Bangkok, a city renowned for its vibrant street life, delectable food, and bustling markets, actually has a hidden gem for fountain pen enthusiasts and collectors: The PIPS Cafe. During my recent visit to the Thai capital, I made it a point to seek out this shop, and I’m so glad I did!
Tucked away on the 3rd floor of Silom Complex, a shopping mall conveniently located right next to the Sala Daeng BTS Skytrain station, The PIPS Cafe isn’t your typical coffee shop, despite its name. This establishment holds the distinction of being Bangkok’s very first fountain pen store, a haven for anyone passionate about pens and ink.
The PIPS Cafe has shelves with a variety of fountain pen inks from around the globe. I saw collections like the Diamine Inkvent inks, known for their unique colors and limited-edition releases.
Beyond Diamine, the selection was quite impressive. I spotted Jacques Herbin inks, vibrant Colorverse and Wearingeul from South Korea, and a wide range of popular brands including KWZ , Robert Oster signature inks, De Atramentis Pearlescent inks (oh, the shimmer!), and classic Noodler’s. Whether you’re a seasoned ink and pen collector or just starting your journey like me, you’re sure to find something to pique your interest.
They also carry high-quality paper products like Rhodia and Brause calligraphy pads, perfect for practicing calligraphy and developing your penmanship. There are also a few instructional books for calligraphy.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Philippine-made inks from Vinta displayed on their shelves! Seeing our local craftsmanship outside the country brought a huge smile to my face. It’s fantastic to see Vinta Inks making their mark in the global fountain pen community. Aside from inks, there are also a number of fountain pens for sale like the TWSBI pens below.
On a side note, I did look for inks made in Thailand, but sadly, there were none available. Perhaps in the future, we’ll see local Thai ink brands emerge.
My visit was made even more enjoyable by a conversation with Mr. M of The PIPS Cafe. We delved into the intriguing world of fountain pen nibs, discussing the subtle (or not-so subtle?) differences between metal and gold nibs.
Mr. M generously allowed me to try out some gold nib fountain pens. While they certainly had a satisfying weight to them, as a self-proclaimed fountain pen “noob” user, I quickly realized that what truly mattered to me was the fineness of the tip, rather than whether the nib was gold or metal. It was a good learning experience, helping me better understand my own preferences in fountain pens.
Meanwhile, while I was immersed in conversation, my husband was having quite the adventure outside as he was walking around Silom Complex to find me. The funny thing was, he was looking for an actual cafe, with coffee and pastries! So, to clarify for anyone else who might be confused: no, The PIPS Cafe does not serve coffee. But it most certainly serves those of us who are hungry for fountain pens, inks, and the joy of putting pen to paper.
If you’re ever in Bangkok and share a passion for fountain pens, inks and calligraphy, I highly recommend a visit to The PIPS Cafe, located at the 3rd Floor at Silom Complex Shopping Mall- Silom Road , Bangkok Thailand.
If traveling by train, alight at Saladeang Station Exit 4 via BTS or alight at Silom Station Exit 2 via MRT.
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