31 Best Restaurants in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Founder Lee Ayu Chuepa studied the art of roasting and brewing coffee in Italy, then brought his know-how back to his home village on the outskirts of Chiang Mai, where he grows organic coffee. The vibe is casual, with a few seats to hang out and enjoy your beverage. There is a B500 minimum charge for credit cards.

A charming courtyard garden leads to the cozy dining room of this predominantly Indian restaurant, where you'll be welcomed as if you were at a friend's home. The menu focuses on Indian selections with a few Thai and Western options, and everything is delicious.

Lampang native Achareeya Chapin studied baking and pastry at the Culinary Institute of America and worked at a highly acclaimed restaurant in Napa Valley before returning home to set up shop here, on a sleepy little river evoking the feeling of times gone by. Achareeya has since gone on to open Wildthyme in Bangkok, but her sister Fon keeps the shop running, offering a selection of Thai and Western dishes, all prepared to perfection. Leave room for dessert.

Every meal tells a story at this northern Thai restaurant, where recipes passed down by silk-trading Thai-Chinese families of the Baan Tuek compound are actively used. If you visit in April, start the Thai New Year with good luck by eating laap kua, a zesty minced pork dish topped with chili flakes and many herbs.

Guests are invited to make themselves comfortable on plump, plush armchairs and sofas and even on large cushions scattered over the polished teak floor at this colorful restaurant, decorated like the home of your kooky bohemian cousin. The cuisine is eclectic, with plenty of Thai offerings as well as mixed Western fare like fish-and-chips. Nothing is too spicy, and everything, including rich curries, refreshing salads, and vegetable-packed summer rolls, is served in pretty ceramic bowls and plates.

The cuisine is eclectic Thai, with ingredients sourced from Ginger's own farm on the outskirts of Chiang Mai, at this vibrant Thai bistro decorated with vintage furniture, large patterned cushions, and hanging plants. Nothing is too-too spicy, and everything—including rich curries, refreshing salads, and vegetable-packed summer rolls—is served in pretty ceramic bowls and plates.

Trendy locals have been loving this iconic restaurant that serves creative Thai and pan-Asian fare since it opened in 2004. The walls are adorned with tropical motif wallpaper, the plush furniture is finished with dark velvets, and traditional Chinese pottery in bold colors sits on display. The banquette seating is topped with colorful throw pillows that you can purchase in the shop. The Thai food is excellent and nicely presented, but expect to pay more than in simpler Thai restaurants. 

A meal at the Rachamankha hotel's elegant restaurant is a must whether you're a guest or not. The menu focuses on Lanna, Burmese, and Shan cuisine, a sensible approach given the entwined history of these northern neighbors. The formal dining room inside, decorated with tasteful antiques, is best during the day, but reserve a table in the softly lit, brick-lined courtyard if you'll be here after dark. The servers are discreetly attentive, and the prices are reasonable for such impeccably prepared food.

This simple Thai restaurant sits on the banks of the Wang River, 2 km (1 mile) down the main 1034 highway in the village of Ko Kha. Fresh fish is a daily specialty, but try the plump fish cakes or a crispy version of larb, a popular minced-pork dish.

This airy shophouse-turned-café, art gallery, and boutique is the kind of warm homey space that makes you want to linger. The selection of pastries and cake are enticing, and the barista makes excellent coffee. The boutique carries coffee, honey, chocolate, local textiles, and ceramics with an emphasis on local community enterprises. Exhibitions in the upstairs gallery, featuring the works of contemporary Thai artists, change every few months.

This simple open-sided restaurant just outside the city walls has been preparing traditional northern dishes, such as frog legs fried with ginger, for more than 30 years. Try the gaeng hang lay (Northern Thai pork curry) and sai ua (pork sausage with herbs). There is take-out service, too.

If you find yourself craving Western fast food, skip the global franchises and make a beeline for this restaurant run by two young Thai siblings, which grew out of a popular food truck. Beast's burgers and beef patties are made with premium-quality ingredients and perfectly cooked. The veggie patty is great, too. Choose from onion rings or fries for the perfect accompaniment.

Whether you're after a strong piccolo or a handcrafted latte, this quality coffee shop is the spot to hit. It hosts occasional DJ sets, pop-ups, and more.

This French restaurant, located in Chiang Mai's perfectly safe "red-light district," is consistently full of locals and foreigners enjoying creamy pâtés and beef Bourguignon. It's run with Gallic flair by Franco-Japanese chef Marco, and—despite the surrounding bar, hotel, and massage parlor—it still has a stylishly intimate atmosphere best enjoyed on the street terrace.

This 50-year-old Lanna restaurant—opened by the late Kanong Yawikham, who cooked in his Thai boxing school before starting Daokanong—has tasty Northern Thai dishes for very reasonable prices. Try nam prik pla jee (spicy grilled fish dip served with steamed local vegetables) to explore new flavors.

