Looking for a comfortable café near the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, a.k.a. Wat Pho? Located in Old Bangkok, the White Mouse Bar & Café by Chakrabongse Villas makes the perfect pit stop while exploring the historic heart of the city — a place to refuel with pastries, cakes, ice creams, teas, and coffees. Adding to its charm is a fascinating display of memorabilia celebrating Thailand’s golden age of motorcar racing. And don’t miss the Saturday special: khao soi, a northern Thai classic rarely found in Bangkok!
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White Mouse Café by Chakrabongse Villas
I discovered the White Mouse Cafe during my stay at Chakrabongse Villas, an exclusive boutique hotel that overlooks the River of Kings, or Chao Phraya, which bisects Bangkok.
The cafe proved to be the perfect spot to take a break from a prowl through Old Bangkok, with its proliferation of heritage sites: the Temple of the Reclining Buddha is practically across the street; and the Grand Palace, Tha Tien Market & Pier, Museum of Siam, and Bangkok National Museum are all just a short walk or tuk-tuk ride away.
Sometimes you really need a quiet spot to sit down, collect your thoughts, and have an indulgent treat! And that is when I discovered the White Mouse Cafe!
You can read my review here: Chakrabongse Villas: Walking in the Footsteps of Royalty!
White Mouse Cafe – Overview
White Mouse Cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating. The ambiance is chill and inviting.
It’s the kind of place where you can make a quick pit stop to refresh and refuel or spend a few hours chatting with friends, reading, or surfing the net – with yummy snacks and beverages within easy reach.
Best best of all, it is practically across the street from the Temple of the Reclining Buddha! It’s the perfect spot to take a break while exploring Old Bangkok!
White Mouse Cafe – Sweet Treats
The White Mouse Cafe serves a simple menu of hot and cold beverages, including coffees, teas, sodas, and beers.
There are also desserts, light bites, ice creams, and a couple of light bites and main dishes. I loved the indulgent iced coffee and ice cream float, which I enjoyed while sorting through the pictures I had taken at the Temple of the Reclining Buddha .
Khao Soi at White Mouse Cafe
Every Saturday, the White Mouse Cafe serves a special dish known as Khao Soi, one of the most popular dishes in Northern Thailand.
But it is hard to find a restaurant in Bangkok that serves it. Furthermore, kkao soi is rarely served at Thai restaurants in other countries. And that’s what makes it so special to discover that it is served at the White Mouse Cafe in Bangkok!
Khao Soi is usually associated with Chiang Mai, capital of the Lanna Kingdom (1292–1558).
Centered in Chiang Mai, the kingdom was renowned for its distinctive culture, language, and cuisine, much of which still shapes the region’s identity.
Khao soi itself reflects a culinary tradition shaped by cross‑cultural influences. Its roots can be traced back to a regional Burmese noodle dish, introduced to the Lanna Kingdom by Chinese Muslim traders. Over the years, it has evolved, but remains a popular street food in Chiang Mai.
So What, Exactly, Is Khao Soi?
At its heart, khao soi is a rich coconut curry broth ladled over soft egg noodles, topped with tender chicken or beef, and finished with a crown of crispy fried noodles.
The dish is always served with a set of accompaniments — pickled mustard greens, shallots, lime wedges, and chili oil — allowing diners to adjust the balance of creamy, spicy, sour, and crunchy elements to taste.
This combination makes khao soi a perfect expression of northern Thai cooking: aromatic, layered, and comforting, with a complexity that reflects the region’s history as a crossroads of cultures.
Today, it remains a culinary highlight for anyone exploring Thailand, and a dish that locals proudly identify as part of their northern heritage.
White Mouse Racing Museum
So, where did the White Mouse Café get its name? That’s a fascinating story in itself!
Beyond its cakes and coffees, the White Mouse Café doubles as a mini museum paying homage to Thailand’s racing royalty, with sports memorabilia from the White Mouse Racing Team on display.
To clarify, the café takes its name from the team, which was founded by Prince Chula Chakrabongse and his cousin Prince Birabongse Bhanudej (better known as B. Bira), Thailand’s first international racing driver.
Prince Chula Chakrabongse
Grandson of King Chulalongkorn, Prince Chula Chakrabongse (1908–1963), was educated in England, where he developed a fascination with European motorsport.
Though not a driver himself, Prince Chula had the vision and determination to put Thailand on the racing map. So, in the 1930s, he founded the White Mouse Racing Team, named after his wife’s pet mouse, and took on the role of manager, financier, and strategist.
Prince Chula was meticulous in documenting their exploits, writing books and memoirs that captured the glamour and grit of the racing world. His organizational skill and passion for the sport created the platform for his cousin, Prince Birabongse Bhanudej, to shine.
Prince Birabongse Bhanudej
Under Prince Chula’s guidance, Prince Birabongse Bhanudej (1914–1985), better known as B. Bira, became Thailand’s first international racing drivers and a formidable competitor in Europe.
The prince was especially adept at handling smaller cars such as the ERA (English Racing Automobiles), often beating rivals with far greater resources.
After the Second World War, Bira went on to compete in Formula One from 1950 to 1954, making history as the first Thai F1 driver. His victories at circuits like Brooklands and Goodwood earned him a reputation for skill, daring, and consistency.
Thailand’s Golden Age of Racing
Together, Prince Chula and Prince Bira embodied Thailand’s golden age of racing.
Prince Chula provided the vision and management, while Prince Bira delivered the brilliance behind the wheel.
Their White Mouse Racing Team became a symbol of Siam’s presence in international motorsport, and their exploits were followed closely across Europe.
Today, the memorabilia displayed at the White Mouse Café in Bangkok — photographs, documents, and artifacts — pays tribute to this remarkable partnership, offering a glimpse into a time when Thai princes were competing head‑to‑head with Europe’s finest drivers!
Final Thoughts
The White Mouse Café adjoins Chakrabongse Villas, an exclusive boutique hotel with only seven keys. At the heart of the property sits a majestic Victorian mansion, the former residence of Prince Chula Chakrabongse, who had it built as a quiet retreat from the demands of palace life.
After his passing, the estate was inherited by his descendants, and his granddaughter – the current owner – has transformed it into a privileged riverside retreat .
In addition to the café, there is a riverfront restaurant serving – appropriately enough – Royal Thai Cuisine. Overlooking the River of Kings, it offers a refined counterpoint to the informal ambiance of the White Mouse Café.
Chakrabongse Villas Fine-Dining Restaurant
If you want a fine-dining experience in the heart of Old Bangkok, Chakrabongse Villas has a Michelin-recommended restaurant overlooking the Chao Phraya River.
I’ve had dinner there twice now, and it is always one of the culinary highlights my trips to the Big Mango. You can read my review here:
Chakrabongse Riverside Restaurant Bangkok
Book Your Room at Chakrabongse Villas Now!
Such great information about the hotel, restaurant and car racing!
I had never heard of Thai car racing and enjoyed learning something new.
I didn’t understand the name of the cafe. It seemed quite unusual until I started researching it. Then it all fell into place.
I was a bit confused at first. I knew about the property’s royal connection, but not that the prince had been a racing enthusiast. The more I learned, the more fascinated I became.
The ice coffee/float looks refreshing after exploring the nearby temples. Nice how the White Mouse Café also gives you a chance to dive into the history of racing in Thailand as well.
What an interesting cafe! The Khao Soi looks amazing!
The khao soi was absolutely delicious! So lucky I visited on a Saturday!