In a Thai province as iconic as Kanchanaburi, where tourists flock by the hundreds of thousands, you’d expect the cafe competition to be fierce. And it is! Anyone who’s been following my posts will know I love visiting cafes, and I’ve been to plenty in this province. Some have been excellent, and some, well, they’ve since closed their doors.
If you’re only here for a day or so—which is a shame as there’s so much to explore—I’ve done the homework for you and given you three Kanchanaburi cafes you must visit when you’re here.
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One is right on the gorgeous river and steps away from Pub Street. The other two are on opposite sides of the most well-known temple in Kanchanaburi, Wat Tham Suea, with one being slightly unique. Are you ready? Let’s go!
Let’s start with my favourite and the one that’s the easiest to get to:
Tongkan Cafe
Situated on the River Kwae Yai and easily accessible from River Kwai Road (Pub Street), Tongkan is my new favourite cafe in Kanchanaburi.
What’s So Good About It?
What’s not to love?
It’s right on the river, easy to get to, and has a big car park. The cafe itself is stunning, inside and out. The staff are super friendly, not to mention handsome. The selection of cakes is excellent, and considering its location, it’s not overpriced.
It turns into a riverside restaurant by night, so why not go there for afternoon tea and stay for dinner 😀.
What’s on the Menu?
During the day, you can order Thai favourites as well as Western food like steak. Oh, and the pizzas look amazing. As soon as I’ve tried one, I’ll update you all.
For me, one crucial aspect of a cafe—besides delicious coffee—is the selection of cakes. And Tongkan Cafe does that exceptionally well; just take a look:
with so many choices, you’re likely to have a favorite or two…or three!
How Do You Get There?
Tongkan Cafe is at the end of Lao Road, off River Kwai Road. This is a central entertainment street for tourists with bars, massage shops, and hotels all in one very compact area. It’s 2 km from Kanchanaburi Train Station via Pub Street.
Why is Tongkan Cafe my ‘new’ favourite? The following one was my former favourite, but a river view is unbeatable.
For a temple view, however, nothing surpasses:
Rakkana Cafe
We’ve been going to Rakkana Cafe long before we moved to Kanchanaburi, and you’ll still find us there on average once a fortnight. It’s only 15 minutes from our house so it’s our go-to. Not only that, but it has the best view of Wat Tham Suea in all of Kanchanaburi.
What’s So Good About It?
Rakkana Cafe is in a quiet location at the base of Kanchanaburi’s most iconic temple, Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple). Some days, it’s hard to decide which is more mesmerizing—the coffee or the view! I never get sick of looking at this beautiful monument and Rakkana makes it so easy as you can see it from anywhere in the cafe.
Not only is the view amazing, but the service is exceptional. Sure, we’ve been going there for years and we’re greeted like family, but I see equal welcomes for other visitors.
What’s on the Menu?
I love the coffee here; they get my caramel macchiato right every single time. The selection of cakes rotates often, but our favourite menu item is the tom-yum noodle soup, which we order every time.
How Do You Get There?
This is a little off the beaten track, so you’re best off going by car. If you’re in Kanchanburi for the day and on a private tour visiting Wat Tham Suea, ask your driver to take you to Rakkana; they’ll know where it is.
So now you’ve had coffee by the river and at the base of a temple, it’s time to get your cameras out as our final stop for today is for all you Instagrammers:
Tomi Edo Park
Thai people love everything about Japan, and Japanese-themed cafes are a huge hit here. We absolutely love Tomi Edo Park. My husband, who is snap-happy, can’t get enough of the Insta-worthy opportunities.
What’s So Good About It?
It’s cute, it’s kitschy and the photo opportunities are endless. It’s a little different from the others; you order at a counter when you walk in the door and then the food and drinks are delivered via a buzzer system. It’s not quite the personal service that I adore at the other two, but it works for this environment.
There’s a huge outdoor area, and it’s so very Japanese that you’ll forget for a moment that you’re actually still in Thailand.
What’s On the Menu?
The food matches the decor in keeping with the Japanese theme. My favourites are yummy Japanese-style cakes with delicious fillies. The coffee is also very good. If I had one minor complaint, it would be that my coffee was 150% more expensive than it was at the other two. But somebody has to pay for the incredible setup they have.
How Do You Get There?
You will need a car for this one. It’s on the opposite side of Wat Tham Suea from Rakkana, off a little side street from the main road. If you want to go to a side of Japan with your Thai temple, ask your driver to take you here.
A Cafe Experience for Everyone
There you have it—three different experiences for you. Whether you want the serenity of the river, the majestic view, or a little touch of Japan, I hope you get a chance to visit any or all of these. Maybe we’ll see you there!
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About the author: Stephen left Australia in 2016 with a one-way ticket to Thailand
and hasn’t been back since. Seven years later, he’s “living the ex-pat dream”, married and settled down; he and his partner travel across Thailand competing in half-marathon running events and sampling coffee at cafes.