Bangkok Balcony Buffet @ 81 Floor Baiyoke Tower

I used to really enjoy this place. I have vivid memories of coming here about two years ago, and it was exactly what you want from a buffet—a good variety of food and solid quality. It was a regular spot for a treat. So, I decided to bring my family back recently, hoping to share the same experience I remembered. Sadly, we walked into a completely different restaurant. The decline in quality over the last two years is staggering. The most noticeable issue is the meat; every cut we tried was chewy, gristly, and tasted like the lowest quality possible. It feels like they are now buying the cheapest bulk options available. It’s tough to enjoy a meal when you have to work that hard to chew a piece of beef—and my whole family agreed. On top of the bad meat, they have removed various food stations that used to make the buffet exciting. Now, the setup is so basic and stripped down. There is no creativity or variety anymore. Walking out with my family, I felt like I had completely wasted our time and money. I genuinely would have been happier spending half the money on street food or taking everyone to a place like ShabuChain, where at least you know the meat will be fresh I really wanted to love this place again like I did two years ago, but we all left regretting every bite. Do yourself and your family a favor—eat literally anywhere else.

3 weeks ago

When you first arrive at Biyoke from the station, it's rough. You have to come in through the back entrance which scary and very developing country looking. It's basically surrounded by a huge slum. The entrance was not much better. Thailand is a really hot country at times and the entrance area is just an elevator waiting area with no air conditioning. It's super uncomfortable. When you get up to the reception, it starts to feel a bit like Mahanakorn or any other tall building reception but you can feel it's a little dated. The first place you come to is the welcome drinks area. Which is super dated. Looks like in the 80s it would have been a "happening place" but today it's drab and poorly maintained. Next is the 81st floor restaurant which is pretty nice when you first arrive. The angles of the glass, the art deco style restaurant and the staff all in their fancy clothes make it feel a lot more premium than it actually is. I had reserved one of the balconies, to their credit, was spectacular. The view from the balcony was better than the view from the top. But the cheap plastic seats cheapened the experience for me. The were at least 20 people paying 2399thb per head for the balcony access and inside there must have been easy 50-60 people paying 1999 per head. They can afford some decent table and chairs! When the food started to arrive, it was very fixed course style not buffet style. The first few courses you eat are mandatory and very filling. I feel like they put a boat load of bicarbonate of soda on them because all their was were canapes, lobster (basically big shrimp not quite lobster size) small spoons with some tiny appetizers on them and I was full. By the time the steak came I was oddly stuffed. The steak was said to be wagyu. I have eaten wagyu in Kobe and Yokohama and this was not wagyu. Wagyu is graded A5-A1, with A1 being some of the best beef in the world and A1 being normal but still good quality beef. The steak that arrived, was worse than a $2 steak from the supermarket that you cooked yourself. It was 150g at best and 50% was fat and gristle. I ate a tiny amount it and let the staff take it. I also feel the steak had bicarbonate of soda on it to fill you up more. By the end of the meal I was so full and gassy, which you would not expect at all from even a bad steak. Confirming for me that they put bicarbonate of soda in the mix. They did however see what my birthday was from the order and brought a mariachi band over to play happy birthday for me. Which was a nice thought and I really appreciate that. But it didn't fit the atmosphere at all and everyone on the balcony was looking and it felt a bit weird. It was however a really nice gesture. The cake had a single candle which they said I was not allowed to blow out as it was a fire Hazzard. 😂 Oh well. The final stage was going up to the 360 degree revolving rooftop cage. It was pretty cool. But but this point it was dark and you couldn't see a lot. It was honestly the best part of the experience but it was still kind meh because after the meal I felt like I was gonna vomit off the edge to the people bellow. Next day I had food poisoning and was sick from both sides all day long. Summery, old building, food sucks, view kinda nice. Mahanakorn is better.

4 months ago

We recently returned for our second stay and decided to try the highly recommended international breakfast buffet. While the panoramic view from the 81st floor was undeniably stunning and offered a memorable start to the morning, the overall dining experience left much to be desired. Although many of the dishes appeared to be freshly prepared, they lacked depth in both flavor and texture. The Indian selections, in particular, had an off-putting taste, reminiscent of food that may have been reheated or left out for an extended period. There was a decent variety, including soups and Thai noodles, but an overwhelming sweetness seemed to run through many of the offerings—something that didn’t align well with traditional breakfast expectations. Of all the items available, the fruit selection stood out as the most enjoyable—fresh, well-presented, and a reliable choice amidst an otherwise underwhelming spread. Considering the premium price, the buffet did not quite meet the standard one might expect from such a prestigious venue. Service was generally courteous, with most staff members being pleasant and attentive. However, some of the chefs behind the live stations appeared disengaged and somewhat unapproachable, which detracted slightly from the overall atmosphere. In summary, while the setting and view are truly exceptional, the breakfast buffet itself falls short in both quality and value for money.

8 months ago