The croissants (B50) at Roots
The coffee-driven sister of popular brunch spot Roast, Roots is actually where all the baking happens, which means turn up at the right time and you can get some of the most delicious, straight-from-the-oven croissants in town. Take a seat at the rich, dark wood bar and pair your pastry with expertly roasted coffee, from espresso to French press to cold drip. The only downside is weekend-only opening times.
Between Sois 15 and 17, Ekkamai Rd., 088- 190-5950. Open Sat-Sun noon-6pm
This is perhaps the best incarnation of this overdone dish we’ve tried in Bangkok: the eggs are perfectly cooked and beautifully complemented by a rich hollandaise sauce. The coffee is great, too, while they also serve 24-hour cold brewed tea and home-infused cocktails, making it one of the few coffee shops where you can get a decent stiff drink.
149 Sathorn Tai Soi 12, 02-635-0404. Open daily 7am-11pm
The mozzarella and persimmon smorrebrod (B220) at Granola
This Copenhagen-born café-cum-restaurant is linked to the Soulland fashion boutique, and specializes in comforting and simple Scandinavian fare like smorrebrod, a form of open-face sandwich. We really like the mozzarella and persimmon option, served on local sourdough from Conkey’s. The interior’s nice too—solemn and clean, in keeping with the hipster clothing next door.
3/F, Central Embassy, 1031 Phloen Chit Rd., 02-160-5626. Open daily 11am-10pm
When Brave Roasters (the guys behind One Ounce for Onion) came to open their pop-up at Siam Center, they did the right thing: spoke with butcher de jour Joe Sloane for the food. This croissant packed with both his smoked ham and bacon is a real treat, while the coffee, too, is easily the best in Siam’s endless sea of café chains.
G/F, Siam Center, Rama 1 Rd., 02-678-5000. Open daily 10am-10pm
The bresaola salad (B300) at Boyy Café
Owned by Boyy handbag designers Wannasiri Kongman and Jesse Dorsey, this is one of the few fashion cafés worth visiting thanks to a menu that’s kept simple and uses some really good ingredients. The air-dried beef in the simple bresaola salad, for example, is seriously delicious; salty and tender with a rich, musty aftertaste.
Grass, Thonglor Soi 10, 02-715-9412. Open daily 7:30am-10:30pm; Fri-Sat 7:30-1am
Of all the pretty-to-look-at, uncomfortable-to-sit-in cafés, Onion tops the list. But at least they back up those cool blue tiles and glass-front cabinets with some decent stuff to order. We already loved their yogurt smoothies (B130), but these homemade yogurt ice lolies are even better—they make sitting on those communal outdoor tables just about worth it.
19/12 Ekkamai Soi 12, 02-116-6076. Open daily 9am-8pm
The spaghetti with Italian sausage (B340) at Gram
This place proves some coffee shops can do more than pastry and eggy breakfasts. The little outdoor café in the middle of Sukhumvit Soi 49 serves plenty of flavorful food that can actually fill your stomach. Our favorite is the spaghetti with Italian sausage—well seasoned and served in a fresh-tasting, homemade Napoli sauce.
1/F, 49 Terrace, Sukhumvit Soi 49, 081-884-8554. Open Tue-Sun 9am-5pm
