The Coffee Club

The coffee club is Australia’s largest home-grown cafe group, with many branches in Bangkok. The cafe I visited was at the Citadines hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 23, which was the closest to my hotel. The cafe is spacious, with indoor and outdoor seating. This all-day cafe serves a good mix of Western and Thai dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are also unique drinks on the menu, such as Tim Tam chocolate, coconut frappe, and marshmallow Cappuccino.

I ordered a Cappuccino and smashed avocado with poached eggs and hashbrowns. The Cappuccino was good, the milk foam was smooth, and the coffee was quite strong. The smashed avocado was beautifully plated. The poached egg cooked perfectly. The hashbrown was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside – a healthy breakfast.

Everything on the menu looked enticing; I wished I had more time to try them all!

Cappuccino – 130 baht

Smash Avocado – 280 baht

Hashbrown – 60 baht

The Coffee Club (Citadines Hotel)

Website: https://thecoffeeclub.co.th/

Opening hours: Daily 6:00 a.m. – 22:30 p.m.

Telephone: +66 65 730 4929

Address: Citadiners Hotel 37/7 Sukhumvit Soi 23 Khlong Toei, North, Wattana Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Fisherman’s Village Bophut

Fisherman’s Village is a walking street in the town of Bophut, with cafes, restaurants, and boutique stores.

I had lunch at two restaurants—Happy Elephant and Krua Baan Khaow. I ordered the same food in both restaurants except for the salad. The food in both restaurants was good. Overall, I prefer Krua Baan Khaow. The Happy Elephant is more pricey and popular among tourists. On the other hand, the decor and atmosphere in Krua Baan Khaow feel more authentic, the food tastes homey, and the price is reasonable. It’s good value for money.

Happy Elephant

Tom yam shrimp       320 baht

Vegetable fried rice  100 baht

Papaya salad            220 baht

Happy elephant

Website: https://www.facebook.com/HappyElephantRestaurant/

Opening hours: Daily 11:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m.

Telephone: +66 77 427 222

Address: 79, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani 84320, Thailand

 

Krua Baan Khaow

Green mango salad

Vegetable fried rice

Tom yam shrimp 

The total was less than 350 baht.

 

Krua Baan Khaow

Website: https://www.facebook.com/kruabaankhaow

Telephone: +66 81 442 0625

Opening hours:  Daily 11:30 a.m. – 22:30 p.m.

Address: 69 Moo 1 Koh Samui Amphoe Ko Samui, Chang Wat Surat Thani 84320

Coffee bar at the Nordic Design Home (permanently closed)

 

This coffee bar is located within the Nordic Design Home furniture shop, about a 15-minute walk from the old town. Both indoor and outdoor seating are available; however, there are only four tables inside. It was raining when I visited the cafe, and all four tables were occupied. Luckily, one customer left a few minutes after my arrival. I love the contemporary setting and dark color tones of the cafe. The floor-to-ceiling windows were aesthetically pleasing.

The cafe offers a variety of specialty coffee, hot sandwiches, and pastries. It also uses Rocket Bean Roastery’s coffee beans, which is the biggest specialty coffee roaster in Latvia.

The cappuccino was bold and full-bodied. The Reuben sandwich was superb! Sourdough bread paired with delicious melted cheese accompanied by creamy sweet dressing, sauerkraut, and corned beef. The outer crust had an amazing crunch. It’s like a grilled cheese sandwich with a punch.

The Nordic Design home coffee bar is definitely worth a trip!

Cappuccino €3

Reuben sandwich €6

 

Nordic Design Home

Website: https://nordicdesignhome.ee/pages/kohvibaar?lang=en

Opening hours: 

Tuesday – Friday
9:00 a.m. – 19:00 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday
10:00 a.m. – 18:00 p.m.

Telephone: +372 511 7313

Address: Maakri 25, 10144, Tallinn

Italala Caffè

Italala Caffè is located in the heart of Old Town, offering a cozy yet contemporary ambiance that invites visitors to unwind with a good cup of coffee and a selection of pastries and desserts. The café’s bright pastel colors create a warm and cheerful atmosphere, making it an inviting spot for both locals and tourists. One of its unique features is the swing seats by the window, perfect for people-watching or simply enjoying the charming street views outside.

