Cafés in Khon Kaen

*Not listed in any particular order

Khon Kaen thrives on its café community. There's always the "next best" café to open up and these coffee addicts will follow along to check it off their undying list. Cafés are considered a luxury and ain't cheap. I found myself spending 80 baht ($2.16) on my pad Thai at the market, but 120 baht ($3.24) on a coffee and pastry. In my mind, and like many others, it was worth it. The experience is nothing like what I've ever seen in the US, and I had to immerse myself fully into this weekend indulgence to understand what the hype was all about. Now I get it. And if you're as curious as I am, you will too once you check one, two, three — or all of these places off your list. Let's break them down, shall we?

1. Aura
You wouldn't believe this place is right off the highway because it's woven into a forest of enchantment as soon as you step through its garden passageway. The mini waterfalls, the neighboring streams, the foggy mist and the outside tables placed at a distance to give you your own experience with friends and family — you haven't even walked in the door yet. The pink and green decor of furniture and flowers on the first floor, and leading up to the second, will be as warm a welcome as the staff who are there to greet you. The menu is extensive and took me a good 15 minutes to sift through before finally being able to narrow down my decision. Specialty coffee is their main point of sale, but if you're hungry for traditional Thai food, pizza or some baked goods, they have more than enough options to satisfy any belly.

My go-to order: Butterfly pea tea, som tam with shrimp and blueberry timber ring

2. Double you Café
My first reaction when pulling into Double you: "C'mon, this can't exist here." This café is a monstrosity of a venue, and certainly can serve as a mini landscape of Tuscany, Italy — right in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The pebbled parking lot, the long stretch of walkway lined with Cypress trees, a pond of lilypads and lotus flowers centrally leading up to its double doors — again, how?? The inside of Double you is complete with luxury-style decor in a "green undertone" kind of theme. Similar to Aura, they specialize in craft coffee, but I couldn't peel my eyes away from the display case of sweets, and fine — the curry chicken also sounds really good. Sitting inside is an experience in itself, but my favorite spot was through the back doors and on either side, where you have outdoor cushions to lay back on while admiring the koi fish pond and misty backdrop of lush green. Play dress-up, and spend two hours or so here just taking pictures and sipping/snacking on as many menu items you can get your hands on.

My go-to order: Signature mixed berry refresher, chicken curry and blueberry cheesecake

3. Neighbour Café
Like a good neighbor ... this café is here to make you feel like you're literally walking into the comfort of your friendly next-door neighbor's housewarming party. There's some seating outside on picnic benches, but the coziest and most well-lit atmosphere lies inside in a modern twist of rustic furniture and chic decor. Their food is just as impressive as their coffee, so it's worth grabbing a friend to sit down for lunch and spend an hour or two just chatting life away.

Note: Café parking is just on the street, so it may be difficult to snag a spot — and they don't appreciate you working here, so I'd say leave the laptop at home and use the time to socialize instead.

My go-to order: Matcha latte, garlic fried rice with teriyaki salmon, salted caramel sea-salt brownie

4. 11AM Café and Space
Meanwhile, 11AM was my go-to for ever getting any work done. Just off the main road, I found this space and fell in love with its all-white design and natural lighting on both floors (the additional energy boost to my caffeine high). There are also so many aesthetic backdrops to take pictures with your coffee before it gets cold or the ice melts — so get a feel for the place and do a whole walk-around before taking a seat. I don't remember them serving any food, but the selection of coffee and pastries was memorable.

Note: It was overcrowded each of the four times I visited — mostly with people who come solely for the photo shoots — so if you need to get work done in peace and quiet, let yourself up to the second floor to escape the flashing lights.

My go-to order: Thai-style iced coffee and honey lemon cake

5. Godfather Coffee - II
Unlike the Thai sun shining radiantly into 11AM, Godfather Coffee II gives off a mysterious and industrial vibe that made me feel like I showed up to the club at 4 pm on a Wednesday. You don't have to know the movie to feel the resemblance — but if you do, appreciate scenes from this classic film projected on the walls (and maybe some subtle clues I may have missed). The coffee is roasted in-house and has a rich and smooth taste, and the presentation was so exquisite it was almost a pity to take a sip. I was fascinated with its menu of variety and creativity of coffee and pastries, all served in a rice basket.

Note: The music is blaring inside, so I struggled to concentrate on getting any work done. An alternative is the outside seating if you need a moment of silence and/or can't read in the dark. Honestly, I would just come back here for the social scene instead.

