Guidebook for Chiang Mai

David
Guidebook for Chiang Mai

Food Scene

Great American style diner, bring your appetite! My personal favourite is the Biscuits and Gravy. My daughter is addicted to the Cheesy Mac (the menu warns that this could happen, she didn't listen).
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Butter is Better Diner & Bakery
8-9 Changklan Rd
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Great American style diner, bring your appetite! My personal favourite is the Biscuits and Gravy. My daughter is addicted to the Cheesy Mac (the menu warns that this could happen, she didn't listen).
Genuine Italian food, very close to the Astra. Been told by friends that this is probably the best Italian in town. The house wine is sold by carafe or half carafe, very nice red to have with dinner.
Ristorante da Antonio
11/1 Charoen Prathet Lane 12
Genuine Italian food, very close to the Astra. Been told by friends that this is probably the best Italian in town. The house wine is sold by carafe or half carafe, very nice red to have with dinner.
French style bread and pastries. Great spot for breakfast.
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L'Opera
เลขที่ 98/7 Changklan Rd
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French style bread and pastries. Great spot for breakfast.
This place is now one of my favourites. They roast their own coffee sourced in nearby Laos. Unique setting with re-used and recycled materials. Recently they have added a swimming pool to the bar area. Wide selection of beers. Food available. Self service to keep prices low. You can also float around in the river, when there is water! Outdoor cinema screen for movies at night.
Bannok Kafae
This place is now one of my favourites. They roast their own coffee sourced in nearby Laos. Unique setting with re-used and recycled materials. Recently they have added a swimming pool to the bar area. Wide selection of beers. Food available. Self service to keep prices low. You can also float around in the river, when there is water! Outdoor cinema screen for movies at night.
Big restaurant by the river. Good food, drinks and ambiance.
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Huan Soontaree Vechanont
208 ถ Soi Pa Tan
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Big restaurant by the river. Good food, drinks and ambiance.
In Chiang Mai's riverside area, a really cool place to experience Northern cuisine at its finest. Shop and Gallery are nice for a wander through after eating.
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Woo Cafe-Art Gallery-Lifestyle Shop
80 ถนน เจริญราษฎร์
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In Chiang Mai's riverside area, a really cool place to experience Northern cuisine at its finest. Shop and Gallery are nice for a wander through after eating.
Huge and very popular restaurant/bar/live music venue. Good selection of draught beers. I would suggest making a reservation on busy nights such as Friday, Saturday and public holidays.
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The Good View
13 ถนน เจริญราษฎร์
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Huge and very popular restaurant/bar/live music venue. Good selection of draught beers. I would suggest making a reservation on busy nights such as Friday, Saturday and public holidays.
Set in a rice field surrounded by mountains, a nice place for a coffee and something to eat. Great place for photos.
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BrandNew Field Good
210 หมู่ที่ 2
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Set in a rice field surrounded by mountains, a nice place for a coffee and something to eat. Great place for photos.
Beautiful setting for a cafe by a small river bed. Nice coffee and good food, very reasonably priced for such a fancy looking place. Get here early as the kitchen closes at 6 pm, more of a lunch or breakfast venue. Good wine is also on the menu.
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Wild Coffee & Bistro
