Cafes in Bangkok for your next cafe-hopping expedition
With more and more cafes popping up within this bustling city, we have yet another new addition to our never-ending Bangkok agenda that is: cafe hopping.
For those of us who simply don’t know where to start, we’ve got your backs: from mermaid-themed to spa-like sanctuary, we’ve uncovered some of the coolest and quirkiest cafes in town that will guarantee you an affordable yet unforgettable experience for your senses.
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1. Mermaid Castle Siam
If you’re whole-heartedly embracing that mermaid/unicorn trend, or if you’re a die-hard Little Mermaid fan, stepping into this fantastical cafe will be no less than a dream come true.
This set even comes with Hot Cocoa or Hot Tea served in a Mrs Potts and Chip tea set, which was definitely the highlight for me!
To get a taste of their famous desserts, try their Signature Set (฿590) – three tiers of “Mermaid shells” – paddle pop frosting sandwiched between 2 cookies, – Mermaid vanilla cupcakes, and waffles with ice cream.
After noticing this drink on virtually every table, we had to order their sinfully sweet Strawberry Vanilla Frappe (฿150) – a neon concoction of pink, blue and purple vanilla milkshake covered in whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles – the embodiment of happiness in a glass.
Address: 236 Siam Square Soi 2, Pathum Wan, Pathum Wan District, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330
Opening hours: 12PM-9PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 93 982 4022
2. SHUGAA
This modern contemporary cafe sporting a huge glass entrance, pastel-toned minimalist interior, marble tabletops, and a spiral staircase is the epitome of aesthetics.
Perfect for a brief respite from the afternoon heat and for satisfying your sweet tooth, this cafe – fittingly named SHUGAA – is famous for their made-to-order fondant cakes and intricately designed desserts.
Drench this gold-dusted ball of dark chocolate mousse in caramel sauce and sink your fork into it to be pleasantly surprised with peach slices inside!
We tried their signature Mirror Mirror On The Wall (฿285), a Snow White-inspired dessert complete with a fondant witch’s hat, a mirror-glazed dark chocolate mousse, and chocolate crumble “soil” all meticulously arranged on a log plate.
This Polar Bolar (฿185) croissant dessert is the epitome of “too good eat”.
Nestled in the middle of a matcha-coated croissant, this cute little polar bear made of vanilla ice cream and white chocolate ears and mouth tastes as good as it looks – it’s hard to see how anyone could bear to devour a face like that.
Wash your sweet desserts down with a refreshing Beer Plum Plum (฿130) – a Japanese plum soda topped with cheesy foam and our favourite childhood popping candy – or a Gen-Ki (฿165) matcha green tea topped with Rice Krispies, brown sugar, and Azuki Panna Cotta.
Address: 27 The Residence at 61 Bldg., Sukhumvit soi 61, Klongtan-nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening hours: 10AM-8PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 2 381 5940
3. ONCE Cafe & Cuisine
Surrounded by rows and rows of shops at Siam Square, ONCE Cafe & Cuisine is the perfect post-shopping dessert place after a productive day of retail therapy.
This cafe’s pastel pink interior with flamingos at every corner, indoor palm trees, and cacti artwork everywhere gives off on-point summer-y vibes that even a Cali girl will be jealous of.
Famed for their sweet treats, ONCE does a colorful array of desserts ranging from egglette waffle towers, to bingsu, and brightly-coloured beverages.
We ordered the 4-scoops, 3-layer egglette waffle tower (฿350) which was perfect for sharing between 2-3 people. These mouth-watering towers consist of alternating layers of egg-shaped waffles and ice cream, and customizable toppings, sauces, and ice cream flavours.
We also ordered the Happy Berry Bingsu (฿325) – a monstrous medley of strawberries and raspberries, sponge-y and light cheesecake, berry ice cream, and milky shaved ice – a tangy concoction guaranteed to tingle your taste buds.
And not forgetting the star of the show, the Italian Soda Explosion (฿185) – featuring a pink cotton candy cloud hovering over an interesting blend of strawberry soda, blue Hawaii sorbet, and topped off with a dollop of whipped cream and egglette waffle.
