Bangkok's 8 best bike-themed cafes
Whether you’re a bike enthusiast or not, these fixie-focused cafes are well worth a pit-stop.
8 years ago
Aran Bicicletta
With Aran Bicicletta, the owner found the perfect way to marry his love for fixies (both vintage and modern) with his family’s coffee business. Coffees start at B50, best enjoyed with cakes like dark beer Horlicks (B90) and their brownies (B95). There’s free Wi-Fi so bring along your notebook. This retro house is the ideal space to get some work done—you’ll feel like you’re sitting in a library nook and there’s also a cute beagle to keep you company. From 6:30pm this venue is also home to a cozy restaurant and bar named Barka. 128/10 Paholyothin, Soi Aree 2, Ari., 081-821-9603. Open Tue-Sun 11-9pm
Bico Cafe
This one-stop rustic establishment sells bikes and accessories, and also offers a bike repair service. Smile Riders, the cyclist group behind Bico, aims for the shop to become a community space, hosting activities and exhibitions while serving good coffee. They offer various brewing methods, from French press and pour-over to drip and vacuum, with either single-origin or blended roasts. The espresso starts at B100 and in-house baked items like the upside-down pineapple cake (B150) rotate daily. To help lessen the amount of garbage, Bico doesn’t offer to-go packages. 1/5 Town in Town, Sri Wara Rd. Lad Phrao., 091-746-0444. Open daily 10-10pm
Bkool Cafe
Forget pretty little places to show off your fixed gear: this one’s for the serious cyclists. The distributor of Bkool bike shoes has set up this facility where people can try out its products as well as compete against thousands of other bikers virtually. To keep you from starving yourself, the groundfloor cafe serves burgers and fries courtesy of the guys from Fries Me to the Moon. Try the Armageddon burger (beef or pork patty, grilled bacon, avocado, onion, salad and chocolate mayo, B169) and their Bkool signature tea (B69). 121/78 Phayathai Rd., 081-801-9179. Open Tue-Sun 11am-11pm. BTS Ratchathewi
Cafe Velodome
Conceived of as a way to spread bike culture (and green living) in a city where the car is king, the stripped-down, glass-walled Café Velodome is already a hub for Bangkok’s cycling community. Apart from providing bike racks and pumps, the staff are happy to share their knowledge on the best bike routes, local cycling groups and everything else bicycle-related. Located on the eastern edge of Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus, the café sits facing Sanam Luang, on the corner of Prachan and Na Phra That roads. Drop in for a Choco Velodome (frappe, B90) or espresso affogato (coffee shot over a scoop of ice cream, B65) and a slice of cake (Thai tea and chocolate mousse are popular, all B65-90), to ensure you have plenty of energy for the ride home. See also nearby Holiday by Cafe Velodome. Thammasat University (Thaprachan Campus), 2 Prachan Rd., Bangkok, 02-623-6349. Open daily 8am-8pm
Sweet Pista
The baby of two owners, one who likes desserts and one obsessed with fixed-gear bicycles, this little café is decorated, rather aptly, with fixies (some are for sale too) and serves sweets such as young coconut cake (B110) and chocolate dark beer cake (B95). Those famished after a punishing ride can order from the brief selection of savory dishes, which includes the popular khao mah kai dao (shredded pork with garlic and rice served with fried egg, B85), spare ribs (B150) and avocado cheeseburger served with salad (B250). Wash it all down with Japanese tea brand, Lupicia, in flavors like strawberry and vanilla, and grapefruit (B125 a pot) or bring your own bottle—there’s no corkage charge so you can sit and sip to your heart’s content in this homey Japanese cafe-like spot. 235/21 Sukhumvit Soi 31, Bangkok, 02-662-2866. Open Tue-Sun 11am-10pm
Tokyobike & Laliart
After opening stores in the UK, Australia, Germany and Singapore, Tokyobike, an independent bicycle company started in the Tokyo suburb of Yakana, now calls Bangkok home. The lightweight bikes put a precedence on comfort over speed. Head on down to the new store to test ride four models, starting from the Bisou (B23,800) up to the Single Speed (SS, B31,900), all previously unavailable in Thailand. After perusing the bikes, you can kick back at the cozy cafe inside, Laliart Coffee, which serves up espresso coffee (from B60) made with beans from Thailand’s North, as well as homemade ice cream and patisseries like frangipani berry tart (B70) and apple pie with vanilla sauce (B80). They also stock a range of coffee-making products. 20 Aree Soi 2, Aree., 02-117-1016. Open daily 11-8pm. BTS Aree
The Wheels Bike & Bistro
Bangkok’s cyclists have peddled far beyond the center of town. Located on Srinakarin Road, almost directly opposite Paradise Park, The Wheels Bike & Bistro focuses more on bike sales, maintenance and parts than food and coffee, but you can discuss your biking needs over sodas (B30) and beers (starting at B100) thanks to the on-site bar. 228 Sri Nakarin Rd, Bang Na., 094-465-2695. Open Wed-Mon 10-8pm
Velayenn Shop
This famed bicycle joint is more of a bike garage than a cafe in our opinion (not that it’s a bad thing). And with the owner’s passion for fixed gear rides and the knowledgeable crowd that rides anything from road bikes to city bikes, think of it as a go-to Bike 101 cafe. 808/15 Soi Thararom 2, Sukhumvit Rd., 080-900-2610. Open Thu-Sun 10-8pm
See also: Bangkok's best vintage bike stores
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