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Cafes in Bangkok to work from

December 4, 2012 By James Clark 52 Comments

Last updated 16 October, 2015

Bangkok Cafes Map


Bangkok Cafes Map

foursquare.com Bangkok Cafes

Cafe Locations

Sukhumvit – Along Sukhumvit Rd from Ploen Chit
Siam/Chit Lom – Sound Siam, Chit Lom, Ratchadamri, National Stadium, and Ratchathewi.
Phaya Thai – Along Sukhumvit line from Phaya Thai to Ari.
Silom/Sathorn
Chinatown
Old Town – Khao San Rd
Other Places

Sukhumvit

Li-Bra-Ry Cafe

Li-Bra-Ry Cafe

Li-Bra-Ry is cafe that is tucked away off a long soi (side street). The cafe has tasteful 70’s themed decor and upstairs feels very homely (you have to take your shoes off).

Location: Sukhumvit Soi 24 (about about 500 metres down, then right).
Website: www.facebook.com/librarycafe

Roast Coffee & Eatery

Roast Coffee & Eatery

This is a seriously stylish cafe in the well-to-do Thonglor area. The coffee is pricey for Bangkok (which is to say about the same price as a coffee in Melbourne), but it is worth it. Real. Proper. Coffee.

Location: SeenSpace Thonglor 13.
Website: www.roastbkk.com

Pacamara

Pacamara

When I was living in Chiang Mai one of my favourite cafes there was Pacamara, so I was happy to find out they have a branch in Bangkok. excellent coffee set inside a modern shopping complex with its own rainforest garden.

Location: @RainHill Retail Mall 777 Sukhumvit 47.
Website: www.facebook.com/pacamaracoffee

Artis


Artis

Artis Coffee Roasters do what they say and roast coffee on the premises. This is the best coffee in the Asok area and it is easy to get to, being just off Sukhumvit Rd near the big Asok intersection.

Location: 2/4 Sukhumvit Soi 18
Website: artis-coffee.com

Coffee Alley

Coffee Alley

Another little garden oasis amidst the concrete jungle of Bangkok. Indoors is air conditioned if you are not into sitting outside.

Location: Sukhumvit Soi 16, off Ratchadapisek Rd.

Hollys Coffee

Hollys Coffee

Hollys Coffee on Sukhumvit Road (near Soi 15) is easy to get to from the popular hotel area between Nana and Asoke BTS stations, and it is open 24 hours.

Location: 219/1 Sukhumvit Rd.
Website: www.facebook.com/HollysThailand

Thirsty Hungry

Thirsty Hungry

Another handy cafe if you are in the Asoke/Sukhumvit area.

Location: Sukhumvit Rd, near Soi 25.
Website: foursquare.com/v/thirsty-hungry/4f4dc039e4b0629e7adc8448

Casa Lapin x26


Casa Lapin x26

Casa Lapin is a modern cafe quality coffee. The cafe is in the same building as the One Day hostel and coworking space.

Location: 51 Soi Sukhumvit 26
Website: 4sq.com/RM1Epz

Casa Lapin x49


Casa Lapin x49

Another Casa Lapin (the other ones at Sukhumvit Soi 26 and in Ari). This branch is in a little alley off Soi 49 and has indoor and outdoor seating. If only all cafe chains were as good as this.

Location: Song Phi Nong Alley, off Sukhumvit Soi 49 (opp Samitivej Hospital)
Website: 4sq.com/11azWGw

D’ark


D'ark

D’ark cafe is in a little shopping enclave on Soi 49. The building is bright and modern with two levels of seating.

Location: 46/3 Soi Sukhumvit 49 (at Piman 49)
Website: darkoffee.com

Rocket Coffeebar S.49


Rocket Coffeebar S.49

If you love the Rocket Coffeebar in Sathorn you can get your Rocket coffee fix in Sukhumvit.

