Toby’s, Bangkok, Thailand

3 September 2016

TOBY’S

If you’re anything like me, your Instagram feed is dominated by foodies. Beautiful lattes and meals that look more like art than sustenance flit by every couple of swipes. Over time, I found that more often than not, these mouth-watering portraits usually came from the country down under, Australia.

It seems as if Australia has perfected the art of enjoying life. Of course, one of the most important aspects of life is meals we savor. In that department, Australia’s got it down to a tee, meshing food and coffee together, and making it distinct trait of the country’s culinary scene, and an art form in its own right.

When I scoured Instagram for a place to visit in Bangkok, Toby’s was probably the most frequently tagged location. Judging from all the photos people had posted, the establishment was similar to those Australian casual dining spots I so often swooned upon online.

When we got off the taxi at Sukhumvit 38, we were greeted by the sight of a large brick house next to Toby’s main dining area. Behind the blades of cogon grass in its front yard was a wooden sign that proudly bore its name. There was a small stand at the side of the front lawn that sold soft-serve ice, though it seemed closed for the night. Next to the door, a bicycle leaned against the wall by the outdoor seating area. We got there in time for a late dinner, and despite only having seen pictures of Toby’s in daylight, it didn’t look any less charming draped in romantic yellow lights.

Toby’s foyer was where it housed its coffee, decadent desserts, health foods and tea. An espresso machine gleamed as you walked in, and its white porcelain back-splash accentuated the colorful teapots on its shelves. The main dining area was light and airy, with white walls that brought out the room’s wood accents, pastel throw pillows, and the occasional potted plant. I could easily imagine friends enjoying brunch and coffee and taking selfies in any of the room’s beautiful corners.

The waitress told us we were lucky that we were there for a late meal, as Toby’s was overflowing with people at around lunchtime. Picking something from their menu was tough as everything sounded appetizing, but we decided on a crispy chicken appetizer with an aioli dip, followed by a delicious roast pumpkin salad, and finally their popular Brick Chicken. For dessert, we ordered a slice of lemon meringue pie, a hot Americano, and a hot latte.

After our meal, I sought out the story behind Toby’s from Toby himself who told me of how he couldn’t find a place similar to the casual dining spots he frequented as a student in Sydney when he returned to Bangkok; one that served both great food and coffee. So of course, he had to open one himself.

Toby’s became an instant favorite amongst the people of Bangkok and made it the spot to have brunch, managing to have an extensive menu while not relinquishing the quality of their coffee. It’s no wonder pictures of Toby’s stood out so much on Instagram. How could you not indulge in a couple pictures here?

Unfortunately, I didn’t ask Toby what he studied during his time in Sydney, but perhaps one of the best things he learned during his time there as a student was on how to create a spot that was so well-designed, quality-oriented, and memorable that kept people coming back for more. Even though we weren’t there for brunch and only got to try a couple items off the menu, I will say it was a great place to spend an intimate 18th birthday dinner.