How to Keep Your Cool in Bangkok

How to Keep Your Cool in Bangkok

As the mercury rises, here are some of the best ways to keep your cool in steamy Bangkok.

Blink and you’ll miss the unassuming shophouse home of Nuttaporn Ice Cream, scooping the stuff of lickalicious legend in Bangkok’s old town since the 1950s. This made-from-scratch, Thai-style ice cream comes in a rainbow of yumsome flavours, ranging from coconut milk and mango to coffee and Thai tea. Just add a variety of toppings like roasted peanuts, lotus seeds, and sweet corn – but beware – if eagle-eyed proprietor Nuttaporn is watching she’ll only let you choose certain combos.

But a Birkin’s toss from your chill suite at The Peninsula, spanking-new, super-luxe, retailvana ICONSIAM offers an afternoon of air-conditioned respite and – more importantly – credit card-melting shopportunity. Run-of-the-mill mall this ain’t with some 500 homegrown and imported brands, plus a spotlight on Thai culture including food market Thonburi Delights, Thai-only label stable The Selected, two-storey Thai craft emporium Iconcraft, and ‘floating market’ SookSiam, touting goodies from all 77 provinces. A souped-up 14-screen cinema beckons for laters.

Catch the breeze with a leisurely chug along the river towards Tien Pier (your concierge at The Peninsula can arrange a ride), where seasonal, locavore gem Err beckons from its riverside shophouse location. Bo Songvisava and Dylan Jones, the inimitable duo behind foodie mecca Bo.Lan has created the menu, which is a casual but creative rendition of the regional smash hits, including coconut-smoked Chiang Rai sausage curry, charcoal-grilled chicken satay skewers, and clay-pot mussels with glass noodles and black bean sauce. Pair with cooling summery cocktails like the ‘Flower Market Number Two’, mixed with rice wine, jasmine vodka, lychee, elderflower, and a twist of lime.

Phewf! You’ve earned some serious pamper points. Where better to seek therapeutic restoration than at The Peninsula Spa, a dim-lit antiquey riverside aerie offering every pummel imaginable, from Himalayan crystal salt scrub and Royal Thai massage with herb compress to skin-brightening facials and body-firming treats. Finish your day with a sunset dip in the sublime outdoor pool.

Nuttaporn Ice Cream / 94 Phraeng Phuton Rd / +66 2 222 2686 / 8am-4pm Mon-Sat

ICONSIAM / 299 Charoen Nakhon Rd / +66 2 495 7000 / 10am-10pm daily / iconsiam.com

Err / 394/35 Maharaj Rd / +66 2 622 2292 / lunch & dinner Tue-Sun / errbkk.com

The Peninsula Spa  / +66 2 020 2888 / 9am-11pm daily / peninsula.com