There is a reason why you can find many digital nomads in Bangkok. The city is home to many established cafes and brew bars where you can do some work in peace or simply to chill and rest your weary feet.

One such place to settle in and escape from the crowd is Factory Coffee. As one of Bangkok’s pre-eminent coffee venues, the cafe is centrally located near to Phaya Thai BTS station and offers a straightforward menu featuring their signature coffee drinks and a selection of baked goods.

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As the cafe’s name suggests, Factory Coffee looks just like a modern factory—complete with cement brick walls, exposed filament light bulbs and dark wooden furniture.

The large communal tables are perfect for groups of friends or colleagues and the spacious set up makes it easy for you to walk around.

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Caffeine addicts have to give their Flat White (THB120/S$4.93) a try. The rich espresso is heavy on the palate and came with a slightly bitter after taste. We liked how the barista balanced it with creamy milk and a layer of thin foam on top.

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It is not just the taste that impressed us—even coffee art is taken seriously too. Take a closer look and you will notice the fine details of the foam swan’s feathers. It would certainly be a waste not to take a picture!

Not to worry if you are not a coffee person because Factory Coffee also has a selection of non-caffeine beverages. The one that caught our attention is the Slow Chai Tea (THB120/S$4.93).

It is interesting to note that the chai tea has been frozen into ice cubes before they are served. Pour the hot milk in and you can watch how the chai tea cubes melt slowly. This way, your drink becomes richer as the time goes by. Say goodbye to diluted ice drinks!

Factory Coffee
35/18 Phayathai Rd
Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10440
Tel: +66 085 145 4184
Daily: 8am – 6pm
Nearest BTS: Phaya Thai

Tom Yum Goong is a local favourite in Thailand and there is no lack of restaurants and eateries offering this classic dish. While we were on the lookout for the best Tom Yum Goong in Bangkok, we decided to go ahead and try the famous Pee Aor Tom Yum Goong which is located near to Phaya Thai BTS station.

Pee Aor offers a massive bowl of Tom Yum Goong which is good for two or three people to share. On top of that novelty factor, the established eatery also sources for premium ingredients such as lobsters and crabs.

If you are curious to find out whether Pee Aor’s Lobster Tom Yum Goong Noodle (THB999/S$41.11) lives up to its hype, read on to find out!

There is nothing spectacular to shout about when it comes to Pee Aor’s simple interior design but that is precisely why we love the place. The Thai eatery focuses all its attention on whipping up excellent local dishes which are comforting and reminds us of home.

Lobster Tom Yum Goong is available in two sizes—regular (THB999/S$41.11) and large (THB1200/S$49.38). We went for the latter and it came in a giant bowl filled halfway with  lobster, crabs, mussels, a large piece of salmon, fresh squid, an egg and silky rice noodles.

The tangy and spicy broth was extremely flavourful and reflects the true Thai-style tom yum soup. We could taste a hint of the lemongrass which they added into the soup—an essential ingredient found in all authentic Tom Yum Goong dishes.

There were hits and misses when it comes to the ingredients. The lobster and salmon boasts good flavour, but we felt that they were a tad underwhelming when compared to the rest.

On the flip side, we loved the fleshy crabs most as the meat was tender and came with a decent amount of roe. The mussels also left a deep impression on us as they were not just fresh but incredibly plump as well!

So is Pee Aor’s Lobster Tom Yum Goong Noodle worth the hype? It is not bad, but at THB999, we find it too expensive for a local Thai eatery. We’d say that it is a dish that you can consider trying once for the novelty. And if you are feeling rich.

Pee Aor
Soi Phetchaburi 5
Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi
Bangkok 10400
Daily: 10am – 9pm
Nearest BTS: Phaya Thai

Read: 12 Best Thai Restaurants in Bangkok To Satisfy Your Thai Food Cravings