The buzz: Within minutes of BTS Phloen Chit, Gourme Italia is a casual trattoria-style tapas and wine bar that doubles as an Italian delicatessen for smoked meats, aged cheeses, paninis, salads, pasta, olive oils and other mouthwatering products from the Med.

The decor: Inside the red-painted building, wood accents and concrete ceilings make for a rustic yet modern trattoria vibe. Be drawn in by the large deli counter’s display of cheese and charcuterie or head to the extended second-floor dining room, stocked with over 150 bottles of wine and a private area with its own sliding wood gate.

The food: Here, cold-cuts and cheese dominate the menu instead of the usual pizza and carb overload, although a special menu that rotates every other day features a couple of pastas (like lasagne bolognese, B330), salads and main dishes (ciabatta burger with bacon and potatoes, B400) with two to three desserts. Don’t miss out on the Sella di Mastro Dante Ham (B260/60g) aged in black pepper or the Spianata Piccante (spicy salami, B80/60g) to go alongside the recommended 36-month Parmigiano Reggiano (B160/60g), the wine-moistened Ocelli al Barolo (B250/60g) and fresh cheeses like the Burrata (B120/120g) and Bufala (B270/100g) from local cheesemaker, Antica Luna. If you’re a carb-lover, know that fresh-baked baguettes that act as a backdrop are supplied by the one and only Maison Jean Phillipe—a great compliment to the cheese and cold-cuts platter.

The drinks: With a choice of over 150 wines, fans of red are encouraged to try out the Prunotto (Monferrato Rosso Mompertone, B260/glass), whose taste nicely crowns the assorted aged meats on offer; for white, go for a Chardonnay (Antonio: Scaia Bianca delle Venezie, B240/ glass). Beers and spirits are also available.

Why we’d come back: The cozy, intimate atmosphere here makes it easy to kick back and relax with a glass of wine and, of course, some cheese and cold-cuts to nibble on.