My go-to order: Affogato and Thai tea croissant

6. From Scratch The Wall
I found this place by simply walking by it to go to a different coffee shop and couldn't resist the temptation to just peek through the window at the immaculate display of bread and pastries. I think I came here the most out of all my café visits because the atmosphere is relaxed, yet busy, and the lighting was just this perfect golden balance between luminous and dim. They have two locations and the one near the CentralWorld Mall is much bigger, but has the same menu selection, so it doesn't matter which you choose. What I really like about this location is that it's off the main street in an alleyway surrounded by other shops in a graffiti-artsy sorta atmosphere, so it's fun to walk around for a bit and explore afterwards.

My go-to order: Peanut butter chocolate latte (for all my pb addicts like me) and carrot cake

7. Kyoto Shi Café
Now THIS place is really freaking cool. Everyone on my Instagram thought I was in Japan when I posted my experience here because it does really feel like you're transporting to Tokyo off the streets of Khon Kaen. The menu lists off specialty coffee, Japanese food and donuts — which aren't too popular in Thailand, but here, the selection is extensive and impressive, so just try one! There's some seating outside, but I recommend snagging a booth in the back if you can find one. This place was crowded both times I came, and the Khon Kaen University (KKU) students usually are the ones to overcrowd it, so I would definitely avoid the weekend for a more peaceful experience. And my suggestion? Right across the street from this café is the inviting Bueng Kan Nakhon Reservoir. Take your drink with you on the boardwalk to loop around this impressive spot that has served as a community get-together and dinosaur statue memoir. It's about two miles to loop and boasts some beautiful views from every angle — especially at sunrise and sunset!

My go-to order: Kyoto matcha and a sweet cream donut

8. miti café
Similar to the all-white everything at 11AM Café, but miti is like stepping into a new dimension of a relaxed and chill atmosphere. This box-shaped building was the ideal work environment for me and my laptop. Both the inside and outside seating are spacious and shady, so it depends on the level of Thai heat that day when making your seat selection. I really enjoyed my shot of espresso for a quick perk-me-up, but the selection of dessert-style coffees are the most popular to sip on.

Note: This café is pricier than many of the other places mentioned

My go-to order: Salted caramel cappuccino and macadamia nut croissant (so gooey!)

9. White Buns Café and Bistro
Ahhh, one of the last cafés I discovered during my one-year stay in Khon Kaen, and I can only say I was disappointed I didn't find it sooner. The Latvian owner and operator turned this place into a four-story hideout for anyone in any mood. The first floor gives off a 1970s diner vibe with a fully equipped bar and a fantastic choice of music playing in the background. Make sure you get there before 2 pm, because the breakfast is unmatched. I could only rule out two things I didn't want out of the 25-ish options, so you may have to come back more than once. Ask for a tour upstairs to push yourself through a bookshelf into a hidden game room, and onto the neon lights in the "clouds" and the top-floor tiki bar overlooking the city. Obviously, while you're here, it's better to stick to the local Thai stuff, but if you're needing a piece of home, the coffee, Western food and desserts are such a privilege. It's an experience you can't have anywhere else in northeast Thailand (that I know of).

My go-to order: Yuzu espresso, eggs benny and truffle risotto

10. SicXcup Coffee
Now, I personally never got the chance to try this place since it just recently opened, but my closest Thai friend told me it was her new favorite. The price is reasonable, the inside has both a sleek and modern design and the barista is also the owner, so the coffee is made with lots of love.

Her go-to order: Latte with their signature fruity coffee bean

Honorable mention

Columbo Craft Village is also a café, book shop, ceramic workshop, ramen noodle shop and cozy garden vibe all combined into one homey experience right at KKU. Check it out during the weekends to hang out with friends, make art, sip coffee and buy some homemade souvenirs that you can't find anywhere else.

Day trip option

If you're feeling bold and ready for a greater challenge to take you further into café exploration, look no further than Ma de Phu Wiang Café.

About an hour drive west of central Khon Kaen lies a café that very few tourists visit, but that entertains a mansion of a café in the middle of what many consider to be "nowhere." I loved walking through the spacious landscape of vibrant gardens and dinosaur statues — lots of photo ops!. I didn't get to tour the private home on site, but from the pictures it looks exquisite, so I definitely recommend booking a tour as soon as you arrive.

There is also a hotel on the premises if you choose to spend a night before making the journey back to Khon Kaen. The café itself was massive, but even on a Saturday night, we were the only people there coming out of high season. They serve a variety of Thai cuisine, desserts and specialty coffee. It was nothing special, but the environment we were in made it worth every bite.

Note: While you're out in the Phu Wiang district, take a pit stop at Phu Wiang National Park (known for holding the world's largest dinosaur graveyard) or the Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum (which highlights the discovery of some of the first fossils in Southeast Asia).