A list of the best cafes in Chiang Mai, including specialty roasters, hidden cafes, and beautiful spaces.
Chiang Mai is famous for its cafes, which makes sense considering that Northern Thailand is a major coffee-growing region. The cafe scene in Chiang Mai is constantly evolving, so if you are a returning visitor there is always some news cafes to check out.
I’m a frequent visitor to Chiang Mai, and when I am there I revisit my old favourites and make a point to visit new cafes. It’s a lot of work to visit so many cafes, but cafe hopping is part of the pleasure of visiting Chiang Mai.
This list features a cross section of the best cafes in Chiang Mai, sorted by neighbourhood.
Index
Chiang Mai cafes map
Old City
Nimmanhaemin
Suthep (between Outer Ring Rd and Doi Suthep)
Santitham
East of Old City (Chinatown/Warorot Market)
Chang Khlan (South of Night Bazaar)
East of Ping River
Hang Dong district
Branch and chain cafes
Local branches and chains
National chains
International chains
Closed cafes
Chiang Mai cafes map
Cafes mentioned in this article are on this map.
[Map of Chiang Mai cafes.]
Old City
Akha Ama Phrasingh
Akha Ama are legends in Chiang Mai. I’ve been going to Akha Ama since they opened in 2010, so I was happy when they opened their second branch in the Old City.
Apart from the great coffee, the Phrasingh branch is an architectural marvel. They took a dowdy old shop house, gutted it out, and turned it into a beautiful space.
Location: 175 2 Rachadamnoen Rd.
Website: akhaamacoffee.com
Burkta
Burkta is set in a garden next to Punspace coworking space. The lattes are served in a glass, and as a Melbourne coffee snob I could tell this was a “proper latte” by the colour. They get the coffee/milk ratio just right.
Location: 10 Wiang Kaew Rd.
Facebook: @burkta
Single Origin Store Tha Pae
[Single Origin Store at Tha Pae Gate.]
Single Origin Store is a surprisingly-good cafe considering it’s near the epicentre of Chiang Mai tourism at Tha Pae Gate.
Location: 65 Moonmuang Road.
Facebook: singleoriginstore.com
CoolMuang Coffee
Another good option near Tha Pae Gate. is CoolMuang Coffee. They have an indoor and covered outdoor section.
Location: 81 Moonmuang Road.
Instagram: @coolmuangcoffee
Ponganes Coffee Roasters
Ponganes Coffee Roasters is a small-batch coffee roaster. They have moved to a new location since my last visit.
Location: 11/2 Soi 1 Inthawaroros Rd.
Website: ponganes.com
Happy Monday Coffee
Happy Monday Coffee are almost geographically in the middle of the Old City on Rachadamnoen Rd
Location: 145 Rachadamnoen Rd.
Facebook: @HappyMondaysCoffee
Nimmanhaemin
Nimmanhaemin Road (or Nimman for short) is the the hipster area to the west of the Old City. This area is near Chiang Mai University and it’s a popular digital nomad area.
Ristr8to Original
Ristr8to opened on Nimmanhemin in 2011. This was around when the digital nomad scene was taking off and Nimman was clearly becoming one of the coolest streets in Thailand.
Location: 15/3 Nimmanhemin Rd
Website: ristr8to-coffee-chiangmai.com
Roast8ry Lab
Roast8ry Lab make the best latte in the Nimman area..
Location: 14 Nimmana Haeminda Rd Lane 3.
Website: roast8ry.com
Roast8ry Coffee Flagship Store
Roast8ry Coffee Flagship Store is the largest Roast8ry branch in the Nimman area. They also have a coffee vending machine outside.
Location: Nimmana Haeminda Rd Lane 17
Website: roast8ry.com
FOHHIDE
FOHHIDE (Full Of Happiness…Hiding on 5th floor) is reached by a little elevator to this fifth-floor cafe. There is a great view of Doi Suthep from the outdoor section.
