If you focus hard enough, you will see the Bangkok metropolis swirl into light trails.

The ground beneath our feet was moving. That ground though was set 84 floors above the city. It was spinning—showing off the city’s magnificence at almost a thousand feet. And I thought, having a tremendous buffet dinner just before going to this revolving view deck ain’t such a good idea.

YOU THINK WE HAVE IT BAD IN MANILA, BANGKOK HAS CRAZIER TRAFFIC JAMS

We were rooted in one of the city’s nasty traffic jams a couple of hours before we arrived at the Baiyoke Tower II for dinner. From Sofitel So Bangkok, where we were staying, we can easily see the tower. We thought it would be a quick cab ride from our place to our rendezvous.

We thought wrong. Very wrong.

BAIYOKE TOWER II, THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THAILAND

The two-kilometer stretch from our hotel to the tower took more than two hours. A few of the stalls at the night market around Pratunam were already closing as we reached Baiyoke Tower II. It would’ve been faster if we’d walk.

Three elevator rides later and we’re at the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, the highest hotel in the whole of South East Asia. But we’re not here to sleep the night off, we’re here to eat.

► CHECK BAIYOKE SKY HOTEL DISCOUNTED ROOM RATES

THE CRYSTAL GRILL AT THE 82ND FLOOR

The hotel has a total of nine restaurants and bars, plus an observation deck. We’re dining on one of those and we picked the Crystal Grill Restaurant, the highest in location amongst the bunch.

► BOOK A DISCOUNTED BANGKOK FOOD TOUR

AMAZING PANORAMIC VIEW OF BANGKOK CITY

THE CITY INDEED LIGHTS UP AT NIGHT

We can’t help but gawk at the view from the Crystal Grill. Located at the 82nd floor of the Baiyoke Tower II, it commands a breathtaking panorama of Bangkok’s electric cityscape. The buffet spread was almost forgotten as we took snaps from the balcony, unable to pry our eyes away from the snaking lighted roadways of the city and its gleaming buildings.

► BOOK TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM BANGKOK

ON TO THE BUFFET TABLE

It took a very audible groan from my tummy to break the spell.

Soon we were heading out to the buffet stations, picking seafoods, local Thai dishes, steaks, fruits. Everything we saw, we put on our plates. We were that hungry.

SEATS INSIDE THE CRYSTAL GRILL

There were available seats inside the restaurant, but why oh why would you want to sit here when you can actually eat outside where the view was so much better. Granted, it was quite warm in Bangkok at the time, but I could definitely live without air-conditioning for an hour or so just so I can have a premium view while dining out.

And this, indeed, is how you dine out.

► RELATED: KHAO SAN ROAD

STEAMED SEAFOOD

AUSTRALIAN TENDERLOIN STEAK

JAPANESE PLATTER

Still not satiated, we asked for their menu and tried out a few of their ala carte offerings. Some lobsters here, some steaks there and we’re burping our mouths off against the backdrop of Bangkok’s glimmering lights.

It was totally impossible not to enjoy dinner with a view like this.

THE CITY OF BANGKOK SWIRLED AROUND US

Having recovered from our food binge, we finally hauled our asses up two more storeys to the Observatory Revolving View Point at the 84th floor (400.00 baht / 12.00 USD) per person, but inclusive with dinner). The vista was even grander up here. And we didn’t even have to walk to see everything—the deck rotated for us. We are such lazy buggers.

Now, this is exactly how any self-respecting tourists—with deep pockets—should end an evening in Bangkok.

Crystal Grill Restaurant ►RESERVE A SEAT
Address: 82nd flr., Baiyoke Tower II, Baiyoke Sky Hotel, 222 Ratchaprapop Road, Bangkok
Contact: (+66)26563939 callcenter@baiyoke.co.th
Opening Hours: Everyday 5:30PM to 12:00MN 
Buffet Price: From 1,000.00 baht (30.00 USD)  
GPS Coordinates Map: 13.754244, 100.540344