Sappe

"With its distinctive yellow wrought-iron gates, Sappe is an offshoot of the East Village’s wonderful Soothr, specializing in Central Thai cooking. The new place focuses on kebabs and cocktails, but look beyond that at the rest of the menu — which is mainly Isan fare, and enjoy the Bangkok nightclub ambiance, making it a good date spot." - Robert Sietsema

"Sappe, a Thai restaurant from the Soothr team, makes a regular evening feel like a movie premiere. You’ll pass under a bright yellow theater marquee, and, once you take your seat and see the mirror on the ceiling above you, realize it’s not Nicole Kidman up on that giant silver expanse: it’s you and your besties crushing some cocktails. The neon writing on the walls is perfect lighting for your glam shot, and the drinks are not only potent, they’re also inspired by famous women from Thai films and novels. The food at this West Village spot is excellent too: eat some skewers and a spicy fruit salad, and don’t skip the stir-fried noodles with pork rinds." - willa moore, sonal shah, bryan kim, neha talreja, will hartman

"Sappe (from the Soothr team) was built for parties. The Thai restaurant in Chelsea glows neon pink, with a mirrored ceiling, over-the-top cocktails, and a noisy back room that can accommodate big groups. Order a bunch of skewers for the table—prioritizing the squid, chicken skin, and fried okra—and don’t skip the laab ped udon with its fiery mound of basil and ground duck." - bryan kim, neha talreja, kenny yang, sonal shah

"This sequel to the East Village Thai spot Soothr feels like the glam afterparty of a 1970s movie premier. If you need a place that immediately sets the tone for a lively night out, stop by and eat skewers beneath a mirrored ceiling while you listen to a Thai pop soundtrack. The food—like the spicy duck laab, and fruit salad with mango and fish sauce—doesn’t hold back, and the elaborate cocktails keep the mood festive. Try the frozen Somsri, made with tequila, lime zest, and guava puree." - bryan kim, neha talreja, will hartman, sonal shah

"Follow the custom "train station" signs and street vendor-style market carts to the back of Northeastern Thai restaurant Sappe, where a small horseshoe-shaped bar evokes the Hua Lamphong station in Bangkok, including a large semicircle green-and-white stained-glass window, horseshoe bar and vintage-style lighting fixtures. From the team behind Thai noodle bar Soothr, Sappe, which opened in January 2024, focuses on Esan-style train market and street food (think grilled skewers and sweets served from carts). Drinks developed by manager/co-owner Supatta Banklouyhas are wonderfully elaborate, often featuring Thai flavors and ingredients. Frozen margarita fans will want to trade up to the frozen Somsri, made with tequila, Cointreau, lime and guava puree." - Kara Newman