The Oriental Thai Cooking School is a charming option for anyone looking for an introduction to cooking Thai cuisine, with the courteous service for which the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is renowned. Much of the pounding, dicing and grounding is prepared in advance by a team of chefs behind the scenes so don’t expect to get into the nitty-gritty, although there is plenty of explanation about ingredients and techniques, and a very easygoing atmosphere throughout the morning.