The 11 best cafes around Bangkok's riverside and Old Town
The city's cafes don't get any more chill than these and the new MRT Blue Line extension is about to make them a whole lot more accessible.
Breathing new life into a 130-year-old former tram station close to the Golden Mount, this charming hideaway is a part vintage cafe, part photography studio. Enjoy their signature iced Marocchino—an indulgent mix of chocolate, milk and espresso—or a refreshing Black Coco Mint, paired with a fresh-baked ham and cheese or almond croissant made using dough sourced from Chiang Mai’s enduringly popular Nana Jungle.
417 Bamrungmuang Rd., 083-158-9999. Open daily 7am-7pm
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount on signature drinks only or get 10% discount on food and beverages when spending THB 500 or more /sales slip 15 May ’19 – 31 May ’20 |
Credit: Wallflowers Cafe Facebook
This romantic, multi-level hideaway channels the secret garden in a gorgeous converted shop-house. Rustic flower pots, wooden work benches, exposed brick walls, displays of vintage gardening equipment and wildflower posies from the adjoining florist complete the rustic fantasy. Grab a slice of one of their stunning cakes— red velvet; coconut; dark beer—topped with fresh fruits and edible flowers, paired with a refreshing organic kombucha or robust flat white.
31-33 Soi Nana, 090-993-8653. Open daily 11am-7pm
If the French bakery-inspired facade and painting-perfect rustic interior of this 15-seater cafe don’t pull at your heart, then maybe the sizzling sounds of bacon and the aroma of freshly baked cakes will. Goodies like beer cake, carrot cake and lemon pie pair perfectly with a hot cocoa or Marriage Freres tea. You can also start the day with a hefty English breakfast plate served with refillable coffee.
7/1 Lan Luang Rd., 081-696-0326. Open Tue-Sun 9am-5pm
Perched at the entrance of Warehouse 30 creative hub, this all-day bakery and cafe has staked a name for its beautifully buttery croissants and scrumptious quiches. The sun-dappled ground floor is home to an open kitchen that’s a hive of activity, but the real heart of the place can be found upstairs, where a long wooden table is meant to recreate the setting of traditional French family gatherings.
Warehouse 30, Charoenkrung Soi 30, 092-408-0308. Open Tue-Sun 10am-7pm
The hip Singapore coffee chain’s first fully-fledged Bangkok branch takes over a 150-year-old corner shop-house that once was a boat repair shop with brushed concrete, distressed brickwork and leafy plants. Beyond the excellent house-blend coffee, cafe-hoppers can delve into substantial bites like a healthy grain bowl or a sinful bacon and egg sandwich—hangovers have met their match!
101 Charoenkrung Soi 44, 02-102-9407. Open daily 8am-5pm
Exclusively for Citi credit card members Get 10% discount when spending THB 500 or more /sales slip 01 May ’19 – 31 Dec ’19 |
The pastel yellow neo-Renaissance mansion that was once the residence of Silpa Bhirasri—the Italian-born sculptor known as the “Father of Modern Art in Thailand” during King Rama V’s reign—has been painstakingly renovated as a cafe and gallery. It all makes for a very sophisticated setting for a round of scones with tamarind and cranberry compote. Slow bar staples like pour over and Aeropress spotlight single-origin beans. For something with extra character, try the “lemongrass latte.”
G/F, Silpa Bhirasri’s House, 153 Ratchawithi Rd., 086-688-5442. Open daily 9am-6pm
Steps away from the Giant Swing, the Old Town’s once-crumbling teakwood Gingerbread House has recently been lovingly renovated as a cafe, packed with a mish-mash of cute vintage and antique furniture. The two-story Rama VI-era property won its name for the exquisite fretwork and shutters that surround it. Onto the menu, an iced mint macchiato lends a refreshing aside to indulgent cakes and Thai desserts like lotus leaf ice cream with coconut milk.
47 Dinso Rd., 097-229-7021. Open Tues-Fri 11am-8pm; Sat-Sun 9am-8pm
From the team behind Chinatown’s hip cocktail den, Ba Hao, this dessert cafe is small but striking. Its shimmering green scaled façade is dominated by a circular granite entranceway, topped off with their signature neon signage. Inside, just a handful of tall wooden stools line the light gray counter, which doles out sugar in the form of salted egg custard toast, cooling rambutan granita puddings and boba tea.
8 Phadungdao Rd., 097-995-4543. Open Thu-Tue 11:30am-10:30pm
Step through this shop-house's Chinese porch entrance and you’ll find a cute yet moody mélange of exposed brick, concrete, mint green, vintage dressers and old school desks. Walls licked with striking Chinese lettering provide a backdrop for tables to feast on spicy fried wontons and decadent Earl Grey chiffon cake, paired with hot Aeropress coffee or mellow Hong Kong papaya milk.
415 Charoenkrung Soi 43, 083-466- 8999. Open Tue-Sun 9am-6pm
As the name indicates, this slim cafe is all white, from the tiles on the walls and the white neon sign to the tables and chairs. Splashes of duck egg green, plants, concrete flooring and large windows add some light and color. Fillup on a hearty plate of carbonara
Pollen, 6/7 Chakkaphatdi Phong Rd., 065-217-7043. Open Tue-Sun 9am-5pm.
Seven Spoons, 22-24 Chakkaphatdi Phong Rd., 02-629-9214. Open Mon-Sat 11am-3pm, 6-11:30pm; Sun 6-11:30pm.
BK's Cafe Society 2019 guide gathers Bangkok's coolest hangout spots for brunch, coffee, sweets and all-day bites. Download your PDF copy here.
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