Two Nights in Bangkok

via Cathay, Thai and Singapore First Class

July 2023

Off to Bangkok

With a 4 day hall pass in hand, I’m off on another crazy trip… this time to wonderful Bangkok for a wonderful 44 hours. Four great Michelin star restaurants ending with dinner at Gaggan Anand, #14 in the world and #5 in Asia. After the usual garbage United positioning flight, it’s my first time back in Cathay Pacific First Class since the pandemic. Then home via Thai First Class and Singapore First Class. And fabulous PS LAX at both ends of the trip to make it a truly enjoyable 4 days.

First up is my 2 hour positioning flight to LAX.

Denver to Los Angeles

United UA 1368

737-900

7:10pm-8:41pm

July 17, 2023

The usual garbage United boarding process... where Group 1 is half the plane.

Sadly, this was the extent of good service from tonight's lazy crew.

Cool old Continental livery back in the days where the US3 actually provided good service.

Gorgeous night for flying.

More than an hour for any service...

... with drinks and nuts served at the same time as the meal. But lots of time for FAs to sit and gossip in the galley.

My instagram video of my United flight from Denver to LAX.

P/S Private Suite at LAX

P/S Private Suite at LAX

P/S at LAX, the Private Suite terminal at LAX, is the best part of LAX and the ultimate way to avoid the mess that is LAX. My PS rep met me in the jet bridge at my arriving United flight, and escorted me down the jet bridge stairs to my private limo across the tarmac to the PS terminal.

Cool drive around the tarmac.

Enjoyed a couple of hours at the bar and in the lounge.

Delicious food offerings including my salmon.

Just under an hour before my LAX-Hong Kong departure, my PS escort came to get me. I did private TSA and then to a waiting limo for the drive around the LAX tarmac to the Bradley Terminal and my Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong, then connecting on to Bangkok. Once again, fabulous PS at LAX is the only way to deal with LAX.

My Instagram video of late evening with P/S at LAX.

Cathay Pacific First Class to Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific First Class Los Angeles to Hong Kong

What a treat to be back in Cathay Pacific First Class and its spacious 6 seat cabin. Sidelined for more than 3 years due to Covid, Cathay has finally resumed First Class service albeit on very limited routes and just a single daily 77W to the US. And I was fortunate to find a rare mileage seat. Excellent service and wonderful Krug tonight. With a 1:15am departure, meal service was somewhat limited and a bit disappointing overall. But still a wonderful way to cross the Pacific.

Los Angeles to Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific CX 881

777-300ER (77W)

1:15am-6:45am +1

July 18, 2023

Departed 3/6

Cathay First Class amenity kit.

Why not? LOL.

Tonight's menu, somewhat abbreviated due to the 1am departure.

Showtime Cathay Pacific First style.

Wok fried lobster with X.O. sauce. Yummy.

But what's with the ice cream? Frozen so hard that it was inedible.

My oh so comfy bed set up for me in 1A.

After some 6 hours of sleep, time for round 2.

My pork piccata looked wonderful.

... but sadly very dry after some 10 hours in the galley.

All in all a wonderful flight with excellent service. So nice to see Cathay First Class flying again.

And my Instagram video our a wonderful Cathay Pacific First Class flight to Hong Kong.

The Pier First Class Lounge Hong Kong

The Pier First Class Lounge at Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific’s First Class Lounge The Pier at Hong Kong International is one of the nicest One World First Class Lounges, when it is open. Unfortunately, it was a Covid casualty and closed more than three years ago. But The Pier finally re-opened the morning I was connecting to Bangkok. Lovely decor and amenities including a spa. Excellent bar and restaurant. Nice to spend 90 minutes here in between flights and enjoy a tasty breakfast.

Lovely Pier bar.

Off to the Dining Room for breakfast.

The Dan Dan Mien was really good.

As was the Akoori scrambled eggs with roti. Delicious.

My Instagram video of my visit to The Pier.

Cathay Pacific Business Class to Bangkok

Cathay Pacific Business Class to Bangkok

Hong Kong to Bangkok

Cathay Pacific CX 755

A330-300

9:30am-11:30am

July 19, 2023

From Hong Kong, it’s a short 2 hour flight to Bangkok. Cathay’s connecting service to Bangkok features Business Class on this route. Today’s flight is on a dated but still comfortable lie flat regional A330. Excellent service from a lovely crew.

Dated but still comfy regional Business Class product, more than adequate on a short two hour flight.

My tasty Dim Sum breakfast.

On time arrival at BKK with the sad boneyard of unused Thai planes.

