Elevated Thai cuisine in Kyoto

Had the name Ayatana not been written in the katakana syllabary, I would have mistaken it for a Japanese restaurant. In fact, it’s much closer to home for Thais than it sounds.

Conceived by chefs Duangporn “Bo” Songvisava and Dylan Jones of Bo.lan exclusively for Dusit Thani Kyoto, Ayatana is named after a Sanskrit word referring to a Buddhist concept of six senses namely sight, sound, scent, taste, touch and mind. The Thai fine-dining restaurant aims to entice your palate with authentic Thai cuisine with the best of local Japanese produce.

Make your way to the lower ground level where Ayatana and other eateries of Dusit Thani Kyoto lie. The multi-sensory dinner starts when patrons are each handed a scented-with-essential-oil fan to awaken their olfactory senses. Then their body and minds will be treated to the hotel’s beautiful courtyard garden before…