Vogue Cafe: Lunchtime Glamour

Once upon a time, Bangkok had a Vogue Lounge. Now the city is home to its casual sibling, Vogue Café. Hoping to attract fashionistas, the café sits in the heart of Bangkok’s Ratchaparasong shopping district. Condé Nast’s first café experience in Thailand, comes after similar iterations in Shanghai, Porto, Riyadh and Beijing, and Vogue Lounge Kuala Lumpur, Vogue Restaurant Istanbul and GQ Bar Bodrum.

The location in Erawan Bangkok undoubtedly helps; the skywalk connects it to several malls bristling with brand names. Think shopping expeditions, aching feet, then a recharge at the Vogue Café… get the picture? Will it work? It’s a no brainer. It’s a stylish spot, with a credible menu and an Instagram perfect setting. Plus, the service is friendly.

The posts on the ’Gram get the people in (Heck, I’m one of those), but the easy, no-fuss menu will bring them back for seconds. A formula that Bangkok has seen work before: Greyhound Café, Not Another Hound and It Happened to be a Closet.

Vogue Café promises casual all-day dining and does not pretend to be otherwise. So, grab a meal, opt for takeaway, just spend the afternoon with friends, or drop in for a quick executive lunch. It morphs with your need. And yes, send out a ’Gram.

The menu pays homage to cafes everywhere with several big and small plates. The Asparagus Ricotta Tart with Hollandaise Sauce (Bt270) is comfort personified: the puff pastry perfectly crisp, the ricotta adding a creaminess and the star of the show, the asparagus, steamed and tender but not mushy. The accompanying hollandaise is light, creamy and lemony. The Sausage Gravy and Butter Biscuit (Bt120) pulls me into its unholy, forbidden deliciousness – it’s a slice of Americana, of the Southern variety. The biscuit is light, crumbly and fluffy. It is delightful on its own, but the white, ground breakfast sausage gravy takes over with its punchy heartiness – the drippings incorporated into the sauce. Think of a silky béchamel sauce with lots of ground sausage. Technically a breakfast dish, it’s excellent any time of the day. Next, I try Grilled Herbed Pork with Vermicelli (Bt250) served with a sweet chilli sauce – a straightforward, uncomplicated light meal. The Baked Cheesy Ratatouille Rice Bowl (B220) baffles me – ratatouille paired with rice and cheese. The melted cheese slathered over the rice is confounding, leaving me asking that existential question: Why? Just Why?! The ratatouille, on the other hand, would do Provençal cuisine proud – it’s silky, it’s herby, it’s garlicky. I could eat it by the bowlfuls.

There’s plenty more to choose from – tapas, salads, sandwiches and more. I know I’ll be back, but for now, I leave with my Yuzu Cold Brew (Bt150) – a hit of coffee tempered by the aromatic and tart yuzu. You just have to try it.

Vogue Café (dine-in, takeaway, delivery);** Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok; 094 994 1888**