PAUSE Café - Best Chai Tea and Comforting Homemade Food at Phetkasem Road
The A in the PAUSE Cafe logo is actually the hour and minute hands on the clock.
Along Thailand’s Phetkasem road (or Highway 4) lies a little hidden gem of a cafe known as PAUSE that is the only place in Thailand that serves Chai Tea and a damn good one at that. Seriously, even the Starbucks here doesn’t have Chai Tea!
Phetkasem may be a little too far out of Bangkok for some, if you are looking for a unique cafe with the same chill relaxing vibes, may I recommend you Gimbocha, a recent find on my cafe hopping adventures that has now become my all time favorite!
Affiliate Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. By clicking on the links and purchasing the product, I will receive a partial commission at no cost to you. All of these products are ones that I fully trust and recommend with my heart. Thank you for your support!
The PAUSE Café Hospitality
Hi welcome to PAUSE :)
Now, before we go further, I must admit that I am good friends with the owner of PAUSE, but I assure you that my impressions and review won’t be skewed as a result. I intend to give you my honest opinion because not only will it help you make your decision about your visit, but it will also help PAUSE to improve their business. Also I am not sponsored in any way by them to write this article.
Alright let’s explore this lovely little cafe.
Right off the bat PAUSE is quite cozy in its appearance and service. The cafe is surrounded by plentiful lush greenery and it’s apparent that the theme is centered around Thailand’s tropical nature.
There is a little garden seating area next to the main cafe building where you can take photos and upload them to your social media addiction of choice. Beyond that there is also a pretty expansive um… Yard? Maybe a backyard sort of deal.
I’m not sure what to call it but it’s an area sheltered by dense trees and shrubbery, you could take your pets here for a walk or to explore if you so wish as PAUSE does allow pets.
I love the green hue and the brick furniture design of this place.
PAUSE’s interior is small but the space is used well with the addition of the second floor. PAUSE boasts a simple yet pleasing minimal/industrialist design with concrete flooring, black metal pipes, beams, and supports with accents of wooden furnishes.
There is also an indoor (fake) fireplace! What other cafe has that?
Honestly, I don’t really agree with the backyard area as it makes the property look messy and it feels like somebody’s home, which can be a good thing but here it feels a bit too home-y, as if the cafe isn’t ready to open for business as a public space.
If the owners cleaned up the backyard area a bit and decorate the area with vibrant flowers then that will elevate the visuals much better.
PAUSE Café’s Humongous Menu
Pro Tip: Take care of your wallet, resist the urge to order everything because there are so many delicious looking foods.
PAUSE Cafe’s menus is huge, with new drinks and dishes added frequently. I know they brand themselves as a “cafe” but honestly, they could label themselves as a restaurant and no one would even second guess.
The menu is divided into drinks, foods, and snacks/desserts.
Drinks
A special autumn drink at PAUSE.
Some examples of drinks are:
Coffees - Your usual espresso based drinks but also fun surprises like a Crème Brûlée Latte
Lemonades & Sodas - Different flavors like Peach, Butterfly Pea, and Green Apple
Lattes - Different milk based drinks like Chai Tea or Caramel Hojicha
Dirty Coffee - A whole section for Dirty Coffees with flavors like Thai Tea and Matcha
Teas - Your usual Earl Greys and Passion Fruit teas etc…
Pina Colada - Yes, Why? I don’t know. But sure.
Foods
PAUSE has Khao Klook Kapi on their menu, a Thai shrimp paste fried rice :O
Some examples of foods are:
Rice Casserole with Chicken Pot Roast
Chicken Pasta with Lemon Cream Sauce
Pork Satay
Lasagne
Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwich
So much more…
Desserts
I swear, you could come here everyday and still find new menu items to try.
Having trouble choosing which drink you want out of the hundreds of options? Wait till you see the dessert menu:
Cakes - Oreo Cheesecake, Orange Cake, Almond Cake, Italian Cannoli Cake, so much more…
Sugar Cookies
Mango Sticky Rice (shout out to Milli)
Overnight Oats
I’m just gonna stop there or else I’ll be writing this article forever.
Pricing
While the massive variety of options is nice I will say that the price is a little bit too expensive for some of the items. For example the lasagna comes in at 175 THB which is pretty expensive in my opinion given the cafe context. But the high price comes from the usage of high quality ingredients and everything having that homemade touch.
You can expect to pay between 80 - 130 THB for drinks and desserts.