Address: 228 Siam Square Soi 2, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Opening hours: 11.30AM-9.30PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 84 777 7322
4. Karmakamet Diner
This greenhouse concealed in a zen Japanese garden doubles as a cafe and an essential oils shop – which explains why I was immediately consumed by a wave of aromatic scents as I set foot inside.
It’s not just the beautiful scent of the cafe that lures you in; everything about its charming, rustic interior is so meticulously put together that you’ll spend your entire meal there just taking it in. From coasters made from envelopes to shelves lined with glass bottles, this place is truly #cafegoals.
Don’t despair if you come in in the evening and miss their famous Strawberry in The Clouds cotton candy dessert (฿390) that’s part of their lunch menu.
You can still cozy up in their romantic, dimly lit evening setting and enjoy their dinner menu, which includes exquisite desserts like the Baked Salt Neng Lee Pineapple (฿410) – a peculiar combination of tart red wine-hibiscus reduction, longan, and vanilla ice cream – and the Traditional Orange Creme brûlée (฿350) – delectable orange-flavoured burnt sugar atop a smooth, creamy base, with a syrupy baby tomatoes on the side.
Also, take your pick from their signature non-alcoholic Refreshing Remedies drinks menu. Their Milky Way Story (฿250) – a glorious concoction of apple juice, cream, raisin cinnamon, and nutmeg – is unlike any regular apple juice you’ve ever tasted.
Address: 30 1 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok, Thailand 10110
Opening hours: 10AM-11.30PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 2 262 0700
5. The Never Ending Summer
Nestled in a quiet corner of The Jam Cafe plaza near the Chao Phraya river, you’ll find this industrial warehouse-turned-cafe concealed behind some lush greenery
This rustic cafe certainly lives up to its name. With draping fern adorning its walls and high beamed ceilings with skylights flooding the space with natural light, you’ll feel as though you’re dining in the open outdoors during a summer’s day that you’d never want to end.
If you’re as kaypoh as me, you can even peek to see what the chefs are cooking up in their open concept kitchen.
For starters, try their Super Crispy Omelette with Pork Crackling (฿240) that is unlike any regular omelette you’ve ever tasted. The golden brown, crisped-to-perfection scrambled egg garnished with fried pork lard simply melts in your mouth with every forkful.
Also, try their Pork Crackling Fried Rice (฿240) with fried pork lard, cashews, and chopped green chilli on the side for that extra kick – a savoury alternative to the ubiquitous tangy pineapple fried rice.
Address: 41/5 Charoen Nakhon Rd, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600, Thailand
Opening hours: 11AM-11PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 2 861 0953
6. Fill In The Blank
As you enter this cosy cafe, prepare to be WOW-ed by its impeccable MUJI-inspired interior that’ll make you feel as though you’re dining in someone’s Scandinavian-minimalist living room.
Top left: Huevos Rancheros Farmer’s Breakfast
Fancy a twist to the regular salt-and-pepper scrambled eggs? Try their sizzling Huevos Rancheros Farmer’s Breakfast (฿320) featuring scrambled eggs infused with tangy tomato sauce and aromatic spices, and served in a hot skillet with tortillas on the side to soak up all that juicy goodness.
For a heavier meal to still your rumbling tummy, their creamy Quinoa Chicken Avocado Fettuccini (฿280) is the perfect dish for those of us who’ve jumped on the quinoa and avocado bandwagon. This unexpectedly aromatic dish is drenched with a light cream that won’t leave you feeling too bloated.
Do not leave without trying their Salted Caramel Popcorn Milkshake (฿185) – a heavenly vanilla milkshake topped with a generous serving of salted popcorn drizzled with caramel, plus an extra glass of salted caramel popcorn on the side!
Address: 28/10 Sukhumvit 61 Alley, Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea, Khet Watthana, Bangkok 10110,
Opening hours: Tues-Sun: 8AM-5PM (Closed on Mondays)
Telephone: +66 2 390 1087
7. (Un)fashion Cafe
Don’t be fooled by its unassuming name – this cafe is far from unfashionable. With canvas and cushion lined seats and wooden cutlery, fairy lights, and vine trellises dangling from the ceiling, this bohemian-themed cafe will surprise you with its European aesthetic, you’ll have a hard time believing that you’re still in Bangkok.
