Whether you love it or hate it, you have to admit it: Starbucks did get something right. They really perfected the art of creating a work-friendly space we’d end up loving more than the office.
We originally published this story back when working from the office was still a distant reality, as we had just escaped the shackles of Covid-19 lockdown, and yet our offices were still considered a health hazard. This is when we discovered work-friendly cafes: coffeeshops across Bangkok that offered an amiable ambience for finishing that report, taking those notes, or finally starting that novel.
Whether it’s because you crave being around humans that aren’t your bugging coworkers, you don’t know how to actually make coffee, or you thrive in an outside environment, there are many reasons why many of us enjoy work-friendly cafes. However, not every cafe is a work-friendly cafe.
For starters, if you work on a laptop, you’ll need WiFi and sockets for charging. You may need a quiet ambience in case the odd impromptu Teams call comes up. You need a clean bathroom and maybe some food options if you plan on spending significant time here. Most importantly, you need to know you’re not upsetting the cafe owner by blocking a table for a few hours.
It’s a bit of a challenge, but after running some of our very own trials, we composed a list of some of our favourite work-friendly cafes in Bangkok. We didn’t want to include the admittedly great-yet-far-too-mainstream Starbucks and Coffee Clubs nor did we want to call out the brunch-to-business-calls crowds at D’Ark or Roast (personal favourite). We’re aiming mostly for non-chain cafes instead, so we do hope you do them a favour and order more than just an Iced Americano when you visit. We also hope your productivity is through the roof when you do. Let’s get to work.
[Hero and Featured Image Credit: Baan Dusit Thani]
10 work-friendly cafes for working, studying, or daydreaming
Jump To / Table of Contents
- If caffeine is your rocket fuel: Rocket Coffee Bar
- If sourdough gives you super powers: Bartels
- If you’ll be working long into the night (and need a drink): Paper Plane Project
- If you feel like working but mainly eating: Luka
- If caffeine is your rocket fuel and you like history: Sarnies
- If you want to work at the bar: Roots
- If you want to work and drink out of a cool mug: A Clay Cafe
- If a classic coffeeshop ambience is what you seek: Dusit Gourmet
- If you want to “get this bread”: Kaizen Coffee
- If you enjoy having people around: Open House Central Embassy
Rocket Coffee Bar serves specialty coffee and light bites, and offers the ideal environment for those who have that one dreaded item on their to-do list. Whether you take a seat at the bar counter or outdoors overlooking Sathorn Soi 12, the ambience is peaceful yet productive. A place where procrastination easily goes to die (which is a good thing), and there’s always a good salad to power you up should you need it.
Location: 149 Sathon Soi 12 Alley, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok, +66 96 791 3192
Nearest BTS/MRT: Chong Nonsi BTS
Opening times: Daily, 7am to 5pm
Price range: THB 500-700 for two (drinks and food)
Best for: Putting your head down and putting an end to that one project you’ve been procrastinating
Phuket-born Bartels has long been a favourite for sandwich lovers, revered especially for its sourdough bread. If sandwiches give you super powers, head to Bartels to bang out your next book, fire up your big deck, or finally finish that monthly report. Fresh juice and coffee, a green, leafy ambience, and a chilled out playlist definitely help.
Location: Multiple, but we love Suan Phlu best (167, 4-6 Soi Sathon 3, Thung Maha Mek, Khet Sathon, Bangkok, +66 62 727 8483)
Nearest BTS/MRT: Chong Nonsi BTS, Sala Daeng BTS, or Lumpini MRT
Opening times: Daily, 7am to 6pm
Price range: THB 800-1000 for two (bread and drinks)
Best for: Weekend working, health nuts and hearty sandwich lovers
It’s kind of cheating to include this work-friendly cafe on our list, given that Paper Plane Project does call itself a co-working space. Nevertheless, it is a great place to work, located on the 40th floor of the T-One building with a college library-like setting. Where “work and life co-exist,” the space prides itself in turning from cafe by day to bar by night.
Location: T-One Building 8, 40th Floor Sukhumvit 40, ซอย Phra Khanong, Khlong Toei, Bangkok, +66 96 057 7720
Nearest BTS/MRT: Ekkamai BTS
Opening times: Daily, 9am to 5pm, though there’s also a bar open until late
Best for: Meeting a tight deadline, and then celebrating with drinks after (mod kaew!)
There’s hardly ever been a time when we visited Luka and didn’t see someone furiously typing away on their laptop. Bringing together a fun working environment with a creative brunch food and drink menu, the extremely beloved neighbourhood cafe has everything an afternoon of work could ask for. Sit downstairs (or even outside) if you want to be around the buzz of trendy customers, or upstairs if you seek more privacy. We like the single tables for work sessions especially.
