Zuma Bangkok

An energetic take on the izakaya, this is the kind of place that works as well for drinks at the bar as it does for a full dinner with friends. The room has polish, but it does not feel stiff, and the open kitchen, sushi counter, and robata grill keep the experience lively. Food is contemporary Japanese with real range, moving from raw dishes to grilled plates with the confidence of a restaurant that knows exactly what it is. Cocktails and sake are taken seriously, which makes it an easy choice even if you come as much to drink as to eat. For a stylish night out in Bangkok, it feels social, sharp, and reliably well run.