10 Cool Coffee Shops in Ekkamai, Bangkok

Do not let this café’s size fool you: (un) FASHION Café will leave a huge impression on all those who visit. This quaint café is located pretty far down off Ekkamai Road, but it is by far worth the ten-minute trek or so. (un) FASHION Café is made up of four parts: two second-hand stores and two cafés. The smaller café is adjacent to the main road, and it is the cozier of the two. This coffee shop doubles as a restaurant, serving up fish and chips (฿240), garlic toast (฿80), spicy spaghetti with crispy gourami fish (฿220), and more. While having an extensive menu is certainly an added bonus, the main reason as to why this café is worth visiting is its café aromas. Thailand is well-known for the delicious fruit, and (un) Fashion Café has taken this fruit and actually added it to its brews, including the strawberry latte (฿90) and banana latte (฿100). Whether it is comfortable seating, delicious food and drink, or second-hand goods customers are after, this is the place to be.

Coffee shops do not get much cooler than Ink & Lion Café. Coffee connoisseurs are greeted by friendly and trendy baristas as they first make their way into the quaint café. There is limited seating in comparison to some of the other bigger chain cafés in town, but Ink & Lion’s close quarters only complement its charming environment. The seating looks as though it came straight out of a Thai classroom, with nothing but desks and chairs to choose from. There is a large communal desk as well, should visitors come with a couple friends. Artwork adorns the café for visitors to enjoy while they wait for their coffee. The cups of joe this café is serving up certainly makes it a worthy contender for being one of the best cafés in the city, with a number of different brews to choose from. From the usual favorite like an espresso (฿100) to different and unique hand-brews, there is a cup of joe for everyone. In addition to coffee, Ink & Lion Café is serving up a number of different non-coffees, like mulberry juice (฿95), berry milk (฿95) and even hot chocolate (฿100). There is not an extensive food menu here, but there are some variations of waffles available, ranging from ฿155-265, as well as some small pastries to choose from.

With bands like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Sting serenading coffee-drinkers with nostalgic tunes, Rocky Rooster Café is a great spot off Ekkamai Road to chill and sip on a reasonably priced coffee. What this café lacks in specialty coffee it makes up for in price. With coffee starting at only ฿55, café-goers can enjoy a mint mocha (฿75), latte (฿65), and more without feeling as though they are dishing out one too many baht. In addition to coffee, Rocky Rooster Café has a handful of mouthwatering menu options, including eggs and cheese skillet (฿145), breakfast burrito (฿145), and the melted sloppy joe grilled cheese (฿200). With free wifi, friendly baristas, and intimate seating, this is one café worth frequenting.

Just when it seemed like Ekkamai could not take on any more coffee shops, Kaizen Coffee Co. opened in April 2015. This coffee shop is the product of three friends who felt that the coffee they had experienced in Australia needed to make its way to the City of Angels, and boy, is Bangkok happy they did. The coffee at Kaizen Coffee Co. is too pretty to drink, and its looks are no match for its taste. One of the most epic coffees on the menu is their blonde mocha (฿160). This house recipe is made with rich milk and sprinkled with pieces of dark chocolate. Kaizen Coffee Co. is serving up hot and cold coffees, smoothies, tea, and customers’ favorite section of the menu is the featured signature drinks, one of the most popular being the milo mountain (฿160), a sweet combination of iced chocolate and cream topped with, you guessed it, a mountain of milo. Those who work up an appetite downing the delicious coffees will be happy to hear that Kaizen has a few Western dishes to choose from, including the breakfast burger (฿210), caesar salad (฿250), and chicken quesadillas (฿250). The staff is super helpful and attentive, which is always an added bonus.

For the most part, coffee chains are ostracized from being part of the “cool coffee club.” Oftentimes they are overpriced, and other times they feel less intimate. This is certainly not the case at The Coffee Club. Never has a chain coffee shop felt so unique and welcoming. For over 25 years, The Coffee Club has been celebrating their extensive menu of delicious Western and Thai food and great coffee. The Coffee Club originated in Australia and slowly made its way to Thailand. The first branches opened up in some of the most popular tourist destinations in the Land of Smiles, including Phuket and Hua Hin in 2010. Slowly but surely, branches opened all over Bangkok. In addition to Ekkamai, The Coffee Club has also opened its doors in Thonglor and Silom. The Ekkamai location is favorited because of its class location, just steps from the BTS Skytrain, in addition to having ample seating and great service.

