Chiang Mai is one of my favorite cities in the world. Located in Northern Thailand, it is the mecca for Digital Nomads because of it's great cafe culture, fast internet and affordable accommodations.
This is the definitive guide to the best spots in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Please leave any of your own tips in the comments section below. This will be an ongoing project so please come back for updates.
Best Pad Thai
#1. Pad Thai Mustache Style
The man, the myth, the legend, Mr. Mustache Pad Thai. He runs a small food cart that shows up all over Chiang Mai at random places. We used to find him parked in front of the 7-11 on Nimman. Sometimes he's in front of Maya. Other times he's working a night market. It just depends on the night. If you're lucky enough to find him, order the pad thai wrapped in omelette! I didn't even know you could get it done that way until I saw someone else order it. He runs the cart by himself so late at night when there's a line, pull up a chair because you may need to wait awhile. But it's well worth the wait as it's some of the best pad thai I've ever eaten!
Best Mall
#1. Maya Mall
This mall is very convenient and has just about everything you need. Located at the junction of Nimman Road and Kad Suan Kaew, you'll definitely be stopping by here a lot, especially on a hot and humid day.
You can start your mornings with breakfast in the food court on the bottom floor, move up to CAMP co working space to get some work done, catch a movie in the theater right next to it, then grab dinner at Duke's. Before going home, get your groceries done at the Rimping grocery store downstairs. There's even a gym!
Other favorite spots here are the AIS store, Fuji restaurant, and Wrapmaster restaurant.
You can start your mornings with breakfast in the food court on the bottom floor, move up to CAMP co working space to get some work done, catch a movie in the theater right next to it, then grab dinner at Duke's. Before going home, get your groceries done at the Rimping grocery store downstairs. There's even a gym!
Other favorite spots here are the AIS store, Fuji restaurant, and Wrapmaster restaurant.
#2. Central Kad Suan Kaew Mall
There's something about this mall that just makes you feel at home. It feels like going to your grandmother's house. The mall was built way back in the day and haven't changed one bit. There's a lot of empty stores in the back of the mall and everything's a bit outdated but that's what makes it charming.
The Tops market in the bottom floor is my favorite place to get groceries. Next to it are a number of pharmacies for all your medicine needs. The first floor has all the optical stores where you can get your refill of contacts. There's a Sportworld on the 2nd floor for athletic shoes and sports gear. My 2nd favorite gym is located just behind the mall. If you're there on cheat day, Mister Donut has deceptively good donuts. There are plenty of ATM's, a money exchange at Bangkok Bank, as well as all the other bank offices are open Saturday and Sunday. There's even a bowling alley if you can find it!
The Tops market in the bottom floor is my favorite place to get groceries. Next to it are a number of pharmacies for all your medicine needs. The first floor has all the optical stores where you can get your refill of contacts. There's a Sportworld on the 2nd floor for athletic shoes and sports gear. My 2nd favorite gym is located just behind the mall. If you're there on cheat day, Mister Donut has deceptively good donuts. There are plenty of ATM's, a money exchange at Bangkok Bank, as well as all the other bank offices are open Saturday and Sunday. There's even a bowling alley if you can find it!
So old but so good!
Best Protein Store
#1. Sandy Health Shop
This is the best protein store that I found in Chiang Mai. They have all the powders that you need, especially the best one in my opinion, which is the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein Isolate, 5 pound bucket in Double Rich Chocolate or Rocky Road.
When I bought mine, the price was 2000 THB after a holiday discount, which is actually quite close to what you would pay in the USA from Amazon ($58.00 USD). They have a number of frequent buyer card promotions and other seasonal discounts as well, so ask them about those. Located in the CHOC shopping center, just south of the moat close to Airport Plaza.
When I bought mine, the price was 2000 THB after a holiday discount, which is actually quite close to what you would pay in the USA from Amazon ($58.00 USD). They have a number of frequent buyer card promotions and other seasonal discounts as well, so ask them about those. Located in the CHOC shopping center, just south of the moat close to Airport Plaza.
