Café-Hopping in Thonglor, Bangkok
Thonglor was previously an unremarkable neighborhood in Bangkok, with little to attract visitors. Now, it has become an extremely happening space, visited by both locals and tourists alike. Visitors often head down to the area for a cup of coffee and a quiet afternoon. Here are our top picks of cafés in this quarter.
1. After You Dessert Café
Address: 323/3 Thonglor Soi 13, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am – 12 midnight
First opened in 2007, it is now one of the most iconic cafés in Bangkok. The café is most well-known for its photogenic Shibuya Honey Toast (THB 175) and Chocolate Lava Cake. Be sure to share the desserts with friends as the portions can be huge.
2. Audrey
Address: Soi Thong Lo 11, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am – 10pm
With its gleaming white tables, monochromatic interior design, and cascades of fairy lights, Audrey looks like it was created from a Tumblr photo. This is the perfect backdrop for OOTD shots, and offers both Western and Thai dishes for café-hoppers who don’t know what they want to eat.
3. Casa Lapin
Address: Soi Songphinong, Between Thonglor 13 and Sukhumvit Soi 49/7, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri, 7.30am – 8.30pm | Sat & Sun, 10.30am – 8.30pm
Casa Lapin stands out amongst the Thonglor cafés with its welcoming atmosphere and initimate space. Authentic grub and a myriad of hipster magazines such as Frankie, Kinfolk, and Cereal to read while waiting for your food or to relax after your meal.
4. Gram
Address: Soi Sukhumvit 49, 1/F, 49 Terrace, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun, 9am – 5pm
Found in the Ekkamai part of Thonglor, nearby Casa Lapin, this café is a favorite among the Japanese expatriates who live there. It is one of the more affordable options for café-hoppers, with a price range of THB 120-340 for delectable burgers, waffles, French toasts, and pastas.
5. Greyhound Café
Address: 1F J Avenue Lifestyle Mall, Thonglor Soi 15, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am — 9pm
One of the pioneers of the café industry in Thonglor, this eatery – possibly the most famous one in Bangkok – has one of the best pastas in town.
Try the fettuccine with shrimp and the spicy spaghetti Thai style (THB 190-320).
6. Rocket Coffee Bar
Address: 46, 21/13 Klang Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: Sun to Thu, 7am – 9pm | Fri & Sat, 7am – 11pm
Wholesome food and good coffee keep customers coming back for more.
It has also been called one of the most stylish cafés in Bangkok, where you can also learn more about coffee from the friendly baristas. Their signature cold brew coffee is aptly named “Rocket Fuel”, and is sure to give you an energy boost on a lazy afternoon.
7. (Un)Fashion Café
Address: 10 Soi Sukhumvit 63, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: Daily, 12 – 9pm
Enjoy fresh bakes and strawberry lattes in a cottage-like caravan behind the shop front. This café is also a leather goods shop, where you can buy rare leather shoes, bags, and accessories to bring back home. New stocks are brought in every Wednesday, so you will always be spoilt for choice.
8. Vanilla Garden
Address: 53 Ekamai Soi 12, Sukhumvit Soi 63, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: Daily, 7am – 10pm
This secret hideout will take you away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok with garden benches, fountains, and squirrels to make you feel like you are in The Secret Garden. This cozy and tranquil spot has freshly-baked pastries, bread, and desserts, like puff pancakes and baked Danish toast, which you can enjoy while resting your aching feet.
9. Roots Coffee Bar
Address: Soi Thong Lo 17, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: Daily, 8am – 7pm
Go back to the roots of coffee in Roots Coffee Bar, opened by Varatt Vichit-Vadakan, who also opened the famous Roast Restaurant. A specialty coffee roaster, it has recently shifted from its original location in Ekkamai to the foot of The Commons Thonglor, the latest hottest location in Bangkok. The “Summer Peach” cold brew is a must-try in Bangkok’s hot weather.
10. Karmakamet Diner
Address: 30/1 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening Hours: Daily, 10am — 11.30pm
Known for its rustic chic and over-the-top dessert, Karmakamet is a café-cum-shop that actually began as an essential oils boutique. Its signature dessert, The Strawberry in the Clouds, comprises strawberry short cake topped off with a huge ball of rainbow cotton candy, perfect for that Instagram food shot. You should also try the Crabmeat Eggs Benedict and Duck Confit Pancakes.
=Where to Stay=
To minimize traveling time, it would be best to stay in the neighborhood so that café-hopping is easy and convenient! Here is our selection of hotels.
1. PlayHaus Thonglor (***)
Usual Price: from USD 60
Dailyhotel Price: from USD 49
Address: 205/22-23 Sukhumvit soi 55 (Thonglor), Klongton Nua, Wattana, Sukhumvit, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
This gorgeous boutique hotel has vintage-inspired rooms and a twinkling sign made of tungsten light bulbs that is impossible to miss.
They also have a “Behind the Scene” cocktail lounge that feels like the backstage of a theatre.
2. Movenpick Hotel Sukhumvit 15 Bangkok (*****)
Usual Price: from USD 90
Dailyhotel Price: from USD 67
Address: 47 Kloeng Toei Nua, Wattana, 15 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Stay in luxurious comfort without breaking the bank at this five-star hotel that provides free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour Tuk Tuk shuttle service, which is perfect for maneuvering around Bangkok. The rooftop pool and Rainforest Rooftop Bar are also perfect for unwinding after an intensive day of café-hopping.
3. Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok (****)
Usual Price: from USD 167
Dailyhotel Price: from USD 133
Address: 19 Sukhumvit Soi 18, Sukhumvit Road, Klong-Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
This beautiful hotel comes with a capacity of 407 rooms — all equipped with “deep soaking tubs”. A short walk away from the scenic Karmakamet Diner, this hotel is also a good starting point to go shopping, as it is a mere 10-minute walk away from Terminal 21 Shopping Mall.
=What to Do=
Aside from café-hopping, you can also visit the Buddhist temples that Thailand is famous for, or end off your café-hopping tour with a little bit of fun in Bangkok’s vibrant nightlife scene!
1. Wat Arun
Easily one of the most picturesque temples in the city due to its riverside location, Wat Arun, known to locals as Wat Chaeng, also has a unique design different to other temples found in Bangkok, with its ornamental spires. Take a river boat from Sapphan Taksin Boat Pier to pier 8, then take a small shuttle boat to the other side of the river, right in front of the temple. The best time to visit would be sundown, as the temple looks even more magnificent against the backdrop of purple clouds and the setting sun.
2. DND Club (Do Not Disturb)
Ekkamai is not only known for cafés but also its increasingly exciting nightlife. The fresh kid on the block, DND, was only opened in 2015. Its ‘retro motel’ interior is rather visually arresting, with old TVs and suitcases lining the walls, a motel bed placed on the stage, and a smoking room that looks like a traditional barber shop. Admission is free and ice and mixers come free when you purchase a bottle of whisky or vodka. Staying in this neighborhood is convenient as you save on cab fares when returning after a night of partying.
We hope that this guide will be helpful in enhancing your Bangkok experience!