The cafe feels Japanese in style, and sharing a floor with a rooftop izakaya added to that feeling.
Location: 5th Floor, 14/2 Nimmanhaemin Road Soi 5.
Website: @FOHHIDE
GRAPH Ground
GRAPH is a roastery cafe with branches around the city. GRAPH Ground is in a little warehouse on Siri Mangkalajarn Road. It’s not obvious that it’s a cafe unless you walk by when they are roasting.
The cool and dark interior is a stark contrast when it’s hot and sunny outside.
Location: 41/1 Siri Mangkalajarn Rd., Suthep.
Website: graphcoffeeco.com
GRAPH One Nimman
There is another Graph branch inside the European-style arcade of One Nimman.
Location: 1/6 A103, One Nimman.
Website: graphcoffeeco.com
LOT
LOT (Lot of Taste) is a specialty coffee shop on Nimmanahaeminda Road.
Location: 8 5 Nimmanahaeminda Road.
Facebook: @LotofTaste.LOT
Roastniyom Coffee
Roastniyom Coffee are a local cafe chain with branches across the city. The branch at Siri Mangkalajarn Rd is most notable for being built a around a. big tree.
Location: 51 Siri Mangkalajarn Rd.
Facebook: @roastniyomcoffee
CAMP
CAMP (Creative and Meeting Place) is a cafe/co-working space in Maya Mall.
Location: 5th Floor, Maya Mall.
Facebook: @CAMP-100063653855955
Free Bird Cafe
Free Bird Cafe is part of Thai Freedom House, a not-for-profit community centre that assists refugees from Burma and Indigenous peoples of Thailand.
[Free Bird was formerly on Moon Muang, Soi 7 (in an old wooden home)]
Location: 14 Sirimankalajarn Soi 9.
Facebook: @FreeBirdCafe
Suthep (between Outer Ring Rd and Doi Suthep)
Suthep is a large district that includes everywhere from the west side of the moat to Doi Suthep itself. This includes the Nimman area, but there are areas in Suthep that have their own distinct feel.
The area between the Canal Rd and Doi Suthep has a much different vibe to the compact streets of the Nimman area. The roads closer to the mountain start going through forests, and there are some great cafes tucked away in the tress. This area is also harder to walk to and from due to the distances, so you need your own transport or take a Grab taxi.
The Baristro Asian Style
The Baristro Asian Style is a cafe in a compound near Doi Sethep. You have to buy a ticket to enter (redeemable in your purchase) as it has become a popular photo place.
The cafe is an architectural work of art, and the coffee is great as well.
There is a separate section (Slow Bar and Matcha) serving cold brew coffee and match tea.
[Slow Bar and Matcha.]
Outside there is a zen garden and a event space among the trees.
Location: 200 Suthep Rd, Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai.
Facebook: @Thebaristroasianstyle
Sensation Coffee Roasters
Sensation Coffee Roasters is on the road that runs along the foot of the mountain. There is a little expat scene out here hiding out among the trees, though you need a bicycle/motorbike to live out here.
The cafe is near the mountain forest and the cafe serves a good latte.
Location: 39/5 Moo.10 Suthep Muang Chiang Mai.
Facebook: @sensationcoffeeroasters
Living A Dream
Living A Dream is set inside the sprawling Chiang Mai University campus at the foot of Doi Sethep. I walked here from near the Old City so it was a bit of a trek. I wasn’t sure if I was smart enough to enter being around so many young students.
The cafe is next to the Angkaew Reservoir, so it’s a good place to sit outside and be in nature.
Location: Entrance at 239 Huay Kaew Road, Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai.
Facebook: @aiyacafe.cmu
Asama Coffee & Roastery
Further along the Outer Ring Road is Asama Coffee & Roastery in the Chiang Mai Lakeland Village. This is a bit out of the way, but if you are in the hood and have your own transport its worth a visit.
Location: Soi Mu Ban Chiang Mai Lake Land, Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai.