#2. Go Gym Protein Shop
Before I found the Sandy Health Shop, I just bought what was available at Go Gym where I work out. They had some decent deals ranging from 1500 THB for the cheaper brands to 2500 THB for the more premium brands. They rotate the brands they carry so you need to just go there to see what is currently in stock. They also carry shaker bottles. This is an ok option if you don't have time to make it to the Sandy Health Shop. But you won't find the largest selection or the best powders. I'd recommend just getting the 1 serving shake they make there for you for around 60 baht if you need it that day and hitting Sandy's for the best deal and selection.
Best Gym
#1. Go Gym
This gym is my favorite because you can go visit and pay for just a day pass. Current price is a very affordable 60 baht per session. No monthly contracts, no sign up fees, no nonsense. Just roll up, pay and start working out.
A few things to note though. It's an open air gym but with a roof covering, so there's no AC. I don't mind since I like working up a sweat anyways but some might not be able to stand the heat.
A few things to note though. It's an open air gym but with a roof covering, so there's no AC. I don't mind since I like working up a sweat anyways but some might not be able to stand the heat.
#2. Harris Gym
This one's a little tricky to find. Located directly behind Central Kad Suan Kaew, on the 6th floor of the Lotus Hotel, it's a very clean and air conditioned facility. Reflecting the quality, prices are bit more expensive than Go Gym, currently 1200 baht for a monthly membership and the 250 range for a daily pass. If you're staying in the Nimman area and serious about regular workouts, this would be a good choice as it's walking distance.
Best Apartment Complex/Condo
#1. Baan Thai
For the price, location and convenience, Baan Thai is the clear winner for best apartment complex. Add the swimming pool in and there's really no arguing.
Rent starts at 6500 baht for a full serviced room which includes 3 times a month cleaning. Deposit is 2 months rent but is returned when you check out.
The staff are at the front office 7 days a week if you need anything. Security on site daily. This place is very well run.
Rent starts at 6500 baht for a full serviced room which includes 3 times a month cleaning. Deposit is 2 months rent but is returned when you check out.
The staff are at the front office 7 days a week if you need anything. Security on site daily. This place is very well run.
#2. PT Residence
If Baan Thai is fully booked then you can try PT Residence, which is still centrally located in the Nimman area. These rooms have a bit more amenities and they start at 9000 THB per month.
Best Scooter Rental
#1. Red Ride Bike Rentals
I rented both scooters and bigger engine motorcycles (150cc and above) from Red Ride. Their service is impeccable. Free delivery straight to your door and they'll pick up the monthly rental fees as well. Bikes are in great condition and if there's a problem, they'll come right out with a spare bike to keep you on the road. I prefer Red Ride because they have the bigger engine bikes for rent on a monthly basis while the other shops do not. Also the owner is honest and from the states.
#2. Mango Bikes Rental
This place is a good alternative if you really need to take a look at the bikes before choosing as they have all their bikes on display at their store. Located in Nimman so it's easy to get to. The owner here is also a great guy.
Best Internet and Mobile Data Provider
#1. AIS
AIS has an office in the Maya Mall which makes it very convenient to get set up with a new SIM and refill your balance each month. The SIM should cost you around 50 baht with plans starting at 100 baht and up depending on how much data you need. The staff are very friendly and helpful.
Took me awhile to figure out these codes so I'll save you some time!
The code to dial from your phone to figure out your data balance: *121*3#
Voice and account balance: *121#
Another bonus of using AIS is you get an AIS Super Wifi password which gives you access to CAMP, the huge co-working space on the 5th floor near the movie theater. The password is also good for numerous places around town wherever you see the AIS Super Wifi sign.
Took me awhile to figure out these codes so I'll save you some time!
