POTONG in Bangkok and OMEMO in Phuket & Southern Thailand take the top positions in the TOP25 Restaurants Thailand Awards 2026. Beyond the rankings, the awards highlight how dining contributes to a destination’s appeal, including for business travellers.
A restaurant can become a highlight of a journey, sometimes even the reason for taking it. In Thailand, the TOP25 Restaurants Awards 2026 draw attention to the role dining plays in discovering a destination, with separate rankings for Bangkok and Phuket & Southern Thailand.
Announced in a Bangkok press release dated October 27, the results showcase restaurants contributing to the diversity and international visibility of the country’s culinary scene.
In Bangkok, POTONG takes the No. 1 position, followed by Chef’s Table by lebua and Sorn. Baan Tepa ranks fourth, with INDDEE completing the top five.
In Phuket & Southern Thailand, OMEMO leads the ranking, ahead of The Smokaccia Laboratory and L’Arôme by the Sea. Tambu places fourth, followed by Royd and Aulis Phuket. AIM, Acqua, Age and Saffron Phuket complete the top ten.
The regional approach gives visibility to culinary destinations beyond the capital. For travellers, it also offers another way to plan a journey: around the tables and dining experiences they want to discover.
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What gastronomy brings to business events
The contribution of the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) offers a useful perspective for tourism and hospitality professionals.
In his opening remarks, Salanroj Sutaschuto, Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of TCEB, emphasized that Thailand’s appeal as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions also rests on its culinary traditions, culture, creativity and hospitality.
For event planners, the experience of a destination extends beyond the conference programme. A dinner can introduce participants to local culture, create space for conversation and become one of the most memorable moments of a business trip.
Restaurants therefore have a practical role in a destination’s business events offering. Alongside venues, accommodation and professional services, they help shape what participants experience and remember.
A ranking combining AI and human expertise
Owned by Travelindex Group, TOP25 Restaurants says its rankings are based on a Restaurant Rating Index combining artificial intelligence with human expertise. The platform brings together rankings, restaurant profiles and editorial content to help travellers discover dining experiences and give establishments greater international exposure.
Founder Bernard Metzger describes technology as a means of making restaurant recognition more comprehensive and accessible, while maintaining that human expertise remains essential to understanding culinary excellence.
The press release does not specify the evaluation criteria or their weighting. The results should therefore be understood as TOP25 Restaurants’ selection, produced through its own rating methodology.
From recognition to discovery
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Alongside the regional rankings, special awards recognize achievements across culinary traditions, innovation and dining experiences. According to the organizers, these distinctions acknowledge contributions ranging from preserving culinary heritage and celebrating local ingredients to developing distinctive restaurant concepts.
A Culinary Showcase also brought restaurants and beverage partners into the celebration, offering an opportunity for restaurateurs, hospitality professionals, media representatives and industry partners to meet and exchange ideas.
For destinations, the lasting value of restaurant recognition depends partly on what follows: helping visitors find the establishments, encouraging exploration of different areas and making the food itself more meaningful through the stories behind it.
A ranking can attract attention. The experience at the table gives travellers something to remember and a reason to return.
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Source: TOP25 Restaurants / Travelindex press release, October 27, 2026.