On my visit, I ordered a cappuccino, which was decent—smooth and well-balanced, though not particularly memorable. Alongside my coffee, I tried the bread, which was alright but a little plain, lacking any standout flavor. It could have benefited from a bit more richness or a spread to enhance the taste.

Despite this, Italala Caffè is a pleasant spot to relax, with a welcoming environment and a well-curated menu that caters to a variety of tastes. I’d return to explore more of their offerings, especially their pastries and desserts, which looked tempting.

 

Italala Caffè

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ItalalaCaffe/

Opening hours:

Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. – 21:00 p.m.

Friday  7:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m.

Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m.

Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 21:00 p.m.

Telephone: +370 610 34408

Address: Vokiečių g. 1, Vilnius

Jack’s steak house

Jack’s Steak House is a long-established restaurant in Naha that opened in 1953. It used to be an “A-sign” restaurant that was approved for US military personnel when Okinawa was still under American rule. The restaurant has maintained its retro old American diner decor. No reservations are available; however, service is fast, and you won’t have to wait long for a seat.

I arrived at the restaurant around 6 pm, which was already packed. The menu has three kinds of steak: tenderloin steak, New York steak, and hamburger steak. The tenderloin steak is available in three sizes; small, medium, and large, while the New York steak and hamburger steak comes in two sizes; large and small. All steaks come with a side of potato wedges and onions, soup, two toasted buttered buns, and salad. I opted for the medium tenderloin steak.

The soup was bland. It was a very light cream of corn soup. The steak was well done, but I was not impressed with the flavor. It was good but not outstanding. It lacked that rich, smokey beef flavor.

Tenderloin steak (medium) ¥ 2,500

 

Jack’s steakhouse

Website: https://www.steak.co.jp/

Opening hours: Daily 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m (except for the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month)

Telephone: (098)868-2408

Address: 1-7-3 Nishi, Naha City

Džiaugsmas

As one of the 30 best restaurants in Lithuania, Džiaugsmas serves contemporary Lithuanian cuisine. There is a history to this building. The building was once occupied by a famous Russian poet and Nobel Prize winner – Joseph Brodsky. The plaque in memory of Joseph is visible on the front of the building. There is a tiny sign next to the entrance. You won’t be able to see it unless you’re standing in front of the restaurant. I could not tell from the facade of the building that it was a restaurant. It was like walking into someone’s home.

The restaurant has three floors and rooms for private dining. Its interior is decorated with dark accent walls and furnishings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The food was served in rustic porcelain dinnerware.

I was first served their homemade rye bread with lard, sunflower seeds, and butter with salt.

For the main course, I had the chicken schnitzel, which had a Nordic twist to it. The chicken had a lovely golden-brown super-crisp crust. The chicken was juicy, tender, and packed with flavor. The fermented currants pop in your mouth with acidic and sweet juices. The chimichurri topping was mild, earthy, herby with a hint of lemony taste, and the horseradish sauce was light, fluffy, sweet, creamy, and smooth. All of these flavors combined made this dish amazingly delectable. It’s one of the best schnitzels I’ve had in terms of flavor and texture.

The salad was fresh and dressed with a vinaigrette. The baby potatoes were waxy and smooth in texture and had a subtle sweet flavor. The sauce for the potatoes was a rich umami broth—absolutely delicious!

I asked the waiter for a recommendation for the dessert. He suggested the angel wings, which is a nostalgic dessert for him, bringing him back to his childhood. The restaurant’s innovative version of the angel wings was beautifully plated. The red from the strawberry powder gave the dish a visual pop. The angel wings were delicately crispy. The ice cream and egg cream were light and velvety. There is a good balance of sweetness and acidity.

I enjoyed my dining experience at Džiaugsmas.

Džiaugsmas water € 3.50 

Schnitzel, herb butter sauce, fermented currants, potatoes, fresh salad, horseradish cream € 15

Angel wings, tonka beans ice cream, strawberries, caramel, egg cream € 6

 

Džiaugsmas

Website: http://www.dziaugsmas.com/ & https://www.facebook.com/dziaugsmas.restoranas/

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 17:00 pm. – 23:00 p.m.

