Your guide to the best cafés in Bangkok

Take a walk down Charoenkrung, Bangkok’s oldest road, and you’ll find it littered with achingly cool hipster haunts and Instagram-worthy cafés. HĒIJīi is one such establishment. Located within a historic shophouse, its rustic Chinese-style interiors complete with exposed concrete walls and a motley collection antique furniture will transport you to old Shanghai. Try its iconic Yin Yang coffee topped with sesame powder and snack on warm and sticky almond financiers drizzled with honey.

415 Charoen Krung Rd, Si Phraya, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500

Grab a seat by the couch at this cosy yet aesthetically pleasing café and watch the bakers at work. The glass-enclosed kitchen bustles with activity as the team prepares cakes, tarts, parfaits and all manner of sweet treats to keep you satiated. We recommend the lemon posset – a take on the British classic served in a halved lemon with a shortbread cookie. It’s the perfect thick and creamy consistency with just the right amount of zing.

1107, 2 Charoen Krung Rd, Si Phraya, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500

Continue your walk up Charoenkrung road and you’ll find yourself in Talat Noi, a historic neighbourhood that’s been given new life with colourful street art and photography. Follow your nose – or Google Maps – to Mother Roaster. Don’t be deterred by the derelict space on the first floor and climb up the stairs to be greeted by kittens and Pim, a barista in her 70s who proves that it’s never too late to do what you love. You’ll find a wide variety of beans on offer, from those grown domestically to rare varietals from Brazil and Ethiopia.

1172 Soi Chareonkrung 22, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100

While Central Bangkok is better known for its megamalls and shop-till-you-drop adventures, you shouldn’t shy away from taking a break at one of the many quaint cafés hidden away in its malls. h ø s t x AMBER is located within Centralworld’s department store and is a collaboration with the award-winning Amber Coffee Brewery from Hong Kong. Quench your thirst with a cold brew and grab one of its many flavoured croissants if you’re feeling peckish.

1F Central department Store at Central World 4, 4/5 Rajdamri Road Pathumwan, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330

A collaboration between some of Bangkok’s most renowned chefs – Gaggan Anand, Thomas Suhring and Mathias Suhring – and popular streetwear brand Carnival, CDGRE is a cool coffee spot located at the basement of Siam Paragon. Sit by the eye-catching coffee bar lit by an origami coffee filter fixture and enjoy a latte made with beans grown in Chiang Mai and milk from a local dairy farm. All lattes also come with a free croissant!

>G15, G Floor, Siam Paragon, 991 Rama I Rd, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330

Looking pretty in pink, every inch of Cassette Coffee Bar is picture perfect. Sip on a fresh pink lemonade or strawberry mocha as you snap that #OOTD. And lest you think The Casette Coffee Bar cares more about its aesthetics than its brews, the café offers two types of coffee beans for its espresso-based drinks. The first is a blend of three beans from Ethiopia, Brazil and Thailand and the other is a single-origin coffee from Chiangmai.

264/4 Siam Square Soi 3, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330

While Thonglor might be better known for its hidden bars and buzzy nightclubs, the neighbourhood is more than just a party destination. H Space – previously known as H Dining – is an all-day dining destination that houses three concepts in one. Its all-day menu features healthful dishes like heirloom tomatoes with mud crab and charred avocado with kale and quinoa are provided by Canteen while brews are by Hai Coffee Roaster. And come 8pm on Thursdays to Sundays, The Rose Wine Bar takes over with live music and bottles from the coolest natural wine producers.

2 Soi Sangchai, Phra Khanong, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110

If you don’t consider yourself a coffee person, then perhaps you might want to opt for a cup of chai instead. Here is an Indian eatery by the talented team behind Gaa, the Michelin-award-winning restaurant located right above the casual café space. You’ll find big and punchy flavours with Here’s take on brunch favourites. Expect dishes like masala egg bhurhi on sourdough toast and naan topped with seasonal ingredients.

46, 1 Sukhumvit 53 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

No BKK café roundup would be complete without Roast at The Commons. The OG made a name for itself by serving hearty brunch classics from eggs benedict to American pancakes. Even if you choose not to dine at Roast, The Commons is chock-full of dining options including spicy fried chicken from FowlMouth, Mexican nosh from Barrio Bonito and comforting Italian plates from VIVI Tuscan Kitchen.

335 Thong Lo 17 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110