Since Chiang Mai is the celebrated gateway to the northern part of Thailand, it goes without saying that this is the place to experience some seriously delicious cuisine from the country’s north. But Chiang Mai also has a host of beautiful restaurants specializing in food from around the world – take a look at some of our favorite places to eat in Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai is a varied and rewarding place to visit, with many things to do and a wide variety of great restaurants, bars, and cafes. Restaurants in Chiang Mai range from the simple, traditional Thai place run by a local family to an internationally acclaimed eatery serving Italian or Chines food.
Whatever your tastes, you’ll find something here in Chiang Mai. And, of course, this is the best place to experience the tasty cuisine of northern Thailand.
1. The Tea Tree Cafe
A wholesome and cozy place, the Tea Tree Café serves various simple and filling vegetarian and vegan dishes, with some meat options. You’ll also find an extensive menu of smoothies, teas, and other refreshments. This lovely little place has yoga classes, activities, music, and film nights.
2. The Gallery
As you would expect from the name, The Gallery is a restaurant and an art gallery. Sit and eat while you admire the art on display. You can also enjoy al fresco dining at the tables on the terrace overlooking the river. The dishes on the menu are Thai in flavor and style, with some traditional favorites on the list alongside some newer additions. The restaurant is on Charoen Rat Road in Chiang Mai.
3. The Good View Restaurant
The Good View Restaurant is lively and busy, serving food in a live music atmosphere. There is usually a band, which is always loud here, so it’s perhaps not the ideal spot for a romantic dinner for two.
4. The Whole Earth Restaurant
The Whole Earth Restaurant serves a variety of Indian food and also has an extensive selection of vegetarian dishes. This restaurant is set within a historic house, and the garden has a nice seating area outside.
5. Bamboo Bee
The Bamboo Bee is located in the old town and serves vegetarian and vegan food. She provides an excellent selection of healthy, hearty meals, from Thai curries to breakfast dishes, pancakes, to smoothies. Bamboo Bee also holds cooking classes to teach you how to create vegetarian Thai classics yourself.
6. Antique House Ban Him-Ping
The ambiance at the Antique House Ban Him-Ping is laidback and relaxed. The restaurant is set in an old teak house, and the setting and food are attractive and inviting. The dishes are primarily Thai but are developed to please western palates.
7. Free Bird Cafe
The profits from this restaurant go to the Thai Freedom House organization, which helps provide for ethnic minorities in Thailand. The food here is predominantly vegetarian, homemade, organic, and tasty.
There is also a second-hand clothes store. The atmosphere here is inviting and cozy, and this is a great place to come for suitable food for a good cause.
8. Le Coq d’Or Restaurant
This is a luxury French restaurant located within an old teak house. The ambiance is high-class, and the food is sublime. It is more expensive than many of the options in Chiang Mai, but it makes for a lovely treat.
9. The Good View Bar & Restaurant
Located on the banks of the Ping River, the Good View Bar & Restaurant is a great place to come for an evening meal as there are usually music performances, and the views across the river are so lovely. There are also many dishes on the menu, from traditional Thai to western fare, snacks to Chinese dishes.
10. Palaad Tawanron Restaurant
The restaurant’s location makes it very popular, meaning you could wait a long while for your food, but it is worth it – the restaurant sits in the forest a little up the mountains surrounding Chiang Mai. A great place to go for some unbeatable views and atmosphere.
11. Angel’s Secrets
Come here if you want a good cup of coffee and some cake. It’s the ideal place to rest and relax while serving tasty, affordable food in a cozy atmosphere. The cakes are trendy, and the café serves an excellent range of Thai and western lunch favorites.
