Must-see restaurants in 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…

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…

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;…

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…

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…

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

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…

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…

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…

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

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…

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…

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…

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

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…

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…

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

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…

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')…

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…