Location: 46/12 Sukhumvit 49
Website: www.rocketcoffeebar.com

Eatdustry


Eatdustry

Eatdustry is a restaurant/cafe in Thonglor. I went in the morning before the lunchtime crowds arrived. My cafe latte was 153 THB after tax and service charge was added, which is pricey by Bangkok standards.

Location: 555/55 Soi Sukhumvit 55, Thonglor soi 19
Website: www.facebook.com/eatdustry

TINPRESSO

TINPRESSO

I had never been beyond 100 on Sukhumvit Rd so when Mark from migrationology.com invited me to explore the area around 101 he showed me this cafe that is well tucked away. Good coffee and they are latte art masters.

Location: 341/1, Wachiratham Sathit 21, Sukhumvit 101/1 Bangkok.
Website: www.facebook.com/TINPRESSO

Domus Coffee Bakery and Wine

Domus Coffee Bakery and Wine

A small cafe on Sukhumvit Rd, not far from Thong Lo BTS station.

Location: 1097,1099 Sukhumvit Rd (Between Soi 55 and Soi 57).
Website: www.facebook.com/DomusCoffeeBakeryAndWine

Ted’s Cafe

Ted's Cafe

At the base of Asoke Tower, closer to Petchaburi BTS.

Location: Asoke Tower, Asoke.

Oxcafe


Oxcafe

Under the Thong Lo BTS station near soi 38.

Location: Sukhumvit Soi 38
Website: www.facebook.com/Oxkafe-1041065232575787/

Citylight Cafe


Citylight Cafe

This is the best option on Soi Nana. It’s an actual cafe that serves real coffee, which is a welcome addition to this sordid soi of girly bars and Irish pubs.

Location: Sukhumvit Soi 4 (Nana)
Website: www.facebook.com/citylightcoffee

Thirty Nine Espresso


Thirty Nine Espresso

Thirty Nine Espresso is located on Sukhimvit Rd under the Phrom Phong BTS. It’s a small cafe but useful if you are staying in this area.

Location: Sukhumvit Soi 39
Website: www.facebook.com/39espresso

Zeno Cafe

Zeno Cafe

A small cafe in Sukhumvit 16, which is not too far from the action of the Asok BTS/Sukhumvit MRT area.

Location: 25/8 Sukhumvit 16.
Website: www.facebook.com/zenocafethailand

The Third Place

The Third Place

The Third Place is a shared work space where you can buy daily or monthly membership. You can buy a day pass for 150 THB (about $5), which includes a drink, unlimited Wi-Fi and use of office appliances and meetings rooms. There is also monthly membership available for 899 THB (approx $30), which includes a gift voucher for the cafe of 250 THB. This is a good option if you would prefer more of an office environment. This place was just a bit far from my place to make it worthwhile to travel there every day, so I didn’t use it. If I was living closer to it I would definitely join this service. I hope more places like this start up as I would like to work in such a place.

Location: 137-137/1 Sukhumvit 63 (Thonglor 10).
Website: www.thirdplacebangkok.com

Siam/Chit Lom

Growth cafe & co


Growth cafe & co

Growth cafe & co is in the heart of the Siam Square shopping area on Siam 2 (near the BTS). There is a cafe on the first floor and a coworking space on the second floor. The cafe has good coffee and lots of tables to work from.

Location: 236/8-9, 2-4 Floor, Rama 1 Rd
Website: www.facebook.com/GrowthCafeAndCo

Café Amazon


Café Amazon

I’ve seen a few Amazon Cafes around Bangkok that are attached to a service station. This one is in the pleasant environment of the park at the back of Siam Square, next to the university.

Location: Siam Square (Soi 12)
Website: 4sq.com/17f0bef

Feat Lab


Feat Lab

Feat Lab is a little cafe that says to “start the day with coffee and finish it with beers.” I went during the day while it was in cafe mode, and it was a good place to work from. It’s close to Ratchathewi BTS.

