It’s that time of the year when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, according to ancient Chinese belief. The Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar aka Sept 17. The festival, which originated more than 1,000 years ago as a holiday to worship the moon, is celebrated with lanterns, family gatherings and most importantly, mooncakes.
Traditional mooncakes are small round pastries with a thin crust and a dense, sticky filling. Though they have many regional variations, modern ones include custard, durian or ice cream. Guru By Bangkok Post has complied a list of places where you can get your cake and eat it, too! Peninsula Bangkok The OG of mooncakes in Bangkok has returned.
In celebration of the mid-autumn festival, heritage and the art of giving, The Peninsula Bangkok has introduced its timeless Egg custard mooncakes, along with three new flavours. This year's collection features Egg custard, Red bean, Yuzu and Durian. For more than 35 years, The Peninsula Hong Kong’s Spring Moon's chefs have crafted egg custard mooncakes, which has been passed down through the years.
The coveted mooncakes feature a creamy, velvety filling encased in a crispy golden pastry. The Egg custard mooncake with the “dragon fish” pattern conveys auspiciousness, designed exclusively for Mei Jiang Restaurant. Packaged in an octagonal red box made of eco-friendly, biodegradable materials and decorated with a lotus flower pattern, the box contains eight original mooncakes or a mix of assorted flavours.
Crafted in limited quantities, the mooncakes are available for purchase and can be picked up until Sept 17. Visit the hotel’s website. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok Since 1989, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has honoured Chinese-inspired traditions withhandcrafted mooncakes, adding a new flavour each year.
This year, executive Chinese chefAndy Leong presents four tempting flavours: Custard, Salted white lotus seed with egg yolk, Durian with egg yolk, and the new flavour — Mochaccino, featuring coffee-flavoured white lotus seed paste with rich milk chocolate and a crunchy feuillantine. The mooncakes come in two exquisite mooncake gift box designs: the semi-circle Oriental Classic Box and the three-tier square Luxury Box. Both are made from eco-friendly materials and are auspicious red in colour, with a dragon motif representing this year's Chinese zodiac.
Pair the mooncakes with the right tea. Vanilla and milky aroma blends pair excellently with Custard mooncake and Durian with egg yolk mooncake. Floral aroma tea is ideal for Salted white lotus seed with egg yolk mooncake, while black tea with aromatic sweet spices is the perfect match for the Mochaccino mooncake.
The mooncakes are available until Sept 17 at The China House, The Mandarin Oriental Shops at Siam Paragon, The Emporium and Gaysorn Village, and online. Visit the hotel’s website. Kyo Roll En For the last five years, Thailand’s leading Japanese dessert cafe, has been known for collaborating with fine dining chefs to create unusual and varied flavoured mooncakes.
This year is no different, though it is the first time Kyo Roll En executive chef Dej Kewkacha has joined forces with a chef from overseas. This year’s collab is with Japanese chef Hiroyasu Kawate from two Micheline-starred Florilège in Tokyo, recently named No.2 Best Restaurant in Asia by World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024.
Savour four artisanal, handcrafted mooncake flavours: The Kuri coconut uses the seasonal Japanese chestnut, made “Mont Blanc” style, and fresh Thai coconut; Chocolate miso uses organic 74% dark chocolate, inspired by Florilège signature “Chocolate Omelette” dessert, stuffed with savoury Japanese miso and salted peanuts; Yuzu lava uses the aromatic citrus from Kochi and when warmed, presents a molten “lava” sensation; and last but not least is Kyo Roll En’s OG flavour — Satsuma imo, which uses the purple-skin Beni-Haruka sweet potato from Kyushu, aged for 40days after harvesting to intensify the sweetness. The mooncakes will come in a book-shaped wooden box made from sustainable bamboo, intended for reuse and decoration, echoing the sustainability ethos of chef Kawate, who also holds the Michelin Green Star. Also in the box is Kabuse Sencha, premium green tea selected by chef Kawate from Inokura Farm in Nara from a 11th-generation tea farm.
Visit Kyo Roll En’s website. Mott 32 Bangkok Mott 32 Bangkok at The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon is launching its inaugural mooncake collection. Drawing inspiration from one of Mott 32's most beloved desserts, the Mango and coconut almond mooncake provides a tropical and refreshing twist on the festival's classic recipe.
Other flavours include Osmanthus and goji berry; Sweetened milk tea mooncake that pays homage to Hong Kong; and the Classic jujube mooncake with red dates, a symbol of prosperity and fertility. The Early Bird offer applies to orders placed until July 31, with pick-up from Aug 12 to Sept 17. Rosewood Bangkok Themed "The Treasure To Savor”, Rosewood Bangkok’s mooncakes include the Rosewood traditional white lotus seed paste with salted egg yolk; Egg custard; Durian Monthong with salted egg yolk; and Chestnut macadamia.
The mooncakes are available for pre-order from June 24 to August 25, which also has a 10% early bird offer from June 24 to Aug 11 for direct purchase or via the Rosewood e-shop. Orders will be delivered from Aug 26 to Sept 17. Visit the hotel’s website.
InterContinental Bangkok InterContinental Bangkok is bringing back its signature Phuang malai mooncake box at Summer Palace and Butter from Aug 9 to Sept 17, with an early bird offer until Aug 8. The boxes have round compartments and delicate clay floral tassels, invoking the hotel’s inspiration of traditional Thai flower garlands, embellished in royal blue and glittering gold patterns, which pay homage to Bangkok’s skyline. The mooncakes boast six fortuitous fillings — Osmanthus lotus with salted egg yolk; Durian with salted egg yolk; Green tea with salted egg yolk; Earl Grey with macadamia and orange zest; Custard cream; and Thai Tea custard.
