8 Phuket Cafes To Try For A Break From Beaches & Island-Hopping

Instagrammable Phuket cafes


When it comes to Phuket, we’re all geared up with swimwear and sunscreen – all ready for the sprawling white beaches and clear blue waters.

But there’s more to Phuket than just #beachlife it’s also an island that’s filled with undiscovered cafes. From a book-themed cafe to a farm-to-table joint, here are 8 cafes in Phuket to get your brunch fix from.


1. Tung Ka Cafe – panoramic sunset view


A cafe-bar, Tung Ka Cafe is tucked away right at the top of Phuket’s Rang Hill. Don’t think you can simply stroll up here – it’s a windy road with poorly maintained walking paths that tend to disappear into gravel right around the bends. But it’s worth heading up for the panoramic view.

The entire Phuket stretches ahead – mountain peaks, blue seas, and the ebbing sunset all in one frame.

The best time to come? In the evening, around 4 to 5PM just as the sky flickers a dim orange and the cool night breeze takes over. Make sure you’ve got a cocktail in hand: they come refreshing and vibrantly coloured with names like Tunk-ka Sunset and Phuket Blue. Both are priced at ฿180 (~USD5).

Tung Ka Cafe
Address:
At the top of Rang Hill, Phuket Town
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 10:30AM-10:30PM
Telephone: +66 7 6211 500
Tung Ka Cafe Facebook | Google Maps


2. Hidden Pot Bakery & Cafe – Muji-inspired cafe



Image credit: Phuket.net

With minimal Muji-style decor and occasional leafy pot plant, it’s almost as if we’ve entered the filming set of Terrace House. Hidden Pot Bakery & Cafe is exactly how its name sounds – it’s lesser-known even among locals since it’s relatively hard to find.


Image credit: @thehiddenpot

While the Creamy Omelet with Bacon on Rice (฿69, ~USD2) is a solid choice, it’s their Turtle Waffle (฿89, ~USD3) that’s most worth the calories – it comes with a crisp outer layer fully coated with sprinkled sugar.

Their drinks are just as unusual too. Take the Hidden Hot Chocolate (฿60, ~USD1.80) – it comes as a steaming hot mug of milk, and you’ll have to stir it with your own chocolate-covered stick.

Hidden Pot Bakery & Cafe
Address:
30/5 Soi Ruam Chai, Old Town Phuket 8300, Thailand
Opening hours: 12PM-7PM, Sunday – Thursday (Closed on Fridays)
Telephone: +66 9 8505 6616
Hidden Pot Bakery & Cafe Facebook | Google Maps


3. The Feelsion Cafe – freshly-baked cakes and carbonara waffles



Image credit: @pommkio

There’s a sprawling display of cakes at The Feelsion Cafe. Take your pick: they’ve got Coconut Cream Pie, Oreo Cake, Apple Crumble…the list goes on. It’s also worth trying their freshly-made waffles, especially the Carbonara Waffle since its creamy bacon sauce adds a savoury twist.


Image credit: @thefeelsioncafe

But understandably so, some like their waffles conventional and will thoroughly enjoy the Apple Crumble Waffle or Mixed Berry Waffle. All waffles are priced at ฿169 (~USD5).


Image credit: @aungaing.dnp

Those looking for a hearty meal will be pleased to know that they’ve got a full-fledged menu with Thai dishes like Seafood Tom Yum with Rice (฿119, ~USD4) and Pad Thai with Prawns (฿149, ~USD5).

The Feelsion Cafe
Address: 445/1 Phuket Road, Old Phuket Town 83000, Thailand
Opening hours: 10:30AM-6PM Thursday – Tuesday (Closed on Wednesdays)
Telephone: +66 8 3181 9845
The Feelsion Cafe Facebook | Google Maps


4. ELLA Bar & Bistro – minimalist cafe at Patong Beach


Once you step into ELLA Bar & Bistro, you’ll be struck by how warehouse-like everything is, from the high ceilings to bare walls. While it’s one of the trendier aesthetics for cafes, it certainly stands out from the crowd – in other words, it’s not your average touristy Patong Beach bar.

Its all-day breakfast menu is heavily filled with egg dishes like Eggs Norwegian (฿280, ~USD9), which comes with poached eggs and smoked salmon, all on top of a housemade bagel. The true test of a good brunch joint? How perfectly their eggs are poached. We gingerly sliced across the poached egg, and true enough, it split open to reveal an oozing yolk.

They’re also known for their burgers, which come spilling over with ingredients. Their Classic Burger (฿280, ~USD9) is served with a beef patty alongside fresh tomatoes, red onions, and lettuce.

It’s also worth trying their desserts, since they offer up sweet treats like Mango Sticky Rice and Apple Cinnamon Pancake (฿180, ~USD5).

At the moment, this hip hotel is temporarily closed, so we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed to try their Eggs Norwegian sooner rather than later.

