In Bangkok, brunch is serious business. Weekends mean packed cafés, long waits, and tables filled with expats and hi so Thais treating late morning like a social event. New spots open constantly, and trends come and go. Still, Roast, which opened in 2011, has managed to hold its ground and become one of the city’s established brunch favorites.
There are now several Roast branches around Bangkok, but I usually head to the one at The Helix Quartier in EmQuartier. It is the location I know best and the one I keep coming back to.
I first went to Roast on the recommendation of my friend Annie, who used to live in Bangkok and had very clear standards when it came to coffee and brunch. I liked it immediately, and since then it has become one of my regular stops whenever I am in the city.
The kitchen leans modern American, with a focus on fresh ingredients and solid quality. The brunch menu covers all the classics: Eggs Benedict, pancakes, huevos rancheros, and other familiar favorites. It is the kind of place where you can order exactly what you are craving, whether that is something savory and indulgent or sweet and comforting. The coffee is very good, which is reason enough to visit.
Roast is popular, especially at brunch time on weekends. Even though it is a fairly large restaurant, you might have to queue with the rest of brunch loving Bangkok to get a table. It is open for dinner as well, but it is lunch and brunch that made Roast famous.
The Helix Quartier branch is located in the restaurant section of EmQuartier, one of Bangkok’s more upscale shopping malls. EmQuartier is directly connected to Phrom Phong BTS station, so the easiest way to get there is by Skytrain. From the station, just follow the signs into the mall and head toward The Helix Quartier.
Bangkok has no shortage of brunch spots, but Roast remains one of the classics. Reliable, busy, and consistently good.
Roast, EmQuartier, Bangkok