Location: Phayathai Rd, between the canal and Ratchathewi BTS.
Website: 4sq.com/1Je4vMs

Art Café by Brown Sugar


Art Café by Brown Sugar

Art Cafe can be found in the Bangkok Art And Cultural Center near the National Stadium BTS.

Location: Bangkok Art And Cultural Center (1st Fl.)
Website: www.facebook.com/artcafebrownsugar

Phaya Thai

Casa Lapin

Casa Lapin

The Ari area is becoming one of the coolest places in Bangkok, and Casa Lapin is where the cool kids in Ari are hanging out.

Location: 8/2 Soi Phahon Yothin 7 (at Noble Reform), Phaya Thai.
Website: 4sq.com/15jihx3

Porcupine Cafe

Porcupine Cafe

A bright white-washed cafe serving good coffee in Ari.

Location: 111/1 Soi Phahon Yothin 7 (btwn Soi Ari 3 & 4), Phaya Thai.
Website: www.facebook.com/porcupineari

Factory Espresso Bar

Factory Espresso Bar

Cool little independent cafe on Thanon Phayathai.

Location: Thanon Phayathai, between Victory Monument and Phayathai BTS stations.
Website: www.facebook.com/FactoryEspressoBar

Usine

Usine

A cafe with a restaurant attached next door. Big open space here with a good work bench.

Location: Thanon Phayathai (BTS Phayathai – Exit 1).
Website: foursquare.com

Kaffe by li-bra-ry


Kaffe by li-bra-ry

Kaffe by li-bra-ry is set in a showroom for an apartment complex not far from Ari BTS.

Location: Phahon Yothin Rd (at Noble Space Ari)
Website: 4sq.com/169Luwr

Aran & Bici


x

Aran & Bici is a bicycle shop/cafe hidden away in a back-soi near Ari station. I only found it by chance as I was staying on the same street.

Location: 128/10 Soi Phahol Yothin2 Paholyothin Road
Website: www.facebook.com/ARANBICICLETTA

Hor Hidden Cafe


Hidden Cafe

Hor Hidden Cafe is a small cafe with a small indoor seating area and pleasant outdoor seating in a covered garden environment.

Location: 40/2 Soi Ari 1
Website: www.facebook.com/HorHiddenCafe

Lets Say Cafe


Lets Say Cafe

Lets Say Cafe is billed as a board game cafe that is open 24 hours. When I went it was filled with students working, but they have board games on request.

Location: 440/19 Soi Ratchawithi 3
Website: www.facebook.com/LetsSayCafe

Bean Around Cafe


Bean Around Cafe

Bean Around Cafe is a good option in the Victory Monument area.

Location: 36 Soi Rang Nam, Ratchathewi
Website: www.facebook.com/beanaroundcafe

D’Desktop


D'Desktop

D’Desktop is a cafe/coworking space near the Makkasan City Line Station. Downstairs is a cafe that serves food. UPstairs is a coworking space with workdesks.

Location: 275/7 Ratchaprarop Rd, Makkasan, Ratchathewi
Website: www.facebook.com/d.desktop.edc

Silom/Sathorn

Too Fast To Sleep

Too Fast To Sleep

Too Fast To Sleep is open 24 hours and is popular with working students. Nicely decorated with books that gives it a vibe of working in a library.

Location: 754 Rama 4 Rd.
Website: www.facebook.com/toofasttosleep

Rocket Coffeebar

Rocket Coffeebar

With Edison light globes and eggs and soldiers on the menu you could be forgiven for thinking you stepped into a portal that transported you to Brooklyn. You only have to go as far as Silom to enjoy the coffee and atmosphere here. The picture shows a coffee bar and there is a table at the front suitable for working as well.

Location: 149, Sathorn Soi 12, Silom, Bangkok.
Website: rocketcoffeebar.com

Zana’s Bean Coffee

Zana's Bean Coffee

A good option if you are staying in the Silom area as Surawong Road is the next street over.

