Where to find good coffee, get some work done on your laptop, or just chill out with a great view.

Who is this guide for?

Let me say upfront: this is NOT a guide to the best places on the island, and definitely not a list featuring the absolute best coffee. These are my personal notes on spots where you can chill out in a nice atmosphere, get some work done on your laptop, or enjoy breakfast.

So, what’s the coffee scene like on Koh Samui?

Honestly? Not great. Finding genuinely good coffee is tough, especially if you’re accustomed to specialty beans and V60 pour-overs.

Most places offering pour-over or a choice of beans often fall short of expectations. If bean selection is available, it’s usually local varieties from Chiang Mai, and frankly, not the best ones. While Chiang Mai boasts truly excellent beans and roasters, I haven’t encountered them on Samui. On average, Thai beans tend to lack acidity and depth of flavor. Service can also be quite basic. It’s best not to set your expectations too high.

See also 👉 my Koh Samui Cafe Map on Google Maps.

Drip indeed | Big Buddha

Let’s start on a high note. There’s one little spot, a true hidden gem for coffee aficionados. You can’t really sit and work here – the ‘cafe’ is basically just a brew bar in the barista’s backyard. However, it’s one of the very few places on the island where I’ve had a genuinely delicious pour-over.

Day & Night of Koh Samui | Chaweng

I came here not really expecting much from the coffee; I was drawn in by the interior and just ordered breakfast with an americano. But it turned out the coffee was actually quite good! It was a tasty, bright americano, not the usual burnt-tasting water. Later, I noticed they even have a menu with a selection of beans, both local and imported. They can prepare it using a pour-over method or even a siphon. Overall, it was pricier than usual (200-300 baht for a pour-over), but in my experience, a good pour-over in Thailand costs about that much.

Sasatorn | Fisherman’s Village

This is my favorite spot for lunch in the northern part of the island. It’s hard to explain exactly what won me over. I loved coming here to try their coffee drinks – they’re genuinely good: flat white, gibraltar, magic, etc. The beans are local and probably not best suited for filter coffee. Also, they have one of the most unique menus on the island. The food is delicious, and the prices aren’t particularly high, especially considering its proximity to Fisherman’s Village.

Sea Sun | Big Buddha

A place with a great vibe. I used to come here to work and just relax. It has sea views, comfy sofas, nice music, and cats. The menu is interesting, and the food is good, but the coffee is just average. There’s a small air-conditioned room if it gets too hot. Oh, and planes fly directly overhead every 20-30 minutes. Not necessarily a drawback, but something to be aware of.

K.O.B. BY THE SEA | Bangrak

One of my go-to options if I want to sit by the sea with my laptop, coffee, and food. The coffee here is standard. The food is tasty but not overly fancy – European dishes, fresh ingredients, fresh pastries. The highlight is their own bakery and dishes like toasts, stuffed croissants, sandwiches, etc. But there are options beyond baked goods too. I even came here when I was on a keto diet and still found something to eat. It’s actually a chain with other branches on the island (which are decent), but this one is my favorite.

The Road Less Travelled Cafe Bar | Nathon

The interior is just gorgeous. There’s an air-conditioned space and a small courtyard. Local cats wander around, and the walls are covered in paintings and photographs. The food is tasty; the coffee – I don’t remember 😅. The menu is small but interesting. The atmosphere might not be ideal for focused work, but it’s perfectly fine for relaxing with a book or laptop.

Cocoon | Bohput

It was great stopping by here for breakfast on a weekend. This cafe has a fantastic view, it’s quite breezy and cool; the atmosphere isn’t really for working, but it’s perfect for chilling out. The coffee is average, and their “syrniki” (cottage cheese pancakes) are more like “bread pancakes,” so don’t expect too much from the menu, but as a cozy viewpoint – it’s excellent.

Blooming Gallery Cafe

A beautiful place, it was very pleasant to sit there, especially during the low season when it’s empty. Prices are above average, but I really enjoyed the food. The coffee is okay-ish. It’s another decent option for sitting with a laptop in the air conditioning.

Roastery Village | Fisherman’s Village

Perhaps they used to roast coffee here – they have a roaster inside and offer beans for selection. But the coffee itself never impressed me. The last time I was there, filter coffee wasn’t even on the menu anymore. Maybe that was temporary. Nevertheless, it’s a decent place to sit with a laptop. It’s usually not very crowded, quite cool inside, and has comfortable tables.

SHADE | Lamai

It has the pleasant atmosphere of a roadside cafe, and the coffee is relatively good; I’d say better than average, but I don’t think they offer filter coffee. Food-wise, they only have pastries and desserts. Probably not the best atmosphere for working, but perfectly fine for sitting with a laptop or a book. There’s just something about it.

The Secret Brunch | Lamai

Another pleasant cafe with air conditioning and pretty good breakfasts (or brunches). You can sit with a laptop, but it can get crowded. The menu is quite good – superfoods, vegan options, Eggs Benedict, etc. Coffee is standard.

To Be Sweet | Lad Koh

Here you’ll find syrniki (cottage cheese pancakes), draniki (potato pancakes), blini (crepes), and things like that. But it’s not just Russian cuisine. They have, for example, very tasty shakshuka and other options. It’s very popular with the Russian-speaking crowd, sometimes there are even queues. Probably not suitable for work, but as a breakfast spot – definitely worth it.

Punch it Healthy Cafe | Lamai

A cafe attached to a Muay Thai gym. There’s a small air-conditioned area and an open area overlooking the ring. An unusual, intriguing menu. They use their own beans from Chiang Mai, and overall the coffee is decent. The food is tasty; it might not be the coziest place to sit with a laptop, but definitely worth dropping by specifically for a meal.

MonAmi Café | Bangrak

A simple little cafe with air conditioning and a sofa upstairs. It’s usually quite quiet, and they make tasty sandwiches. There isn’t much else in terms of food. It overlooks the road, coffee is standard, but nevertheless, it was a great place to start the morning, sit with a laptop, drink coffee, check emails, etc.

Lama Cafe | Lamai

The coffee here is decent, and they offer a choice of beans, although the selection isn’t huge. It’s quite quiet and cozy; the food menu only includes croissants and waffles. The place isn’t very popular, usually not crowded and quiet. I sat here once with my laptop in the A/C, and it was pretty good. Can’t say there’s anything particularly special about it, but if you live nearby, it’s one of the better options.

Coffee Connextions | Fisherman’s Village

This cafe positions itself as a space for work and meetings. It has a pleasant interior and a large communal table for working. The coffee is standard, and the food consists mainly of croissants and Russian desserts. The main area doesn’t have air conditioning, only fans. Overall, it’s a nice place, though a bit cramped, but could work for getting things done if it’s not too hot.

The Coffee Club

This is an Australian coffee chain. They have air conditioning, sofas, and you can even work here. It can get noisy and crowded, as it’s quite popular. Prices are above average, but the food is decent, and the coffee is much better than Starbucks.

Amazon | Lamai

Closing out my list is the most common coffee chain in Thailand. It’s sort of the local equivalent of Starbucks. This is where you’ll find the worst coffee. Food is limited to croissants and cookies. But they reliably have air conditioning and power outlets. If you just need a place to sit with your laptop, it’s a decent option. Amazon has many branches on the island, almost at every gas station, but the Lamai branch has a special one with a sea view. This was the nearest air-conditioned cafe when I lived nearby, and it saved me during hot spells when the power went out at home after storms.

That’s all for now! I’ll be sure to add more spots as I discover them.