Polka Dot Cafe: From the club scene to a club sandwich

This new restaurant in Ari co-run by one of Bangkok's few female DJs brings great food, warmth and funky tunes to this cool and stylish neighborhood

By O. Pravatti 30 July, 2010

Polka Dot Café resides in Bangkok's hip Ari neighborhood.

Bangkok might be one of those great cities in which diners never lack for options, with new restaurants opening on a daily basis. But very rarely does a place that has all the right ingredients for overnight success grace the city. Such is the case with Polka Dot Café. From the stylish black and white polka-dot décor and cozy atmosphere to its tasteful but funky music, the café won a place in local hipsters’ hearts within the first week of opening in the well-loved Ari neighborhood last month.

Great food, as well a warm atmosphere, has made Polka Dot a local favorite in just a few weeks after opening.

The brainchild of husband and wife duo Guillaume and Pich Wyss, the place is as warm and hip as the couple. As one of a handful of local female DJs, Pich has been a part of the club scene for many years. But her passion for food is well known among close friends. She used to keep a food-dedicated blog, and while this has taken a back seat this year, that's only because she's been putting all that research to good use in devising recipes for Polka Dot.

“I love cooking, and I love eating. I’ve blogged about food for a while, and I often put my recipes on as well. I wanted to start up my own business, so I think Polka Dot Café is a good combination of my passions,” says the mother of one.

Despite the café’s chic surroundings, the biggest draw is actually the quality of the food. The menu is made up of Pich’s own recipes, including dishes that feature her personal twists to the familiar. The Western-inspired dishes have that local, home-cooked feel to them and the top notch imported ingredients also enhance the dining experience. Polka Dot also has a solid wine and cocktail menu that includes frozen margaritas, bellinis and martinis.

And did we mention it’s in Ari? Though this hip neighborhood might feel miles away for jaded Sukhumvit Road folks, it’s only a 10-minute ride up the BTS line from Siam and is welcoming an increasing number of Bangkokians who’ve tired of the over-gentrified Ekamai and Thonglor areas.

CNNGo recommends: Hokkaido scallop carpaccio; rocket salad with avocado, strawberry, blue cheese & pistachio; linguine with dried chili, scallop & tiger prawn; spiced tuna steak with sautead spinach & pasta; and poached pear in red wine served with mascarpone & almond.

Getting there:
Polka Dot Café is in Aree Garden, Aree Samphan 11 (Paholyotin Soi 5). BTS: Ari. Opposite The Ministry Of Finance. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Call +66 (0)2 617 3204.