Bangkok’s cafe scene is one of the best in Southeast Asia, and it’s only getting better. The city has quietly built a reputation for exceptional coffee, inventive bakes, and spaces that somehow manage to be both beautiful and functional. Whether you’re a speciality coffee purist, a sourdough obsessive, or just looking for a solid spot to park yourself for a few hours, Bangkok delivers.
This list is organised by neighbourhood, because in a city this size, location matters. A great cafe on the other side of town might as well be in another city if you’re not willing to brave the traffic. We’ve kept things practical, noting how to get there, what to order, and whether it’s worth the journey.
We update this list regularly as we discover new spots, so bookmark this page and check back often. If you think we’ve missed somewhere worth adding, let us know.
Ekkamai / Phra Khanong / On Nut
Babyccino The dirty coffee here is a must-try. Tucked inside the Ekkamai area, it’s best reached by bike or taxi. The vegetarian shakshuka and tuna melt are both solid, and their pastas and milkshakes are worth coming back for. Coffee quality is high, though it gets crowded on weekends. A great place to work, with friendly staff. They also have an outlet inside Siam Centre.
Beans Coffee T77 A well-known Bangkok brand with outposts across the city, but this particular one sits inside the Phra Khanong neighbourhood and offers a quieter, more local feel. Good coffee, decent food, and wifi if you need to get some work done. More of a neighbourhood spot than a tourist stop.
Breve Cafe Located inside a condo complex, well away from the tourist crowd. Ample parking, a decent menu, and reliably good coffee. A solid neighbourhood option if you’re in the area.
Detour Cafe Sitting in the Phra Khanong / Pridi area, this one requires a bike or taxi unless it’s the cooler months and you don’t mind a walk. Built into an older Thai house with limited parking, but the bread is excellent and the wine selection is a nice touch. Try the breakfast platter and the chocolate brownie.
DRNK Cafe A quiet cafe on Sukhumvit 50, just a short walk from BTS On Nut. Also serves as the breakfast spot for the Qube Hotel. The coffee selection is worth exploring; try the Honduras whiskey coffee. Food is nothing special, but it’s a reliable spot to sit, work, and almost always find a seat.
Fimue Groove Station This one takes its coffee seriously, with a solid range of drinks to choose from. The second floor doubles as a handcrafted jewellery store if you’re looking for something to bring home. Not really a place to work as the seating isn’t built for it, but great for whiling away an afternoon with good music. Very walkable from Phra Khanong BTS.
Kaizen Coffee Ekkamai Excellent coffee, though it’s a bit of a trek. Located at the far end of Ekkamai, the beans are top quality and available for purchase as gifts. The salmon avocado toast is also worth ordering. The walk from BTS Ekkamai can take upwards of 30 minutes, so a bike or taxi is the smarter call.
Karo Coffee This place has our heart. Really good coffee, even better sandwiches, and a dog-friendly setup inside the Pridi / Phra Khanong neighbourhood. The owner is serious about bean quality and bakes their own bread in-house. A great spot to work, eat well, and settle in for a while.
Knowhere Cafe The best hidden find on this list. A tiny cafe with indoor seating for around six people and a small outdoor area, kept cool with plenty of plants. The coffee is excellent, and the lemon tart and cheesecake are worth trying depending on what’s available. It’s not easy to find, and the walk there might feel a little uncertain, but push through ‘cos it’s worth it.
Nevermind — The German Bakery A bakery sitting next to a baking school, which tells you everything you need to know. Great for working through a quiet morning, with good coffee, excellent cakes, and German bread you can take home. Accessible from Phra Khanong BTS with a short walk.
Phed Mark Not a traditional cafe, but set up like one. Popular food YouTuber Mark Wiens brings his love of Thai heat to life here, and the pad gaprow is one of the best versions in the city. We cannot recommend it highly enough.
Pridi Named after Pridi Banomyong, the father of modern Thai democracy, this neighbourhood cafe in the Pridi area has excellent coffee, great sandwiches, wine, and a full mains menu. Indoor and outdoor seating available, though it fills up fast. Given how far in it sits, a bike or taxi is the way to go.
