Discover Blue Elephant across Thailand through heritage restaurants, cooking schools and authentic Thai culinary traditions.

For more than 40 years, Blue Elephant has introduced Thai cuisine to diners around the world. Established in Brussels in 1980 by Master Chef Nooror Somany Steppe and her husband Karl Steppe, the restaurant grew from a single dining room into an international name with locations across Europe and Thailand. Throughout that journey, one principle has remained unchanged: Authentic Thai cooking begins with quality local ingredients.

Chef Nooror has dedicated her career to preserving traditional Thai recipes and introducing them to an international audience. Alongside the restaurants, Blue Elephant has expanded into cooking schools, food products and culinary education, which creates opportunities for visitors to experience Thai cuisine beyond the dining table.

Today, Blue Elephant spans three destinations in Thailand. Here’s your guide to each location.

Blue Elephant Cooking School & Restaurant Sathorn

The Sathorn restaurant, which opened in 2002, became Blue Elephant’s first branch in Thailand. Set inside a century-old colonial mansion, recognised by Thailand’s Fine Arts Department, the restaurant has become one of Bangkok’s best-known destinations for formal dinners, overseas visitors and special occasions. The menu moves between tasting menus and à la carte selections, with traditional recipes alongside Chef Nooror’s own creations. 

Sathorn is also home to Blue Elephant’s cooking school. Guests learn to prepare four or five traditional Thai dishes, with a market visit included in the morning sessions. Each participant receives a certificate and enjoys the dishes prepared during the class. 

The property also houses a boutique with Blue Elephant products, from curry pastes, sauces and seasonings to cooking essentials, alongside elephant-themed tableware, plush toys and gifts inspired by the restaurant’s identity. An opportunity to take a piece of the Blue Elephant experience home. 

Blue Elephant Cooking School & Restaurant Phuket 

Beyond Bangkok, Blue Elephant Phuket has occupied the historic Governor’s Mansion in Phuket Old Town at the Phra Pitak Chinpracha estate since 2010. The Sino-Portuguese building reflects Phuket’s architectural history, while the menu celebrates Thai culinary heritage with regional ingredients and Southern flavours.

The restaurant provides cooking classes that extend beyond the kitchen into the organic gardens. Guests discover herbs, vegetables and spices before preparing traditional recipes with the guidance of the culinary team.

It also hosts weddings, corporate events, private celebrations and family gatherings. Indoor dining rooms accommodate formal occasions, while the surrounding gardens create a relaxed setting for receptions, cocktail evenings and outdoor ceremonies. Thai heritage cuisine remains an important part of every event. 

Blue Elephant Sukhumvit 

Blue Elephant’s newest chapter arrived in 2024 with Blue Elephant Sukhumvit. Located in Sukhumvit Soi 13, the restaurant sits within an 80-year-old teakwood house surrounded by mature trees and gardens. The setting offers a quiet escape in the midst of one of Bangkok’s busiest districts. The atmosphere is more relaxed than Blue Elephant’s other restaurants, welcoming neighbourhood diners alongside long-time guests.

The place combines Thai heritage cuisine with Monkey Pod Garden Tapas Bar, where cocktails and sharing plates set the tone for relaxed evenings. Live DJs add energy in the evenings, creating a casual setting while staying connected to the group’s long-standing culinary identity.