Discover Bangkok’s literary gems—book cafés, artful libraries, and historic hotels that offer stories, style, and a reader’s perfect escape.
Designated a World Book Capital by UNESCO in 2013, Bangkok has a rich literary culture, playing host to two different literature festivals each year and countless bookstores, libraries, and literacy programs.
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
Set on the scenic Chao Phraya River, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has been around for over 149 years. And for book lovers, one of this 5-star hotel’s most notable features is the Author’s Lounge, a café with 19th-century wicker furniture and photos of famous writers gracing the walls. The café also happens to serve a special book-themed afternoon tea, with delectable sweets placed inside a unique, book-shaped dessert stand.
The Author’s Lounge is only one of the hotel’s dozen restaurants and bars, catering to a wide range of tastes. Visitors across the board praise both the staff and the beautiful architecture that provides a true luxury experience.
Bangkok Publishing Residence
While the Mandarin Oriental dips its toes in literary culture, Bangkok Publishing Residence is a hotel that’s neck-deep in it. Located near the city’s historic Old Town, it’s housed in a building that used to be a printing house for the Bangkok Weekly in the 1960s.
While much of the decor has been upgraded to offer its guests comfort, you can still get a strong feeling of its publishing house roots in the structure of the building and the library and reading rooms filled with books, typewriters, and vintage printing machines. Quick note, though: this hotel is for those aged 16 and up, most likely in consideration of the many antiques tucked away here and there.
River Books Shop
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Settled near Wat Pho, one of Bangkok’s most prominent Buddhist temples, River Books Shop’s aesthetic is a perfect combination of chic and traditional Thai patterns. This bookshop and café specializes in Southeast Asian art, history, and culture, with most of its stock consisting of self-published titles you won’t find elsewhere.
It has a fairly even mix of Thai and English language books (which makes sense considering it’s near a hot tourist spot). It also offers some crazy good Thai teas and smoothies, perfect for a hot day.
Pridi Banomyong Library
Pridi Banomyong just so happens to be Thailand’s only underground library, with its four levels extending down, filled with literature on history, politics, and Thai culture. Alongside its books are plenty of modern conveniences like computer and audiovisual labs, and even a coffee shop, all thriving beneath Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan Campus.
Entry for non-students requires a small fee (30 baht or less than US$1 as of this writing). It’s a stellar deal, what with the many activities, exhibitions, and workshops the library is always hosting.
Bangkok City Library
Located in Bangkok’s historic district is a surprisingly modern public library. Opened in 2017, Bangkok City Library offers a huge collection of both Thai and international books, plus free wifi, a ton of multimedia resources, and even books in Braille.
The library has many classical design elements, making for an overall elegant look, all while swimming in modern convenience. Consequently, establishing this library was one of the major initiatives Bangkok undertook after becoming a UNESCO World Book Capital, and it more than does its job in promoting reading culture in the city.
Passport Bookshop
This independent, two-story bookstore gives off a homey atmosphere with its eclectic, colorful decor. The book-filled shelves plastered across the wall and staircase only add to the off-beat design, creating a space that is sure to put any bibliophile at ease.
Though it specializes in travel books in both English and Thai, you can also find a decent selection of other subjects like philosophy and literature. It also sells coffee, tea, and snacks alongside maps, postcards, and various merchandise.
Bangkok Art and Culture Center (BACC) Art Library
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Add some art to your life with the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre’s specialized art library. Here, you can learn to your heart’s content from the collection of books and magazines on contemporary art, with a notable shout-out to the contemporary Thai exhibition catalogues.
The library also features reading areas, workspaces, and a kids’ corner for families and children. There’s even a free membership system that lets people borrow up to five books for seven days, and a decent selection of e-books and other digital resources available through the center’s website.
Thailand Knowledge Park (TK Park)
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Established in 2004, TK Park promotes learning and literacy through a series of reading programs, workshops, and events, partnering with local government and private companies to spread knowledge in a unique and creative way.
Located on the 8th Floor of Central World, this creative, contemporary design filled with books and other multimedia (in multiple languages, such as Thai and English) makes it a hotspot for people of all ages, especially the younger generation. A small entry fee is needed to get in, but considering all there is to do, you get a lot of bang for your buck.
B2S Think Space – Central Chidlom
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This bookstore is the definition of Instagrammable, both in its unique, creative design and trendy, aesthetically pleasing layout. Its best-known feature is its Book Cave, with bookshelves mimicking a tunnel and a mirrored ceiling that gives the impression of being surrounded by an infinite number of texts.
Its children’s section also has a fun design, centered in a rounded space and complete with a comfy reading nook for eager young learners.
HARDCOVER: The Art Book Shop
Located at the Central Embassy, HARDCOVER: The Art Book Shop offers a carefully curated selection on a variety of art-related topics, but most especially art from all over the world in all its forms: paintings, ceramics, statues, photography, architecture, and more. It’s also noted for having quite a few rare books.
The interior is a work of art, as well: leaves painted on the ceiling for a whimsical feel, a striking tower of shelves, and structures leading from one floor into the next. Even if you don’t buy a single book, it’s worth a visit just to soak up the atmosphere.
Dasa Book Cafe
At three stories tall, you better believe this bookstore-and-café is crammed full of books. Not just any books, either; this secondhand shop sells primarily foreign-language titles, like English, French, German, and Italian. It covers a wide range of non-fiction as well as genre fiction. It’s a great place to find fantasy, mystery, children’s literature, and more.
On top of that, this book café sells secondhand CDs and coffee, accompanied by a peaceful vibe that’s perfect to relax in.
Li-bra-ry Cafe (ไล-บรา-รี่)
Li-bra-ry Cafe is a book café with style in spades. It has a calming, minimalist vibe and plenty of books that are free to read while munching on sandwiches or desserts.
It has multiple seating areas, one of which has a ceiling striped with skylights, allowing for plenty of natural light. Combined with the brick interior and Zen-like strip of pebbles lining the base of the wall, it gives off the feeling of sitting outdoors while inside.
Black and Milk at Rimkhobfa Bookstore
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Remember: you can never have enough book cafés, and Black and Milk at Rimkhobfa Bookstore is an excellent example of why. Filled with Thai-language books about local culture and history, visitors can browse bookshelves interspersed with café seating.
The interior design is bright and airy, with a chic sense of style and a striking layout on the second floor, where you can peer down below amidst rows of books beside a mirror-like-plated wall.
B2S Think Space Eastville
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This one’s another B2S Think Space, this time located in Central Eastville, a shopping mall in Lad Phrao District. It offers a massive variety of books in a fairly even split of Thai and English-language, plus art supplies, stationary, CDs, and gift items The store’s design is largely in lighter colored wood, giving off a fresh, clean vibe, with gently curved bookshelves and walls that give off a distinctive style.
The store is divided into multiple sections, such as lifestyle, entertainment, and even a children’s area that comes with a slide. It really goes all out to attract people of all ages, making it a delight to visit.
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K Lou
K. Lou is a writer born in the U.S. who found her way to Japan through a spiritual calling—or, more precisely, better access to tea. She writes about travel, culture, and the occasional creative piece, inspired by her enduring love of books. This love began in high school when K. Lou carried books around to avoid seeming odd while lost in thought. Once she started reading, she never stopped. With zero regrets, she continues to explore the written word and invites others to join her in celebrating its varied forms.
