the Beckhams. Last year, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel announced that its long-standing Madison Steakhouse would transform into Café Wolseley for a three-month pop-up. The overwhelming success of this pop-up led to Café Wolseley becoming a permanent fixture in downtown Bangkok.
Under the expert guidance of chef David Stevens, Group Executive Chef at The Wolseley Hospitality Group and former Head Chef at The Wolseley in London, Café Wolseley stands out with its unique fusion of British elegance and delectable European cuisine.
We opted for an alcohol-free evening, so we decided to explore the mocktail menu suggested by our waiter, which turned out to be outstanding. Café Wolseley offers the most incredible non-alcoholic beverages we have ever tasted. We started with two glasses of 'Muay Thai', a refreshing blend of ginger, lemongrass, lime leaf, Thai chilli, toasted white sesame, and coriander. We then had 'Dry Palomas' made with non-alcoholic tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and agave.
The restaurant mixes old-world charm with contemporary touches
The revamped a la carte menu is a testament to the restaurant’s commitment to quality and variety. It features a premium selection of seafood, European meat dishes, French brasserie classics, and lighter options like tuna tartare, smoked salmon, and sea bream ceviche.
The menu also retains many of Café Wolseley’s hero dishes including the twice-cooked Soufflé Suisse with parmesan and the vegetarian selection has been expanded to include a Wild Mushroom Stroganoff and a rich Cauliflower and Chickpea Makhani Curry served with mango chutney and chapatis.
Our evening began with a traditional French onion soup, a dish that perfectly captured the essence of The Wolseley with its beef stock and rich gruyère croûte. We also indulged in a Dressed Dorset Crab, a fresh and flavorful dish featuring English crab, brown crab mayonnaise, and a hint of lemon.
A standout dish for the main course was Wolseley's Coq au Vin, marinated for five days and served with pancetta, pearl onions, and button mushrooms. Another exceptional option was the pan-seared Wild Fillet of Seabass with a flavorful lemon and caper butter sauce.
Despite feeling incredibly full, we couldn't resist trying the dessert menu. We decided to go for the Coupe Citron Meringuée, a refreshing blend of lemon yoghurt ice cream, lemon curd, lemon compote, meringue, whipped cream, and toasted almonds.
If you're staying in Bangkok, head to Café Wolseley for a little bit of English elegance mixed with European flair in the heart of the bustling city. It’s a fun experience and we both agreed that if all restaurants served non-alcoholic drinks this delicious, we’d opt to go alcohol-free more often.
Café Wolseley, Parichart Court, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, Bangkok; midday to 2.30pm Monday to Saturday and 6 to 10.30pm Monday to Sunday. To make a reservation, head online.
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