Location: 75-177 Surawong Road, Sathorn.
Website: www.facebook.com/zanasbean

Bunfe

Bunfe Coffee

Cafe located in front of the The Siam Heritage Hotel in the Silom area.

Location: The Siam Heritage, 115/1 Surawong Road.
Website: www.facebook.com/bunfecoffee

Chinatown

No Listings.

Old Town

Cafferino illy

Cafferino illy

If you are in the Khao San Rd area you can go to this little cafe which serves real coffee. It is down an arcade and away from the backpacker madness of KS Road.

Location: Arcade leading to Rikka Inn on Khao San Rd.

Other Places

cafe@work

cafe@work

Another cafe hidden away in an office tower, useful if you are in the area.

Location: Ground Level, Charn Issara Tower II, New Petchburi Road.

Closed

Cafes that have since closed since this list began:

Bookends Cafe, Siam Square 10.
Kofvino Coffee & Wine, 7 Sukhumvit 24.
Cafe Bicycle, Mahatun Plaza, Ploenchit (BTS Ploenchit exit 2 and 4).
The Bagel Cafe, 72/1 Sukhumvit 63
re-cafe, Soi Mahadlek Luang 1, Ratchadamri Road, Patumwan.
The Unusual, Sukhumvit 18
Coffee Society, 12/3 Silom Road (Saladaeng BTS)
24 Owls by Sometime’s, 39/9 Ekkamai (Sukhumvit 63) 12

Cafe Notes

I update this list yearly so if you have a cafe suggestion I will check it out on my next visit. If you are visiting Chiang Mai then save the Chiang Mai cafes list.

Filed Under: Travel Blog Tagged With: bangkok, cafe, coffee, thailand

Comments

  1. Caz Makepeace says

    December 4, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    Love this resource! Thank you. So many amazing looking cafes in Bangkok. Wish I had been a coffee drinker when we lived there, I would have loved hanging out in some of these

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      December 8, 2012 at 3:50 am

      Good reason to return then 😉

      Reply
  2. Mark Wiens says

    December 5, 2012 at 12:58 am

    This is fantastic James! I mostly stay cooped up in my apartment, but with your awesome recommendations, I may have to make some productive work and coffee trips out!

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      December 8, 2012 at 3:51 am

      Thanks Mark, hopefully catch you at a cafe with you next time I am in Bangkok.

      Reply
  3. Steve says

    December 6, 2012 at 11:01 am

    Wow, excellent resource! I’m heading to Thailand soon and will be sure to look a few of these places up. I don’t suppose any of these places have live music such as jazz, do they?

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      December 8, 2012 at 3:52 am

      Hi Steve, I’ve just listed cafes that are suitable for working in on this list so these places don’t have live music. I know many bars do have wifi also.

      Reply
  4. Regina @ aNomad'sDream says

    December 6, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    Awesome…have to bookmark this. We are off to Bangkok next!

    Reply
  5. Hareford Pillins says

    December 7, 2012 at 3:45 pm

    These are actually really cool cafes. The ones you have here are really intimate and soft too. I’m going to visit Bangkok next year and I can’t wait to check these places out.

    Reply
  6. Josh says

    December 11, 2012 at 6:42 am

    Thank you! I’m at recafe now and it’s perfect! I love how you walk through an alley full of food stalls where all the locals (who work at all the luxury hotels nearby?) eat on your way here. It feels so secret and special.

    And a damn good latte to boot!

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      December 11, 2012 at 6:56 am

      Thanks Josh. I love how you get there through that passage of trees then there are all those local eateries. I’m guessing local workers as well. Glad you enjoyed as much as me 🙂

      Reply
  7. Ricky Flintoff says

    December 28, 2012 at 4:28 am

    Not only cafes but there are some amazing restaurant also with best service, hospitality and delicious food. I have visited Bangkok before and enjoyed eat out at some of the cafes and restaurants. Especially I love the service of MBK Food Court. Cost of is affordable with best quality and great variety of food items. All of these cafes and restaurant makes Bangkok a tourist friendly city. Even some of the cafes plays cool music to entertain the customers.

