Yamagoya 山小屋, soi 20 Sukhumvit BKK

The last time I visited this shop in Thonglor was 5-6 years ago and was impressed with its nice soup base of Kyushu style  and the noodle texture and quality at just around THB180-200.  Seen it's been growing and now with 6-7 branches.  In taking the convenience of staying at soi 18 Sukhumvit (about 5 min. walk to this shop), I had my second visit and so nice to find it the same good quality. 

Bei Otto, deli shop, cafe and restaurant, soi 20 Sukhumvit BKK

This place caught my eyes after my visit from Jer Ngnor the other night.  Then the next morning I decided to give it a try.  I got a breakfast set with an orange juice, a cold cut platter and bread and a cup of coffee at TH325++.  It can be considered pretty expensive but considering all the cold cut is important (though it's something a common quality), it is still a nice meal to try something German.

Alert warning: P Kitchen, soi 18 Sukhumvit BKK

Got curious about this place as I passed by it during the various stays at Park Plaza soi 18.  Finally on one late morning, I decided to get an early lunch.  As I browsed their menu, the prices are somewhat alarming, and even some are more expensive than Jer Ngor (on the next soi, at about 5 min. walking time), e.g. the stir fried morning glory shown here is THB80 (same price as Jer Ngor on the small portion, but Jer Ngor's small portion is much bigger than this one and their morning glory is shred in thin slices).  Taste-wsie, super greasy and super salty too.  The other 2 dishes fried rice and Pad Thai need not to be mentioned, nor wasting my card's memory.

Crave, the cafe and restaurant, Aloft, Soi 11 Sukhumvit BKK

The place is quite cozy with a high ceiling and an open kitchen in the middle.  The food and drinks were quite nice, but the waitresses need to have more knowledge about their menu and also improve their service manner.  Simply a dish called cutlet was wrongly claimed as a grilled.  Also, we weren't given a note for taking away the plates.  As noted, the guests coming here mainly are for a drink; so that told the waitresses didn't have enough practical experiences on their food menu.

Hotel Aloft, soi 11 Sukhumvit, BKK

The hotel is opposite to the Bed Super club on soi 11 Sukhumvit.  This soi and the surrounding area has become a bit much beyond what it used to be claimed "chic" - or more explicitly "boring beats and abused chic and trendy - dressed less with heavy perfume or "decoration" and those stereotyped hand-held gestures like flat plane.  Also, most of the taxi drivers in this area would ask for a flat fee, say THB200 for a journey which is just THB60.  If not for the Starwood voucher, I wouldn't try a hotel in this area again.

Urban Room, Hotel Aloft, soi 11 Sukhumvit, BKK

Most of the rooms of this hotel are on the same size and layout in 2 major types - Chic and Urban.  Rooms on the side facing south (with a big tall building blocking the view) is called Chic.  Rooms on the side facing north (as view on the photo 2/3) is called Urban.  The room is quite cozy and unique with a bathroom and closet behind the bedroom.  However, staying at a hotel in soi 11/13 would have one common problem (or advantage for those beat people) is the heavy db noise from the bars and clubs in this area.