AVANT

The story

AVANT Bangkok – Modern French Fine Dining with Chef Haikal Johari | Michelin 1 Star

Rekindling Sparks of Happiness Through Food

Perched on the 30th storey of the Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, AVANT offers sweeping views over the city’s creative district. The name, meaning “before” or “ahead” in French, carries deep personal significance for chef Haikal Johari. For him, AVANT represents a process of looking back—drawing on his extensive experience—to move forward with confidence. This intimate fine dining restaurant marks the celebrated Singaporean chef’s return to Bangkok after nearly a decade.

AVANT is a tasting menu-only restaurant, presenting Chef Haikal’s culinary ambitions as a young cook, now enhanced by his vantage point today. The result is a refined contemporary French experience grounded in Asian sensibilities. The kitchen’s approach earned the restaurant a Michelin 1 Star for both 2025 and 2026, a recognition of its high-quality cooking and clear vision.

The Chef and His Philosophy

Chef Haikal Johari is an award-winning chef known for his work in Bangkok and Singapore. At AVANT, he places hospitality at the forefront. “We believe hospitality is at the heart of all that we do—combining the attention to detail of fine dining with the warmth of a home,” he explains. “Every guest is not just a guest but a cherished part of our culinary journey.”

His cooking philosophy is rooted in the belief that cooking is not about pursuing trends. Instead, it is about thoughtfully rekindling sparks of happiness through food. He expresses contemporary French cuisine while drawing sensitively from the Asian culinary pantheon—including Japanese, Thai, and Singaporean influences—to craft an intuitive experience that resonates with diners.

The Cuisine

The driving force behind AVANT’s cuisine is Chef Haikal’s immense respect for ingredients. Japanese produce holds court here, and each dish is conceived with provenance at its heart. The chef has cultivated a network of farmers and suppliers throughout his career, allowing him to handpick every ingredient with a commitment to quality, freshness, and seasonality.

The result is an elegant, seafood-forward meal that is simultaneously satisfying and balanced. This is modern French cuisine at its most thoughtful—where classic techniques meet precise Asian influences, and every plate showcases Chef Haikal’s creativity at its finest.