    Reply
  8. Brian Hill says

    December 28, 2012 at 9:17 pm

    James, awesome job as usual! I have not been to any cafes lately,except for Starbucks in Daytona Beach, Florida on Labor Day and one who’s name I forgot in Lake Mary, Florida on Halloween. However I just finished my last Britt coffee from Costa Rica and ground up some dark roast from Sumatra! I got to have my coffee! I also got some Kahlua liquor that came with a bag of arabica coffee beans that they make the liquor from. If your not familiar with Kahlua it is coffee liquor made in Mexico. Very good stuff! Thanks for the email. Brian.

    Reply
  9. re-cafe says

    January 15, 2013 at 1:52 pm

    hi James,

    We was met several time at my cafe. I would like to say thank you muchly for your comment on our cafe.
    We still new in this business but what make us happy are customer smile and feel good with our cafe.
    We are welcome everyone, and wish to see you again.

    Regards.

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      January 16, 2013 at 2:20 pm

      Thank you! I was so glad to find your cafe and I look forward to visiting again the next time I am in Bangkok.

      Reply
      • Re-cafe says

        January 16, 2013 at 2:30 pm

        So glad to hear that, welcome everytime and we wish you have safe and fun trip.

        Reply
  10. Christian says

    January 19, 2013 at 11:56 am

    I HATE finding these posts a couple of months after I need them! I’ve tried three times to love Bangkok (albeit for only 48 hours at a time) and these are exactly the kind of places which would help me. Nice post, happy new year James.

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      January 19, 2013 at 12:28 pm

      Oh that’s poor timing, Christian. I didn’t know about many of these places myself until I put in a month in the city so I can understand the frustration of visiting with only a couple of days. Hope you get to have another chance at Bangkok.

      Reply
  11. Beau says

    April 7, 2013 at 2:36 am

    Hi james,

    Thanks for the resources.

    Unfortunately when I browse the web for the “best coffee in Bangkok” the write ups seem to be focused on the quality of the cafes them selves rather than the quality of the actual latte or cappucino.

    I’m only here for a few days so I don’t want to waste my time like I did yesterday by trying Agilico. ( The coffee is honestly an insult on all levels)

    I want a good cup of coffee… I mean a really good cup of coffee. Something you’d find so easily in Melbourne, Sydney and now days in Bali!

    Where can I get “that” cup of coffee in Bangkok?

    Please help me 😉

    Thanks Beau

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      April 7, 2013 at 2:51 am

      Hi Beau, I feel your pain! As a Melburnian I have given up on expecting coffee in Asia that is on a par with anything in Melbourne, so my listings are more for digital nomads looking for a cafe work environment. Having said that, the best coffee is probably at Roast or Bicycle.

      Reply
  12. Stephen says

    August 12, 2013 at 5:27 am

    Wow… Just wow. I’ve looked at so many blog posts on ‘the best coffee shops’ since getting to Bangkok a year ago, and most seems to suggest the same boring choices… this is an incredibly comprehensive list though. Thanks a lot. Look forward to checking these out.

    Reply
  13. Pete R. says

    August 13, 2013 at 2:40 am

    To tell you the truth, I’m Thai and I had no idea half of these coffee shops existed. 🙂 Thanks for compiling such a great list. It’s time for me to start going through it. 🙂

    Reply
  14. Naomi says

    August 13, 2013 at 4:59 am

    Wow, I REALLY wish I had seen this list when I was there – I left BKK thinking the only cafes were the chain outlets in the malls!

    Reply
  15. chewy says

    October 2, 2013 at 6:19 am

    Thanks for this post! I have been looking for good places to do some work. I went to Too Fast to Sleep yesterday‎, which is a good one that you could add to this list!

    I like that you also list place away from the main roads. It is nice to know that these places exist and if I have time to explore I should be able to find them!