The code to dial from your phone to figure out your data balance: *121*3#
Voice and account balance: *121#
Another bonus of using AIS is you get an AIS Super Wifi password which gives you access to CAMP, the huge co-working space on the 5th floor near the movie theater. The password is also good for numerous places around town wherever you see the AIS Super Wifi sign.
Best Barber
#1. No Name Super Local Barber
A husband and wife team that give the best haircuts in Chiang Mai. Lovely couple and very friendly. No English is spoken here. I stopped by every 2 weeks to get a fresh trim from them.
It doesn't show up on Google Maps so the location is slightly off. It's actually just across the street from this ATM.
Best Vietnamese Restaurant
#1. Pho Anh
The owners are a friendly Vietnamese and Thai couple. I found this restaurant to have the most authentic Vietnamese food in Chiang Mai. I was a regular every few weeks after I got my haircut. Try to avoid the lunch hour between 12p - 1p as it's very busy. The grilled pork Banh Mi, the special vermicelli noodles dish and the eggrolls are all delicious.
Best Grilled Chicken
#1. Cherng Doi
Order the grilled chicken, the som tam, the crispy papaya salad and the coconut ice cream for dessert. Trust me! Absolute best grilled chicken in Chiang Mai.
Best Mexican
#1. Salsa Kitchen
When I'm craving some decent Mexican inspired food I come here. I recommend the chimichangas with a side of guacamole. The portion sizes are very generous. I always leave full.
Best Dessert
#1. Cheevit Cheeva
Bingsu is a Korean shaved ice dessert which has been imported to Thailand. It's delicious. Topped with mango, strawberries or served with honeydew melon, it's the perfect treat on a hot day.
Best Salad
#1. Salad Terrace
My favorite dish here is the salad with grilled fish, ordered with the white sesame dressing. Also try the frankfurter fried rice as well as the salad with tempura chicken.
#2. Salad Concept
This was actually our #1 salad spot before we discovered Salad Terrace. It has a decent salad that you create to your liking along with some nice noodle dishes like the spaghetti with spicy sausage. A good option for take away is the chicken caesar wrap.
Best Movie Theater
#1. Major Cineplex Central Festival - IMAX and 3D
It's a bit of a drive to get out here but it's the best cinema experience in Chiang Mai. Thailand is known for their amazing theaters and this one doesn't disappoint. It has 3D, IMAX and even 4DX! This is also a great mall to grab a bite to eat and do some shopping before your movie.
Best Brunch
#1. Lazy Elephant
After living in Chiang Mai for over a year, I've had the chance to visit most of the restaurants specializing in breakfast in this town. The Lazy Elephant is hands down the best and I normally go at least twice a week. I love Thai food but sometimes you just miss American comfort food and going here reminds me of home.
For breakfast, my recommendations are the breakfast burrito, the egg, sausage & cheese sliders on fresh baked biscuits and the delicious blueberry, banana pancakes. After breakfast, follow my strategy of getting a take away order so you're set up for lunch. I recommend the grilled tuna melt sandwich with homemade tomato soup and pickle. Crispy sour dough bread grilled to perfection on the outside and soft, melted cheddar cheese and tuna on the inside.
Sean makes the tortillas from scratch, the pancake batter also from scratch, sources all the fresh fruit from local markets each day and the sausage patties are his own recipe as well. It's a family business there so Sean's wife Au provides the excellent service and their son Lanta will let you play with his superhero action figures. ;)
They open at 8am with a 10% discount from 8a - 9a for the early birds. Fast free wifi available as well. American sized portions meaning nice and hearty so you will leave full. So to sum it all up, when you're craving delicious food, all made from scratch and served with friendly service, head to the Lazy Elephant and say hi to me as I'll probably be at the next table.
For breakfast, my recommendations are the breakfast burrito, the egg, sausage & cheese sliders on fresh baked biscuits and the delicious blueberry, banana pancakes. After breakfast, follow my strategy of getting a take away order so you're set up for lunch. I recommend the grilled tuna melt sandwich with homemade tomato soup and pickle. Crispy sour dough bread grilled to perfection on the outside and soft, melted cheddar cheese and tuna on the inside.