Receive a 10% discount with a minimum purchase of five boxes when ordering until Aug 8. Visit the hotel’s website. Conrad Bangkok The Conrad Bangkok has unveiled its Mooncake collection, which features a “Golden Treasure” box design.
Crafted with the concept of opulence and sophistication, the premium Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF) construction of the boxes is enveloped in art paper and adorned with the Conrad Bangkok and Liu logo in lavish gold foil and red lining on the inside. Executive Chinese chef Andy Fung has created four flavours: Custard, Durian, Multigrain and Mocha. Visit the hotel’s website.
Shangri-La Bangkok The 2024 mooncake boxes are adorned in auspicious red and vibrant turquoise, contrasted with a sweet peach hue. Each design showcases a graceful hummingbird savouring the nectar of Peony flowers. The Shangri-La mooncakes are available in various packages from Aug 5 to Sept 17.
The mooncake selection includes Mixed fruits and nuts, Durian; Lotus seed filling with single egg yolk; Cream custard mini mooncake; and this year’s new flavour, Pandan lotus seed with watermelon seeds. Shangri-La Circle members will receive a 10% discount. In addition, Shangri-La’s Exclusive Auspicious Mooncake Hamper is also available.
It includes the Double Happiness Set and Duo Delight Set, a box of Chocolate boutique cookies, a Ceramic Chinese tea set, Shang Palace’s signature delights, a premium drink bottle from China and a Hamper bag. Visit the hotel’s website. W Bangkok The Year of the Dragon is this year’s theme for W Bangkok’s mooncake collection that comes in a travel bag-inspired boxes with a dragon pattern.
The Baked Skin mooncakes are infused with four flavours, Durian, Banoffee, Lemon Thai tea and Chocolate chili. The Snow Skin mooncakes are Apple, Blueberry orchid tea, Caramelia pineapple and Pumpkin walnut truffle custard. An early bird offer is available until Aug 31, while the mooncakes are available for purchase from Sept 1-31.
Visit the hotel’s website. JW Marriott Bangkok JW Marriott Bangkok’s Man Ho Chinese Restaurant unveils a mooncake collection that pays homage to the enduring beauty and symbolism of traditional Chinese painting. The colour palette of the box shimmers with gold and warm yellow tones, while the hexagonal shape further emphasises harmony and balance, echoing the themes explored in Chinese art.
Indulge in the rich sweetness of Monthong durian with egg yolk; the earthy elegance of lotus seeds with egg yolk; the crunch of whole grains and nuts with egg yolk; and the classic comfort of red bean with egg yolk. The mooncakes will be available for collection at Man Ho Chinese Restaurant and Man Ho Bistro from Aug 1 to Sept 17. Visit the hotel’s website.
The St. Regis Bangkok “Exquisite Mooncakes” at The St. Regis Bangkok feature four flavours: durian with a single egg yolk; Lotus seed with a single egg yolk; Red bean with a single egg yolk; and a new flavour — Green tea with pistachios.
The 2024 selection is packaged in a crafted watch box, inspired by the peacock. The box can store four watches with separate four compartments and cushions. The Exquisite Mooncakes are available until Sept 17, with an early bird offer until Aug 15.
A minimum of five days in advance is required when ordering one box and a minimum of 15 days is required when ordering 20 or more boxes. Visit the hotel’s website. Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok Until September, Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival with special mooncakes at Berthold Delikatessen.
The mooncakes come in meticulously designed boxes, with an early bird promotion until Aug 17. The mooncakes are available for pickup and purchase from Aug 9 to Sept 17. Choose from five traditional flavours: Durian with single egg yolk; Lotus seed with single egg yolk; Mixed nuts with single egg yolk; and Chestnut with macadamia.
Visit the hotel’s website. Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok The hotel debuts a contemporarily stylish signature mooncakes gift box for the Mid-Autumn Festival 2024, designed in keeping with the mighty Year of the Dragon. The majestic dragon drawing on the Signature Box was created in collaboration with a talented artist from Artstory by Autistic Thai.
The dragon illustration on the Kimpton Signature Box is designed by Anusone “Mix” Tunarin, one of Artstory’s many talented artists. The Kimpton Signature Mooncake Box comes in the form of a traditional Chinese lantern and the illustrations draw deeply from the rich tapestry of festival legends. Each box contains four mooncakes of Monthong durian with salted egg yolk, Orange yuzu, Thai tea macadamia and Karo mocha coffee, made from coffee beans Karo Coffee Roasters.
Each box is available at an early bird pre-order price until Aug 31 with pick-up available from Aug 1. A portion of proceeds from sales will be donated to Artstory By Autistic Thai to support neurodivergent individuals in Thailand and promote inclusivity. Centara Grand at CentralWorld This year, Mill & Co at Centara Grand at CentralWorld will offer an exclusive range of mooncakes.
Available in Durian with salted egg yolk, Lotus seed with salted egg yolk, Nuts with salted egg yolk, Jujube with salted egg yolk, Coffee with macadamia nuts and Cranberry flavours, each mooncake is crafted with passion. On the ground floor of Centara Grand at CentralWorld, Mill & Co offers two boxes: The Little Gold Moon Box with one mooncake of your choice or the Luxurious Moon Box of four mooncakes. The early bird pre-order is until July 31 and offers a 10% discount.
The mooncakes will go on sale from Aug 1 to Sept 17. are also available at Tops at CentralWorld until Sept 17; Central Chidlom from Aug 21 to Sept 17; and Central Bangna from Aug 23 to Sept 17. Visit the hotel’s website.
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