The pricing is comparable to the big name cafe brands like Starbucks or Casa Lapin but with the advantage of the food being homemade.
I’d say it’s well worth it.
Orange Espresso and Chai Tea
I like the little decorations they put on the drinks, the attention to detail is stunning.
I went to PAUSE with my girlfriend and for our drinks we ordered the Chai Tea Latte and an Orange Espresso.
Fun fact, I used to hate Orange Espresso because the orange juice they used at most places are those artificially sugar-inflated ones you buy at 7-Eleven. But after I made my own with freshly squeezed orange juice, I fell in love.
PAUSE’s Orange Espresso was good, the flavor was balanced, not too sweet and not too sour. Definitely worth a try (although my recipe is still better :)).
My girlfriend is a big fan of Chai Tea Latte’s after she had her first one a while back at a Starbucks in America. Unfortunately Starbucks Thailand (and every other cafe here) didn’t have it on their menu, so she was really excited to see that PAUSE listed Chai Teas as one of their menu items.
I had a little sip and it was pretty good, I don’t like milk based drinks all that much but I can get behind this Chai Tea Latte, smooth, aromatic, and with a little kick from the cinnamon.
My lovely girlfriend, the Chai Tea Connoisseur, also approved.
Chicken Taquitos
Guys trust me, it looks simple, but the flavor is everything but.
The Chicken Taquitos was something I did not expect to see on the menu but it was a delight to have.
We ordered it out of curiosity and it was a great decision because this little wrap was absolutely delicious.
I don’t know what is exactly in it, all I could distinguish was chicken, cheese, tomatoes, onions, and some kind of sauce, but oh man this thing was good.
There was a dipping sauce on the side which I assumed was the same kind of sauce that is on the inside(?). The sauce was a nice touch that added a extra layer of creaminess and tartness from the tomatoes.
Highly recommend this one.
Apple Pie
It’s more like a Galette than a pie, but still tasty nonetheless.
Now this was a pleasant surprise, we didn’t order the Apple Pie, we were served this for free from the kindness of the owners hearts. Apparently the Apple Pie was a new recipe and they were testing it out on their menu.
It was tasty, in addition to the apples there was also a orange citrus jam sort of deal going on.
It was good but the apple taste was a bit mild, I would’ve preferred the apple flavor to be more pronounced.
Conclusion
Pros
Friendly and attentive staff and hospitality, they treat you almost like family.
A lot of different food, drinks, and desserts to choose from, there is something for everybody.
A cozy and home-like atmosphere with outdoor seating to relax plus gardens to take photos.
Delicious homemade food cooked with quality ingredients and care.
Pets are allowed (outdoor seating only).
Cons
Some menu items can be a bit pricey
The outdoor decorations could use some work to elevate the visuals and attract more customers.
The location can be a bit hard to reach as it is on the outskirts of Bangkok, and deep within the soi (alley).
Overall I would highly recommend you check out PAUSE Cafe on Phetkasem 77. Although it can be difficult to reach, you shouldn’t let that deter you form enjoying the cozy and friendly atmosphere and hospitality. In addition, their menu is humongous with plenty of deliciously unique drinks and homemade dishes to choose from. Plus pets are allowed, that is always a plus!
What does bring my ratings down is the fact that some menu items can be a bit too expensive and the outdoor gardens could use some cleaning up to make the cafe more appealing. But honestly, I’m beginning to think that my criticism about the garden is a “Me” problem rather than an actual problem.
PAUSE Cafe Petkasem77 | 8.5 / 10
Phone: 061 269 9821
Location: 3, 1 ถนน เพชรเกษม Nong Khang Phlu, Nong Khaem, Bangkok 10160
Opening Hours: 7:30AM - 5:00PM | Mon - Sun
Pricing: ~80 - 200THB | $$
Looking for Things to Do in Bangkok?
SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World - Encounter over 400 marine species and 30000 creatures
Floating Markets Day Tour - Tour 3 major markets: Damnoen Saduak, Maeklong, Amphawa
Safari World Bangkok - Meet exotic and friendly animals at Bangkok’s animal kingdom
Discounted Tickets - Browse a variety of attractions, tours, and transports all for a great price
Useful Resources for Traveling in Thailand
Tourism Information - All the information you need when traveling in Thailand
4G/5G SIM Card - 8 days, 15GB, Important for staying connected while in Thailand
Private Airport Transfers - Transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city without worry
Best Bangkok Hostels - A list of the best hostels to stay for cheap and meet new friends
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER ARTICLES!