Sean makes the tortillas from scratch, the pancake batter also from scratch, sources all the fresh fruit from local markets each day and the sausage patties are his own recipe as well. It's a family business there so Sean's wife Au provides the excellent service and their son Lanta will let you play with his superhero action figures. ;)
They open at 8am with a 10% discount from 8a - 9a for the early birds. Fast free wifi available as well. American sized portions meaning nice and hearty so you will leave full. So to sum it all up, when you're craving delicious food, all made from scratch and served with friendly service, head to the Lazy Elephant and say hi to me as I'll probably be at the next table.
#2. Rustic & Blue
I like the overall atmosphere here. It's a good place to post up with your laptop or a book in the morning for some brunch and work. A few notable dishes include the hard to find Acai bowl, the green egg benedict croissant and the 'awesome french toast'.
#3. Honorable Mention - Smoothie Blues
In a town famous for it's brunch spots, one more location is worth mentioning. Smoothie Blues was the venue for many of our morning group meetups and so it holds a special place in our foodie hearts. The standout menu item here is the peanut butter and banana french toast.
Best Burger
#1. Beast Burger
I've been a fan of Beast Burger ever since they were just a yellow food truck parked in front of the bank on Nimman Soi 11. They've upgraded now to a full sized restaurant on Soi 17 and you can get their burgers all week long.
#2. Solhy Food Truck
A great food truck that's usually parked on Nimman around Soi 5. The bacon cheeseburger is delicious and the owner is very friendly. Stop by for a chat and a couple sliders.
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Fastest Wifi
#1. CAMP (Creative and Meeting Place) Co-working space
This co-working space at the top of Maya mall has the fastest wifi in town because it's provided in partnership with AIS. You can get a few hours access by buying a coffee or snack. But the best deal is buying your mobile data package through AIS at their store on the 3rd floor which gives you free unlimited AIS wifi access all across town including at CAMP.
Best Food Market
#1. Kad Na Mor (Chiang Mai University Nightly Market)
Across the street from Chiang Mai University is a student market that opens up every night around 6p. There are so many different eateries to choose from so it's fun to just wander through. My favorite is a restaurant called Bento Sushi. Order the pork katsu cutlet set.
#2. Ploen Ruedee Night Market - International Food Court
This is a great night market if you find yourself on the Thapae Gate side of the city. We would usually stop by here for dinner before going salsa dancing at either Le Meridian or D2 Dusit Hotel since it's right down the road from both hotels.
There is usually live music and plenty of seating. I recommend the Burger Box as their burgers are quite filling and very affordable.
There is usually live music and plenty of seating. I recommend the Burger Box as their burgers are quite filling and very affordable.
Best Bar & Club
#1. Zoe's in Yellow
Somehow Zoe's has cornered the market on the bar and club scene. Everyone ends up meeting here. The good thing about it is you'll likely just run into all your friends at some point in the night. It's connected to a complex of other bars all playing different music to meet your tastes.
Because of local laws in effect, they close promptly at midnight so the best time to show up is around 10:30p when it's already starting to get busy.
Because of local laws in effect, they close promptly at midnight so the best time to show up is around 10:30p when it's already starting to get busy.
#2. Warm Up Cafe
This is a great bar and club in the Nimman area. We usually ended up here Tuesday nights because there was a salsa event held there. It's quite a large venue that serves dinner as well. It seems to be quite busy almost every night of the week.
Best Day Trip
#1. Huay Tung Tao Lake
This lake is only about a 30 minute scooter ride from town and is a great spot to spend the day. There are floating cabanas you can rent with food purchase if you're feeling lazy. Otherwise there's also some very strenuous hikes up into the hills that lead to a gorgeous waterfall.
