Poomjai Garden is a centuries-old former orchard on the banks of Bangkok's canals, transformed into a sprawling, tree-filled garden. Here you'll find the Natura Café, where you can sit right by the canal with a drink or a slice of cake. Slightly off the beaten path, it's a peaceful and pleasant spot. It's also the starting point for private boat tours on Bangkok's klongs (see below). The history of the Bang Khun Thian district, where Poomjai Garden is located, dates back to the Ayutthaya period, before it flourished at the beginning of the Rattanakosin era. It was one of Bangkok's most important agricultural areas. Residents lived mainly along the canals, and transportation was primarily by boat. The region was famous for its many orchards, especially the renowned Bang Khun Thian lychees. With Bangkok's increasing urbanization, many orchards disappeared, replaced by housing developments and factories. Poomjai Garden was born from a desire to preserve local heritage and revitalize a derelict former orchard. The project was launched in 2016 by Khun Pornthip, the garden's founder, driven by a wish to protect the area's cultural and natural identity. Thanks to extensive restoration work, the garden has become a place that combines ecotourism, local culture, nature, craft workshops (fabric dyeing, Thai cooking and dessert classes, bookable through the website), Thai gastronomy, and environmental awareness. The Natura Café, located at the heart of the garden, is the Poomjai Garden's main café. Situated right on the water and surrounded by lush vegetation, it primarily serves drinks, cakes, and pastries. The most popular spot is the bamboo platform by the canal. While it's theoretically expected that visitors to experience the heart of Poomjai Garden should order from the Natura Café at the far end, this isn't strictly enforced. Nevertheless, it is a nice place to relax, and the prices are still reasonable compared to places like Baan Suan Sathorn, a restaurant in the city center known for its jungle-like ambience.

Entry is free (although, like me, you'll probably be told you have to order something at the Natura Café). Access to the main part of Poomjai Garden, which is particularly worth seeing, is through the entrance marked "Natura Café." Poomjai Garden is open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (and from 9:00 AM on weekends). The Natura Café offers various longtail boat tours on Bangkok's canals. Options include: a tour to the Big Buddha of Bangkok, Wat Arun, or both; a tour to the Artists' House; and a tour to the ICONSIAM shopping mall. Prices range from 1,200 to 2,400 THB per boat (information on Bangkok canal tours can be found here).

To reach Poomjai Garden, it is essential to travel part of the way by taxi, ride-hailing service, or motorbike taxi, as the garden is quite far from central Bangkok and not near a subway station. The Wutthakat BTS station, for example, is about 4 kilometers away. Some people also use Poomjai Garden as a starting point for their private boat tours in Bangkok.

How to get there

How do you get to Poomjai Garden? To reach Poomjai Garden, you will inevitably need to travel part of the way by taxi, ride-hailing service, or motorbike taxi, as the garden is quite far from central Bangkok and not near a subway station. The Wutthakat BTS station is about 4 kilometers away. Some people also use Poomjai Garden as a starting point for their private boat tours in Bangkok.