In a beautiful, traditional, two-story teak house with a balcony overlooking a garden, Dash is one of the Old Town's best midrange restaurants. Guests receive a warm welcome from the Thai mother-son team, who returned to Thailand to open the restaurant after living for many years in the United States. Expect generous servings of classic Thai food from across the country. The khao soi (chicken curry noodle soup), gaeng hang lay (pork curry), and other Lanna specialties stand out. Those not in the mood for Thai can avail themselves of pasta and burgers.

The focus at this stylish modern restaurant in an old ice factory is the wood-fired oven in the open kitchen, visible throughout the dining room. The menu tours the globe, with popular dishes including smoked pork ribs with barbecue sauce and arguably the most authentic tacos in town.

A maverick in the area, this air-conditioned restaurant run by a German specializes in beer sausages, as well as cheese and cold cut platters. The restaurant also serves Greek salad, Norwegian smoked salmon, and tenderloin tournedos from Australia. The vibe is always homey, with brick walls, bamboo chairs, and timber galore. Whether you sit inside or outside, the place fills up in the evenings.

Tucked away in a corner of a former businessman's mansion, this small open-sided restaurant specializes in inexpensive curry dishes from India and Burma, with some creamy yellow khao soi noodle soups as well. Daily specials, accompanied by two varieties of rice or a selection of Indian breads like pillowy naan, are written on a blackboard. The tiny terrace overlooks the grounds of the mansion, whose present owners run the restaurant.

Ask a Thai chef where to find Chiang Mai's finest and most authentic Lanna food, and you'll likely be directed to this rustic restaurant a 30-minute drive south of the Old City. The place occupies an old timber house and several air-conditioned rooms in a contemporary building that wraps around the back garden. Start with the nam prik num (roasted green-chili relish) and kap moo (pork crackling), and don't miss the rich aromatic gaeng hang lay. Few staff members speak English, and you’re unlikely to see groups of foreigners, but there is an English menu (you might have to ask for it). Prices are exceedingly reasonable for the quality. The only issue is transportation: if you're carless, the best strategy is to take a taxi or tuk-tuk and pay the driver to wait.

On a backstreet in an increasingly cool local neighborhood dotted with cafés and small eateries, this restaurant in a traditional teak house serves authentic Lanna cuisine. Try the nam prik ong (tomato and minced pork dip) served with crispy vegetables, the laap moo (a rich minced-pork salad), or the locally revered gaeng hang lay (pork belly curry). Don't be surprised if you find yourself returning for another meal—most patrons do. Before you leave, check out the framed wall photos of the owner-chef's appearance on Iron Chef Thailand. There is a minimum charge of B500 for credit cards.

The colorful plastic stools and small wooden tables at this open-air khao soi spot are packed with a mix of locals and tourists slurping egg noodles in curry soup. Get yours with beef, chicken, or pork, each bowl topped with an addictive handful of crunchy noodles. To drink, there's refreshing longan juice.

Born from Chef Yaowadee's desire to keep artisanal fisherman in business down south, this casual eatery features Thai comfort food with an emphasis on the freshest catch of the day—something not that common in this landlocked region. The menu features stir-fried squid and an impressive array of fish dishes, including charcoal-grilled trevally and brown-sugar-cured sardine jerky, all accompanied by local organic rice and stir-fried vegetables.

Owned by a Thai-Aussie couple, this cool little café in the Thapae Gate area serves excellent coffee sourced from local roasters, along with hearty breakfasts and healthy Aussie-style sandwiches and salads made with organic ingredients. The breakfast pizza paired with an iced coconut espresso is a treat for those up early with jet lag. There are always several vegetarian and gluten-free options. The café closes at 3:30 pm but occasionally reopens in the evenings for special events such as craft-beer, cocktail, or wine tastings.

There's also a branch on Nimmanhaemin Rd.

The dining menu at this tranquil teahouse is fairly short, with light breakfast bites, curries, and sandwiches, but the cool interior of this exquisitely restored century-old Chinese merchant's house is a wonderful respite from the bustle of the city. It doubles as a showroom of fine celadon pottery and has an adjoining courtyard, with a shop selling Lanna fabric and the pottery used in the restaurant. There are indigo dyeing, textile weaving, and ceramic painting workshops available here, too.

This light-filled haven with indoor and outdoor seating offers a long sprawling menu of breakfast dishes, salads, and sandwiches. For a mouthwatering treat, try the Noam's Special, which consists of grilled veggies, roast chicken, fried spinach, avocado, and rice. Just as tasty as the food are the fresh fruit smoothies and coffee. An abundance of plants and colorful Chinese lanterns add to the peaceful atmosphere, perfect for people-watching on the terrace.

This family business is famous for their juicy charcoal-grilled rotisserie chicken, stuffed with generous amounts of fragrant local garlic. Papaya salad, sticky rice, and other Northeastern/Isan favorites such as pork laap and grilled beef with sweet, spicy, tart jaew dipping sauce are all recommended, too.