Blue Rice Restaurant by Apple & Noi

3 Best Day Trips From Bangkok

"With on-point food, open-air dining under a thatched roof, and direct views of the river Kwai, Blue Rice is Kanchanaburi’s most beloved restaurant among travelers and quite a few locals. It belongs to Apple’s Retreat by Apple & Noi, a small guesthouse, slightly off the main tourist road, that’s just as charming and well-regarded. The décor is simple: hefty teakwood tables, monochrome cushions on the chairs, white ceramic plates, and not much else besides the green fields around the premises (bring bug spray). It’s neat and modest; then again, the food does all the talking. Drink a fruit shake, and for food, go for the Thai classics: pomelo and papaya salads, curries—order the Massaman—and coconut milk-based soups, and that famous blue rice, which is made with pea-flower petals. Unlike other places catering to an international clientele, the flavors aren’t watered down, and the owners, Apple and Noi, take great care to explain the dishes." - Marianna Cerini