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A Seaside Cafe Trip Through Chonburi
Bang Saen · Sriracha · Pattaya

Chonburi lets you drive along the coast from north to south for a long stretch, from Bang Saen, through Sriracha, all the way down to Pattaya and Na Jomtien. Each stretch has its own kind of seaside cafe, so we built this as a 2-day trip that works its way south one neighborhood at a time, no backtracking, sipping coffee in the sea breeze all day. Every cafe in this plan was open when we wrote it, and we've added opening hours and rough prices so you can budget.

☕ Seaside cafes🚗 2 days along the coast🌅 Sunset spots

A Seaside Cafe Trip Through Chonburi Bang Saen · Sriracha · Pattaya

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

This trip starts in Bang Saen, the closest to Bangkok (about 1 hr 30 min from the city), then eases south through Sriracha and finishes in Pattaya. The total distance isn't far and the driving is relaxed, broken up by cafe stops along the way. It suits anyone who wants to travel without rushing, sitting back in the breeze and taking photos rather than trying to tick everything off.

Before you set off

The seafront tables at the popular cafes fill up fast on weekends. If you want a view, get to the first cafe before 10am, and double-check each cafe's hours on their page again, since some close on certain weekdays.

Day 1 — Bang Saen · Khao Sam Muk

Bang Saen is a playground for seaside cafe lovers. There's the Wonnapha Beach zone where cafes sit right on the water, and the Khao Sam Muk hillside zone where a short drive up the slope gets you a wide, elevated view out over the sea. On day one we cover both zones.

Day 1

Morning to evening in Bang Saen

09:30

Leave Bangkok, head for Bang SaenAbout 1 hr 30 min on the motorway. You can park for free along the road near Wonnapha Beach, and it's still easy to find a spot in the morning.

11:00

Cafe on Wonnapha Beach — Highway Cafe or Piccolo BangsaenHighway has a bright American retro look with a breakfast menu too, while Piccolo is an open-air Hawaiian vibe. Coffee runs about 60–90 THB. Either one is a comfortable spot to sit and catch the breeze.

12:30

Seafood lunch by the beach, then a walk along the sandThere are plenty of seafood restaurants around Bang Saen. Order prawns, shellfish and fish with a sea view before moving on to the next zone.

14:30

Drive up to Khao Sam Muk — Casa Tropika or Hidden LabCasa Tropika is a tropical-toned cafe in orange and brick, with a hillside sea view, open 10:00–24:00 (the cafe side closes in the evening). Hidden Lab is set in an old hotel building, vintage in style, with an outdoor seafront zone.

17:00

Catch the sunset at the Khao Sam Muk viewpointThe Khao Sam Muk side faces the sea, and from 17:00–18:00 the light goes soft and photographs well. It's when a lot of people wait around to shoot the sun going down.

18:30

Dinner around Bang Saen, then stay the nightSpend one night in Bang Saen so the next day you can drive straight south to Sriracha and Pattaya without doubling back.

An honest heads-up

Khao Sam Muk has a lot of monkeys. Don't walk around holding food or plastic bags on display, and keep your car windows fully closed. The monkeys here are used to people and quicker than you'd expect.

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Day 2 — Sriracha · Pattaya · Na Jomtien

Day two heads further south, starting in Sriracha where most cafes are renovated old houses on the water near Koh Loy. It's quieter than Bang Saen. Then you close out the trip in Pattaya and Na Jomtien, where the cafes lean hard into design and views over Pattaya Bay.

Day 2

Sriracha in the morning, finishing in Na Jomtien

09:30

Leave Bang Saen, head south to SrirachaAbout 20–25 km, a relaxed drive of around half an hour.

10:00

Seaside cafe in Sriracha — White House Beach Cafe or TalayblueBoth are white European-style houses on the water, with photo spots inside and out, serving coffee, desserts and savory dishes.