Susan Croissant Hands down the best croissants in Bangkok. Light, flaky, and crispy in all the right places. Try as many as you can, because they really do know what they’re doing. Available on Grab if you can’t make the trip in person. Located a long walk from Phra Khanong BTS, so a taxi is recommended.
The Bread Room A quiet, understated spot hiding in the backstreets of Phra Khanong, a short walk from the BTS station. Best known for their truffle shokupan, shaped into an adorable ring loaf. Coffee is decent, and a friendly resident dog will likely come out to greet you on the way in.
Phrom Phong / Thonglor
Aroon Coffee is taken seriously here. The team behind the counter genuinely knows their craft: describe what you’re in the mood for, and they’ll build something around it. Try the V60 and pair it with the grilled cheese sandwich. A calm, comfortable spot for working through the afternoon.
Bartels If you love sourdough, this is your place. The Grilled Cubano sandwich is one of the best on this list, and the coconut coffee is a nice touch. Open-faced sandwiches are excellent too. Located within walking distance of both Phrom Phong and Thong Lo BTS stations, with a few other branches around the city.
Holey Artisan If Bartels knows bread, Holey Artisan knows the craft behind it. Everything is baked fresh and in-house, and the sandwiches are exceptional; try the Hot Thai and the bagel egg sandwich, which carries a quiet heat. The standout, though, is the tuna pepperoni sandwich. It shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does.
Luka A well-known name on Bangkok’s cafe circuit, with a solid western breakfast menu and a strong connection to the local art scene. Coffee, sandwiches, and breakfast items are all good. Both the Sathorn and Sukhumvit outlets are walkable from the BTS, though that does depend on your definition of walkable.
Toby’s on 38 Some of the best coffee in this part of the city; smooth, well-executed, and consistently good. Recommended for breakfast, and a decent place to work. Be prepared for a bit of a walk to get there. There’s also an outlet at Phloen Chit.
Yest Works Coffee Bar Every coffee here is well thought out, and the baristas know exactly what they’re doing;m whether you want something familiar or feel like trying something new, they’ll deliver. Try the brownies too. Quiet during the day, which makes it a reliable spot to work.
Old Town / Songwat / Chinatown
All.Day BKK Discovered during a walk through the Old Town to a couple of independent bookstores. It was quiet when we visited, with a simple but well-curated drinks menu. The iced chocolate was outstanding.
Baan Rim Naam This is the spot for a Bangkok sunset. A relaxed, sit-on-the-floor open-air cafe tucked inside Songwat, with cold beers, wine, and the kind of atmosphere that doesn’t need much else. The food is an afterthought, but the vibes absolutely are not.
Hong Seng Kiong A Chinatown stalwart that may be past its peak crowd-wise, but still delivers where it counts. The chocolate cake is excellent, the iced coffee is strong, and there’s outdoor seating that’s either punishing in summer or genuinely lovely towards the end of the year. Note that you order before you sit.
JEDI Cafe and Bar A favourite find, located near Wat Saket. Closes early at 5pm, but the outdoor seating facing the canal is gorgeous in the cooler months. Good coffee, great vibes, and don’t skip the bread.
SCR Songwat Coffee Roasters A well-earned stop on any Songwat walk. The coffee is fantastic across the board, and their coconut milk coffee is quietly becoming their signature. The bakes are inventive too; the bacon suisse is the pick, though the pandan canelé is not far behind.
The Local Boys Coffee A short walk from SCR, this grungy little spot serves coffee in an edible cookie dough shot glass. The exterior alone attracts its fair share of visitors. Worth stopping in for more than just the photo.
Wabi’s @ Songwat If shokupan is your thing, this is a must. A wide selection of shokupan breads plus their own house-made spreads; the dill butter is the one to go for. No coffee on the menu, but the rose lemonade is exactly what you’ll want after walking through Songwat in the heat.
Sathorn
Flaneur French in feel and beautiful in execution. The outdoor area is the draw here, paired with a strong breakfast menu and an impressive tea selection. Wifi available, making it a good work spot too.
Panna Sourdough Closer to the Hindu temple (Wat Kheak) and an easy walk from Flaneur if you’re doing both. Good sourdough and solid sandwiches, though the coffee leans acidic; you may want to add some sugar. Worth the visit if bread is your priority.