Located just a few doors down from Perhaps Rabbits’, you’ll find that this cafe also doubles up as a general store. Besides their charming decor, (Un)fashion Cafe also serves up a wide range of cuisines, – from Thai to Western, and even Korean – that will leave you spoilt for choice.
For those who love a good ol’ Korean stew, try their piping hot Kimchi Pot with Cheese (฿290) – the perfect comfort food on a rainy day. This cheesy kimchi broth is a perfect mix of savory and sour, but be warned – its spiciness ain’t for the faint-hearted!
If you’re craving a less spicy variation of the Kimchi Soup, try their flavorful Kano Pat Plahmuk Kai Kam (฿220) – or spicy fried rice packed with squid and fish slices and fried with salted egg yolk.
We also ordered their crispy thin-crusted Smoked Salmon Pizza (฿340) topped with a generous serving of smoked salmon, rocket salad, and smokey shaved mozzarella – a perfect not-too-filling starter dish for sharing.
Address: 3 Ekkamai 10 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Opening hours: 11.30AM-9PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 2 726 9592
8. Patom Organic Living
Surrounded by lush greenery, this glasshouse cafe certainly lives up to its name of an organic cafe.
As you walk up the narrow pathway to enter the cafe, you’ll first be greeted with an array of body care products, such as their Jasmine Shower Gel (฿120) and Mon Rose Soap (฿120) all carefully arranged on tables made from tree stumps.
Besides coffeehouse drinks like Mocha (฿95) and Hot Chocolate (฿95), you can also browse through shelves of organic products for sale, like their packaged organic tom yum, organic jasmine rice and a selection of their organic teas, as well as a freezer brimming with fresh organic local produce such as pumpkins, vegetables, and organic guava juice grown by farmers in the Sam Pran province of Bangkok.
Patom Organic Living’s unique architecture not only uses renewable, sustainable and environmentally-friendly building materials, but also boasts a distinctive, contemporary interior in contrast to the building’s angular structure, such as a sleek wooden spiral staircase, and beneath it a cylindrical structure where you can place your orders.
This organic oasis also supports local farmers by getting their handpicked Arabica Coffee Beans from Chiang dao in Northern Thailand, and also their fresh produce from local farmers.
Address: 9, 2 Phrom Phak Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Opening hours: Tue-Sun: 9.30AM-6PM (Closed on Mondays)
Telephone: +66 2 084 8649
9. Hands and Heart Cafe
This marble-esque monochromatic cafe will see many minimalist fanatics and hype beasts and baes flocking here for their bleached-white aesthetic.
But more than just aesthetics, hands and heart cafe also serves up some mean caffeine. From their signature Very Thai cold brew coffee (฿140) to their Matcha Green Tea (฿180), to their signature Pu-Erh infused tea (฿140), come here for a white-out, caffeine soaked experience
Address: 33 Sukhumvit 38 Alley, Khwaeng Phra Khanong, Khet Khlong Toei, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, Thailand
Opening hours: 8AM-6PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 2 074 2014
Cafe-hopping your way through Bangkok
Cafe-hopping is a full-time job for some of us obsessed with finding the prettiest nooks to grab a cuppa with some friends – so have this list handy and conquer your weekends in BKK!
Check out these other cafes in Bangkok:
- The Hidden Milkbar – Secret Retro Cafe In Bangkok With Aussie-Inspired Dessert And Drinks
- Kay’s Boutique Breakfast Is A Bangkok Cafe With A Flower Tunnel Straight Out Of Our Floral Fantasies
- Akirart Cafe – Retro Office-Themed Cafe In BKK With Old School Macs From The 80s
- Gump’s Ari Is A New IG-Worthy Community Space In BKK With Cafes, Bubble Tea, And Wagyu Grill Buffet
- 8 Pastel Pink Cafes And Shops In Bangkok For Your Next Girls’ Day Out
This post was written for The Smart Local in collaboration with Amazing Thailand.