The Best Coffee Shops in Bangkok

The Best Coffee Shops in Bangkok

Image by Vincent Paul sourced from wikimedia commons

Thailand has seen something of a boom in ‘coffee culture’ in the last couple of decades or so.

Like most of SE Asia, the nation would have been more inclined towards the drinking of tea until quite recently in historical terms, and when coffee did first start to infiltrate the culture of Thai society, it would have been at a fairly basic level for a number of years.

In fact, Thais had little in the way of choice when it came to coffee until the recent phenomena of coffee culture that has caught on thanks to younger and more modern generations of Thais doing more travelling and also embracing the internet, which seems to go hand-in-hand with the coffee shop experience for many of them.

Most coffee-drinking Thais would traditionally have been more inclined to enjoy their coffee strong and super sweet (like everything in the country), the standard blend bought from street vendors, usually with sweetened Carnation milk or something like it.

Image by Dennis Jarvis sourced from wiki media commons

The first few generations of coffee drinkers in Thailand had a fairly limited range of choices, largely ‘Ga-fair Boran’ (Traditional Thai Coffee) or just plain old instant coffee.

But certainly over the last 2 decades or so, the country has succumbed big time to a full-blown coffee culture – and then some.

More and more consumers have caught on to the ‘trend’ of the coffee shop, with consumption of the various blends steadily rising, and  modern generations of more affluent Thai people seemingly willing to pay what would otherwise be considered a premium price for a cup of freshly brewed coffee, along with other variations like green tea and chocolate blends.

The advent of coffee shop culture is now big business in Thailand, particularly in the city, with literally hundreds of trendy coffee shops constantly springing up across Bangkok.

Hence, a definitive list might not be that realistic, but here are our best efforts to present a choice and diverse range of coffee shops currently trading in the Thai capital that might offer something a bit more interesting than the standard Starbucks experience which, admittedly, has gone some way towards contributing to the Thai coffee shop phenomenon over the decades.

Image by Trungydang sourced from wikimedia commons

1. Rocket Coffee Bar

The modern and energetic Rocket Coffee bar has been serving artisan-brewed coffee to both locals and tourists for over 5 years now, and currently operates 2 branches.

Both of these outlets are found in trendy city-centre locations, namely in the Sathorn and Sukhumvit areas. Both locations have a reputation for top-notch coffee along with impressive bakery-style pastries and snacks.

The Rocket establishments also present great brunch, lunch, and dinner options which vary slightly according to the particular location. The Sathorn branch, for instance, has something of a local coffee house atmosphere with its communal tables and coffee bar. The Sukhumvit option, on the other hand, is more modern and ‘loungy,’ in line with many of the other establishments in that soi.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

Rocket is known for its working relationship with some of Thailand’s more famous and established coffee roasters and the beans are selected through direct partnerships with Thai farmers.

Rocket has its own impressive and creative range of signature coffees like the ‘Orange Sprinkle Signature Coffee’.

Addresses: Rocket Coffee Bar, 149, Sathorn Soi 12 Alley, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500,
and Rocket Sukhumvit,  27, Soi Sukhumvit 11

Open: 07:00 am – 11:00 pm.

Website: https://www.rocketcoffeebar.com/

2. Wallflowers Cafe

Aside from modern and trendy coffee houses, if there’s one thing that Bangkokians love it is taking pictures.

So don’t be too surprised if you see members of the Instagram generation taking snap after snap in this particular place, as it is just made for it, and the stairwell area seems to be a particularly popular choice as you might find upon entry to the Wallflowers Cafe.

But if you are not too put off by that after having found your way into this delightful little venue in a small side alley, you may find that this quaint Bangkok coffee establishment has much to offer.

Wallflowers Cafe and Bakery operates throughout the day and later on serves a variety of food, including the fusion variety, as live music kicks in in the evening hours.

The coffee is special in this place, as indeed is the cake, and in terms of the environment and backdrop of the place, everything seems intricate and exquisite in terms of the decor. Partly due to the trendy and slightly ‘secret’ location, this venue is not the cheapest by any means, but the quality is high and the experience is a cool one. Especially if you are a fan of Instagram.

