Located in one of the burgeoning leafy sois of mid-Sathon, Moko Coffee & Eatery is a recent addition to the daytime dining scene of the city. It’s located just round the corner from some fair competition in Rocket, the Swedish-tinged brunch juggernaut. But at Moko the trajectory is of a different Euro-flavour, with an unashamed Mediterranean bent, executed with panache and poise. Modelled on (multi) shophouse proportions, the interior is an airy open-plan room of blacks and whites with plenty of natural light and an easy ambience to welcome you in off the street. The soft jazz sets the tone right, and you can almost feel the heat and bustle outside slipping away as you dip your croissant in your coffee. The crowd is a mix of Europeans trying to feel closer to home and well-heeled local residents that know their latte from their larb.
Mediterranean THE MENU
Moko Coffee & Eatery
8am-8pm 71/1 Sathon Soi 10 02-635-3673 fb.com/MokoRestaurant
The soft opening menu is a measured spread of classic European breakfast and lunch staples. Three breakfast sets (B350 each) make the first important decision of the day easier. We tried Mediterranean which features super fresh orange juice and fruit salad, a tasty croissant (courtesy of Le Beaulieu), creamy scrambled eggs and a coffee of choice (Nespresso or illy) in a balanced and well-presented morning spread. Lunch options include Bruschetta classica (B250), which features Jabugo iberico ham on top of generous chunks of mozzarella and diced cherry tomatoes laid on a crispy slice of bread. More subtle is Seabass tartare (B330), which is a delicate combination of herbs, reduction and white fish, accented by chilli and pomegranate seeds in an impressive plate. Tiramisu (B190) is home-made creaminess that rivals Appia in authenticity. From the bar, options range from smoothies to teas (Harney & Sons) to cocktails. SAD (B200) contains vodka, lime and just enough wasabi to perfectly balance the refreshing afternoon sipper. There’s also a modest selection of reasonably priced wine (B980-B1,550) and bottled beer (B100-B120) as well as milkshakes (B90-B120).
INSIDER TIP
They’re looking to push into dinner territory, which will make another good option for a Sathon/Silom night out. H Gallery is in the next soi (12), which would make for a lazy weekend afternoon double bill in combination. The owner says she plans to open a Thai restaurant in the same area before the end of the year.
SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENTS
Speaking of which, owner Martine Pailloux is an interior designer by training and also runs a gallery space (Pan Road) so has a keen creative eye. This means the walls are filled with photogenic specimens and a series on the back wall, currently a series of Spanish street art taken by Martine’s niece, will rotate monthly for your photo shoot backdrop.
VALUE & VERDICT
Moko is every Sathon hotel F&B director’s nightmare. How can they recommend that guests eat in-house when there are clearly better (and cheaper) options locally, such as Moko. There’s already lots of thought and love in the F&B, and with the relaxing ambience, tight tune selection and easy crowd, brunch just got better in Bangkok. G