Tucked away in a quiet, homelike setting is Ekkamai Macchiato – Home Brewer. It is just a short walk from (Un) FASHION Café, but the vibe is entirely different. Even those coffee lovers who love color are certain to fall for Ekkamai Macchiato’s sleek interior, made up of only black, white, and brown accents in lieu of colors, making for an exceedingly sophisticated feel. The majority of the coffee at Ekkamai Macchiato is all only ฿100 (less than $3). Whether it’s a caramel macchiato that gets your fix or a simple latte, everything is ฿100. This makes it easy to choose the coffee you want to drink, instead of choosing the coffee you can afford. Other items on the ฿100 menu include tea-based drinks, smoothies, milk-based drinks, and more. There is also a menu dedicated to customers’ sweet tooth, a different menu serving up Thai food (฿180), and the signature affogato menu.

Those in search of the best brunch in Bangkok may want to make their way to One Ounce for Onion, the café serving up delicious afternoon eats in addition to its in-house roasted coffee. The eats here are definitely unique, with menu items including roasted pumpkin on toast (฿150), the greeny goody salad (฿150), waffles (฿100-150), desserts, and much more. In addition to delicious eats, the café has its own specialty brewing menu. One Ounce For Onion also has standard method brews, including its caramel latte (฿100) and cappuccino (฿100). In addition to coffee, this café is serving up smoothies and milkshakes (฿130-150), fruit sodas (฿100-130), and a handful of other beverage options. While waiting for an order, customers are welcome to meander to the men’s clothing and sunglass shop next door.

There is no better way to get rid of those Monday blues than by visiting Nikko Cafe. Located off Ekkamai Soi 12, this café has one of the most diverse cuisines out of all these cool cafés. The Japanese-infused menu has everything from desserts to Italian soda, with plenty of food in-between. The highlight of this café is its extensive hours: Nikko Cafe stays open until 10 p.m., and with its newly renovated outdoor seating area, one can transition from drinking coffee to one of their specialty cocktails as soon as the sun sets.

Phil Coffee Company is made up of stainless steel décor intertwined with wooden and brick accents. With pops of colorful tile found throughout, this is certainly one aesthetically pleasing coffee shop. The baristas are friendly, and that may be partly due to the fact that Phil Coffee Company is one of few wholesale specialty bean roasters in town, so you know the people making your coffee take it very seriously. All of the coffee here is delicious, but one of the most unique finds on the menu is their Al-Puccino, the iced, almond butter cappuccino that is sure to blow even the biggest coffee lover away (฿145). In addition to coffee, this shop is serving up a variety Italian sodas, non-coffee favorites, and tea. One thing that makes this café stand out amongst the rest is the wide variety of healthy and fresh eats they have available. Western and Thai food are café norms in Bangkok, but Phil Coffee Company is serving up unique dishes including homemade granola (฿260), almond butter toast (฿165), and three different types of fruit-inspired bowls, made with ingredients like raspberries, strawberries, coconut milk, honey, and more.

Those foodies and coffee connoisseurs with dietary needs need to make their way to Theera off Sukhumvit 42 Alley. This healthy and allergen-free café is just a short walk from the BTS Skytrain. Anyone who has been to the Kingdom knows just how difficult it is to find food that is meat-free, which is what makes Theera so great. With vegan and vegetarian options galore, there is no shortage of delicious eats and drinks at this charming café. The extensive drink menu at Theera can all be made with soy, rice, or almond milk, for those who want it. Some of their most delicious coffees include their butterscotch latte (฿85) and the toffee nut latte (฿85). In addition to coffee, there are a number of dairy-free drinks (฿75-130), juices (฿70-95), and smoothies (฿115-130) to choose from. One of the best vegan dishes on the menu is the roasted pumpkin and fresh tofu salad with honey balsamic dressing (฿230).