The 10 Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Koh Tao, Thailand

Built from beachside bliss and repurposed bamboo, Coconut Monkey oozes with cosiness and character. The coffee is strong, they make their coconut and almond milk in-house, and they’ve also got a huge selection of loose leaf tea, complete with details about each variety’s health benefits. Got a sweet tooth? Coconut Monkey keeps a fridge packed with homemade bites like their aptly named crack cookies, salted caramel cheesecake, or vegan Snickers bars. Everything is made with fresh, organic, and often plant-based ingredients, so you can snack away guilt-free.

Appropriately tucked away in the southern, more boho tip of the island, Big Bite is a stylish, family-run restaurant and cafe with excellently brewed cups of coffee. Try the coconut latte, the home-brewed kombucha, or refresh with one of their awesome fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies.

Literally steps off the beach, Cafe Culture makes it easy to laze away while admiring its beautiful views. The cafe offers awesome coffee, juices, and ice cream shakes to boot. Don’t miss out on their passionfruit cheesecake!

This charming spot toward the east-end of the island is just far enough off the main drag that it feels secretive and hidden, while still being easily accessible. Vegans will delight at the wide array of options for plant-based dining, including their in-house-made coconut yogurt, homemade kombucha, fruity smoothie bowls, and teas and herbal tonics. Of course, there’s also good coffee.

Don’t let the name fool you — while yes, The Beer Masons has the best craft beer selection on the island, by day, it serves up Koh Tao’s Nitro Cold Brew. This coffee is made by carefully injecting nitrogen into the brew, which gives it a smooth, velvety texture and highlights sweet undertones. They’ve also got a full organic coffee menu and Indian-inspired breakfast items available from the adjoining restaurant, Shalimar Indian Cuisine.

A longtime local staple, Zest has been serving up some of Koh Tao’s most consistently quality breakfast for years. Its Mae Haad location is right on the main street, tucked away from the busy centre of town, while offering up great people watching. Over in Sairee, the cafe is off a quieter, relaxed street near the beach. Each location also opens super early so that you can grab some food and coffee for those early scuba boats!

This cute and stylish French-owned cafe is perched right in the heart of Mae Haad — with a sister shop in Chalok — serving up good value coffee and drinks and a wide variety of snacks and menu items. They specialize in freshly made baked goods as well — from hearty breads and bagels to decadent brownies and cookies.

Situated beachside off Sairee’s main drag, Blue Water is a huge, spacious property with tons of beachfront seating as well as an upstairs terrace and rooftop area that each catch a refreshing sea breeze as you look out over the action below. Its artisan coffee menu is incredible, including its “brew bar,” with options like French Press or Hario V60 Drip coffee, and a healthy sampling of loose leaf teas. Aside from its main menu, there are also tons of snack and platter options, like the mezze board with falafels, hummus, flatbread, and more, or the locally-sourced fritto misto board. Then temper your sweet tooth with the affogato, banoffee pie, or scoop of locally-made ice cream.

Looking for quality coffee in the heart of Sairee? Morning View is a small shop perched just on the corner of the main junction in town, and is one of the only cafes or restaurants in all of Koh Tao that has air conditioning. Cool off while taking in some prime people watching and treat yourself to their Nutella cheesecake, double chocolate mousse, or blueberry pie. Add a scoop of their locally-made ice cream to cap it off.