• 
• 

Published on September 12, 2007

 Scraping the clouds almost 90 storeys up, the Baiyoke Sky Tower's revolving roof offers magnificent 360-degree views of Bangkok and its surrounds. Drop down closer to the ground and you'll also find it's a great place to shop for clothes, thanks to endless stylish offerings from wholesalers.

However, now the focus at the tower is on building a reputation as a top dining destination. On the eighteenth floor at the Baiyoke Sky Hotel lobby is the four-month-old Fruit Court - heaven for tropical-fruit lovers. For Bt150, you can eat everything from durian, mangosteen, longan, grapes and tamarind to roseapple, pomelo, coconut and lots more. All are peeled, cut and served fresh from selected orchards.

After being banned from most Bangkok hotels for its "distinctive" odour, durian in coconut milk served atop sticky rice is a popular choice for visitors here.

If durian isn't your thing, you can opt for the tropical-fruit sherbets topped off with yoghurt or syrup. My favourite is santol in syrup with ice - a nice balance of sweet, sour and salty.

And if fruit doesn't sate your appetite, you can go for a full meal at one of the several restaurants offering Chinese and international fare.

If it's a magnificent vista you're after, go to the Crystal Grill on the 82nd floor. The restaurant, which opened last November, allows you to admire the Chao Phya River and on a clear day even the Gulf of Thailand.

Executive chef Veera Onkaew has used his six year's experience working alongside a Mexican chef to add Tex-Mex delights to the buffet line. So if you like tacos, you can knock yourself out with the feast of meat and vegetable fillings and spicy salsas on offer.

Seafood lovers might have trouble resisting the grilled river prawn and rock lobster with sweet-and-sour chilli dipping sauce.

For the health-conscious, there's a salad bar stocked with organic produce from royal project farms, while carnivores can have their beef or lamb cooked exactly the way they want. Steaks come with a choice of mushroom or black-pepper sauce, while the lamb, marinated overnight in yoghurt, curry powder, roasted-chilli sauce, rosemary and oregano, is a melt-in-the-mouth delight.

The sushi station remains one of the busiest counters thanks to the fresh salmon, with crispy tempura, maki rolls, noodles and Japanese pizza also getting repeat visits from diners.

There's freshly made pad thai on offer at all times and if you like Hong Kong congee, you will not disappointed.

Pasta choices are also practically endless.

And when you've finished wading through all of that, there are still fruit fondues, home-made ice creams, pastries and cakes for dessert. Be sure to try the delicious crepes Suzette that come sizzling with liqueur, vanilla ice cream and fruit.

One warning, though: People who suffer from vertigo should stay away.

Buffet dinner at the Crystal Grill costs Bt590 net per person, including a ticket to the roof. The restaurant is open nightly for dinner from 5.30pm to midnight. Book ahead if you want a seat by the window. Call (02) 656 3000 or (02) 656 3456, extension 4.

 Juthamas Cholthavornpong

 The Nation