carrotjuice

I'm not sure where to start this thread, mod if it doesn't fit here please relocate.

I'm flying to BKK with a group of family. Three hours later, another group will arrive. I was thinking it would be easier for the first group to wait for the second group then we all travel in a van to our hotel.

As the first group is flying into BKK on Scoot around dinner time, I'm wondering if there's a nice restaurant at Suvarnabhumi where the first group can have dinner while waiting for the second group to arrive?

If I'm not mistaken all the nice restaurants (eg. Mango Tree) are at the departures level. Is it even possible for arriving passengers to go upstairs and eat at the restaurants there, then exit the airport? If not, can anyone recommend a good restaurant to have dinner for arriving passengers?

kapitan

All restaurants are between arrival and departure levels

Dr. HFH

I wouldn't hang around BKK for three hours to wait for family. Go to your hotel and meet them there.

Departures level has a fair number of restaurants but they're all (or almost all) after immigration and security, so arriving pax don't have access to them.

EzzerBKK

I second DR HFH and all the ones landside are rather poor

A_Lee

There used to be a Thai food court on Level 1, off to the side, with very reasonable prices, if you like Thai food in that type of a setting.

Since the train to BKK opened, there's also some restaurants in the basement, including a Subway sandwich shop.

I don't know that any of those would qualify though as "good", which is very subjective. But if the family is Thai and are used to eating at Thai food courts, then at least they can have a large selection to pick and choose from. The atmosphere naturally is just your basic food court though.

I would imagine there's some higher end restaurants in the Novotel, but I would assume you'd end up spending a lot there and not get very good value for your money.

dsquared37

Magic Point Food Court, Floor 1, Door 7. probably the best food in the airport.

bpe

These restaurants are actually pretty good - I don't remember which one I went to but it was pretty good. A bit expensive compared to similar food in the city, but not unreasonable.

(Here's a map of the terminal, but it's not terribly helpful. These restaurants are on the 3rd floor)

kapitan

And I should also say, "after immigration & customs..."

dsquared37

By no means all, but most.

While everyone might be looking for soemthing different I skip those floor 3 establishments at all times and head downstairs to the food court if I'm hungry and street side.

Rpcfly

^^ Ate there yesterday before my flight back to KL....Great local fare..

jiejie

Agree. Three hours is a long time and what if the second group is delayed? Get to your hotel forthwhip, check-in, and go to dinner around there. A taxi for each group isn't going to break the bank.

seanthepilot

If you would like to wait 3 hours in BKK, I think it's a perfectly feasible plan. And not too long of a wait.

You may use some of your time to organize the van. Taking multiple taxis is quite easy and not cost-prohibitive too.

There are 2 areas for restaurants, I will use simple terms to distinguish them apart:
#1) Outside of Security ~ meaning open to the public in the main part of the terminal
#2) Inside of Security ~ (both international and domestic) meaning only travelers and certain staff can access these areas before/after flying

#2 areas are overpriced, and there is no reason to stay 'airside'

#1 restaurants, as posted above are on level 3 (above arivals, below departures) and there is the food court on level 1, among others, I'm sure.

I think it's a great idea.
Meet your family and head into town together.

FlyingOnceMore

There's also "Nad Jour" which is pretty much unknown to anyone except airport staff. You go down to Level 1, head outside, turn right and head toward the garden at the end of the terminal building (Domestic End) where you'll find it.

EzzerBKK

Every time I went to those places between dept and arrival level I ended up smelling of fried food wherever I went. Not nice

pansted00

Another alternative is to go to the Novotel where they have 3 restaurants : a buffet , a chinese and a japanese . The japanese wasn't too bad last time I tried it. Not cheap though .