ซอย ค่ายลูกเสือ
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Beautiful setting for a cafe by a small river bed. Nice coffee and good food, very reasonably priced for such a fancy looking place. Get here early as the kitchen closes at 6 pm, more of a lunch or breakfast venue. Good wine is also on the menu.
Great cafe close by for breakfast or lunch. Coffee and food both high quality.
Bella Goose Cafe at the Hill
Great cafe close by for breakfast or lunch. Coffee and food both high quality.
I've only had the take away pizza from here, and it was superb. Highly recommend if you have a pizza craving.
Billy's Restaurant
I've only had the take away pizza from here, and it was superb. Highly recommend if you have a pizza craving.
Cheap and delicious home made pasta. Some traditional style and some fusion dishes. Smoothie and Thai food is also available.
Sen Sod Homemade Pasta & Smoothie by chef Ton
Cheap and delicious home made pasta. Some traditional style and some fusion dishes. Smoothie and Thai food is also available.
Cheap food and drinks (shopping too if that's what your into) in a relaxed and happy atmosphere.
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Kalare Night Bazaar
2 Changklan Rd
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Cheap food and drinks (shopping too if that's what your into) in a relaxed and happy atmosphere.
I think the term "world class" is a bit over used, but in this case 100% appropriate. Stay away from Macca's or burger king. Spend the same amount here and get super high quality food.
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Rock Me Burger
19 Loi Kroh Rd
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I think the term "world class" is a bit over used, but in this case 100% appropriate. Stay away from Macca's or burger king. Spend the same amount here and get super high quality food.
Very close by brand new Japanese restaurant run by a Japanese chef. Good quality food at affordable prices.
居酒屋 吉宗 Yoshimune Izakaya
Very close by brand new Japanese restaurant run by a Japanese chef. Good quality food at affordable prices.
Cheap, delicious and close to home. This place does great stewed pork over rice or with noodles. Other meals available too, but I just love the pork! Pictures of the meals are on the walls, so it's very easy to order without knowing the language. The walls are covered with photos of Thai celebrities and it is always busy with take away and table dining. Most, if not all dishes are B60. No English on the sign, but it's not hard to find. Open 9am to 2am daily. Dine in or grab a take away bag and head back to the condo.
นกแล ก๋วยเตี๋ยวต้มยำสุโขทัย
91 Changklan Road
Cheap, delicious and close to home. This place does great stewed pork over rice or with noodles. Other meals available too, but I just love the pork! Pictures of the meals are on the walls, so it's very easy to order without knowing the language. The walls are covered with photos of Thai celebrities and it is always busy with take away and table dining. Most, if not all dishes are B60. No English on the sign, but it's not hard to find. Open 9am to 2am daily. Dine in or grab a take away bag and head back to the condo.
Thai and international open air food truck park. Live music, beer and cocktails.
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Ploen Ruedee Night Market
28/3-4 Changklan Rd
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Thai and international open air food truck park. Live music, beer and cocktails.
There are so many markets with cheap food and drink in Chiang Mai, but this is the closest. There is the main food hall and several stand-alone restaurants. Nice souvenir stalls with a bit more space than the street market.
Anusarn Night Market
There are so many markets with cheap food and drink in Chiang Mai, but this is the closest. There is the main food hall and several stand-alone restaurants. Nice souvenir stalls with a bit more space than the street market.

