🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
If you want to grasp the charm of this town as fast as possible, start at the Chanthaboon Riverside Community. It's a single street running along the river for about 1 km, lined on both sides with old wooden shophouses where people still actually live, mixed in with cafes, dessert shops and small learning houses. What makes it special is that nothing feels staged — the old buildings are genuinely old, and the river really does run right beside the shops. You can walk the whole stretch in under half a day, but if you cafe-hop along the way you can easily spend the whole day here.
Across the river you can see the spire of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, one of the largest Catholic churches in Thailand, so many of the cafes get a river-and-cathedral view thrown in for free. Come in the morning or evening when the sun is gentler — that's when the riverside balconies are most comfortable.
9 Chanthaboon riverside cafes we picked
We've ordered them with the spots that stand out for river views and wooden-house atmosphere first, then the specialty coffee shops that coffee lovers shouldn't skip. Each one lists its standout drinks, the prices we saw and the opening hours so you can plan straight away.
Chong Dee by C.A.P
Set inside Boonyasathit Villa, a roughly 150-year-old Chinese house that has been carefully restored, with a riverside balcony for catching the cool breeze and decor in classic old-Chinese style. The standout is the Cheng Tng Coffee, topped with a traditional Thai dessert. If you want the river view and the old-building atmosphere in one place, this is the most complete option.
Thrrmda Bar & Eatery (Thammada Riverside Chanthaburi)
A cat cafe with both an indoor zone and an outdoor balcony overlooking the river. The draw is the resident cats wandering up to say hello throughout the shop. The hits are the Dirty Coffee and the tiramisu, so it suits anyone who wants coffee, a river view and cats all in one spot. Open late on Friday through Sunday.
Sukjai
A small coffee shop in an old wooden house in the middle of the community, with warm vintage tones and seats right by the river where the breeze keeps things cool. The menu covers coffee, tea, cocoa and fruit juice, with house-made cakes and croissants. A good stop to rest during a walk through the community, and the gentle vibe lives up to its name (sukjai means 'happy at heart').
Easterly
An orange-brick building that stands out in the old town, sitting right on the river with both indoor and outdoor zones and a modern design layered onto the old structure. It's a cafe by day, and on Friday through Sunday evenings it stays open late as a bar. The standouts are the Dark Beer Cake and fried golden enoki mushrooms. Good for photo lovers and anyone who wants to settle in until evening.
The Chanthaboon Coffee
A shop set on reviving the story of Chanthaburi's coffee, which goes back more than 170 years. Inside it displays the history of local coffee and serves mainly arabica, with drinks named after the town — like Jan Phong and Mapeed Janthra, which uses mapeed, a local fruit. Good for anyone who wants their coffee with a bit of the town's story.
Comming Cafe But Specialty
A genuine specialty cafe done up in brick, bare concrete and old wood in an industrial style, with a wide range of beans both Thai and imported. The standouts are the Coco Cloud, a blended coconut-milk coffee, and the Cardamom Sparkle, which uses Chanthaburi cardamom. Good for people who take their beans seriously and want to try something different.
BRB.coffee
A small specialty coffee shop in green tones with a compact space, offering both house blends and several single origins across different roasts, plus cold brew, oat milk, matcha and hojicha. Good for anyone who wants quality coffee in a quiet room, with friendly starting prices — worth it even for a single cup.
KAWA Matcha
A dedicated matcha shop in the riverside community with modern decor and staff who can talk you through matcha in detail. The standouts are the Matcha Mousse Cake and an iced matcha latte. Good for people who don't drink coffee but still want to join the cafe scene in this area.
Teim
Another small wooden-house cafe that locals tend to fold into their riverside cafe-hopping route. The atmosphere is relaxed, making it a good last stop before you head back. On days when the top-ranked spots are packed, this is a solid place to rest your legs.
How to land the best riverside seat
The riverside zones at the top three (Chong Dee, Thammada, Sukjai) have only a limited number of tables right by the water, and they fill up fast on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. If you want a riverside table for sure, arrive before 2 pm or come in the morning, when the sun is still gentle and the breeze off the river is at its coolest.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Chanthaburi food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
Plan a full day of cafe-hopping across the whole area
The Chanthaboon Riverside Community is fully walkable from end to end — no need to drive between shops. Park in one spot and walk the whole way. Here's the rhythm that worked when we actually did it, split into morning and afternoon so you don't wear yourself out and still get both the river views and the good coffee.
Start with coffee and old wooden houses
Specialty coffee and a river view at dusk
Know this before you go and the trip gets easier
- Parking — the streets inside the community are narrow, so park at the lot near the bridge or on the cathedral side and walk in. Don't drive into the lanes in the middle of the community.
- Timing — morning and evening have the best atmosphere; midday sun is fairly harsh because the buildings are low. Avoid walking between 12:00–14:00 if you can.
- Closing days — several shops close on different weekdays (Comming closed Tuesday · The Chanthaboon Coffee closed Wednesday · Easterly closed Tuesday), so check before you go to avoid missing the one you had in mind.
- Cathedral view — crossing the bridge to the church side takes only a few minutes on foot, so it's easy to fold into the same trip.
Want a place to stay near the riverside community, within walking distance of the cafes?
See the Top 10 Chanthaburi hotels →