Best of 2022: Best new cafes

Aroon (“dawn” in Sanskrit-derived Thai) near Soi Sukhumvit 26 serves aromatic coffees brewed from beans that have been carefully sourced from all over the world. Sleek chrome and concrete interiors are the perfect foil for bright orange decorative elements and beautifully designed minimalist furniture—the cafés own

You may have to dish out a bit more moolah to enjoy the coffee and pastries at The Four Seasons’ café but, believe us, everything is worth every cent.  Executive pastry chef Andrea Bonaffini has set out a scrumptious selection of goodies, including the café’s signature madeleines, which you can enjoy with tea or coffee by the Chao Phraya River. 

A wide selection of chocolates, chocolate soft serve, chocolate and cognac pairings, and stunning city views from the 57th floor of Centara Grand hotel—even non-chocolate lovers will be tempted to come. 

This minimalist cafe on Soi Sukhumvit 23 is one of those spots where you’ll drop by for a nice cup of latte but end up hanging out longer to indulge in the chillax vibes and comfort food. 

Flo is the kind of café design buffs would want to frequent. It’s set in a refurbished warehouse with huge windows that let in natural light. It has a chic bar where you can sit and sip your freshly brewed cuppa. It sells the furniture that decorates the place. And, most importantly, it has a corner that displays books that focus on design and architecture.

Understated mid-century modern-inspired designs perfectly complement the beautifully presented pastries at this sunlit shop. Everything on the menu is intended to please your eyes as well as your palate—exactly what the owner, actor Sarin Ronnakiat, intended.

This favorite morning spot is set in a carefully preserved mid-century-modern house. Pridi roasts its own house blends and has a limited yet promising food menu that’s enough to please discerning palates.

Everyone loves Sanries and its bold and sophisticated coffee selection. The latest outpost of this Singapore-born chain features Japanese-themed decor (light wood and minimalist details) and an array of delicious comfort fare. Do check it out. 

It’s difficult to define what SOSO is. The shophouse is home to an art space, a boutique, and a diner and café. But it’s easy enough to fall in love with the place, and the food and drinks it offers. Your usual ordinary comfort fare (“so-so” as the name suggests) is presented in a stylish manner, while the caffeinated drinks come loaded with toppings—reasons enough to venture into the old town. 

You need to trek over to Bang Khen in the outskirts of Bangkok to get to this café—but it’s worth the journey. In contrast to its name, the coffee den features raw industrial interiors and bare concrete walls retained from its original shophouse structure. Specialties include espresso drinks and slow bar options, including a medium-roast house blend that’s made just right.

Among the many new cafes in the now-hip Ladprao, Unfinished stands out. Though it’s hidden within an imposing white structure that looks  “unfinished” (crumbling walls and scattered stones), the establishment’s menu leaves no stone unturned. The long list includes creative coffee drinks made with beans the shop roasts onsite. Surprisingly, these caffeinated boosters pair really well with the fried bananas (kluay kaek) Unfinished also serves.