    Reply
  16. John says

    November 27, 2013 at 5:20 am

    Hey James,

    Do you have a favourite BKK Cafe? We’re exploring today and would love to test Bangkok’s best cafes.

    Hope to meet up again this winter sometime. We might head to the Hooch in the new year if you’re still around?

    Reply
  17. Henry says

    December 15, 2013 at 3:45 am

    Li-Bra-Ry is an excellent place to work and you are right to comment on the homely vibe. There are few more hidden gems in the Thonglor area and some decent spots up in Ari that could be added, but thanks for a good all-round summary!

    Reply
  18. Aye Thidar says

    January 14, 2014 at 9:39 am

    I already read about your whole story. I really like traveling. You have been traveled a lot of countries. I want to ask you one question. How do you find traveling? Your life experience is better than others whose live in the world. Your Company logo and writing caption is so nice.Your life is very easy and convenient. I really like your life.

    Now, that’s all, I want to write you. I have not reading you whole website. After I finish your website, I will write you again.

    Thanks alot.

    Reply
  19. Harvie says

    April 11, 2014 at 11:12 am

    any places with good wifi where the coffee is only 30 baht? haha :p

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      April 11, 2014 at 1:09 pm

      Ha, good question! 30 baht coffees are getting harder to find in Bangkok.

      Reply
  20. Greg Jorgensen says

    October 27, 2014 at 1:31 am

    Cafe Bicycle in Ploen Chit is closed. Too bad, it was a nice place to work and had good food.

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      October 27, 2014 at 11:07 am

      Oh that’s a shame. They were always busy and it was the best option in that area.

      Reply
    • Chewy says

      October 28, 2014 at 1:58 am

      I agree! It’s a shame. It has nice atmosphere.

      Reply
  21. Alex says

    January 7, 2015 at 7:16 am

    2 updates for you:

    – As of January, 2015, Casa Lapin in Ari now restricts internet use to 60 min per purchase of at least one food or drink for each person. To use for another 60 min, you have to purchase something new… and then something new… and then something new… The waiter said the new policy is because they have lots of customers and want to discourage people from staying to use the internet for more than a quick browse.

    – Usine is the restaurant; Quest is the cafe. Both have free internet, but it’s slow at best and just stops completely for a minute a few times each hour.

    Reply
  22. cam says

    May 3, 2015 at 3:15 pm

    I think the bagel joint in Ekkamai has since closed and is now a meat pie shop.

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      May 4, 2015 at 1:11 am

      Yes the Facebook page says it’s closed so I have updated the post. Thanks for the update!

      Reply
  23. Daniel says

    May 4, 2015 at 7:57 am

    just sitting in a coffee lounge at sukhumvit soi 11 named “bon pain” also a nice one…

    Reply
  24. Jason says

    May 23, 2015 at 12:05 am

    Great list man. I spent a lot of time at Hollys on Sukumvit, lots of power points upstairs although the wifi can sometimes be a bit flakey, the location is great for those staying centrally.

    Reply
  25. Brian says

    May 26, 2015 at 4:16 am

    Tragic news: Re-Cafe is closing mid June 2015, slated to become high-rise condos of course. I discovered it from your original post and have met some great people there.

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      May 26, 2015 at 5:23 am

      Hi Brian, thanks for the update. That is sad news, even though I have been expecting it given its location. With the announcement that the Soi 38 night market is also closing it’s been a bad week for things that make Bangkok interesting.

      Reply
  26. Dan says

    October 3, 2015 at 8:23 am

    James,

    FYI, just popped in to 24Owls per your list. Very cool atmosphere but they don’t have outlets inside.

    But, right across the street is a newer (and, imo, much better for digital nomads) cafe called Nikko’s. Full of outlets, slightly cheaper, better vibe for working.

