Made famous for its sun, white sands and party atmosphere, thousands of tourists travel to Thailand’s largest island, Phuket, to relax with a drink in hand on the beach. However, it’s not all beer bars and nightclubs anymore. More and more travellers are following in the footsteps of locals and heading to the exciting new cafes that are popping up all over the island.

 

Contemporary cafes are popping up all over Phuket, like the quirky Bookhemian. Occupying an old Chinese shop house on Thalang Road, near the Anantara Layan Phuket Resort, a luxury resort which is best known for its Phuket pool residence; Bookhemian attracts a combination of young locals and backpacking tourists. The cafe has an eclectic selection of books and magazines as well as a collection of photography and illustrations by local artists, great for browsing over a hot cup of Thai iced coffee.

 

Hock Hoe Lee, a chic cafe in south Phuket is a must visit for coffee aficionados. A family run establishment, they sell their own brand of specialty roasted coffee, made from 100% a-grade beans, handpicked from northern Thailand. Not far off is Kombat cafe, a hotspot for Muay Thai fighters who train at nearby camps, focuses on serving up healthy and delicious food along with a rich, strong brew (Hock Hoe Lee’s coffee) and several kinds of fruit juices and protein shakes.

 

On Phuket’s west coast, is a cafe dedicated to the art of coffee making. Garage Cafe’s owner, Danny Hyams has been hooked on coffee since he was 28, but it was only after moving to Phuket, that he decided to pursue his passion and opened Phuket Coffee Lab, which deals with pretty much deals with everything to do with coffee. You can taste their premium beans at garage cafe, where Thailand’s award winning barista’s are ever ready to serve you. Of course , there are just a few places, there are plenty more tucked away around the island that serve up some amazing coffee; so do keep an eye out on your next trip and grab some of Thailand’s delightful coffee.

 

Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting.

 

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