I love the deep-rooted vibrant cafe scene in Bangkok. The diversity it offers - ranging from cafes with a distinct personality of its own, to those specializing in coffee blends and of course the crowd favourites, there is a new discovery to be made at every corner. If you are a cafe enthusiast, you will surely appreciate and embrace the diversity that Bangkok has to offer. The list below is just a tip of the iceberg but they are places which I've tried and liked.
1. Featherstone Bistro Cafe and Lifestyle Shop
Located in the trendy Ekkamai District, Featherstone Cafe is the place you are looking for if you like flowers, stylish cafes with a touch of vintage, sprinkled with Harry Potter vibes. Sounds confusing? You have to make a trip down this mystical themed cafe to experience it for yourself.
The walls of the cafe are painted dark green, adorned with lots of pretty dried flowers with wooden apothecary-styled cabinets and shelves. Don't these long dining tables remind you of those in Hogwarts?
While the interiors gives off a gothic vibe, the cafe remains whimsical at the same time through its menu offerings.
We tried the Cold Brew Iced Cubes Latte which came in a deconstructed form. It was fun making your very own concoction/ potion. I've always liked pouring milk on the espresso cubes myself so that I can control the intensity of my coffee.
As we were not super hungry when we visited Featherstone, we ordered some toasts with pate as a snack. Loved its presentation when it arrived on our tables and LOVED the green peppercorns that came along with it. Green peppercorns are commonly found in Thai/Cambodian food and I especially adore how they add a nice bite and pop of peppery smokiness to the dishes. Look at the cute faces I made with them!
You may shop for unique vintage accessories and knick knacks at Featherstone too. After payment, you may also collect a paper feather from their counter that reveals your fortune. It was super fun! All that's missing is for you to come dressed in your Hogwarts uniform with a wand in your hand and Hedwig perched on your shoulders. As a wizard-to-be, you will surely feel right at home here.
Head over to Featherstone for a unique cafe experience. You will be served pretty drinks and food with a magical twist, that taste as good as they look and have lots of stunning photos to fill your Instagram feed.
Featherstone
Address: 60 Ekkamai 12
Opening hours: 10.30am-10pm
2. Ekkamai Macchiato
It would be easy to miss this cafe from the outside as it looks like a residential space, with its walkway flanked with greenery. But that is precisely what's unique about this cafe located in a home setting. Ekkamai Macchiato offers a cozy minimalist space for one to enjoy a cup of coffee in natural surroundings.
A place for true coffee aficionados, the home brewers offer a selection of local blends on rotation including Roots, Phil Coffee Company and others.
We made a trip down specially to try their signature Adult Affogato - which was a creamy blend of coffee and Grand Marnier topped with orange zest and chocolate crack on the rim of the glass. It was a decadent treat especially in Bangkok's unrelenting heat.
We spent a few quiet moments enjoying the affogato at Ekkamai Macchiato and it feels like being invited over to a friend's house for a good cuppa.
Ekkamai Macchiato
Address: 6/2 Ekkamai12, Sukhumvit 63, Klongton North, Wattana
Opening hours: Mon and Wed-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm, Closed on Tues
3. Onion
Located in the Ekkamai area, Onion is a small cafe with a laid-back tropical feel to it (its fashion boutique is just right next to it). It seems like a perfect hangout place for hipster designers to gather and source for creative inspiration.
While the cafe's menu is not extensive, they do serve a good cup of coffee as they roast their own coffee on-site. Indulge in the crispy buttery croissants which paired nicely with the tomato based sauce with minced meat and egg yolk.
I enjoyed the relaxing vibes at Onion and it was the perfect spot to spend a quiet afternoon reading a book or simply watch the world go by.
Onion
Address: 19/12 Ekamai Soi 12 Bangkok, Thailand
Opening hours: 9am-8pm
4. Vanilla Cafeteria
Chic and modern is probably what comes to mind when you first step into Vanilla Cafeteria located at the upscale EmQuartier mall next to Phrom Phong station. Offering a comprehensive menu of mains ranging from pan-fried salmon, skillet baked nachos, quesadillas to pastas with a fusion twist to them, dessert-lovers will also be happy to know that Vanilla Cafe are serious in their sweets. Besides serving up their specialty banoffee crepes, Vanilla features desserts such as: choux pastry, pavlova, marshmallow lava chocolate with whiskey sauce, kahlua milk with jelly and the delicious list goes on..
We had two outstanding pastas - squid ink with garlic river prawns and scallop mentaiko. The spaghetti was cooked to perfection al dente and I loved the intense flavours from the sauces. Do drop by Vanilla Cafeteria for a quick refuel from your shopping at EmQuartier. I can't wait to visit its other branch - Vanilla Bakeshop, to try their gorgeous bakes.