Drinks & Nightlife

Great for watching live sports from Australia. Great Aussie style pie and chips while you watch the footy. (The downunder has changed hands and was closed during my last visit in February '24)
Downunder Pub & Bistro
Great for watching live sports from Australia. Great Aussie style pie and chips while you watch the footy. (The downunder has changed hands and was closed during my last visit in February '24)
Wonder up and down this street and its Soi's until you see a place that you like. Sit down, have a drink. When you get itchy feet, move on to the next place. Something for everyone. Your partner can go for a nice relaxing (or painful Thai style) massage while you chill at a bar.
Loi Kroh Road
Wonder up and down this street and its Soi's until you see a place that you like. Sit down, have a drink. When you get itchy feet, move on to the next place. Something for everyone. Your partner can go for a nice relaxing (or painful Thai style) massage while you chill at a bar.
If you're over the usual Thai beer, this place is for you. Excellent craft beer on tap, range of whiskies too. Small indoor bar with friendly bartenders. Super close to the Astra.
The Grumpy Old Men : My BEER Friend Taproom
If you're over the usual Thai beer, this place is for you. Excellent craft beer on tap, range of whiskies too. Small indoor bar with friendly bartenders. Super close to the Astra.
Rooftop bar with a great range of tap and bottled craft beers. Nice views especially at sunset. Bar snacks too.
ควันจุ๊งจุ๊ง Rooftop Bar & Bistro(ช้างคลาน)
Rooftop bar with a great range of tap and bottled craft beers. Nice views especially at sunset. Bar snacks too.
Little hole in the wall bar along Loi Kroh bar street serving surprisingly good cocktails, considering the price. From B120 to B300 per cocktail. So happy they're still in business.
Ben Cocktail Bar
73 1-2 Loi Kroh Rd
Little hole in the wall bar along Loi Kroh bar street serving surprisingly good cocktails, considering the price. From B120 to B300 per cocktail. So happy they're still in business.
Laid back bar with a rock pub vibe, I will be back.
My Bar Chiang Mai
Laid back bar with a rock pub vibe, I will be back.
Very cheap and rustic self-service bar, although at nights there are usually beer waitresses to bring you bottles, I assume these girls work on commission from the brewery. Food vendors will park in front and snack sellers will wander by to sell local nibbles. Can be hard to locate, look for the cheap plastic tables and chairs and the SELF-SERVICE signs in English. It's also a great bottle shop with a range of international beer wine and spirits.
Roongroj
Very cheap and rustic self-service bar, although at nights there are usually beer waitresses to bring you bottles, I assume these girls work on commission from the brewery. Food vendors will park in front and snack sellers will wander by to sell local nibbles. Can be hard to locate, look for the cheap plastic tables and chairs and the SELF-SERVICE signs in English. It's also a great bottle shop with a range of international beer wine and spirits.

Essentials

Not the best supermarket, but the most convenient. Only if you are sick of 7/11!
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Big C Supermarket @ Chiang Mai
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Not the best supermarket, but the most convenient. Only if you are sick of 7/11!
A little further than Big C, but a nice walk over the old bridge. Great supermarket with heaps of food from around the world. Good selection of international wines, beers and spirits.
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Rimping Supermarket Nawarat Branch
129 Thanon Chiang Mai-Lam Phun
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A little further than Big C, but a nice walk over the old bridge. Great supermarket with heaps of food from around the world. Good selection of international wines, beers and spirits.

Sightseeing

The gates of the old city, and the centre of activities and festivals.
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Tha Phae Gate
Tha Phae Road
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The gates of the old city, and the centre of activities and festivals.
Beautiful temple at the top of a long set of steps. Iconic Chiang Mai site.
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Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
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Beautiful temple at the top of a long set of steps. Iconic Chiang Mai site.
In neighbouring Chiang Rai district. Is this a temple as a work of art, or a work of art as a temple? Totally unique in style, definitely worth a visit even if you think you've seen enough temples already on your trip. If you do a tour to Chiang Rai, make sure this is on the itinerary.
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Wat Rong Khun
60 หมู่ที่ 1 Thanon Phahon Yothin
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In neighbouring Chiang Rai district. Is this a temple as a work of art, or a work of art as a temple? Totally unique in style, definitely worth a visit even if you think you've seen enough temples already on your trip. If you do a tour to Chiang Rai, make sure this is on the itinerary.
Nice new market around the canal. This is a government project to provide income to the locals. Good place for photos, selfies and to buy souvenirs or snacks to support the project.
Khlong Mae Kha
Nice new market around the canal. This is a government project to provide income to the locals. Good place for photos, selfies and to buy souvenirs or snacks to support the project.