Location: Several, but Sathorn is arguably the best for working (64 3 Pan Rd, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok, +66 91 886 8717)
Nearest BTS/MRT: St Louis BTS
Opening times: Daily, 8am-6pm
Price range: THB 700-900 for two (drinks and food)
Best for: Finishing up an article, report, or doing some market research/people-watching
Many of us ordered coffee beans from Sarnies during the lockdown, but nothing quite beats going to the charming old house in Charoenkrung and enjoying a fresh brew. Now with sourdough bagels on the menu, we love going up to the second floor and working away in the second room, seemingly tucked away from the world. There’s definitely a sense of story here, which can really be inspiring for the dreamy types.
Location: Various, though Charoenkrung is the most historic (101, 103 Charoen Krung 44 Alley, Khwaeng Bang Rak, Bang Rak, Bangkok, +66 65 816 1655)
Nearest BTS/MRT: Saphan Taksin BTS
Opening times: Daily, 8am to 10pm
Price range: THB 800-1000 for two (food and drink)
Best for: Writing the first chapter of your novel, drafting a letter to your crush, or working on a secret play
As a Bangkok city dweller, of course you know Roots. The micro-roastery has long been known for showcasing specialty Thai coffee, and is a local favourite. With several branches around town, it’s easy to think of Roots as just a pick-up-and-go kind of place, but sitting at the bar counter here is actually great for working. Feel the energy from the coffee grinders and put it into your work or studies. Super urban.
Location: Several, but we like Sathorn best (33/31 Bhiraj Tower at Sathorn, South Sathorn Rd, Yan Nawa, Sathorn, +66 82 091 6175)
Nearest BTS/MRT: Surasak BTS
Opening times: Daily, 7am to 7pm
Price range: THB 200-300 for two (coffee only)
Best for: Putting your head down and putting an end to that one project you’ve been procrastinating
A Clay Cafe has a very sweet charm about it, between the ceramic workshop studio downstairs, and the art gallery upstairs. You could visit this coffeeshop for those two reasons alone, though we also really like it for its work-friendly ambience. They serve their coffees and light bites on ceramic plates and cups made in-house, so there’s always a charming mug to look at between emails. Very cute.
Location:50 Soi Sathon 8, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok, +66 61 193 9838
Nearest BTS/MRT: Chong Nonsi BTS
Opening times: Daily, 10am-5.30pm (closed on Thursdays)
Price range: THB 200-400 for two (drinks and small pastry)
Best for: Heavy work, from which you want to take a breather once in a while (the good playlist helps)
Sometimes you just need a croissant to get you going. Dusit Gourmet within Baan Dusit Thani totally gets this. The small and cosy coffeeshop is perfect for an afternoon of work, accompanied by a few pastries and light bites. Depending on where you sit, you could be surrounded by greenery in the greenhouse, or with bustling Silom views outside. If you need a breather or two, you could go walk around the gardens or sit by the pool, too. Bonus points because this cafe is pet-friendly, and the bakery items come with a discount in the evening hours, too.
Location: 116-1 Sala Daeng Rd, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok, +66 2 200 9009
Nearest BTS/MRT: Sala Daeng BTS or Silom MRT
Opening times: Daily, 7am to 10pm
Price range: THB 400-700 for two (food and drinks)
Best for: Refining your presentation, editing your peer’s work, working on a graphic design
Kaizen Coffee became famous for its coffee and is very much loved for it, yet in recent years has also unveiled a slew of super ‘grammable dishes. Often featuring their homemade Kaizen Quinoa Sourdough, the work-friendly cafe is makes a mean toastie, much to the joy of its loyal customers. Interestingly, Kaizen also make their own pickles and kimchi, so there’s plenty of good stuff for your gut.
Locations: Several, but we like Ekkamai best (888 6-7 Ekkamai Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok, +66 95 312 0301)
Nearest BTS/MRT: BTS Ekkamai
Opening times: Daily, 7.30am to 4.30pm
Price range: THB 200-400 for two (drinks and light bites)
Best for: Brainstorm coffee mornings, breakfast work sessions, brunch-and-study dates
Some people need a little bit of noise and action around them to really get going. If you’re one of these people, try Open House at the top of Central Embassy. You could go into the actual co-working space, or if you’re like us, you could sit on one of the couches scattered around the perimeter of the floor and look out onto Phloenchit while typing away. There’s a big bookshop to check out for inspiration, and plenty of dining options, too. Pizza, pasta, pad krapao, or a bento box: here’s where you can have your work and eat your cake, too.
Location: Level 6, Central Embassy, 1031 Phloen Chit Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, +66 2 119 7777
Nearest BTS/MRT: Phloen Chit BTS
Opening times: Daily, 10 am to 10pm
Price range: Depends on outlet, approximately THB 300-600 for two (food and drinks)
Best for: Coming up with an innovative business plan, finishing your manuscript, looking into a creative new venture
Lisa Gries
Creative Content Director, Bangkok
Lisa is the Creative Content Director at Lifestyle Asia and Prestige Thailand. When she’s not knees-deep in SEO analysis or editorial calendars, you’ll likely find her in downward-facing dog at the yoga studio, or immersed in conversation at a secret bar in China town. Lisa writes mostly on dining, travel, and pop-culture, and is a huge fan of soup dumplings, Riesling, and power napping — in exactly that order.
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