The popular weekend market Chatuchak is a place where both locals and foreigners like to spend their time. With all the food like the Paella, the souvenirs, the clothing, the merchandise and a few bars, it’s easy to wander around this vibrant Bangkok market for hours. While you stroll from one shop to the other, at some point you’ll stumble upon a group of tourists taking pictures of a Spanish chef and his huge pan of paella. Now you know you’ve reached Viva 8.
Viva 8 is a popular lounge bar located in section 8 of Chatuchak market. It’s the coolest spot at Chatuchak, where you can enjoy one of their many cocktails while listening to some funky house music. The DJs in front of the bar do their best to keep the visitors entertained but the main draw is chef Fernando, a born entertainer, serving his famous paella.
In front of the bar, Fernando and his team prepare the delicious paella in three large frying pans. First, chef Fernando will fry the herbs, garlic, onion, and the red bell pepper and greens together with the chicken. Paella’s most important ingredient is Saffron, the most expensive herb in the world. Luckily, you only need a little bit to create that authentic paella flavour.
Once the broth is ready and Spanish rice is added, the chef will stir one final time and let all the juices absorb into the rice. In the meantime, the team adds fresh river prawns and mussels. Once the stock has been absorbed by the rice and the seafood is cooked, the paella is ready to serve. This whole process is done with plenty of entertainment by the photogenic chef Fernando. A delicious plate of fresh seafood and tender chicken drumstick paella will cost you 160 THB.
Entertaining Viva 8 is by far Chatuchak’s most popular spot. This means it can be difficult to get a seat, especially during lunch hours. Luckily, the service is quick and most people won’t stay that long once they’ve finished their delicious paella. After about five, when the sun starts going down over Chatuchak, Viva 8 is the perfect spot to enjoy a beer or two while watching the herds of tourists taking pictures with chef Fernando.
Note: Visiting Bangkok's bustling markets is one of the top things to do in the capital. The wide variety of food, live music, bars, art, merchandise and souvenirs attracts crowds of locals and tourists. Chatuchak is Bangkok's most popular market, but Ratchada and Srinakarin are also well worth the visit.
Viva 8 - Chatuchak Paella
Price: 160 THB per dish
Food: Paella
Opening times: 09:00 - 19:00 Saturday & Sunday, all other days closed
Viva 8 can be found in our app TopTravelFoods. TopTravelFoods is a food review platform that recommends the best dishes in Bangkok and is perfect for tourists who have no knowledge about the local cuisine. The app is completely free. Download now!
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Joost Beijers 
