Visit Uruea Café (Bangkok)

Located in the Thonburi district of Bangkok, Uruea Café has gone viral for the unique view it offers of the Big Buddha of Bangkok located at Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen.

Set along the canal in a former shipyard area, it is accessible via a short walk through narrow alleys that show a different side of Bangkok. Personally, I enjoy the 10-minute walk to reach it from the nearest metro station (MRT Tha Phra). The café is a 12-minute walk from the Big Buddha temple. Therefore, visiting the café for a first "postcard-style" glimpse of the Buddha, the canal, and the longtail boats before walking to the temple itself is, in my view, a great way to discover Bangkok's giant Buddha.

The café itself isn't incredibly charming and is managed very much like a tourist café targeting Chinese visitors, which is a bit of a shame, but people come here mainly for the photos. And it's worth the trip for that alone. The café has an air-conditioned room and outdoor tables in a covered area. You can find classic drinks, coffees, Thai teas, smoothies, and some desserts or snacks at prices that are still reasonable for a tourist spot.

The best time to visit, which is also when it's usually the most crowded, is in the late afternoon, when the light becomes softer and more pleasant for photos just before sunset.