Double Dogs Tea Room

This soothing, air-con tea room/restaurant/bookstore that also sells booze is set in a spacious, bright and airy space that almost feels like a Japanese calligraphy studio.

Soft, simple lamps stand beside clean, white walls and hardwood tables of varying sizes. A lovely bookstore with English, Thai and Chinese titles such as "Immeasurable Happiness" and "Engaged Buddhism in a Globalizing World" occupies one corner, directly opposite an autographed photo of the Dalai Lama.

The highlights of Double Dogs' creative menu are full information pages explaining the various teas and production regions of China, Japan and Sri Lanka. Dozens of outstanding loose-leaf teas cost from 30 to 220 baht and are served Chinese style in ceramic cups in which hot water is poured directly over the leaves with a lid to keep the tea hot while also preventing the leaves from entering the mouth while drinking.

If you must, coffee is also available, as are a handful of small but tasty noodle and rice dishes, pastries, cakes and chunky homemade mango ice cream. Double Dogs also sells beer, wine and "tea cocktails", including the "Red Shirt” for 90 baht, featured on the menu with only the mysterious description, “To know is to drink”.

The tea room is a wonderful spot to relax for a couple of hours by day or night, but keep in mind it gets packed with locals in the evening

Double Dogs is located on the south side of Yaowarat Road, just over a kilometre walk from Hualamphong MRT station. If coming from Charawongse express boat pier, walk straight out of the pier until you reach Yaowarat, take a right, and Double Dogs will sneak up on the right after about 200 metres.