CHIANG MAI

FABB Café & Bistro

Adding to Chiang Mai’s already lively coffee community is FABB Café & Bistro (053-329-296, tinyurl.com/nrwt3jn), which just opened in February in Nandakwang Garden Mall. The name is not new to Bangkok’s coffee lovers, though. FABB Café had been based in the capital for many years before owner Janejira “Luv” Kamonsawedku decided to relocate up north to enjoy a slower pace of life, while helping to develop the region’s coffee scene. Being the first Thai to receive a diploma in coffee training issued by the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE AST), Luv has also opened the FABB Coffee Academy which offers intensive coffee training courses starting from B19,500 for a full-day introduction. Surrounded by a peaceful garden, the stylish café is set in a two-story house decorated with roasting machines, bookshelves, a piano and an exhibition of 60 different types of single origin coffee beans. The café offers top quality coffee with intriguing presentation, like the iced coffee latte (B140) served as ice coffee cubes with separate syrup and milk or the hot cappuccino (B125) served in a double wall glass. It also serves pasta dishes, salad, pizza and homemade desserts like lemon meringue and cherry cheesecake, plus classic cocktails like Irish Coffee (B350) and Long Island (B220). 

KANCHANABURI

X2 River Kwai

Kanchanaburi (read our guide), just a few hours’ drive from Bangkok, is perfect for a weekend escape, offering the chance to explore sites like the Death Railway and various museums, swim in the gorgeous Erawan Falls, or simply relax by the River Kwai. This July, the design hotel chain X2 will open X2 River Kwai (02-168-7533, www.x2resorts.com) on a six-rai plot of land on the bank of Kwai Noi River. Consisting of eight stark cabins, all with river views, the resort boasts an industrial chic design and facilities like an infinity riverfront pool with sun loungers and sun beds, a library, as well as free Wi-Fi and iPads for loan. It also has bicycles that you can borrow to explore the surrounding countryside. The resort is offering introductory rates for bookings through Jul 31 at B5,500 per night and B10,000 for two-night stay, including Champagne breakfast for two, for stays between Jul 1 and Nov 30.