🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
People like to call Uthai Thani a slow-life town, and that's not an exaggeration — the heart of it is the Sakae Krang River, where a houseboat community has genuinely lived for over a hundred years. So the best cafes here aren't just selling coffee; they're selling the view of wooden houseboats floating on the water and the breeze off the river. Over in the old town around Trok Rong Ya and the walking street, there are small cafes where owners have renovated old wooden buildings themselves — the kind of place that feels like dropping by a friend's house. We've split everything into two clear zones, riverside and old town, so you can pick whichever mood fits the day.
Ranking: 8 Uthai Thani Cafes
Ordered from the clearest river-and-houseboat views and most talked-about spots, down to old town cafes that stand out for atmosphere and coffee. The prices listed are what we actually saw, and they can shift a little depending on the menu and the time of day.
Mum Sakae
The Sakae Krang riverside cafe most people think of first. It's a two-storey octagonal wooden pavilion — the ground floor is open-air, while upstairs has an air-conditioned zone and a balcony with bar stools where you can dangle your legs and take in 360-degree views of the bridge over the river and the houseboats. The standout is Malay-style roti with a thick, soft texture, the coffee is good, and there are halal savoury dishes like chicken biryani (weekends only).
Baan Phae Sakae Krang Cafe & Homestay
A floating cafe converted from a genuine teak houseboat that's nearly a hundred years old. You can sip your coffee on the raft and dip your feet in the water, with locals' houseboats floating in rows all around you — it's the most authentic riverside-community feel of any spot here. There's fresh coffee, fruit smoothies and freshly baked goods, and if you want to stay over, there's a homestay right on the raft.
Tone Café
A cafe in a small lane off the Trok Rong Ya walking street, decorated vintage-style with old wooden doors and windows salvaged from former houses. The vibe is as warm as visiting a friend who takes coffee seriously — they use Chiang Rai arabica beans, and the signature worth trying is coffee mixed with tamarind juice or honey bitter orange, sour-sweet and refreshing.
X-bar Cafe'
A modern black-and-brown toned cafe in the old town that opens early at seven, perfect for early risers who want coffee before walking the market. The highlight is coffee shots mixed with various fruit juices — bright and sour, cutting through any richness.
Boo Bun
A bright American red-and-blue toned shop whose standout is handmade bread and pastries, baked fresh in-house. A good stop for a croissant or bread with morning coffee before you carry on walking Trok Rong Ya.
Thai-Thai Dessert Café
A homey, mostly wood-decorated cafe in Trok Rong Ya, across from Je Nok's chicken noodles. There are plenty of cute photo corners, and beyond coffee, tea and Italian soda, they also serve rice dishes and Thai desserts to order alongside — a good spot to rest after walking the market.
FFF's Cafe
A serious matcha cafe in town. If you like your green deep and slightly bitter, the matcha latte and green tea menu here come out genuinely strong — a solid option for people who don't drink coffee. The shop is small and compact, but comfortable to sit in.
Dayla Roti
Not a fancy cafe, but a Pakistani roti shop over 90 years old that's worth a stop. The roti — crisp outside, soft inside — goes with hot tea or coffee, and it's an old town bite that gives you more flavour and story than looks. If you love the truly traditional places, this one will win you over.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Uthai Thani 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.
Sakae Krang Riverside — Watching the Houseboats
If you're coming to Uthai Thani mainly for the riverside view, pin the first two: Mum Sakae and Baan Phae Sakae Krang. Both sit right on the Sakae Krang River — not just looking at water in the distance. Mum Sakae stands out for its two-storey octagonal pavilion with 360-degree views and savoury food to fill up on, while Baan Phae Sakae Krang stands out as a genuine wooden raft on the water where you can dip your feet — and it's closer to the houseboat community.
When the view looks best
Go early, before nine — the sun is still soft, the water is still, the houseboats reflect beautifully, and it isn't hot yet. The other good window is late afternoon, around four to five, when golden light hits the houseboats: great for photos and a cool, comfortable breeze. Midday the sun is harsh and hot, so if you go then, choose a covered or air-conditioned zone.
The nice thing about the riverside cafes here is that they're not expensive — most drinks run from the low tens up to ฿70, but you get a view you won't find in a big city. One thing to know: these are wooden rafts by the water, so the floor may have gaps and shift a little. If you bring small kids or older folks, watch the edge of the raft and hold the railings.
Old Town & Trok Rong Ya — Walking and Sipping
Trok Rong Ya is a small walking-street lane in Uthai Thani's old town, lined on both sides with old wooden buildings and shophouses, many of which have turned into cafes and dessert shops. Walking the whole lane takes under ten minutes, but there are several cafes to stop at along the way. The charm is that most are owner-run, renovated from the original buildings while keeping the wooden frames and old doors and windows — so each has its own warm, distinct feel.
Tone Café
Vintage old wood, Chiang Rai arabica coffee, and a standout of coffee mixed with tamarind and honey bitter orange.
Boo Bun
Freshly baked handmade bakery in a bright, cheerful shop — good for a morning stop before walking the market.
Thai-Thai Dessert Café
Homey and woody, with Thai desserts and rice dishes and plenty of photo corners.
- Walk Trok Rong Ya on Saturday evening — it becomes a walking street with extra food and souvenirs, several cafes are still open, and the atmosphere is livelier than on weekdays.
- Old town cafes close early — many shut around 4.30–5pm, so if you want to linger, go in the afternoon and don't leave it too late.
- Check the weekly closing day — small shops like Tone Café and Boo Bun are closed on Tuesdays, so plan around it.
Plan a Half-Day Cafe Trip
Want to catch both the riverside views and the old town in one go? This works nicely — start by the river in the morning when the light is soft, then walk into the old town later in the morning.
Riverside → Old town
Getting there / parking
The old town and the riverside cafes are very close together — you can walk between almost all of them. Driving yourself is easiest; you can park near the municipal market or along the streets in town. If you don't have a car, renting a bicycle or motorbike in town is plenty, since the distances are short and the town isn't crowded.
Plan a full Uthai Thani trip — food, temples and nature
See the Uthai Thani travel guide →