Sri Lankan-born roaster Karo Iyash, whose full-body Thai tattoos are equally famous as his brews, finally opened his own coffeehouse on Soi Pridi Banomyong 26 earlier this year. Karo uses beans from different origins, including Thai micro-lots (beans with distinct characters) from yellow bourbon trees in Doi Saket, and known international coffee growers (eg., Kenya, Panama). Signature drinks include hot lavender latte (B160) and a spicy Mexican mocha injected with Mexican hot sauce, (B160). If you want something non-caffeinated, try the refreshing home-fermented ginger beer on ice (B120), or a variety of teas imported from Karo’s home country.
In the old days, Soi Sukhumvit 71 was known as a quiet—really quiet—upscale residential neighborhood with shortcuts aplenty from Ekkamai. But things have changed. The city is expanding from the west, and so are the developments. Elegant condos, cool restaurants and bars, artsy galleries and chic boutiques now sit between old shop houses and street food stalls. Smiling old-timers now share the sidewalks with young locals and trendy (Nihonjin) expats. Is Pridi slated to become the city’s hip new hood? Time Out Bangkok roams its street to find out what the buzz is all about.
