Savor more Sarnies at cafe’s new downtown digs in leafy Soi Tonson (Photos)

By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee

Sep 22, 2021 | 4:02pm Bangkok time

Downtown fans of Sarnies’ coffee, baked dishes and hearty brunches won’t have to commute to Charoen Krung now that they are available at its new hangout tucked in a leafy road in central Bangkok.

After over three years in its gorgeous riverside shop, the hip cafe has added another outpost called Sarnies Roastery that’s only a few minutes on foot from BTS Chit Lom down Soi Tonson.

“During the past months, many people were in a defensive mode, but we’ve been in a building mode,” said Benjamin Lee, Aussie founder of Sarnies who was working inside the cafe.

Sarnies Roastery

Apart from the new spot, there are even more exciting projects coming along, according to Lee, including bakery-focused Sarnies Sourdough, a music studio and a record label.

But let’s get back to the Roastery itself.

Unlike its riverside digs, the new space is decked out in a pinewood interior to honor its soi (tonson meaning “pinewood”). On a Friday afternoon, the cafe was packed with customers – a mix of cafe-hoppers cursed by always-hungry Instagram feeds and a few souls working at laptops.

The place’s name is made obvious in one corner, where two roasting machines crank out fresh beans daily. The shop offers the full selection of single-origin beans, many from the north of Thailand, as well as some fan-favorite blends such as fruity, medium-light roast Smooth Criminal (THB399/250 grams) and medium-dark Mr. Darkside (THB439/250 grams) that packs a bold, smoky flavor.

For customers who want to upgrade their home coffee game, a ceiling-high wooden shelf awaits them before heading home. The list of “signature coffees” wouldn’t be complete without a Dirty Coffee (THB115) – a popular item with two shots of espresso poured into a pool of cold milk. It goes great with a not-so plain croissant with cashew butter & roasted grape (THB160).

Anyway, those who want to grab a new breed of caffeine should definitely give White Coffee Lemonade (THB100) a try. The zesty, fizzy drink is brilliantly made out of lemonade infused with milk and coffee and served in a wine glass that has a few coffee beans floating around (“So you don’t forget you’re drinking coffee!” Eric said).

Apart from the beverages, Sarnies has a long list of items ranging from salad, sandwiches and pasta. Sarnies – that’s British slang for sandwiches – come in variety with a choice of breads like sourdough, focaccia or sesame bagel. Reuben Sandwich (THB330) smoked pastrami with sauerkraut and mustard. It’s served with both high quality and high quantity.

Don’t want to get them fingers messy? Fine. Sarnies’ kitchen has other items in store. One of them is Miso Pesto Pasta (THB330), a twist on classic pesto recipe that adds the Japanese traditional seasoning with smoked tomato and made-in-house labneh and served alongside thick and chewy sourdough pici pasta.

Miso pesto pasta, smoked tomato and labneh (THB330).

Don’t underestimate a veggie-centric selection like the Roasted Beetroot Salad (THB280). Its intriguing mix of earthy roasted beet wedges, tangy grilled oranges and hazelnut crunchiness is unlikely to disappoint. Goat cheese drizzled on top just elevates everything to another delicious level.

Sarnies Roastery is located in Soi Tonson. It’s currently open 7:30am to 5pm every day. Opening hours may be expanded to accommodate dinner at a later date.