Visit Poomjaï Garden (Bangkok)

Poomjai Garden is a century-old former orchard on the banks of Bangkok's canals, transformed into a vast, tree-filled garden. Here you'll find the Natura Café, where you can sit by the canal with a drink or a slice of cake. Quite out of the way, it's a peaceful and pleasant spot. It is also the starting point for private boat tours on Bangkok's klongs (see below).

The history of the Bang Khun Thian district, where Poomjaï Garden is located, dates back to the Ayutthaya period before experiencing its golden age at the beginning of the Rattanakosin era. It was one of Bangkok's most important agricultural areas. Inhabitants lived mainly along the canals, and getting around was mostly done by boat. The region was famous for its many orchards, notably the renowned Bang Khun Thian lychees. With the progressive urbanization of Bangkok, many orchards disappeared, replaced by housing developments and factories. Poomjai Garden was born out of a desire to preserve this local heritage and revive an abandoned former orchard. The project was launched in 2016 by Khun Pornthip, the garden's founder, driven by the desire to protect the neighborhood's cultural and natural identity.

Thanks to extensive restoration work, the garden has become a space blending:

• ecotourism
• local culture
• nature
• craft workshops (fabric dyeing, Thai cooking and dessert classes, bookings on their website)
• Thai gastronomy
• and environmental awareness

Natura Cafe at the heart of the garden

Natura Cafe is the coffee shop located within Poomjai Garden. Set right by the water and surrounded by dense vegetation, it mainly serves drinks, cakes, and pastries. The most popular area is the bamboo platform along the canal. In theory, to visit the heart of Poomjaï Garden, you are expected to order something at the Natura Cafe located at its far end, but in practice, they don't actually check. That said, it’s a lovely place to sit back, and the prices remain reasonable compared to a venue like Baan Suan Sathorn, a city-center restaurant known for its jungle-like setting.