[Chad]

H1 Urban Complex

In the past (or maybe still in the present) people look modern, smart, elegant or something by what they wear, use, or eat. Well, but it's not enough anymore in the present. It's also where they go. H1 is the new destination for modern and smart people.

H1 is a group of buildings, surrounded by green bushes and trees, located in Soi Thonglor, the center of trendy lifestyle in Bangkok. They include "Cappllini" Italian import furniture store, "Extase" Mediterranean food restaurant, "Hay" home-made ice cream center, "Geo" cool designed products shop, "Barsheer-Graphic Art Book" graphic book store, etc., owned by many celebrities in Thailand.

It's a unique urban space you rarely find in Bangkok. We predict there'll be many more of its kind popping up like mushroom. We see them growing now!

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

A very cool place in Bangkok is the H1 Urban Complex. Located on soi Thonglor (Sukhumvit soi 55), up the street from BTS station Thong Lo.

The great-looking modern complex contains a furniture shop, a clothing shop, a book store (mostly of imported design books, a lot of which are Japanese), restaurants (one with large cushions for relaxing outside), and a delicious ice cream bar called Hay.
There's a lot of greenery amidst the multiple buildings forming the complex, making it feel quite refreshing.

To go to H1, since it's a bit far from the Thong Lo station, you can take a small red bus which costs only 3฿. You get on the bus at any place just by waving and hopping on, and then you give the money to some kid walking around on board (not that there's much room to walk around). At first I thought that was some beggar kid (there are a lot of beggars in Bangkok, including many very young ones) and wouldn't really trust him until I saw other people all giving him their fare.

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

Extase - MEDITERRANEAN
Address : H1 Place, Soi Thong Lo
Tel. : 02-381-4322/3
Open : Open daily11am-midnight, 1am on Sat-Sun


Located in the trendy H1 Place, Extase is a bistro and bar offering Mediterranean home style cooking. The food leans towards clear strong flavours uncomplicated by sauces and butter, and with a strong presence of vegetables, beans, and herbs such as coriander, parsley, mint, all cooked in olive oil. Seafood plays an important role, as does lamb, pork, chicken and duck.

From the menu, we started with tabouleh (120 baht), a herby salad that is practically the national dish of Lebanon. Parsley, mint, spring onions, cracked wheat, tomatoes, green peppers and olive oil are tossed together and served a green profusion that tastes so Mediterranean. Highly recommended.

Other favourite starters are vermicelli pancake (180 baht), prepared from a combination of spaghetti, olive oil, parsley, basil, anchovy paste and tomato fried together in olive oil into a crisp "biscuit" and served with a tomato, onion and oregano salad dressing. Delightful.

For something verging on fusion, the extremely popular fish timbales with wasabi dressing (180 baht) are a light fish terrine "sharpened" with Japanese horseradish, served with crisp shavings of cucumber on slices of bread.

The wide selection of entrees includes Australian beef, lamb, pork, duck and chicken specialities, but we fell in love with fillet of sole with spinach, olives and tomatoes (300 baht). For this dish, a fillet of sole was pan-fried and folded over a black olive paste and basil stuffing, serving it with a fresh tomato and young spinach sauce. The fish takes on a wonderfully herby taste

To round off our evening meal, it had to be pan-fried bananas with orange sauce (120 baht) for a very tangy finale. Fortunately I did not notice the chilled banana cream (150 baht) on an alternate menu, which describes it as pureed banana with cream cheese topped with raspberry jam and toasted almond flakes, otherwise I would still be enjoying my banana festival!

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

Extase

This mediterranean inspired bar and bistro is located inside the new H1 complex on Soi Thonglor right at the entrance before "To Die For" and the stairs which lead up to "Chi". They serve good food in a stylish restaurant and bar. The duck breast in campari and orange sauce is highly recommended. Drinks include a good vine list and about 20 different Martini cocktails. Martinis start at 240 Baht or you can get a bottle of Heineken for 130 Baht. DJ's play mainly House and Hip Hop in addition to other electronic music. Djs are only present on the weekend. Our tip when you go to H1! Perfect for warming up! As of June 2004 this in addition to all other places on H1 (Chi and To Die For) close at 12:30 so dont come too late.

 

[Chad]

To Die For (european)

To-Die-For is a contemporary European gourmet restaurant operated by fashion and lifestyle brand Greyhound. The inside is colorful, oriental and stylish designed. The service is professional and the food light, modern and served in small portions to proud prices of around B300. The duck on orange sauce for B250 is worth trying. To-Die-For is one of eight shops and restaurants located in Thonglor’s stylish H1 mini-mall at the end of Thonglor.

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

 

[Chad]

Chi

The Chi is the (new) place to be, in case you’re affluent, stylish, single, between 25-40 and one of Bangkok’s many celebrities. If you are a regular individual with a regular income and a regular look, yes you can buy yourself a sake at the stylish bar, but don’t expect to be the center of attention. The Dj's spin mainly house music. Chi is one of eight shops and restaurants located in Thonglor’s stylish H1 mini-mall at the end of Thonglor.