Parks & Nature

Big place, hard to give a highlight. Maybe a tour guide needed unless you have done your research. Remember that foreigners need to pay a higher fee, last time I paid B200.
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Doi Inthanon National Park
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Big place, hard to give a highlight. Maybe a tour guide needed unless you have done your research. Remember that foreigners need to pay a higher fee, last time I paid B200.
A winding drive, but not too far. The views here are spectacular. There is a coffee and food at the top, and they also have billy cart rides.
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ม่อนแจ่ม
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A winding drive, but not too far. The views here are spectacular. There is a coffee and food at the top, and they also have billy cart rides.
There are a few hot springs around Chiang Mai and surrounding districts. This is one of the nicer ones, better than the one that most get to see while on a bus tour. That one is on the side of a highway and is pretty unimpressive. San Kamphaeng has a nice set up. The hot spring is hot enough so cause serious burns, and you can buy eggs to cook in it. The hot water is diverted along small man made canals and you can dip your tired feet into the hot mineral water. Lots of gazebos and tables for picnics. Ticketed entry. Not sure of the price, but it wasn't too much from memory.
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San Khamphaeng Hot Springs
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There are a few hot springs around Chiang Mai and surrounding districts. This is one of the nicer ones, better than the one that most get to see while on a bus tour. That one is on the side of a highway and is pretty unimpressive. San Kamphaeng has a nice set up. The hot spring is hot enough so cause serious burns, and you can buy eggs to cook in it. The hot water is diverted along small man made canals and you can dip your tired feet into the hot mineral water. Lots of gazebos and tables for picnics. Ticketed entry. Not sure of the price, but it wasn't too much from memory.

Shopping

Biggest and best mall in Chiang Mai. Good for hot days. They even have an ice rink.
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CentralFestival Chiangmai
99/2 หมู่ที่ 4 ถนน ซุปเปอร์ไฮเวย์ เชียงใหม่-ลำปาง
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Biggest and best mall in Chiang Mai. Good for hot days. They even have an ice rink.
The pictures on our walls are from here, except the Melbourne ones. Heaps of wooden pieces and furniture. Prices much better than night Bazaar. International delivery services available.
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Suna Living Retail Store
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The pictures on our walls are from here, except the Melbourne ones. Heaps of wooden pieces and furniture. Prices much better than night Bazaar. International delivery services available.
Short walk from the Astra, Anusarn is the centre of the Night Bazaar area. Food and drinks can be had here along with the shopping. Lots of fish spas and massage places too. There is a small food truck type area that had a beer van, cocktail van, pizza stall and roti vendor (among others),set around rustic furniture during my visit.
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Anusarn Market
14-15 Changklan Rd
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Short walk from the Astra, Anusarn is the centre of the Night Bazaar area. Food and drinks can be had here along with the shopping. Lots of fish spas and massage places too. There is a small food truck type area that had a beer van, cocktail van, pizza stall and roti vendor (among others),set around rustic furniture during my visit.
If you're looking for better bargains than the night bazaar or Sunday market, head to Chiang Mai's China town district. The night market here is less busy and cheaper than the other options.
China Town
Chang Moi Road
If you're looking for better bargains than the night bazaar or Sunday market, head to Chiang Mai's China town district. The night market here is less busy and cheaper than the other options.
Convenient place to buy ground coffee beans for the coffee maker.
Boncafe (Thailand) Ltd. (Chiang Mai)
Convenient place to buy ground coffee beans for the coffee maker.

Entertainment & Activities

The jungle coaster is great fun, actually a toboggan style ride that you control the speed by hand brake. You can also do a zipline around the canopy above. On the way to Moncham if you want to make a day of it.
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Pongyang Zipline and Jungle Coaster
99 9
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The jungle coaster is great fun, actually a toboggan style ride that you control the speed by hand brake. You can also do a zipline around the canopy above. On the way to Moncham if you want to make a day of it.
This decommissioned quarry has been transformed into a water park. Inflatable platforms and obstacles, high jumping platforms and zip lines for the brave. Life jackets are compulsory. A smaller play area is available for little kids. There is a cafe and restaurant near the water and more on the thoroughfare above. You can have a coffee (or a sneaky beer or two) while you wait and wait for the kids to get tired. Great fun.
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Grand Canyon Chiang Mai
202 ถนนเลียบคลองชลประทาน
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This decommissioned quarry has been transformed into a water park. Inflatable platforms and obstacles, high jumping platforms and zip lines for the brave. Life jackets are compulsory. A smaller play area is available for little kids. There is a cafe and restaurant near the water and more on the thoroughfare above. You can have a coffee (or a sneaky beer or two) while you wait and wait for the kids to get tired. Great fun.