Of Riverfronts and Old Houses

I am always fascinated by old houses and the efforts of some people to repurpose them to become hotels or in the case of one of my favorite places in Bangkok, Thailand, a restaurant. I saw this one in one of my after-office walks, in one of my ways to fulfill a step-counter goal and have since brought many of my friends here to see its beauty.

Hong Sieng Kong is one of those by-the-river restaurants that took an old Chinese house and remodelled it to become an attraction of its own. Described by one of the bloggers as “a retro cafe that boasts an impressive collection of antiques“, it is said to be more than 150 years old but well preserved to ensure diner’s safety.

The place has an open-air indoor seating where acoustic bands play during weekend afternoons, an airconditioned dining area that’s all too welcome especially on hot summer afternoons, and riverfront al-fresco set-up that’s perfect for afternoon sunsets. Though it does not have the same majestic view as the Suppaniga Eating room that I wrote about here, the place is still beautiful and cosy, especially during cold December nights.

The food is okay and has the usual Chinese flair. There is a selection of beers from all over Asia and the world. Coffee is decent, and a few desserts are available to accompany your caramel macchiato. But I come to the place because of its positive vibe and the magnificent antique collection displayed in the indoor dining areas and in a dedicated museum-like space on the second floor of both the main building and the annex.

Will I come back again? Surely. I will always use this place to entertain friends who have not been to Bangkok or this part of the city. See the pictures below to know the reason why.