My Instagram video of my Cathay Pacific Business Class flight to Bangkok.

Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok

Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok

The Four Seasons Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River is a gorgeous hotel in a perfect Bangkok location. Beautiful decor, wonderful bars and restaurants and a perfect Chao Phraya River location for easy access to shopping, restaurants and attractions along the river. Thanks to Jarvis Marcos @theluxurytraveller for the recommendation and for making my reservation.

My lovely room #407 with an outstanding river view.

Around the grounds.

Breakfast the next morning...

Lovely outdoor terrace setting.

Yummy Breakfast pizza.

My Instagram video of The Four Seasons Bangkok at the Chao Phraya.

Lunch at COTE by Mauro Colagreco

COTE by Mauro Colagreco

For lunch on arrival day, I walked next door to the even more exclusive Capella Bangkok and its welcoming Riviera-inspired signature restaurant COTE by Three-Michelin star Mauro Colagreco. Colagreco’s Michelin three star French/Italian Riviera restaurant Mirazur was ranked #1 in the world in 2019 World’s 50 Best Restaurant list. Mauro was also voted Best Chef in the World by Le Chef Compilation 2019. What a delightful lunch, amazing dishes and excellent service. And an amazing bargain at just $180 including wine pairing, tax and service.

Wonderful amuse-bouche selection...

The most amazing bread!

Crab - Burrata - Green Tomato Sorbet

Mimolette Ravioli - Bottarga - Green Peas was fabulous.

Lamb - Swiss Chard and Artichoke - Lavender

Wonderful cheese cart.

Bravo Mauro!

My Instagram video of my delightful lunch at COTE by Mauro Colagreco.

Drinks and Dinner at the Four Seasons

Tonight I stayed in house at the Four Seasons, meeting a ex-pat Flyertalk friend for drinks at BKK Social Club (ranked #3 bar in Asia) and then dinner at Michelin 1 star Yu Ting Yuan. Wonderful meal with excellent service. I clearly enjoyed the evening as I completely missed taking pics of two courses. LOL.

And my Instagram video of my evening at the Four Seasons.

Lunch at Blue by Alain Ducasse

Alain Ducasse is one of our favorite chefs so I was so excited to have lunch at his Bangkok outpost, Blue by Alain Ducasse ranked #24 in Asia. Blue is the flagship restaurant in ICONSIAM, Bangkok’s luxury shopping centre on the Chao Phraya. What a delightful experience it was. Stunning decor and location overlooking the Chao Phraya River, with exquisite French cuisine and flawless service.

Iconic Thai Longtail RIver Boat.

ICONSIAM, Bangkok's new luxury shopping destination.

To Blue by Alain Ducasse.

And since blue is my favorite color, gorgeous blue decor.

Delicious amuse-bouche offerings.

Frozen rhubarb, tomato granité, lovage.

OMG, the bread cart, and butter from France.

Lightly smoked gamba roja prawns, avocado hass and prune

Mediterranean baby squid, trumpet zucchini, white currant.

Amazing wild white tuna, green peas, citrus zabaglione

Lamb rack from Hackataramea valley, green asparagus and basil. Wow!

OMG, another incredible cheese cart.

Coconut and red pepper dessert.

And one more dessert to cap an incredible meal. Simply divine with flawless French-trained service.

And my Thai-for-Uber Grab pick up point for my 15 minute ride back to the Four Seasons.

My Instagram video of my fabulous lunch at Blue by Alain Ducasse.

Amazing Dinner at Gaggan Anand

Gaggan Anand Bangkok - #17 in the world

The highlight of my 2 days in Bangkok was dinner at extraordinary Gaggan Anand, a restaurant like no other. Kolkata-born Gaggan worked at El Bulli in Spain before moving to Bangkok. His first restaurant, Gaggan, rose to #1 in Asia and #4 in the world before he closed it after a dispute with his financial partners… right after our visit four years ago. His new restaurant Gaggan Anand features just 14 seats around a chef’s counter. It is a 3 hours delight... a wonderful culinary delight with humor, music, entertainment and showmanship. As Gaggan notes on his website… “Are you ready to embark on the journey of flavors? Are you ready to experience food as an act of live and rebellion? Join us for a culinary adventure of the senses and a roller coaster ride of emotions”.

Rain and traffic caused most of the 14 guests to arrive late... so our 7pm rez was pushed back to 7:30pm.

Lots of time to explore include upstairs at Gaggan's casual Indian restaurant, Ms. Maria and Mrs, Singh (ranked #33 in Asia(, where the crew insisted on a photo op.