The buzz: Australia’s laidback coffee culture has gained a following here in the form of recent openings like Toby’s, Wanderlust and Kaizen. The latest player to join the fray is none other than Patissez, the cafe chain from Canberra that claims to be the original creator of the “freakshake” (those trending milkshakes piled high with cookies, cream and other dessert toppings), which comes to Bangkok after opening branches in Malaysia and Singapore.

 

The decor: This wood-dominated space bears universal cafe hallmarks like dangling lamps, neon signs and ferns. But it all works nicely as a place to chill thanks to sunlight that streams through the floor-to-ceiling windows. An open beverage counter also lets you watch on as staff painstakingly assemble your shake.

 

The food: The Australian-style cafe food comes with the occasional twist, meaning dishes like smashed avocado (B380) with ricotta on house-made sourdough and roast beetroot puree on the side. The cutely-named Get Pig’d (B320) sees toast topped with a complex combination of pulled pork, bacon jam, spinach, sliced apple and hollandaise sauce, while the Freak Burger (B490) comes stacked high with two Aussie beef patties, double cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon jam and barbecue sauce in between a brioche bun. (A plain old cheese burger is B390.) You’ll also find some salads and pastas, as well as fluffy house-made donuts (B39) with fillings like nutella, vanilla and strawberry at the other end of the health spectrum.

 

The drinks: The photogenic shakes (all B230) come in five different varieties: nutella pretzel, mint chocolate, banana caramel, Thai tea white chocolate (exclusive to Bangkok), and watermelon and berries. Healthier options include freshly-squeezed juices (B160)—try Earth (beetroot, carrot, celery, orange and mint). Coffee starts from B80 for espresso, tea is B140 and chocolate drinks start from B120.

 

Why you should care: While Patissez markets its freakshakes as the star attraction, the much more down-to-earth Aussie cafe food here is definitely worth a try. Natcha Sanguankiattichai