10 of the Best Cafes in Chiang Mai
- Blair Vina
- Sep 12, 2017
- 5 min read
10 of the Best Cafes in Chiang Mai
1. Akha Ama
Fair trade hill tribe coffee at Akha Ama
Aha Ama is a social enterprise coming from an Akha hill tribe village that worked to not only grow coffee beans but also process and market their own coffee. The young founder, Lee Ayu, singlehandedly started the company convincing farmers in his village to work on his project and has since teamed up with leading coffee roasters and restauranteurs in the U.S. like Stumptown and Andy Ricker of Pok Pok (read more about his story here). Akha Ama has a couple locations around town with my favorite being the Santitham cafe in the middle of a small neighborhood soi.
Location: Hussadhisewee Road Soi 3 in Santhitham or Rachadammoen Road near Wat Phra Singh
2. Arttitude Gallery
Fresh juice at Arttitude Gallery
While they do serve coffee, it’s really the fresh cold pressed juices that will make you want to head to Arttitude Gallery. (For coffee go right next door to the excellent Ristr8to Lab – #24 on this list!) Each of the concoctions is inspired by and named after a famous painting like The Birth of Venus. The cafe also serves some desserts and house made fruit sodas.
Opening times: Daily, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Between Nimmanhaemin Soi 3 and 5
3. Artisan
The cute little Artisan Cafe
Artisan Cafe is a perfect example of Chiang Mai’s artsy, hipster aesthetic. It’s small (quite small unfortunately, there’s not much seating) and decorated with succulents, quirky furniture and the requisite bicycle out in front. I love the slightly out of the way location so that the people stopping in are all coming specifically for the cafe. When going with friends, we ordered several drinks ranging from espresso to a sweetened ice latte and were pleased with all.
Opening times: 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Mengraimassmee Road, almost exactly opposite the YMCA
4. Cerebrum & Friends
Cerebrum and Friends: The anti-cute coffee shop
Thailand, and Asia in general, is like the Land of Cute. If something is cute, it gets major points despite how well it works, or tastes, or actually serves any purpose. You’ll see a lot of cute things at coffeeshops throughout Chiang Mai – rainbow-layered crepe cakes, desserts that are way prettier to look at than they actually taste, flowery pillows and lace – but not at Cerebrum & Friends. This cafe is straight up weird, with an atmosphere that manages to be stylishly…creepy. You cannot call it cute. Along with coffee, the cafe serves breakfast, sandwiches and salads that I have not tried yet but look quite good. Breakfasts start at 80 baht which is a deal and sandwiches start at 75 baht.
Opening times: 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., closed on Wednesdays
Location: 77/1 Samlan Road
5. Chan Neung
Simplicity at Chan Neung
Located on Nimmamhaemin Soi 1, this simple, unassuming cafe offers a nice, clear space to work. In the busy Nimmanhaemin neighborhood, Soi 1 somehow manages to seem overlooked and is quiet, yet probably one of the most charming streets in the area with specialty shops and boutique hotels. As with many of the coffee shops, there is both indoor and outdoor seating.
Opening times: Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Location: Nimmanhaemin Soi
6. Clay Studio Coffee in the Garden
Iced matcha green tea in the garden surround Clay Studio
I had heard about this place for the past several years but never knew where it was until a couple months ago when I realized I had been passing it for ages completely oblivious. Clay Studio Coffee in the Garden is also often known as the terracotta garden and is part of a terracotta studio that creates all manners of statues and pottery. The garden is filled with completed or broken pieces of intricately carved and molded terracotta. It’s really quite incredible and as soon as you step through the doorway into the walled garden space you feel like you’ve walked into another world. There’s a glass coffeehouse serving drinks and food with table both inside and throughout the garden.
Opening times: Daily, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Prapokklao Road Soi 2 – When you turn onto the soi from Prapokklao Road, you’ll pass through a small market area then soon notice a brick wall on your left. The entrance to the cafe can be found at the end of the wall.
7. Coffee Villa
Reindeer and iced lattes at Coffee Villa
While Coffee Villa has two locations, the easiest to get to is in the Nimmanhaemin area. The bright and funky cafe serves a range of Thai-style drinks along with some Thai and Western dishes. If you like iced coffee, come here for their big-sized 60 baht drinks!
Opening times: Daily, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Nimmanhaemin Soi 5
8. Dolcetto
Creamy cappuccinos at Dolcetto
This stylish little coffeeshop manages to be sleek and quirky at the same time. I’ve loved the coffee I’ve had here but it is a really small space so you may not always be able to find a seat!
Opening times: Daily, 8:15 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Nimmanhaemin Road close to Soi 4
9. Fahtara Coffee
The gorgeous Fahtara Coffee
Connected to the equally beautiful Fah Lanna Spa, Fahtara Coffee is a relatively new cafe in the Old City with a unique atmosphere. The coffeeshop has a rich, earthy feel to it with traditional Northern Thai touches and a charming back patio with lots of greenery and misters for when it’s really hot. They serve a range of coffee drinks and teas along with a rotating selection of desserts that are baked specifically for the cafe, including coconut pudding and even inventive scones and cupcakes with flavors like mango and poppy seed and Earl Grey, and Thai and Western meals. Some of the dishes here are slightly more expensive than other cafes, but you can still find a range of prices to fit any budget. For example, the cafe’s signature “Icepresso”, with espresso, ice cream, chocolate, etc. (it looks divine), is 150 baht but a regular hot cappuccino is still just 60 baht.
Opening times: Daily, 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (This is one of the earliest cafes to open in the morning to grab your first cup!)
Location: 57 Wiang Kaew Road
10. Food4Thought & Bay’s Cafe
Excellent slow brewed coffee and homemade food at Food4Thought
Part restaurant, part coffee bar, Food4Thought and Bay’s Cafe serve high quality, slow-brewed drip coffee and incredible organic meals. Practically everything for the wide selection of Thai and Western dishes, like salads, breakfasts and wraps, is made in house – even the tortillas and aioli! Everything I’ve tried here has been fresh, flavorful and just simply really satisfying. The owners and staff are also lovely. A great place to gather with friends to enjoy a long lunch or get some work done, the cafe has indoor and outdoor seating. I’m a fan.
Opening times: Tuesday – Saturday, 10:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Sudjai Alley just off of Canal Road close to the corner of Canal Road and Huay Kaew Road. This is kind of a funny location so be sure to check out the map on the cafe’s Facebook Page to get a better idea of where it is.
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