Favorite Chiang Mai Restaurants

Authentic Chiang Mai and Northern food is delicious and unique but the genuine article is sometimes hard to find. Restaurants seem to come and go constantly but there are always a few that never seem to change.

The combination of the Thai love of food and the openness to outside influences means that the traditional cooking and almost every other kind of cuisine imaginable is available with a little bit of searching.

Scroll down for choices of Bars and Restaurants with Entertainment, Thai Food, Vegetarian and Street Food.

Khan Toke - Celebration Feast, Banquet or Evening Out

Western Style Restaurants

Nightlife

Chiang Mai Street Food

Bars and Restaurants with Entertainment

The Riverside

9 Charoenrat Road

On the Ping River with indoor and outdoor seating. Good food and live music makes it a favorite in Chiang Mai. Large mixed menu, good service and a busy bar makes it one of the most popular evening out places in the city. (053) 243 239

The Good View Restaurant

13 Charoenrat Road

Noisy, large and generally busy, especially on weekend nights. Live music popular with younger locals (053) 241 866

The Gallery Restaurant

25 Charoenrat Road

A quieter alternative to its neighbors on the river bank. interior with art gallery, variable food and service quality. (053) 248 601)

Thai Food

Antique House

71 Charoen Prathet Road

A beautiful century old teak house with good food and excellent service in a peaceful setting. (053) 276 810

Aroon Rai

45 Kotchasarn Road

Very basic open air eatery with many years experience turning out Northern style food. Located across the busy street from the city moat, a short distance from Thapae Gate. (053) 276 947

The Coffee Bus

Mee Chok Market

Definitely out of the way next to the Rimping supermarket at the intersection of the Chiang Mai-Maejo Road and the first Ring Road. Small with very good food and the rarity of a really good cup of coffee.

Galae Restaurant

65 Suthep Rd.

Open air dining under the trees above a reservoir on the slope of Doi Suthep. Grilled Thai and Northern Thai specialties. Known more for its beautiful setting than for the food but thoroughly enjoyable.(053) 278 655.

Huen Phen

112 Ratchamangkha Road

A large open air room completely packed at lunch time and a smaller and quieter dinner room stuffed with art and antiques. Hard to find the first time and harder to find parking. Famous with locals for having the best Northern cooking in the area. Don't miss the som tam , a spicy green papaya salad. One of the most popular restaurants in Chiang Mai so seating is sometimes a problem, especially at lunch. Full bar and a small selection of wines. (053) 277 103

$ lunch / $$ dinner

Ratana's Kitchen

320 Thapae Road

Long time popular place with good Thai and foreign cooking located on the busy thoroughfare between the Thapae Gate and the river. (053) 320 322

Silom Joy

Ratchadammoen Road

A few steps inside Thapae Gate, this very basic breakfast and lunch cafe is an institution run by an extended family. Mixed Thai and western menu with simple and very good food. Maybe the best mango sticky rice in the city and very good coffee.