The buzz: New restaurant in town, Nomad, is looking to satisfy your craving for some couscous by serving up classy Northern African cuisine. And after a belly full of spicy sausages you can dance the calories away at their club next door.

The décor: Dim lighting, dark maroon chairs, printed cushions and colorful Moorish lanterns and arches set the North African tone. For pre-dinner drinks, lounge on the plush pillows and comfy couches of their lower level. The world music soundtrack ties together the whole exotic ambience.

The cuisine: Mainly Moroccan but there is also a menu of Thai dishes and buffet platters covering both Italian and “oriental” cuisine. The menu is in French (history lesson: Morocco was colonized by the French from 1906-1956), so brush up on your langue francaise and order the must-haves such as the chicken tagine, which is braised with veggies in a closed clay pot. The “Couscous Royale” has skewers of spicy sausage, beef and chicken on a bed of couscous (semolina wheat granules) and is served with a tomato and vegetables soup, chickpeas and the spicy condiment harissa. Try their buffet platters, which come with an assortment of apps, such as the pastillas, samosa-like pastry shells with shrimp, tuna or beef fillings. The super flavorful hummus, which comes with the platters or as a side dish is a must. For dessert, they recommend the standard molten chocolate cake but we say, stay “on-cuisine” and order the sweet baklava.

The crowd: A mix of Thai and expat working professionals.

The buzz: The Moroccan movement continues to spread across Sukhumvit. The latest edition is the combo lounge and restaurant, Nomad, whose owner wanted to bring a taste of her home country to Bangkok.

The décor: The furniture might seem minimalist and modern, but there are accents of North Africa everywhere: the ceiling is decorated with lilac velvet cloth, the walls covered in traditional printed patterns, Arabic arches are a feature on the bar and the ceiling is crowded with multicolor lanterns hanging at different heights. The lounge is spacious and can comfortably seat around 150 people. Most of the floor is lined with tall brown tabletops and leather stools, each offering a perfect view of the stage. There is also a VIP area secluded in the far left corner which consists of lower seating with tables lit by pretty pink fluorescent light.

The music: Their focus is on live music. Evenings kick off with live jazz followed by bands that alternate nightly, playing music ranging from rock to R&B. The DJs fill in the blanks during the breaks.

The crowd: Mixed crowd though foreigners have a slight edge. But eventually, the aim is to attract locals, especially with their restaurant serving up traditional Moroccan fare right next door.

The price: Whisky B90-120, beer B100-200, cocktails B120-200, mixers are free when you open a bottle.

Why you’ll come back: You now have a Moroccan venue that’s midway between Gazebo Sukhumvit and Al Majlis teahouse. Plus, they also have a scrumptious looking tapas menu for B130 a plate, only served in their lounge area.