The Factory Cafe, Koh Tao - the café we went back to three times

Beautiful rustic design, a warm atmosphere, excellent food and a good choice of gluten-free dishes. The Factory Cafe, in the Sairee area of Koh Tao, is one of the cafés we most enjoyed spending time in on the island.

There are cafés you go into once, enjoy and move on from. And there are those where you know on your very first visit that you want to come back. The Factory Cafe was exactly that for us. During our stay on Koh Tao we went back three times, and not only for the food. We simply loved being there.

Rustic design with lots of character

What sets The Factory Cafe apart is, first of all, its design. It combines beautiful wooden furniture, decorative pieces, unusual light fittings and all sorts of details that together create a rustic look - rich in detail, but very pleasant and harmonious.

It has a warm, inviting feel that is hard to capture in photos. This is not just another café with standard tables and chairs, but a place where thought has gone into every detail. The wood, the natural materials and the effortless design create an atmosphere that is a real pleasure to sit in.

The outdoor seating area is very nice too. You can choose between sitting inside, in the carefully designed space, or sitting outside in a more open, relaxed setting.

For us, it is one of those places where you are in no hurry to finish your coffee and leave. Quite the opposite - you feel like staying a little longer.

Varied, fresh and, above all, very tasty food

The atmosphere is only part of the story. The food at The Factory Cafe was excellent too.

The menu is very varied and focuses on breakfast, brunch and light but filling dishes. You will find egg dishes, toasts, veggie-packed bowls, salads, shakes, fruit bowls and dishes with a range of influences.

The café's approach is food based on fresh ingredients, with an emphasis on nourishing dishes and options that suit vegetarians and vegans too.

We really enjoyed the food on every visit. It was the kind of place where both the atmosphere and what arrives on the plate make you want to come back.

Gluten-free options - a real advantage

One of the things that matters most to us when choosing a café in Thailand is being able to find gluten-free food.

The Factory Cafe has a range of gluten-free options, and that is definitely one of its strengths.

On the menu you will find, among other things, eggs served with gluten-free bread, toasts with spreads on gluten-free bread, and bowls with vegetables, pulses and other ingredients marked as suitable for a gluten-free diet.

That means you can enjoy a varied breakfast or brunch without having to settle for a plain salad or yet another improvised dish.

Good to know: if you have coeliac disease, ask the staff about separate preparation and cross-contamination. A dish being listed as gluten-free on the menu does not guarantee a gluten-free preparation area.

Where is The Factory Cafe?

The café is in the Sairee area, one of the most central and convenient parts of Koh Tao, close to the main road and not far from Sairee Beach.

Its location makes it an easy choice for breakfast before setting off to explore the island, a coffee break in the middle of the day or a relaxed brunch.

Do we recommend it?

Absolutely. The Factory Cafe was one of our favourite cafés on Koh Tao.

The combination of beautiful rustic design, a warm atmosphere, pleasant seating inside and out, a varied menu and particularly tasty food made it a place we wanted to return to again and again.

And perhaps that is the best recommendation we can give: we went three times, and every time we enjoyed it all over again.

Useful details

• Name: The Factory Cafe
• Location: Sairee area, Koh Tao, Thailand
• Type of place: café, breakfast and brunch
• Especially good for: lovers of well-designed cafés, breakfast fans, vegetarians, vegans and anyone looking for gluten-free options
• Seating: inside and outside
• Opening hours: check before you go, as different sources give different opening hours.