Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

When you attach a café to a hostel, it usually ends up being neglected. This café on Phangnga Road works in exactly the opposite way: it attracts guests who aren't even staying at the hostel – and that pretty much says it all.

It's casual and a little shabby, as is often the case in old town cafes. Here you'll find a mix of hostel guests, solo travelers passing through, and locals who have clearly been coming here for a while. So you can easily sit alone with a coffee without feeling uncomfortable, and just as easily strike up a conversation if you want. The prices are mid-range, so it's not the cheapest breakfast in Talat Yai, but you're also paying for a place where people like to linger.

Its strength lies in its opening hours. It opens at eight o'clock and doesn't close until midnight, so you can enjoy a coffee in the morning before strolling through the Sino-Portuguese shops and admiring the street art, or grab a bite to eat after a Sunday stroll in the pedestrian zone. An ideal starting point if you're staying overnight in the city.