Drawing Room Coffee and Gallery

Drawing Room Coffee and Gallery is one of the more personal cafés in Old Phuket Town, a coffee shop and art space on the corner of Phang Nga Road, a short walk from the On On Hotel. The building looks like a converted row of garages, and its outside walls are covered with bold, colourful street art, which makes it easy to find and a popular backdrop for photographs.

Inside, it feels more like an artist's studio and living room than a conventional café. Every surface is filled with curiosities: paintings, pottery, antiques, old toys, Buddha figures and handmade figurines, some of them by local artists and available to buy. Seating is a mix of mismatched furniture, low coffee tables and vintage armchairs, and it is the kind of place where people sit and read, or chat with the owner about the pieces on display.

Coffee is the focus, and it is well made. Do not expect a large food menu; this is a place for a drink and a break rather than a meal, so eat before or after at one of the old town's many restaurants. The café opens from 09:30 to 18:00. Opening days are not published, so if you are making a special trip, check its social media channels or call ahead.

Drawing Room suits solo travellers, couples, art lovers and anyone who enjoys browsing for unusual souvenirs. It is calm, which makes it a pleasant contrast to the busier cafés on Thalang Road, and a good place to sit out the hottest part of the day. If you buy art, ask about wrapping for travel, and handle the displays with care, as many items are fragile or one-off pieces.

Phang Nga Road runs parallel to Thalang Road, so the café fits easily into a walk around the old town. The On On Hotel is a short stroll away, Tu Kab Khao and Thalang Road are close by, and on Sunday afternoons the walking street market spreads onto this road too. Combine a visit with the Thai Hua Museum and Soi Romanee for a relaxed morning, finishing with lunch at one of the noodle shops or Phuket restaurants nearby.