Hot Spots

UNCOMMON GROUNDS Foreigners aren't the only nonlocals to come under Pai's spell since the late 1980s. The hippest spots in town belong to the artsy young Thai bohemians who have fled Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other crowded urban centers in search of a slower-paced and less profit-oriented lifestyle. Opened in 1999 by two disaffected Bangkok advertising execs, All About Coffee must be one of the coolest cafs in Thailand. None of the large Western coffeehouse chains can compete with its homespun, rustic-wood ambiance, mellow jazz sounds and delightfully personalized service. Not to mention a three-course breakfast for $1.50, a selection of...