Address: 31-33 Soi Nana Khwaeng Pom Prop, Khet Pom Pop Satthu Phai, Bangkok
Nearest MRT: Hua Lamphong
Open: Mon- Thurs, Sun:  11:00 am -7:00 pm Fri – Sat: 11 am – 12 am

Website: https://www.facebook.com/wallflowerscafe.th/

3. (Not Just) Another Cup

The name ‘Not Just Another Cup’ itself suggests just how competitive and eager to stand out from the crowd many of these trendy speciality coffee houses in Bangkok actually are.

This particular place manages to live up to its name though, and in many ways it is a cut above the average coffee shop, with top coffee and good food, along with a range of other well-thought out delights like smoothies and brunch or lunch options.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

To give some idea of how this might work, it might be worth considering that this particular establishment has no less than 7 varieties of Latte on its menu (including a beetroot option), along with a host of Espresso, Americano and Cappuccino combinations, hot or cold.

Unsurprisingly ‘Another Cup’ is quite a popular local hangout and can get rather packed on some evenings and weekends.

Address: 75/1 Sathorn Soi 10, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Open: Monday To Sunday 07:00 am – 07:00 pm
BTS: Chong Nonsi
Website: http://www.notjustanothercup.com

4. The Coffee Academics

The Coffee Academics, or simply TCA as it is otherwise known, is an import from other Asian regions, which has established coffee houses in in Hong Kong, Singapore and various cities in China.

This particular brand has already become renowned across Asia for its speciality coffee and uniqueness in terms of coffee shop experiences.

The flagship TCA coffee shop is to be found in Bangkok’s trendy Sidhorn Village on Lang Suan, and the brand also has a shop in another location on the ground floor of the Gaysorn Village.

The coffee beans used by TCA are globally sourced and locally roasted, and apparently this coffee house sources its speciality Arabica Coffee from a variety of sustainable institutions. To add further kudos to the TCA ethos, profits from more than half of their house blends in Hong Kong and Singapore contribute to charities and social enterprises world-wide according to the company literature.

The TCA coffee experience is slightly more diverse than a Starbuck’s cappuccino to go, with blended beverages such as the Korean-inspired ‘Red Bean Es-Bungsu’ to a Hawaiian-style ‘sea salt whipped latte’, to name just a couple of inspired offerings from this particular Bangkok coffee shop.

Address: Shop B114, Sindhorn Village Langsuan Road
Open: Mon-Sun: 7am – 9pm
TEL: 02 164 2500
BTS: Chidlom

Website: https://www.facebook.com/TheCoffeeAcademicsTH/

5. Sarnies Bangkok:

Don’t be put off by the name – this is actually a fantastic coffee shop with a good menu and something of an ‘old town’ atmosphere.

The name might not exactly give it away but ‘Sarnies’ (which might sound to some a bit more like a Saturday afternoon shopping centre snack shop in the U.K.) is actually a trendy Singaporian coffee shop chain .

Sarnies Bangkok is located in a two story, traditional, 150-year-old shop house that adds a delightful atmospheric backdrop to the place. The building may be somewhat on the ancient side, but the menu is refreshingly modern and contemporary in its approach, and a fresh and delightful cup of coffee can certainly be found here (including ‘Bulletproof’ Coffee).

Sarnies is another authentic coffee retailer in that the coffee beans are sourced globally, although they do include (almost) locally-produced beans from the north of Thailand, and of course everything is roasted locally.

Address: 101-103 Charoen Knug Road, North Sathom
BTS: Saphan Taksin
Open: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 5:30 pm / Fri – Sun 8 am – 10 pm

Website: https://www.facebook.com/sarnies.bkk/

6. Casa Lapin Speciality Coffee

Casa Lapin is a speciality coffee house brand that currently has a few branches across the city of Bangkok, with probably the most frequented one being situated in the midst of the city’s major shopping hub, in Central World, in the highly-populated Siam area.