Telephone: +37063111153

Address:  Vilniaus g. 28, LT-01402, Vilnius

Huracán coffee

 

Huracán Coffee is a popular cafe chain in Lithuania. There are several branches in Vilnius, which you can find on their webpage. I visited the Pirkliai branch, situated across from Lukiškės Square along Gedimino Avenue. The cafe is bright and welcoming with industrial-style furnishing.

I got myself a black forest cake and an iced latte. The cake tasted nothing like a black forest cake; it was dry and a little on the sweet side. The coffee was a letdown. It tasted watered down.

Although the food and coffee were a disappointment. This cafe has a lovely atmosphere, a great place to study or hang out.

 

 

Huracán coffee Pirkliai

Website: https://www.huracan.lt/

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 6:30 a.m. – 20:00 p.m. / Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 20:00 p.m.

Telephone: +370 659 36132

Address: Gedimino pr. 35, Vilnius 01108, Lithuania

BREW specialty coffee

BREW is a local specialty coffee bar that offers a variety of freshly roasted beans for espressos and filtered coffees. The menu also includes fresh juices, smoothies, and sandwiches. In warmer months, there is outdoor seating.

I visited BREW for breakfast. I ordered a Cappuccino and a warm chicken sandwich. I really enjoyed the coffee – it was strong and full-bodied.  The chicken sandwich was good.

This is one of my favorite places to get coffee in Vilnius.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BREW

Website: https://www.facebook.com/brew.specialty.coffee.lt

Telephone: +370 671 83248

Opening hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 21:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 21:00 p.m.

Address: Pylimo G. 19. Vilnius

Valgomasis

Valgomasis is a small family restaurant. The facade of the restaurant is not attractive, but the interior is cozy and homey. The restaurant only serves lunch and Sunday brunch and caters to private events. A good selection of 70s/80s music played in the background.

I made a reservation by email. Then, they sent an English menu in advance to check if I had any dietary restrictions on the day of my visit.

The restaurant offers a very simple menu. The daily menu is listed on the wall but only in Lithuanian. The waitress was sweet and approachable.

I ordered a cabbage soup and a pearl couscous porridge with a minced beef patty and cucumber tomato bean salad for lunch.

While I was waiting for my food, I was served a sweet, dense bread with hummus, which was nice as it was different from the usual butter.

The cabbage soup was hearty with a hint of sweet, creamy note.

The vibrant colors of the pearl couscous porridge were very appetizing. The beef patty was well done, accompanied by a lovely light peppery cream sauce, which balances out the overall flavors of the dish.

What I loved about this restaurant is the different uses of ingredients and flavors. The service and quality of the food exceed the price. The restaurant is a distance away from the old town but totally worth the trip!

Cabbage soup with sour cream €2

Pearl couscous porridge, minced beef patty with black pepper sauce and cucumber tomato bean salad € 5.50

Raspberry tart €2

 

Valgomasis

Website: https://www.facebook.com/valgomasis

Opening hours: Tuesday – Friday 11 a.m. – 14:00 p.m

Telephone: +37061092124

Address: Muitinės g. 43, Vilnius 03109, Lithuania

Vanaema Juures – grandmother’s cooking (permanently closed)

Vanaema Juures is strategically located in the old town along Rataskaevu street with many other popular restaurants. The restaurant is located in the basement with a cozy ambiance accompanied by old-fashioned decor with antique furniture reminiscent of a grandmother’s home.

There was just one waitress, and an older lady, whom I assumed was the owner or manager. The waitress was friendly and spoke good English.

The bread tasted homemade. It was soft and light with a hint of sweetness.

I ordered a smoked meat soup. The soup was hearty and heartwarming. It was perfectly seasoned. The kind of soup that grandmothers would make on a cold winter day.

I had the honey-flavored chicken fillet in parsley sauce, garlic potatoes, wild mushroom sauce, and marinated onion for the main course. The pickled onions were appetizing and refreshing for the palate. The chicken was cooked perfectly, very tender, and juicy. The mushroom sauce was light and creamy.

This is one of my eating highlights in Tallinn – simple and delicious traditional Estonian cuisine.

Smoked meat soup with potatoes 4.5€

Chicken  14€

 

Vanaema Juures

Website: https://www.vonkrahl.ee/

Opening hours: Monday -Sunday  12:00 p.m. -22:00 p.m.

Telephone: +372 6269080

Address: Rataskaevu 10/12