    Cheers and thanks for this post. Hope to see you here in a week or so 🙂
    -Dan

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      October 3, 2015 at 11:13 am

      Hi Dan,

      thanks for the update! I’ll be around this month so hope to catch you 🙂

      Reply
  27. Mick says

    November 21, 2015 at 9:37 am

    Great to see such a comprehensive up to date list 🙂

    Reply
  28. Dave says

    November 28, 2015 at 8:40 am

    I’ve found problems doing digital work in many Bangkok cafes. Many of them don’t want you to stay more than 1 hour and either cut off wifi or ask you to leave. In some cases, buying a new drink every hour even doesn’t work. They prefer groups of people, so a single person sitting at a table for too long bothers them because your one drink just can’t compare to their hopes for a big group of people to replace you at the table. The problem is the worst for me at the independent cafes. The big chain places (like Hollys) usually just don’t care.

    I thought it was me at first, but I’ve now spoken to a few other foreigners in cafes who’ve had the same problems.

    Here’s what I’ve found. I’d love to hear what other people have been finding. After coming from Vietnam and Indonesia, it’s really been disappointing.

    Feat Lab:
    Very small cafe with little space for working. There were no other customers, but they asked me to leave after 40 minutes.

    D’Desktop:
    I ordered a coffee and a set-lunch around 2 in the afternoon. Food arrived ten minutes later. 30 minutes later, no one else was in the cafe and the waiters were sitting playing phone games, but a waitress came to tell me the owner hoped for more customers to come and had told the waitress to tell me that either I should leave or “pay to use the workspace upstairs.” I left.

    Kaffe by Li-Bra-Ry:
    Wifi voucher used to be for 3 hours. Last time I went, it was for 1 hour. Waiter told me it’s because the space is small and they don’t want people to stay too long.

    Usine:
    Wifi is too slow and on-and-off to use for more than basic browsing.

    Factory Espresso Bar:
    Asked me to leave after 1 hour.

    Cafe Amazon:
    The Cafe Amazon behind Siam Square is nicely surrounded by trees, but it doesn’t have wifi. Waiter says he thinks it never had it, but wasn’t sure. I’ve found other Cafe Amazon branches which do offer wifi, but they’re very crowded/busy/in-and-out type of places and are not really for working.

    Porcupine Cafe:
    Popular with foreigner digital workers. Few outlets, so helps to have your own extension cord. One of the only independent cafes I’ve found that doesn’t make you leave.

    Casa Lapin Ari:
    As others have commented, this place doesn’t want people working on computers and staying too long. Very clear about 1-hour limit.

    Growth Cafe:
    Very central. Popular with Thai students. Often very crowded. Wifi slow. Didn’t ask me to leave, but did suggest that I consider their coworking space.

    Domus Cafe:
    Very small. Asked me to leave after 45 minutes.

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      November 29, 2015 at 1:52 am

      Hi Dave, thanks for taking the time for the detailed comment!

      I’ve never been asked to leave anywhere but I do get self-conscious if I am somewhere around lunch time and try not to continue working if it is getting busy. For me as an infrequent visitor to Bangkok I tend to spend on a couple of hours in one place, so I probably don’t wear out my welcome compared to being someone who visits the same cafe every day for hours on end.

      Cheers!

      Reply
  29. CX says

    March 26, 2016 at 3:33 am

    This resource is better than any locally based expat’s resource I have ever seen. I’m definitely saving this – will check one out since I’m heading to Thong Lor. Thanks for doing the recee!

    Reply
  30. Elbow Room says

    May 5, 2016 at 3:18 pm

    FYI – Porcupine in Ari is closed. Sign says will reopen on Soi 4 North in June.

    Reply
  31. Martin says

    June 25, 2016 at 8:22 am

    Great resource, James. It’s really a nice thing to do for all us digital workers floating around cafes of the world. Thanks!

    Quick points:

    – I agree with the comment above by Dave. In Bangkok, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to work in cafes.

