Marking the Bangkok screenings of Nolan’s latest epic, Koktail has gathered 5 lotus-inspired dishes and places to try around town, offering bliss without any of the amnesia.

Christopher Nolan’s new film, The Odyssey (2026), lands in Bangkok this week, whisking up serious drama, both human and divine, alongside a bloke just trying to get back to his wife. Quite predictably, it’s already making quite a splash – and given the high-seas setting, the pun is absolutely intended.

Starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson, it picks up where Homer’s other epic, The Iliad, left off, tracking Odysseus as he tries to reach his wife, Penelope, post-Trojan War. The theme of homecoming (nostos) is central here, but whether Nolan has given it a spin is still anyone’s guess.

Much like his previous work, Oppenheimer (2023), the film boasts an ensemble cast, though it’s the tech that has big-screen purists obsessed. Nolan shot on hefty IMAX 70mm cameras, but since no Thai screen can handle the format, hardcore fans in Bangkok will need to fly to Melbourne, the nearest location capable of showing it in its full, widescreen glory.

Among the many strange lands Odysseus visits, one of the most fascinating is the island of the Lotus-Eaters in Book Nine. It is here that Homer introduces the mythical lotus, a plant so intoxicating that anyone who eats it loses all desire to return home. To mark the release of Nolan’s latest epic, Koktail follows that thread through Bangkok, rounding up lotus-inspired dishes and places that promise bliss without the forgetfulness.

Lotus-Eating in Homer’s Odyssey 

Homer’s epic is driven by the ache for home, a concept the Greeks called nostos. Yet, on the island of the Lotus-Eaters – historically thought to be Djerba, off Tunisia – this desire is nearly destroyed by a simple fruit. The lotus offers a strong temptation: absolute forgetfulness. It strips the sailors of their yearning for Ithaca, leaving a desperate Odysseus to drag them crying back to the ships. 

Centuries later, Gabriel García Márquez tapped into this same terror in One Hundred Years of Solitude. When an insomnia plague blankets the town of Macondo, it inflicts a creeping dementia that steals the townspeople’s memories of their history and their home. Both authors capture a haunting truth – that home lives in our memory, and losing that memory is the deepest exile.

While the term lōtos in Homer could signify a variety of plants – leaving its exact botanical identity unclear – the standard explanation points to poppy seeds or some form of opioid. However, some scholars have conjectured that it refers to the blue lotus flower (Nymphaea caerulea), a plant known to produce euphoria and hallucinations at high doses.

A Home-Based Boutique for Flower-Shaped Coconut Jelly Art: VoonPhuKarn

Operating entirely online without a physical storefront, this hidden gem started as a casual hobby before non-stop orders – even through holidays and Valentine’s Day – turned it into a year-round hit. They specialise in gorgeous, flower-shaped jelly treats, spinning everything from lotus designs to their crowd-favourite young coconut flower jelly. Today, this home-based business is a total point of Thai pride, having even whipped up custom desserts for foreign ambassadors and the head of the OECD. Check out the delicious proof on their Facebook page!

A Refreshing Take on the Symbolic Lotus Dessert: Celadon

Celadon at The Sukhothai Bangkok has expanded its menu with a new signature dessert named ‘Bua Celadon’. This dish combines softly cooked red beans and osmanthus ice cream with a traditional coconut jelly made from freshly pressed coconut milk. Served in a style that reflects the restaurant’s focus on classic Thai refinement, the refreshing presentation complements the clean, balanced flavours, serving as an excellent example of modern Thai dessert artistry.

A Restaurant Inspired by the Lotus: Sra Bua by Num Weerawat

Sra Bua at Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is preparing to reopen at the end of this month, welcoming Chef Weerawat ‘Chef Num’ Triyasenawat to lead the kitchen. Even with a major concept overhaul on the horizon, the lotus remains the central focus. The fine-dining establishment is famous for its distinctive interiors featuring pools of lotus flowers – a signature aesthetic that directly influences the menu. According to teasers on their official Instagram page, the next chapter of Sra Bua by Num Weerawat is akin to a lotus taking its time to mature and bloom, while keeping the original spirit of the restaurant alive. Whether the incoming menu will be as irresistible as the mythic lōtos that enchanted Odysseus’s crew is something diners will have to wait and discover.

A Sustainable Showcase of Every Part of the Lotus: Ventisi

Ventisi, situated on the 24th floor of Centara Grand at CentralWorld, has launched a seasonal menu entirely inspired by the versatile lotus plant. Every dish is different from the next, utilising a different element of the flora – from the petals and starchy to the seeds and stems. While the techniques vary, the flavour profile remains authentic to Thai traditions, featuring everything from crunchy deep-fried roots to fragrant soups. The menu is as much a celebration of the plant itself as it is a testament to a zero-waste philosophy, offering a culinary experience rooted in sustainability.

A Traditional Lotus Appetiser: W1

While many head to the W1@Bangkoknoi Hotel in Bang Yai, Nonthaburi to dine alfresco by the Om Non canal at sunset, the indoor dining room is just as alluring. The space features glowing lotus motifs across the ceiling that cast a relaxed ambience over the tables. Once inside, any self-proclaimed ‘lotus-eater’ must order miang kleep bualuang or red lotus petal wrap – a spectacular appetiser served on actual lotus petals with an array of traditional toppings. It gives you the rare chance to quite literally eat the lotus, creating an experience that is just as delicious as it is Instagrammable.