Must-see restaurants in Chiang Mai

  • Laap Kao Cham Chaa

    Chiang Mai

    Popularised by the late, great Anthony Bourdain, this low-key street stall beneath a rain tree (after which it is named) is now a staple for authentic…

  • Woo

    Chiang Mai

    A riverside, three-in-one stop for delicious meals, contemporary art and perhaps a bit of shopping. The stylish, modern cafe specialises in Thai food,…

  • Huean Jai Yong

    Chiang Mai

    Northern Thai food enthusiasts shouldn't miss this out-of-town gem, where authentic, hard-to-find dishes beloved by the people of Myanmar's Shan State …

  • Ginger & Kafe @ The House

    Chiang Mai

    Dining at the restaurant in The House boutique feels like eating in a posh Thai mansion, with antique furniture, comfy sofas and fine china. The Thai food…

  • Lert Ros

    Chiang Mai

    As you enter this local hole in the wall, you'll pass the main course: delicious whole tilapia fish, grilled on coals and served with a fiery Isan-style…

  • Khao Soi Lam Duan Fah Ham

    Chiang Mai

    North of the Th Ratanakosin bridge on the east bank, Th Faham is known as Chiang Mai’s kôw soy (wheat-and-egg noodles in curry broth) ghetto. Khao Soi Lam…

  • SP Chicken

    Chiang Mai

    Chiang Mai's best chicken emerges daily from the grills at this tiny cafe near Wat Phra Singh. The menu runs to salads and soups, but most people just…

  • 500px Photo ID: 158818749 - CHIANG RAI, THAILAND - NOVEMBER 05, 2014: Food Court at Chiang Rai Night Market.

    Talat Pratu Chiang Mai

    Chiang Mai

    In the early morning, this market is Chiang Mai’s larder, selling foodstuffs and ready-made dishes. If you want to make merit to the monks, come early and…

  • Riverside Bar & Restaurant

    Chiang Mai

    Almost everyone ends up at Riverside at some point in their Chiang Mai stay. Set in an old teak house, it feels like a countryside reimagining of a Hard…

  • Service 1921

    Chiang Mai

    The pan-Asian restaurant at the Anantara Resort & Spa is straight out of a spy movie, with waitstaff in 1920s garb, menus delivered in 'top secret'…

  • Tong Tem Toh

    Chiang Mai

    Set in an unpretentious garden of a teak house, this highly popular restaurant serves deliciously authentic northern Thai cuisine. The menu roams beyond…

  • Fahtara Coffee

    Chiang Mai

    Tucked into the dreamy Fah Lanna spa complex in the old city, this ambient Thai cafe can do no wrong. The excellent coffee is grown by hill-tribe…

  • Oxygen Dining Room

    Chiang Mai

    Adventurous palates will be pleased with the imaginative tasting menus dreamed up by chefs here, who bring their French training to Southeast Asian dishes…

  • Blue Diamond

    Chiang Mai

    Tucked into a leafy compound with a waterfall and koi pond, Blue Diamond offers an adventurous menu of delicious breakfasts, sandwiches, salads, curries,…

  • Larder Cafe & Bar

    Chiang Mai

    In hip Nimman, there are a lot of bright, healthy little cafes serving muesli bowls and salads and good coffee. The Larder is one of the best, though, and…

  • L’Elephant

    Chiang Mai

    When you simply can't stomach any more Thai street food, saunter into this elegant oasis and feast on melt-in-your-mouth beef carpaccio, hearty ox tongue…

  • Kinlum Kindee

    Chiang Mai

    Meaning 'eat delicious, eat well', Kinlum Kindee aims to elevate northern Thai cuisine by using high-quality, sustainable ingredients from local producers…

  • Italics

    Chiang Mai

    Yes, the modern black decor and gigantic, golden candelabra-style chandeliers are interesting, pastas and mains innovative and cocktails addictive – but…

  • Huen Phen

    Chiang Mai

    Huen Phen restaurant serves a comprehensive, and usually quite delicious, selection of northern Thai food in an antique bric-a-brac and plant-filled house…

