Idle treats beneath the trees

Coffee Model, which I stumbled upon while wandering along Pradipat Road, isn’t your average coffeehouse. It’s cosy and comfortable all right, but its shady setting sets it apart. It’s hard to find a spacious, peaceful spot amid the trees in Bangkok’s suburbs. 

Once you’ve entered via the terrace, which is paved with old timbers, and scrutinised the menu held by a wooden mannequin of a chef, you can order your coffee or some other hot beverage or a soft drink and sit either indoors or out in a comfy chair. Or you can grab a table for a meal – there are a handful of them, each big enough for two people.

Behind the glass facade is an espresso bar that also whips up smoothies and dishes out baked treats like banoffee pie, apple crumble, crepe cakes and brownies. The decor is colourfully vintage, and heavy on the antique toys and posters of old-time singers such as Elvis Presley.

“Opening a coffeeshop and being your own boss is everyone’s dream,” says Chayaporn Suwannapasri, who’s in her second year at Srinakharinwirot University. “I don’t go to coffeeshops for the coffee – I just have a soft drink and something baked. They all have their own unique appeal when it comes to food and drinks. I use my free time to read a book and listen to music on my mobile. 

“So, for Coffee Model, I wanted my customers to feel like they were at home relaxing or hanging out at the park.” 

The outdoor area in the rear, hemmed with shrubs and shady beneath the trees shimmering in the sun, has a touch of the old and more than a touch of whimsy. Chayaporn points out that it’s big enough to host public events, whether a small fund-raising concert or a wedding. Coffee tables and dining tables are scattered about, offering different moods to match their setting. There’s sculpture here and there, a telephone booth and a rocking horse, and even a toy train zipping around its miniature tracks. 

You have wi-fi access and, if you arrive in a good-sized group, a place to “hold a meeting”.

“On weekdays most of the customers are men sitting at their laptops, lingering over a few cups of coffee and some bakery items. The women usually come on weekend evenings,” says Chayaporn.

Nearby is Bangkok Hi-Fi, a home for people who love vinyl records old and new. If you’re in the area, it’s a little out of the way, but it’s worth the walk.

 

Made for relaxing

 

_ Coffee Model is just off Praditpat Road, between Praditpat Sois 12 and 14. It’s about a five- minute stroll from the Saphan Khwai intersection.

_ The shop is open daily from 10 to 10.

_ Call them up at (081) 812 5973 or (083) 256 4141.