Where? Ever wanted to sip champagne with the stars? The 61st floor of Bangkok's Banyan Tree is a good start: its roof-top restaurant Vertigo and Moon Bar are fittingly named. Forget sub-zero air conditioning and think the ultimate in alfresco: 360 degrees of the cityscape from every white linen table top, with a light breeze ruffling your hair and little more than a flimsy rail separating you from the abyss.
Have I heard of it? Perhaps not. Better known for splendid spas and swanky resorts than risky eateries, Banyan Tree has created the ultimate in feel- good restaurants. It's romantic, breathtaking and intoxicatingly fun. Anyone looking for the perfect place to pop the question need look no further.
Contemporary or classic? Vertigo and Moon Bar are dazzlingly chic, thanks to the elegantly dressed staff, the glitter of lights on Sukhumvit Road and the Chao Phraya River, and the distinctly Mediterranean food. Try the oyster foam soup scented with truffle (HK$90) or whole lobster seared with herbs (HK$470). Or head to the Moon Bar for a margarita sorbet scented with kaffir lime (HK$48).
Tell us more: Come the early hours of next year, the restaurant and bar will be at the centre of the biggest party in town. Of course, seeing New Year in at that kind of elevation doesn't come cheap: a ticket to Vertigo's party costs about $1,800, including drinks, food and music. The doors open at 7pm on New Year's Eve and won't close until the sun rises. Be quick: tickets are selling fast.
Anything else we should know? If the Vertigo revelries are over-subscribed, try the competition. The new Sirocco, closer to the river than Vertigo on the top floor of the State Tower, is also impressive, but without the full city views. It's polished and sleek, with jet-black furniture and a smoky glass bar at one end. Its garlic- and rosemary-infused lamb with tabouleh, sun-dried tomato and mint sauce ($215) is in a class of its own. Sirocco also has a slick little sister: oyster and vodka bar Distil. It has an outdoor patio area with stunning views. Regularly playing host to celebrities and models, its signature tipple is the City of Angels cocktail, blending passion fruit, vodka, Grand Marnier, raspberry puree and Laurent Perrier water (HK$243). Grab one and go and rub shoulders with the other stars.
Vertigo and Moon Bar, 61/F Banyan Tree Hotel, Sathorn Rd, Bangkok. Inquiries: (66 0) 2679 1200; Sirocco and Distil, 54/F State Tower, Silom Rd, Bangkok. Inquiries: (66 0) 2624 9576.