Best Thai Food
#1. Dash
Oh, this is a tough one since there's so many amazing Thai restaurants here in Chiang Mai. But if I had to choose just one for you to try out, it would be Dash. Not only is the food delicious, but the service is impeccable and the atmosphere is very cozy. The Friday night we went, there was live music and we were able to get a seat right next to the band. It's a bit tough to find, down a small street in the old town but well worth the effort.
#2. Cafe de Nimman
This restaurant has a nice outdoor terrace area and is conveniently located in the Nimman area. They serve a delicious panang (red) curry and shrimp pad thai as well as a superb deep fried tabtim fish dish. Try their mango bingsu snowy ice for dessert.
Best American Comfort Food
#1. Duke's
When you're missing food from home, stop by Duke's for their delicious ribs and other American dishes. They have a wonderful Thanksgiving menu as well if you're there during the holidays.
Best Steak
#1. Chez Marco
The best steak in Chiang Mai, no contest. I visited most of the well known steak restaurants and nowhere else compared to the quality at Chez Marco. I highly recommend the beef filet rossini topped with foie gras and porcini or the rib eye with "Cafe de Paris" butter with a side of gratin dauphinois if you're feeling like a heartier cut. If you can't decide just choose both.
Best Tea House
#1. Vieng Joom On Teahouse
Located next to the river, the tea house is perfect for spending a lazy weekend afternoon. If you're lucky they'll have the strawberry cheesecake waffle on their menu.
Best Smoothie
#1. Chuen Juice
Thick, delicious and full of fresh fruit, these are the best smoothies I've had in Chiang Mai. The cafe is nice for chilling as well.
Best Cafe
#1. Shewitkhontammada Coffee House
A very relaxing cafe to work at which serves delicious food and drinks. The decor is splendid and cozy.
Just allow some extra time when texting your friend to meet you. Auto-correct's not gonna help you with this one.
"Hey, let's meet at Shewitkhontammada! It's just one block off of Siri Mangkalajarn!"
Just allow some extra time when texting your friend to meet you. Auto-correct's not gonna help you with this one.
"Hey, let's meet at Shewitkhontammada! It's just one block off of Siri Mangkalajarn!"
Best Late Night Food
#1. Zood Zood
This was our go to spot for late night meals. They don't close until midnight and saved us on many late hungry nights. My favorite dishes are the delicious pineapple fried rice in the shell, big golden friend shrimp and green curry.
Best Secret After Hours Bar
#1. Sangdee
Sometimes you're not ready to end the night at midnight. So most of the times we would gather some folks and head straight to Sangdee's. We spent many good nights there listening to great hip hop, dancing, and mingling in the upstairs lounge. It's not officially supposed to be open that late so try to keep it chill.
Best Coffee
#1. Ristr8to
In a town known for it's cafes and coffee culture, this shop stands tall above the rest. They are the champions of coffee.
Best Food Delivery Service
#1. Food Panda
On those lazy nights, download the foodpanda app and get food delivered from many different Chiang Mai restaurants. Some of our favorites include Street Pizza, Ohkahju and Arcobaleno. The delivery fee is quite affordable and you can track the order from the time you send it, all the way to when the scooter is making it's way to your door.
Best Italian
#1. Arcobaleno
Arcobaleno has a great ambience and delicious Italian cuisine. The signature dishes here are the crab meat au gratin and the spaghetti carbonara.
Best Wings
#1. Solao
Solao serves the best wings. Order the fried chicken wings with fish sauce. It may sound funny, but the sauce gives the wings a slightly sweet and tangy taste which is delicious.
#2. Cafe Din Din
Coming in at a very close 2nd place is Cafe Din Din. The wings are almost as good as Solao's. The only downside is the restaurant is hard to find and a bit outside of town.
Best Pizza
#1. Street Pizza
Located on Tha Phae road close to the river. Once you reach the address, go inside and up the stairs to find this cozy pizza house. The thin crust pizza is the best in town.
I'm sure I missed a few categories so let me know what your Chiang Mai favorites are in the comments below. Wishing you happy and safe travels!