    – My guess is that it’s a combination of smartphones and general economic development. Just a few years ago, there were lots of local Thais who went to cafes with laptops to use internet. But now it’s much more rare, since 3G is good and most average people just use their smartphones.The only ones still in cafes with laptops – both foreigners and Thais – are the more hard-core users: students or digital workers. And most cafes don’t want that type of person sitting there holding a table for 2 hours when the economy is good enough that there’s always the possibility of new people rotating through every 30 minutes. Even empty cafes throw you out pretty quickly. People on laptops aren’t profitable and aren’t good for the decoration 😉

    – I’ve been to all the cafes on your list here and quite a few others (been in Bangkok a long time haha!). In a very big area of the centre, most cafes just aren’t so good anymore for laptop work of more than 30-45 minutes. Outside of the (big, big) centre, it’s better; if you get out to the neighbourhoods less well-known by foreigners, you can find adequate-but-not-great places, but it’s much less international, tough to get by with just English, and I’d guess that not many people reading this would want to go there or ever be more than a few kilometres from a BTS or MRT station.

    – The only cafe where it’s really possible still to spend more than 3 hours working without massive guilt and stress (and to be able to return a second time without a disguise!) is Too Fast To Sleep. But wifi can be dodgy if it’s crowded, and for me personally at least, it’s not my scene: I don’t like sitting between students running around, working on massive art/architecture projects, student meetings all yelling at each other simultaneously, etc.

    – The Bangkok cafe scene is a big contrast with other Southeast Asian cities. Everywhere in Vietnam is still great for digital cafe use, Bali is good, even Laos and Cambodia are quite good in the nicer parts of the cities. I wonder if Bangkok is ahead of the curve and those places will gradually follow as the times change…

    – A sign of the times: Factory closed its old location. It opened a new place 100 metres south (towards Siam) on the same side of the same street. New place is much nicer, trendy industrial design, great creative drinks and food, everything a digital worker would love… but there are no chargers, no sockets. They told me that it’s on purpose: they don’t want digital workers. Someone spending even 30 minutes there is starting to be a problem, they said, and they definitely don’t want anyone working a laptop there longer than one hour. At their previous location, they had wall sockets to charge and were happy to let you sit there for 2 hours.

    The times are changing…

    Reply
    • James Clark says

      June 25, 2016 at 2:23 pm

      Hi Martin,

      thanks for the excellent summary of the state of cafe working in 2016. It makes sense I suppose that times are changing. If you remember the 2000’s there where internet cafes everywhere – especially in the backpacker areas – and now there are hardly any. Feels a bit different in Vietnam as there is a lingering-in-cafes culture here, and more cafes continue to open. I will no doubt be back in Bangkok later this year so look forward to seeing what has changed!

      Reply
  32. Philippe Addor says

    August 29, 2016 at 5:07 am

    Should add Thonglor Travellers Hostel and Cafe. Just next to Thonglor BTS station, very convenient. Has coffee, but no food besides cakes.

    Reply
  33. Philippe Addor says

    August 29, 2016 at 5:13 am

    After reading the comments: If you don’t find a suitable cafe in BKK, just go to coworking spaces “The Hive” or “Hubba”. For 200-300 bath a day you have your guilt free peace, a power outlet, decente table, great wifi, and at the Hive even free coffee (the free one is a not very delicious filter coffee though)!

    Reply
  34. The Hippo says

    August 29, 2017 at 8:49 am

    Great list, and even though it’s from 2012, I’m amazed that many of these places are still open and doing well. I even go to a few regularly. Always nice to try new cafes though, as it’s usually where I’m hanging out.

    Reply
  35. guy says

    September 5, 2017 at 12:38 pm

    nice, thanks for the tip, will be in town in a few weeks and it is good to know of some chill spots to get some work done

    Reply
  36. Chris says

    April 18, 2018 at 9:31 am

    I’d warn people that this list is super duper out of date, even if updated in 2015. I’ve used it to try to find places and either the places don’t exist, or while I’m trying to find one of the places from this list, I walk past 2-3 much better places that aren’t on the list

    Reply

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