No better way to enter the new year in Bangkok by experiencing Ms.Jigger and Ruby’s at Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, the dining duo that balances modern Italian cooking with a little story-led bar.
Starting with Ms.Jigger, the Italian restaurant welcomes back Chef Danilo Aiassa, part of the opening team and now head chef, marking a clear reset for the restaurant’s direction. Piedmont-born and trained in respected Michelin-starred kitchens, Chef Aiassa brings a straightforward approach: good produce, clear seasoning, and plates that read well from first bite to last.
The January 2026 menu puts seasonality and sourcing at the centre. Italian technique meets Thai ingredients, such as locally made burrata and mozzarella from Italian seed-stock milk, vegetables from Khao Yai, and carefully sourced Thai Angus, pork, and chicken. All are aiming for flavour and a closer link to producers.
The room suits the food: daylight at lunch, a busier pace after dark, and a menu built for sharing. Highlights include a clean Margherita; Lingua di manzo con salsa verde, where tender beef tongue meets parsley–hazelnut sauce and ricotta; Agnolotti ripieni spinaci with tomato and pesto; and Polletto alla diavola, grilled baby chicken with baked garlic, tomatoes, and potatoes. Nothing feels showy when everything is considered.
A few steps away, the hotel has Ruby’s, an intimate speakeasy that seats just 16. The bar builds its menu around gemstones and small narratives, poured across a short list of cocktails and two zero-proof options. Signatures include Diamond (tequila, Hokkaido yoghurt liqueur, Mancino Bianco, citrus, pear, organic yoghurt), Ruby (gin, jasmine, strawberry, pomegranate, hibiscus, citrus, soda), and Peridot (unsweetened coconut, pandan, citrus, blood orange and elderflower tonic). Snacks are tuned to the drinks, and the counter format keeps service personal.
Taken together, Ms.Jigger and Ruby’s at Kimpton Maa Lai Bangkok offer a neat route: an Italian meal shaped by Danilo’s steady hand, followed by focused cocktails next door. It’s an evening that favours clarity over spectacle, with kitchen and bar speaking the same lingo of translating place, produce, and good timing into their experience.
For more information, visit kimptonmaalaibangkok.com.