Exquisite views and fine Mediterranean dining at Sirocco, Bangkok

The views from Sirocco are simply breathtaking.

WALKING down the staircase of Sirocco restaurant and Sky Bar you will find one of the most stunning views for a dinner you can find in the world.  Sirocco sits on the 63rd floor of the lebua at State Tower building, almost 250 meters above the bustling streets of Bangkok.

Many will know Sirocco for its iconic golden dome, one of the Thai capital’s more distinctive landmarks. Others will recognize it from ‘The Hangover 2′ movie – you can even order a signature ‘Hangovertini’ cocktail at the bar if you really want to get into the ‘wolf pack’ spirit.

Sirocco offers the world’s highest al fresco dining experience with a 360-degree view of Bangkok and the Chao Phraya River. Live jazz music, personalized service and that amazing view combine to make this an unforgettable experience… and we haven’t even mentioned the food yet.

The menu is the creation of Chef de Cuisine Gonzalo Ruiz, who was kind enough to join us for a chat before dinner. Despite all the glitz and glamour at Sirocco, Gonzalo is a down to earth individual with a deep passion for cooking. Born and raised in Barcelona, his creations are strongly influenced by the food he cooked growing up with his family.

Sirocco Chef de Cuisine Gonzalo Ruiz.

“I used to cook at home with my mother, my father, my grandmother, my uncle,” he says. “I was cooking as a child.  I have three brothers and a twin sister and my mother had a lot of work to do with all the kids. So I see my mother cooking chicken, fish, desserts, going to the market, so I think the main influence came from my family.”

Gonzalo owned his own cafes in Barcelona, worked in Mumbai and was then offered the opportunity to chef at Sirocco.

“Look around, this is where I work every day.  Every day is a challenge but I love it,” he says.

In some respects the view is the main course at Sirocco, however the food is very good and this comes down to Gonzalo’s commitment to unique flavors and an evolving menu. Those visiting Sirocco for the first time could do worse than to try the popular Chef’s Tasting Menu, which allows diners to sample the range of Gonzalo’s culinary skills over six courses.

“We like to shine and the flavor is the main factor,” he says. “I source local ingredients whenever I can.  I love the local cooking culture here in Bangkok but this is a Mediterranean restaurant and we stick to the basic flavors that everyone loves about Mediterranean cooking.”

Now Chef Gonzalo is about to unveil one of the restaurant’s most ambitious presentations to date.  The 2003 Heritage Collection promises to take guests on a culinary journey into Sirocco’s Mediterranean roots.

Guests ring in 2014 at the Bangkok Ball Drop.

This special menu will be complimented this New Year by lebua’s Bangkok Ball Drop at Sirocco on December 31. Adding further spectacle to an already spectacular setting, the 7-foot illuminated ball drops 49 feet from above Sirocco at midnight. Visible from more than a mile across the city, it is the most visible New Year’s icon in Bangkok.

Sirocco may not be the best value dining option in Bangkok, it runs a bit pricier than many of the other top-end restaurants in town. It is, however, far and away the most spectacular place to eat in the city and the food is top notch. An evening at Sirocco is not one you’ll soon forget and is something everyone who visits Bangkok should do at least once.

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