Vanilla Cafeteria
Address: 2nd Fl., The Helix Quartier, Emquartier, Sukhumvit, Bangkok
Opening hours: 10am-10pm
5. ROAST
Having shifted from Seenspace 13 to its current location at The Commons @ Thonglor, Roast remains ever-popular as one of the trendiest and must-eat places in Bangkok. Not only does Roast serve up a mean offering of brunch options, it is also a perfect dining spot for dinner gatherings with friends.
Besides their mouth-watering brunch dishes like Crabcake Eggs Benedict, does anyone else like having desserts for brunch like me? The fluffy waffles were a delight to eat with the sweet berries and vanilla ice cream while I feel that the Banana pancakes with butterscotch and house made peanut butter ice cream is meant for sharing as it can get a lil heavy. The must-order is the Half-baked Cookie Dough. Dig your spoon into the messy warm chocolate caramel sauce, mix it with the cookies and vanilla ice cream and you will be in dessert heaven.
Oh and I've to mention, the bread and butter served as an appetizer at Roast was so good! Nothing beats warm crusty bread with creamy butter and you really have to stop yourself from eating too many pieces of them or you will be full even before your orders arrive.
For dinners, we had the Slow Roasted Buttermilk Chicken which was very tender and also tried out a new dessert - Smores Custard Cake with roasted banana ice cream. Yums!
I would highly recommend heading to Roast with a group of friends to try out their extensive menu. Its combination of good music, food and coffee makes it one of the best brunch experience in Bangkok. Almost everything we've tried there is delish and definitely worth its price-point.
Roast
Address: Unit #T1 (Roast), The COMMONS 335 Thonglor Soi 17, Sukhumvit 55 Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 10am-11pm, Fri-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-10pm
Website: https://www.roastbkk.com/about
6. After You
There's always room for desserts. Yes and that is why you must leave some stomach space for the Shibuya toasts at After You. While After You has become a popular chain in Thailand, there is still a certain draw to it as it remains as one of the best dessert place to head to after your meals.
Besides their bestseller Shibuya Honey Toast, After You also serves Kakigoris (Japanese finely shaved ice with flavourings such as Thai Ice Tea), Mille Crepes, Soft Baked Sundaes and Iced Frappes such as White Chocolate Mochaccino, Nutella Crunch and Salted Caramel Coffee. I've always loved anything malty so I opted for the Horlicks Latte which wasn't too sweet and very creamy.
Head over to the nearest After You outlet for your sweet fix.
After You
Address: SIAM Paragon, Ground Floor
Opening hours: 10am-10.30pm
7. Audrey Cafe & Bistro
Step into Audrey's two-storey Cafe & Bistro at Thonglor and you will feel like you are being whisked away to Paris. Audrey's French inspired decor and elegant furnishings will allow you to momentarily forget that you are in the heart of Bangkok. This is one of the prettiest cafes I've been to and it's the perfect spot for tai tais to sip their afternoon tea.
Audrey offers a variety of Thai European fusion dishes. Order the Tom Yum Shrimp pizza for a satisfying take on this spicy local favourite served on a paper thin crust. Loved the intense Tom Yum flavour on it! We also tried the Crab Souffle served with Lobster Brandy sauce. The souffle was light and fluffy while the sauce reminded us of a lobster bisque.
You can't leave Audrey without trying their desserts. We had their Thai Milk tea mille crepe which was covered with sauce, but thankfully it wasn't too sweet.
For an all-girls trip, head over to Audrey for the perfect escape from Bangkok's heat. With the pretty flower arrangements and Parisian ambience, this is a great place to enjoy desserts and Thai fusion dishes.
Audrey Cafe & Bistro
Address: Thong Lo Soi 11
Opening hours: 11am-10pm
Website: http://audreygroup.com/
8. The Coffee Club
Australian Cafe Chain, The Coffee Club, has proliferated across Thailand, giving Starbucks and the rest a run for their money. And it's not hard to see why they have become so popular. Located in accessible areas, The Coffee Club has an extensive menu of standard western fare and flavoured cold brews.
From Smashed Avocados on Toast to Roasted Salmon, The Coffee Club is one of the best places to have your brunch. We tried the Chocolate Nutella Frappe which was like a super chocolatey and sinful milkshake and also their lemon tart.
The Coffee Club is a comfortable place to relax in with its wooden furnishings and leafy hanging plants. The staff is also extremely friendly and attentive (they have a staff assigned to your table who will taking care of you). This no-frills coffee chain has fast gained a following by both locals and tourists alike, for those seeking to have a quick bite or order one of their signature drinks.
The Coffee Club
Website: https://thecoffeeclub.co.th/
Bangkok, Thailand
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