ELLA Bar & Bistro
Address: 100/19-20 Soi Permpongpattana, Patong, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 7AM-11PM
Telephone: +66 8 9199 1663
ELLA Bar & Bistro Facebook


5. Bookhemian – read as you drink coffee


The ideal life: sipping a freshly-brewed cup of Joe while reading a novel. At Bookhemian, you can do exactly that – they’ve got shelves of books, everything from paperbacks to coffee table books. But instead of sipping on an ordinary coffee, this joint offers special drinks like Bohemian Iced Coffee (฿85) which comes with a thick layer of gooey marshmallow cream.

We ordered a Waffle with Honey (฿65, ~USD2). It sounds plain and simple, but we couldn’t fault it since it came with crisp edges and a perfectly fluffy texture. They also have other classic brunch dishes like Eggs Benedict (฿120, ~USD4) and a range of pasta dishes starting from ฿120 (~USD4).

Feel free to flip through the books on display – granted, they’re mostly in Thai but you’ll stumble across an English book every now and then.

Bookhemian
Address: 61 Thalang Road, Old Phuket Town 83000, Thailand
Opening hours: 9AM – 7PM Monday – Friday | 9AM – 8PM Saturday – Sunday
Telephone: +66 9 8090 0657
Bookhemian Facebook | Google Maps


6. We Cafe Phuket @ Chalong – fresh hydroponic salads


Image credit: We Cafe Phuket

If your stomach’s feeling queasy from an overload of tom yum and seafood, head over to We Cafe Phuket @ Chalong to seek refuge. This cafe has a full-blown hydroponic farm in their backyard, and they’re well-known among the locals for their fresh veggies and salads.


Image credit: @lilyaprivet

You’ve got a choice of 7 lettuce bases: red batavia, cos, butterhead, red oak, green oak, red coral, and frillice iceberg. A serve starts from just ฿80 (~USD2) but you’ll also be paying for each topping, which ranges from ฿5 (~USD0.15) for vegetables to ฿50 (~USD1.50) for protein. Many will be stumped upon ordering – there’s a mighty choice of 31 toppings, with the likes of grilled salmon and smoked duck.

Image credit: @phuketlife

Before you think it’s all just healthy greens here, they also offer up comfort food like Beef Lasagne (฿195, ~USD6) and Potato Wedges (฿55, ~USD1). Signature dishes like Tomato with Mozzarella Cheese (฿220, ~USD7) and Salmon Steak (฿345, ~USD11) are also on the menu.

We Cafe Phuket @ Chalong
Address: 5/30 Chao Fah Tawan Tok Road, Old Town Phuket 83000, Thailand
Opening hours: 10AM – 9.30PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 8 8752 1352
We Cafe Facebook | Google Maps


7. The Tent – indoor tent dining


Image credit: @carmenhoyw

The Tent has it all pegged out. They’ve got patterned tents that serve as cosy dining spots, each with a low coffee table and seat cushions. Those with back pains and knee problems, don’t worry, for they’ve got normal tables too.

Image credit: @idiotforfood

While many come for the decor, it’s the Campfire S’mores (฿359, ~USD11) that caught our eye. It’s a full dessert set that’ll make you feel like you’re glamping out in the woods – with everything you need for a gooey marshmallow s’more, including a hot chocolate pot, graham crackers, and fresh fruits.

They also have a huge range of waffles, from the charcoal mango-laden CMC Waffle (฿195, ~USD6) to The Dream Catcher (฿145, ~USD4), a matcha green tea waffle with vanilla ice cream.

Image credit: @bebaibai

If you need a break from Phuket’s slightly stifling seaside heat, go for The Tent’s googly-eyed Shaved Ice (from ฿119, ~USD4) which comes in flavours like Tropical Thai Tea and Ume Plum.

The Tent
Address: 16 Thepkasattri Road, Old Phuket Town 83000, Thailand
Opening hours: 7AM – 6PM, Daily
Telephone: +66 7 6217 775
The Tent Facebook | Google Maps


8. Chino@Cafe Gallery – fusion Thai food


Chino@Cafe Gallery is one bright airy space with plenty of natural sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows. Unlike many of Phuket’s cafes, it’s a joint that mainly serves up Thai food, but they’ve got a few Western-inspired dishes too.


Their alfresco dining area comes with rope swings.

Take their Spaghetti Green Curry Chicken (฿180, ~USD5.50); each strand comes evenly coated with green curry. As for Thai dishes, try their Pad Krapao Gai – slightly spicy Thai basil chicken over rice with a sunny side up.

There’s also a small retail corner in the cafe, where you can pick up handcrafted goods like tie-dye shirts and antique cameras.

Chino@Cafe’ Gallery
Address: 4 Thalang Road, Old Town Phuket 83000, Thailand
Opening hours: 9AM – 7PM, Daily
Telephone: +66  8 1979 6190
China@Cafe’ @ Gallery Facebook | Google Maps


Brunch spots in Phuket


Lazy days are all about soaking up the sunshine on Phuket’s many beaches, but when your stomach’s growling, there’s also a solid choice of cafes. Whether it’s in historic Old Town Phuket or touristy Patong Beach, you’re sure to find a cafe to while away the afternoon – with an iced latte in hand, of course.

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