Image by takeaway sourced from wikimedia commons

Here coffee lovers are likely to find a wide selection of carefully selected coffee beans on offer, along with the rudimentary tasting notes that any self-respecting coffee house should exhibit.

The Baristas in this establishment are well-trained, and have it all covered. They will likely offer advice (if required) on elements such as flavour, fragrance, and aftertaste, on coffees from varying nations such as Ethiopia, The Dominican Republic, and Indonesia.

Check out the wide variety of blended beverages on offer in this teeming, very modern speciality environment if you are looking for a little more than a black coffee to go.

Central World: 10.00 am. – 10.00 pm.
Ari: 8.30 am. – 10.00 pm
Ratchathewi: 7.00 am. – 10.00 pm.
Sukhumvit 26 :  8.00 am. – 10.00 pm.
BadMotel: 7.00 am. – 5.00 pm.
Major Ekamai: 10.30 am. – 10.00 pm.
Ladprao Hills: 7.00 am. – 7.00 pm.
Central Bangna: Monday – Friday: 7.30 am. – 10.00 pm /Saturday – Sunday: 10.00 a.m. – 10.00 pm

Website: https://www.facebook.com/CasaLapin/

7. Gallery Drip Coffee

Gallery Drip Coffee Shop is creative coffee with flair, in that the whole process of brewing and pouring the beverages is something of a performance.

The Baristas have something of a dramatic air about them as water is transferred from high stainless steel pots to drip filters, giving the impression that every beverage is unique, produced with the solemn and professional concentration of a diamond cutter.

Whether eccentric or effective, is seems to work, and the coffee in this busy environment is indeed good. The fact that the shop is just across the street from the ever-busy MBK Centre ensures that it is the ideal stop-off for those on a Bangkok shopping outing.

Plenty of variety here, including the signature ‘Drip Coffee Jelly’, so Gallery Drip is well worth checking out if you are a coffee lover on a shop in the Siam area.

Address: Bangkok Art and Cultural Stadium, Ground Floor 939 Rama I Rd, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330
BTS: National Stadium
Open: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:30 am, – 8:00 pm (Closed Mondays)

Website: https://www.facebook.com/GalleryDripCoffee

8. Chata Specialty Coffee

Chata Coffee House is a speciality coffee house in Bangkok’s Chinatown, in the old town region of the city, which might be just the ticket for anyone looking for a diversion from trendy city-centre areas like Sukhumvit and Silom.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

Chinatown is usually more renowned for its cuisine with both locals and visitors, but if you are a real coffee lover then you’ll find a great cup in this place which, like some of the best places featured here, is almost hidden away from the chaos and bustle of Yaowarat Road, the most well-known place in the area.

Chata has all the welcoming elements that might be expected from a coffee shop, including a design akin to that of a large greenhouse, which contributes something in the way of classic coffee shop atmosphere fused with modern design. The ‘greenhouse effect’ is most apparent in the main section of the shop, but there is another, smaller room to the back of the place which continues the theme.

As with most of these top Bangkok Coffee shops in Bangkok, beans are sourced from around the globe, and the baristas are knowledgeable in giving any further required advice on the beans and available blends.

Chata is a welcoming and cosy cafe with a superb range of speciality and signature coffees on offer, such as the Colaspresso (espresso, coke and lime) or Latte La Toey (Espresso, milk and Pandan Syrup)

Address: 98 Phat Sai, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
Open hours: 8.00 am – 5.00 pm (Last order: 16.45)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/chataspecialtycoffee

9. Toby’s

Toby’s is another establishment in a trendy part of the Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok, and offers contemporary-style brunches along with quality coffee and cake.

Something of a cosy diversion from the trendy bars and restaurants common to the area, this is a popular and busy place not too far away from the Thong Lo BTS station.

Toby’s has its own range of speciality and signature coffees like the ‘sweet, smooth and caramel’, and the ‘iced golden milk latte,’ to name just a couple of the wide range of available options.

Address: No.75 Sukhumvit 38, Bangkok 10110
BTS: Thong Lo.
Open: Tues-Sun: 9 am-10 pm