Partner Content: Bangkok’s Chinatown inspires the food and cocktails at Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort’s Thai restaurant.
Bangkok’s Chinatown provides the starting point for the latest update at Mekong Dubai. The Thai restaurant at Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort has introduced a new menu and an updated bar concept inspired by Yaowarat, bringing regional dishes, signature cocktails and DJ evenings to Palm Jumeirah’s eastern crescent.
Behind the concept is Bao Lin, an imagined herbalist whose travels through China and Southeast Asia end in Yaowarat. The story follows his encounters with local cooks and street vendors, reflecting a menu that combines Thai flavours with Chinese culinary techniques and influences from communities along the mighty Mekong River.
The menu moves between familiar favourites and regional specialities. Laab Pla Salmon takes its cue from Esarn, pairing salmon tartare with mint, chilli and ikura. Phad Thai Goong offers a familiar combination of wok-fried rice noodles, prawns, tamarind and peanuts.
There are heartier choices, too. Massaman Ossobuco centres on slow-braised veal shank in a curry with potatoes and roasted peanuts. Kao Soi Nuer draws on Burmese influences, combining beef cheek curry with egg noodles, chilli oil and pickled cabbage.
The bar follows the same regional thread. City of Lights combines tropical fruits with lemongrass and roselle soda, while Dragon Wall Negroni introduces lemongrass, kaffir lime and oolong tea to the classic cocktail format. The drinks offer another way into the concept, whether guests arrive for an aperitif or settle in after dinner. DJ sessions run from 8:30pm to 11:30pm as part of the restaurant’s wider entertainment programme.
There is also a date to add to the diary. On Friday, 6 November 2026, Mekong will host Rooted in Thailand with Chef Akkawin “Punn” Pitrachart, joining from Spice Market at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel.
Priced at AED 495 per person, the five-course set menu will explore Thailand’s four culinary regions. Chef Punn’s philosophy of Kwam Jing Jai, meaning sincerity, guides the dinner, with recipes and ingredients connected to the memories and traditions that have shaped his cooking.
Mekong is located at Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort on Palm Jumeirah’s eastern crescent. The Thai-inspired property features lagoon pools, overwater villas and a 400-metre private beach.
Where: Mekong, Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort, East Crescent, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
When: Friday, 6 November 2026
Contact: www.anantara.com