Tired of the traditional festive dinner? Christmas party at Som Saa offers a format that feels considered rather than formulaic, made for groups that are seeking out something more engaging than a standard set menu with dry turkey and veg. Som saa puts the focus on regional Thai cooking, from richly spiced dishes to fresher salads and lighter options.
Festive parties here can take a more private dining style format, seating up to 30 with sharing style festive dinners, while larger standing receptions can be arranged across the space for a more informal feel. The restaurant design is warm and unique, featuring exposed brick, beautiful green tiles, pistachio coloured plaster walls, plenty of lush planting, and blinds and curtains for added privacy. It feels relaxed but intentional, allowing the focus to remain on the food and the flow of the evening.
As for festive dining at Som Saa, rather than individual courses, dishes arrive family style, creating a natural rhythm for Christmas merriment. While dishes change with the seasons, previous combinations have included green mango and prawn salad with lemongrass and herbs, alongside richer plates like Penang curry of salted beef cheeks with peanuts and Thai basil. Seasonal greens with Asian mushrooms add balance, while fragrant jasmine and sticky rice anchor the meal.
For a more substantial centrepiece, whole deep-fried seabass with Isaan herbs can be added, which is sure to cause a stir around the table. Desserts continue in the same vein, with salted palm sugar ice cream served with grilled turmeric anana, for a warm finish to the meal.
To match, you’ll find a range of spice-friendly bottles alongside a whole host of sparkling wines and little-known labels. Cocktails, meanwhile, take cues from Thailand’s most popular ingredients. The Snowglobe Sour, for instance, combines bourbon, amaretto, and lime, with a cardamom and coconut foam, while the Rak Tong Ham builds on pickled cucumber infused tequila with chilli, elderflower and lime.