11:30

Stop by Koh Loy — Olim House, a cafe in a house over 80 years oldIt's near Koh Loy Public Park, known for its homemade pizza and Italian menu. Good for a light lunch before a walk along the Koh Loy bridge.

13:30

Drive on to Pattaya and Na JomtienFrom Sriracha to Na Jomtien is about 30–40 km, taking close to an hour.

15:00

Seaside cafe in Na Jomtien — Bluespace Cafe or Sea Of LoveBluespace is a blue-toned cafe that brings the sand right into the room, with drinks around 60–100 THB. Sea Of Love is a white-and-blue Santorini-style spot on the water, so check its open days on their page before you go.

17:00

Catch the evening light by the sea in Na JomtienBetween 16:00 and 18:00 the light is at its best and the heat eases off. It's also when the seafront tables fill up fast, so expect to wait for one if you come then.

18:30

Dinner in Pattaya, then back to Bangkok or stay overFrom Na Jomtien it's about 2 hours back to Bangkok, or if you'd rather add another night, Pattaya is an easy place to stay.

Pick the area that fits your style

Close to Bangkok

Bang Saen–Khao Sam Muk

Closest to Bangkok, with cafes in every style, both right on the beach and up on the hillside. Good for a day trip or to kick off a longer one.

Quiet and calm

Sriracha–Koh Loy

Renovated old houses on the water, a quieter mood, fewer people. Good for anyone who likes a calm sit-down and Western food.

Design-heavy

Pattaya–Na Jomtien

Design-heavy cafes with bold color, lots of photo spots, and views over Pattaya Bay. Good for the content crowd and anyone who wants to end the trip on a lively note.

The best light for photos

Mornings from 08:00–10:00 give you soft light with fewer people, and evenings from 16:00–18:00 give you golden light. Those are the two windows when shots come out best. Midday is harsh and hot, so it's better to retreat to the indoor zone of the cafe.

Budget for coffee — most cups run about 60–100 THB. If you add a dessert and a meal, figure roughly 200–400 THB per person per cafe.
A private car is by far the easiest — many cafes are outside the town center or up on the hillside, beyond public transport. Renting a car or driving your own is much smoother.
Avoid long holidays if you can — Bang Saen and Pattaya get very crowded on weekends and long holidays. Go on a weekday and you'll get a table with a view far more easily.

Want a well-placed hotel as a base for your Chonburi cafe trip?

See recommended Chonburi hotels →

FAQ

How many days do I need for this Chonburi seaside cafe trip?

This plan is built for 2 days and 1 night, starting with Bang Saen and Khao Sam Muk on day one, then heading down to Sriracha and Pattaya on day two. If you only have a single day, just focus on Bang Saen and you'll still have a great time, since it's closest to Bangkok and has the densest cluster of cafes.

Can I do the Chonburi seaside cafes without a private car?

You can, but it's a lot harder. Many cafes sit on the Khao Sam Muk hillside or outside the Na Jomtien town center, where public transport doesn't reach. Without a car, renting one or hiring a ride for each leg works far better.

What time of day is best for photographing seaside cafes?

Morning from 08:00–10:00, when the light is soft and the crowds are thin, and evening from 16:00–18:00, when you get golden light before sunset, are the two windows when shots come out best. Midday is harsh, so it's better to retreat to the indoor zone.

Roughly how much per person for this 2-day cafe trip?

Coffee and snacks at the cafes alone run about 200–400 THB per cafe per person. If you visit 4–5 cafes over 2 days, plus main meals and accommodation, figure roughly 1,500–2,500 THB per person, depending on the hotel you choose.

Khao Sam Muk or Na Jomtien — which has the better sea view?

They're different in kind. Khao Sam Muk is an elevated hillside view looking out over a wide stretch of sea, good for landscape shots, while Na Jomtien sits right on the sand at eye level with the water, good for dipping your feet in close to the waves. Pick whichever suits your style.

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