Savor The Flavour of Bangkok, and Recharge in Phang Nga

Dean Kelly Jr., Head of Event a Ku Dé Ta Bangkok, Gave us the inside scoop on his favorite sports to eat in the city and his preferred destination for both adventure travel and spiritual recovery.

By Marianna Dietrich

As head of events at the newly opened KU DÉ TA, in Sathorn, and with a resume that boasts of years in the entertainment, fashion, and hospitality industries, Dean Kelly knows how to throw a party. He has a passion for creating “once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” whether for private parties, corporate events, or product launches.

And what’s the key to any good party? The food, of course. “Thailand is a true paradise when it comes to places to eat,” he says. “The flavors are exotic and tasty at every corner, from fine dining, to a friendly lunch, all the way to the street vendors for a tom yum kung,” which he also notes is a great cure for hangovers.

At the moment, you might find Kelly at one of his favorite spots to eat: Izakaya at KU DÉ TA (Japanese), Above Eleven (rooftop tapas), INDUS (light Indian fare), La Pala (Italian pizzeria), or Dressed (salads and wraps).

Apart from his work at KU DÉ TA, Kelly is also actively engaged in philanthropy. He dedicates himself to an initiative called Montecristo, which helps children from less fortunate backgrounds.

With his jam-packed schedule, he also needs a place to get away from it all. For him, those places are Railay and Phang Nga, where he says that “the sunsets are pristine, and you can almost feel the ocean energies recharging your body, heart, and mind.”

Not only are they excellent for recharging, but “the places are a spot-on paradise for adventurer travelers like myself; there are plenty things to do, my favorites are: stand up paddle boarding, snorkeling, bridge diving, and hiking,” he explains.

But even while on vacation, Kelly finds it hard to pry himself away from the work that is truly close to heart—giving back. During his most recent trip to Phang Nga, Aleenta Resorts invited him and his friends to a charity dinner where the proceeds went to helping support marine life in Thailand, and included releasing turtles into the ocean. Kelly also had an opportunity to give gift bags, bikes, and a playground set to less fortunate children, something he considers one of the proudest achievements of his life to date.