Things to do in Mae Sot
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Khao-Mao Khao-Fang
Like dining in a gentrified jungle, this place, designed by a Thai botanist, replaces chandeliers with hanging vines, orchids and lots of running water. It also has one of the more interesting Thai menus you'll find anywhere, with dishes featuring local ingredients such as fish from the Mae Nam Moei or local herbs and veggies. Try one of the several delicious-sounding yam (Thai-style spicy salads), featuring ingredients ranging from white turmeric to local mushrooms. The restaurant is north of town between the Km 1 and Km 2 markers on the road to Mae Ramat.
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Khrua Canadian
This is the place to go if you want to forget you're in Asia for one meal. Dave, the Canadian, brews his own coffee and also offers homemade bagels, deli meats and cheeses, in addition to a huge breakfast menu. The servings are large, the menu is varied, and when you finally remember you're in Thailand again, local information is also available.
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Lucky Tea Garden
For the authentic Burmese teashop experience without crossing over to Myawadi, visit this friendly cafe equipped with sweet tea, tasty snacks, and of course, bad Burmese pop music. Or come with an empty stomach and try one of the better biryani in town.
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Bai Fern
The cosy, wood-furnished Bai Fern has a pleasant atmosphere and is popular all day long.
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Casa Mia
Tucked down a side street, this simple restaurant serves the cheapest homemade pasta dishes you'll find anywhere. And better yet, they're right tasty. They also do Thai and Burmese, and some exceptional desserts, including a wicked banoffee pie.
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Cookery Course
Held at Borderline shop, this course teaches Shan, Burmese and Karen dishes, and includes a trip to the market, food and drink preparation, a cookbook, and sharing the results in the adjoining cafe. Courses decrease in price with bigger groups.
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Kung’s Bar
Popular with the NGO set, this fun bar is decked out with murals and an odd combination of antiques and kitsch. A huge and detailed drink menu will appeal to those who don’t do beer.
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Hazel Taste
This modern, air-conditioned cafe offers a huge selection of great coffee drinks, tasty sweets and internet.
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Se. Southeast Express
Does three- to four-day tours to Um Phang and around, as well as one-day tours around Mae Sot.
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Max One Tour
This company conducts adventure-centric tours, mostly based around the Um Phang area.
reviewed
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Sangkhalok Museum
This small but comprehensive museum is an excellent introduction to ancient Sukhothai’s most famous product and export, its ceramics. It displays an impressive collection of original 700-year-old Thai pottery found in the area, plus some pieces traded from Vietnam, Burma and China. The 2nd floor features examples of non-utilitarian pottery made as art, including some beautiful and rare ceramic Buddha statues.
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Water Bar
More of a Thai scene, this place has open-air tables, draught beer, snacks and a big screen for the big game.
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Phat Thai Mae Sot
This cosy place serves pàt tai with a local twist: toppings of pork rind and barbecued pork. It's a bit tricky to find, so look for the wooden house with the old-school advertisements.
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Municipal Market
Mae Sot's municipal market is among the largest and most vibrant we've encountered anywhere in Thailand. In addition to the usual Thai wet market veggies and dry goods, there's heaps of exotic stuff from Myanmar, including Burmese bookshops, sticks of thanaka(the source of the yellow powder you see on most faces) , bags of pickled tea leaves, bizarre cosmetics from across the border and velvet thong slippers from Mandalay. Unlike most markets in Thailand it doesn't require a 6am wake-up call. It's also a great place to try authentic Burmese food.
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Mali Bar
Staffed by Burmese and popular with the NGO set, this rather dark bar has a pool table and a world music soundtrack.
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Herbal Sauna
Wat Mani has separate herbal sauna facilities for men and women. The sauna is towards the back of the monastery grounds, past the monks' gù·đì (living quarters).
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Fair Trade Shop
One of three branches in northern Thailand, this shop specialises in bright handcrafted cloth goods crafted by displaced women from Burma.
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Border Market & Myawadi Market
There is an expansive covered market alongside the Mae Nam Moei on the Thai side that legally sells a mixture of workaday Burmese goods and cheap Chinese electronics.
However, the real reason most come here is to cross to Myawadi in Myanmar (Burma) – when the border is open. Sŏrng·tăa·ou frequently go to the border (20B, frequent departures from 6.30am to 5.30pm), 5km west of Mae Sot: ask for Rim Moei (Edge of the Moei). The last sŏrng·tăa·ou going back to Mae Sot leaves Rim Moei at 5.30pm.
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Borderline Shop
Selling arts and craft items made by refugee women, the profits of this shop go back into a women's collective and a child-assistance foundation. Upstairs a gallery sells paintings, and a cookery course and an outdoor 'tea garden' are also here.
reviewed
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Aiya
Opposite Bai Fern Guest House, Aiya is a simple place that serves good Burmese food, which is particularly strong on vegetarian options.
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Thaime’s
The only not-for-profit bar we’ve ever encountered, this place is exceedingly casual and has a brief snack menu. Profits from your fun go to a school for migrant children. The bar sometimes accepts volunteer help, so call ahead for details.
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