The tourists in Banglampoo don’t notice this coffee shop as much as other places, probably because it’s a bit hidden inside the historic Baan Pra Athit. The late-colonial structure was built for a high-level civil servant who worked for Rama V, VI, and VII. Anyone who walks through the driveway, past the guards, and turns to the left will find...

This coffee house has a few different locations. The one in Ari is right by the Skytrain station, across from Ari Soi 1 on the north side of the street. They have great coffee and bakery like croissants and brownies, and their kitchen serves rich brunch food like Croque Madame. It’s usually pretty busy, but the relaxed, cozy industrial surroundings...

Sometimes two or three cultures are better than one. That’s the case with this bakery. It’s on the very Japanese Soi Sukhumvit 33/1, a small lane across the street from Benjasiri Park, where there’s a manga shop, Ramen Tei Restaurant, and UFM Fuji Supermarket all packed into two short blocks. Japanese perfection meets French tradition at Custard Nakamura, with a...

Take bright yellow chairs, make over 100 flavors of ice cream and sorbet (rambutan, pumpkin almond, black sesame seed, Chinese jasmine tea…), and toss in some puffy colorful pillows. Don’t forget to create a dessert sensation, like banoffee cake – Thai banana and toffee cake or brownies with a scoop of ice cream. Now put these ingredients in various locations,...

There are a string of good restaurants that run along Kamphaeng Phet Road behind the Samsen train station and on Set Siri Road, which intersects it. There is also this authentic artisanal boulangerie and pâtisserie that really stands out. In the window are croissants, baguette, and breads that make you wonder if you’re in Paris. Everything is made with sourdough rather...

This is one of those magical, hard-to-explain Bangkok spots: a restaurant that only sells toast and milk, and it’s always full of customers. On any given Friday night there’s not a seat in the house available, and everybody’s happily eating toast with chocolate, condensed milk, pandanus cream, or some other gooey topping. Mont has been here for decades, toasting bread...

Another great coffee shop in Ari that also has some decent bakery and makes a mean espresso. The all-white atmosphere with natural wood has a modern Scandinavian feel, and there’s always a decent mix of music playing. Hours: 10am – 10 pm BTS: Ari

If you’ve just toured the Grand Palace and need a little pick me up, not to mention some time away from the crowds, head over to Vivi The Coffee Place down a quiet soi nearby, for a spot of tea or a blended frozen cappuccino and a light snack, or a scoop of mango ice cream. Their terrace is the...