Chiang Mai is a foodie's paradise. There's an abundance of restaurants, specialty coffee shops & cocktail bars. Here are a few of our favourites - places we take our friends and family when they're in town.
Skip to:
- Budget Dining
- Fine Dining
- International
- Coffee shops
- Wine Bars
- Cocktail Bars
- Craft Beer
- Music / Party
Real Northern Thai food - very different to southern or central Thai cuisine. The restaurant can get busy and sometimes there is a queue. The best place to experience real Lanna cuisine.
Note: Northern Thai food is very different to central and southern Thai cuisine. Don't expect classic red or green curries here! Some dishes will be served cold, others might be an acquired taste - but the dishes are authentic to real Lanna cuisine, and well-worth a try.
Our favourites: Ant Egg Soup, Moo Naem (barbecued fermented pork), Geang Hang Lay (Northern pork curry)
Famously known as “Cowboy hat lady Chiang Mai”, has been featured in the likes of The Guardian newspaper. A short walk from the house at Chang Phueak street food market (North Gate Market). Serves a famous pork & rice dish (they are also your next door neighbours)
วิถีลาบ เจริญเมือง (Wi Tee Larb)
If you want to go really local, this is one place to try. The small but clean restaurant is hidden in a back alley and serves a variety of Northern Thailand's iconic "larb" dishes, moo naem and som tam.
Popular with locals and firmly hidden from the tourist path!
Note that the bright red dish served at this restaurant is raw beef larb - Thailand's version of a steak tartare!
Authentic Thai cuisine & northern Thai classics in a renovated 1800’s building. Highly recommended. Definitely try the Khao Soi Gai.
In our opinion, this restaurant is a must visit during your stay!
This rustic restaurant has a fishing boat in the south of Thailand which sends the week’s fresh catch up to Chiang Mai. The menu changes weekly based on available seafood ingredients.
Open for decades on the edge of the old city, this stylish, quirky spot serves authentic Northern Thai classics like Khao Soi and Nam Prik Ong with a twist.
Service 1921 at The Anantara Hotel
Serving exquisite food in the old British Consulate building on the banks of the Ping River; a variety of Asian dishes including Lanna staples, fantastic cocktails and the 5* service you’d expect in a luxury hotel.
Local produce served in a small, intimate, modern fine dining setting. Cuisine De Garden is quite possibly Chiang Mai's finest restaurant. Note that it is around 30 minutes by taxi outside of town.
Really good homemade pizzas with a selection of wines. Very reasonably priced. Located in an old but beautiful building. Also has live music.
An unassuming French restaurant that most tourists would probably gloss over, but is actually well-worth a visit. The chef can be… temperamental!
Classic international style Italian restaurant, good food, reasonable prices, located in Nimman area.
Very good sushi and Japanese cuisine. Original location is in Nimman.
Japanese inspired gastro bar with contemporary Asian small plates, cocktails & wine in a warm & welcoming atmosphere.
Repeated winners of the World Latte Art Championship and Thailand Barista Championship, any coffee lover needs to give Ristr8to a visit!
A cute coffee shop & bakery located just over the Ping river
A rustic cafe owned, and serving coffee produced by, the Akha Ama hilltribe. A classic example of Chiang Mai coffee.
In our opinion, the best coffee in Chiang Mai
A stunningly designed cafe with equally good coffee
A small coffee shop with exceptional espresso
Small open-fronted espresso bar next to Wororot Market (Chinatown area)
Wines by the glass & Tapas - highly recommended
Small restaurant with extensive wine list
In our opinion, the best cocktails in Chiang Mai
Hidden cocktail bar at North Gate... follow the white rabbit, Neo.
A small but stunningly designed bar for cocktail enthusiasts - has a craft cola bar on the ground floor.
Craft cocktails by seasoned mixologists.
Brand new cocktail bar opened in August 2022. Live music every night 7-9pm, great cocktails from a highly-trained mixologist.
The original craft beer bar in Chiang Mai. Unpretentious, rustic, homely setting - perfect Chiang Mai style - food is good too.
Slightly more commercial, but a great place to start a night out
A local (clandestine) brewer
A classic American style sports bar with extensive beer selection & pool tables
Nearby the house, intimate, famous for live music
Popular with locals, live music, Thai food on the Ping River
Popular with backpackers looking to party!