A TRIP to Bangkok’s famous Pak Khlong Talat flower market near both the Memorial Bridge and Chinatown is something both tourists and locals enjoy, but once there the challenge is to find a good place to enjoy a cup of coffee.
Sanook.com’s columnist Country Boy went there the other day and by chance spotted a flower shop that had a sign saying Floral Café on the front door, so he walked in to check it out.
This café on the shop’s 2nd and 3rd floors has been beautifully decorated in a western vintage style, and being there really does transport guests out of Thailand all the way to an English garden.
The sweets and drinks too are no less appealing, being very tasty and one can make out that the raw materials used were carefully selected.
For those who do not know, a detailed account in Wikipedia.com says that this market has a long history. During the reign of Rama I (1782–1809), a floating market took place on the site of the modern Pak Khlong Talat.
By the reign of Rama V (1868–1910), it had changed to a fish market.The fish market was eventually converted to today’s produce market, which has existed for over 60 years. The market’s focus has shifted from produce to flowers as the Talat Thai market on the outskirts of Bangkok has become a more attractive site for produce wholesaling.
Most of the flowers sold in the market are delivered from Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, and Samut Songkhram provinces, though flowers that require cooler growing temperatures may come from as far away as Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai.
The market accommodates both consumers and wholesalers and has a wide variety of customers. Many local florists visit the market in the early morning hours to stock their shops for the coming day. The urban poor who make a living stringing and selling phuang malai (flower garlands) buy sacks of jasmine and marigold blossoms from here.
CAPTION:
Top, in-text and below: The beautiful Floral Café and its tasty treats. Photos: Sanook.com
DETAILS:
Floral Café is located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of Napasorn flower shop.
Address: 67 Chak Petch road, Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok
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