Phave Phood Phinds: Phuket

If you’ve been a reader of my blog, you likely know I am a Basic Starbies Bitch. Not because I’m in love with the brand and certainly not because I support all their corporate ideologies. However, their brand and stores are consistent and familiar, have easy access to all-day WiFi (except in Hong Kong, of all places), are typically drowning in natural light, and have a variety of comfortable seating options. Given my age and the number of various surgeries I’ve had over the last several decades, the latter is extremely important if I’m going to be able to execute a full, productive day of work. 

I am more than happy to report that since touching down in Phuket, I have found many local cafes that fit my needs, and my lifelong Starbies patronage is finally trickling away. That being said, let’s dive into the best workday cafes I’ve found since my arrival. 

Cannelle Bakery & Co.: I found this place purely by chance. After watching the replay of the Broncos putting up 33 points in the fourth quarter against NYG, I decided to order some food on Grab to avoid the torrential rain. That somehow turned into me deciding to just catch a Grab to Canelle instead, and I’m so glad I did. This is a quaint, cozy cafe and bakery set at the back of the My Front Yard shopping complex. Almost floor-to-ceiling windows make up 3 of the 4 walls, they have a ton of fresh bakery items and custom coffees, and plenty of yummy and healthy breakfast and lunch offerings, complete with Vegan and Vegetarian options. While not “cheap,” the pricing is reasonable, with an iced mocha, fresh watermelon juice, a fully-loaded bagel sandwich, and a side salad coming in at just over $14.

The vibes and soundtrack are immaculate. The AC is set just right. They even have an in-house toilet, which, if you’ve been in Thailand for any length of time, you know most restaurants, especially those in shopping complexes, don’t. Finally, they have a coffee loyalty program that doesn’t require signing up for anything or needing to be tied to a Thai phone number. This is now my new go-to haunt. I love it, I love it, I love it. 

WeCafe: WeCafe has several locations around Phuket, with my go-to location being in Chalong. Their menu is packed with healthy food and drinks, including plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Like Cannelle, WeCafe can’t be considered cheap in general, but they have several items that have tremendous value for money, including their almost-gallon of fresh watermelon juice for just over $6, and fresh build-your-own salads starting at just $3.33. The standard salad I order (pictured below) includes the add-ons of spinach, two hard-boiled eggs, and almonds, and costs less than $6 all in. Comfortable enough to sit in all day, free wifi, and plenty of comfy seating options near plugs, is the perfect place to sit, work, and eat tons of yummy, healthy food. Also, their Coconut Iced Latte is one of the best iced coffee drinks I’ve ever had. 

OG Cafe: Located toward the front of Phuket’s infamous “Fitness Street” in Chalong, OG Cafe is small but effective, with both indoor and outdoor seating, all the AC you could want, and plenty of coffee, pastries, and healthy food items. A complement to their clothing brand, the cafe is the perfect place to escape the sometimes chaotic streets of The Soi, and knock out a little work in relative peace. My personal recommendation? The Mango Madness Smoothie Bowl with a FRESH Croissant on the side and Espresso Caramel Latte. YUM!

Bartels: Though right up the street from WeCafe and Canelle (plus several other locations across the island), I only made it to Bartels once. I’m not a sandwich girlie typically, so it wasn’t high on my list to visit. But shortly before I left, my friend asked me to meet him for a work day, and I decided it would also be a good day to finally conquer my fear of jumping on a Grab bike (a story for another post). Bartels is perfect for working from, with varied table setups, comfy seating, and plenty of plugs placed strategically throughout the space. In addition to sandwiches they have a variety of flatbreads, smoothies, coffees, and entrees galore. I tried the a flatbread with fresh fruit, jam, and ricotta, and it was the perfect mix of sweet and savory. And their Tiramisu Iced Latte? The best I’ve had since Earth Society in BKK.