  • Khu Khao

    Chiang Mai

    Named after the baskets that local farmers used to winnow rice (and festooned in them), Khu Khao serves a regional cuisine with influences spanning the…

  • David's Kitchen

    Chiang Mai

    A perennial favourite among well-heeled travellers, expat-owned David's Kitchen offers a bright, elegant atmosphere and level of service unparalleled in…

  • Rustic & Blue

    Chiang Mai

    With an interior looking like a Pinterest spread of farmhouse-chic and an outdoor patio complete with hammocks, Rustic and Blue serves photogenic, farm-to…

  • iberry Garden

    Chiang Mai

    Crowded day and night, this shop makes fantastic ice cream and sorbets using local fruits and creative ingredients such as black beans and sticky rice;…

  • Somtum Der

    Chiang Mai

    Get ready to feel the heat at Somtum Der, a fun and friendly eatery serving authentic Isan dishes including several kinds of sôm·đam (spicy green papaya…

  • Daddy's Antique Cafe & Restaurant

    Chiang Mai

    Looking to have lunch in a whimsical cafe outside the bustling city centre? Daddy’s Antiques has a unique interior and exterior design, with plenty of…

  • Ruen Tamarind

    Chiang Mai

    For a sophisticated dinner, the restaurant at Tamarind Village hotel serves superior northern Thai food in sleek surrounds overlooking the pool. Dishes…

  • Bird's Nest Cafe

    Chiang Mai

    A tranquil little cafe serving Thai and Mediterranean food and spread over two stories of a lovely teak house on a quiet block in the old city. The…

  • Ginger Farm Kitchen

    Chiang Mai

    Part of the One Nimman shopping plaza, this quaint Thai eatery and its attached organics shop put fresh, local creations front and centre, with produce…

  • SS1254372 Cafe

    Chiang Mai

    You may not remember SS1254372 Cafe’s name but you will remember its quirky setting, inventive decor and meals bursting with colour. Best for breakfast…

  • Nic's Restaurant & Playground

    Chiang Mai

    This family-friendly restaurant has the perfect combination of Western and Thai dishes, plus an imaginative bamboo playground for children to play, climb…

  • Palaad Tawanron

    Chiang Mai

    Set into a rocky ravine near Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, this restaurant inhabits a magical spot overlooking a forest reservoir, with the city lights…

  • Overstand Coffee Shop

    Chiang Mai

    Western breakfasts done right, killer local coffee and a bit of attitude. Overstand is a longstanding favourite for Chiang Mai expats due to its high…

  • Talat Thanin

    Chiang Mai

    North of the old city, this market specializes in ready-to-eat gàp kôw (pre-made food served with rice) meals, with a whole rear section jammed with…

  • Imm Aim Vegetarian and Bike Cafe

    Chiang Mai

    This vegetarian place was originally opened as a sister restaurant to Pun Pun. Although it is now independent, the manager still sometimes buys vegetables…

  • Anchan Noodle

    Chiang Mai

    No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you, those really are blue noodles. Naturally coloured by dark-blue butterfly pea blossoms, and known as anchan in…

  • Free Bird Cafe

    Chiang Mai

    Chiang Mai’s original 'cafe with a cause', Free Bird Cafe supports community art and language classes for refugees from Myanmar. The vegan restaurant is…

  • Asa

    Chiang Mai

    This shophouse eatery serves nutrient-packed vegan dishes ranging from herbal Burmese and Thai-style salads to creamy curries and rice bowls topped with…

  • Tikky Cafe

    Chiang Mai

    In a new, quiet location northeast of Nimman since 2019, Tikky Cafe is worth the extra effort. The colourful cafe specialises in delicious fruit drinks…

  • Cherng Doi Roast Chicken

    Chiang Mai

    Famous for its crispy-skin slow-roasted chicken with spicy tamarind sauce, this place also serves an array of sôm·đam, soups, lâhp (minced-meat 'salads')…

  • Girasole

    Chiang Mai

    In the tidy little Kad Klang Wiang arcade, Girasole makes a convincing claim to offer the city's best pizzas, prepared using real pepperoni and other hard…

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