Facebook: @AsamaCoffeeRoastery
Santitham
The Santitham area is northwest of the Old City and near Nimman. It’s a local area with very few chain stores (apart from 7-Eleven of course), and it’s better value than the Nimman area for food and coffee.
Akha Ama Coffee
This is the original Akja Ama store in Chiang Mai. It’s tucked away in a residential area, and I found it via my friends who already knew about it. The cafe is run by Lee, who grows the coffee at his home Akha village in Northern Thailand. I went on a coffee tour that Lee used to run (follow their Facebook page in case they restart the tour).
Location: Mata Apartment 9/1 Hussadhisewee Rd, Soi 3.
Website: akhaamacoffee.com
Areemitr Coffee
In deepest Santitham is Areemitr Coffee. I found out about it via an expat friend, which seems to be how people find out about it. I wouldn’t have found this gem by walking around.
Areemitr Coffee is in the yard of a family house run by a father/son duo. They serve lattes in a big cup, yet somehow manage to get the coffee and milk ratio right.
Location: 17 Sodsuksa road.
Website: @areemitr.coffee
Magic Brew Coffee
I discovered Magic Brew Coffee after discovering Nana Bakery (a proper bakery with piles of fresh pastries every morning). Magic Brew started out making moka pot coffees in a cart opposite the bakery. They have since moved into a shop opposite their old cart, and have a proper coffee machine as well.
Location: 1/4 Sodsueksa road.
Facebook: @Brewtoheaven
BOB Coffee
At first glance, BOB Coffee looks like just another hole-in-the-wall cafe. It turns out that BOB Coffee is literally a hole-in-the-wall cafe, as the architects have punched holes in walls to make this space. You order coffee at the front entrance, and there is a larger space in the back building where walls have been partially knocked down to make a larger space.
Location: 20 Tambon Chang Phueak 4.
Facebook: @bob.coffee.cnx
Cafe de Sot
Cafe de Sot is in the grounds of the Anusansunthon School For the Deaf. This cafe is most remarkable for the outdoor seating set in a garden oasis. There is a waterfall and water misters that make you feel like you are in the mountains.
Location: Hussadhisawee Rd, Tambon Chang Phueak.
Facebook: @Cafe-de-Sot-100063528403937
East of Old City (Chinatown/Warorot Market)
Gateway Coffee Roaster
I walked by Gateway Coffee Roaster many times before I noticed it was there. It wasn’t until I walked on the other side of the road that I spotted the cafe above a kickboxing centre.
[Gateway Coffee Roaster above Thaphae Muay Thai.]
The building is on Tha Phae Road, though the entrance is via the side street.
Gateway Coffee Roaster is another Graph cafe, so they have the same quality coffee here as at their other branches. This cafe group is great at repurposing old buildings.
Location: Chang Moi Rd Soi 2 (off Tha Phae Road).
Facebook: @gatewaycoffeeroasters
Still.Coffee&Life
Still.Coffee&Life is the sort of place that I delight in finding after urban exploring for cafes. The cafe is on the 4th floor of an old-school department store. A little sign on the street gives no indication of what to expect.
[Department store on Wichayanon Road in Chinatown.]
The entire 4th floor is abandoned apart from the cafe, which has sealed off a space for itself.
[Still.Coffee&Life cafe.]
The cafe has the vibes of a warehouse or loft studio, and the old furnishings complement the building.
The big windows have a great view of the city, including Doi Suthep.
And most importantly, they make a great latte.
Location: 4th fl. Wichayanon Road.
Facebook: @Still.CoffeeandLife
Chang Khlan
Chang Khlan subdistrict (tambon) is south of Chiang Mai Night Bazaar alongside the west bank of the Ping River
Light Beverage and MORE
Light Beverage and MORE is a garden cafe next to the Ping River.
Location: 343/2 Charoen Prathet Rd, Chang Khlan.
Facebook: @lightbevnmore
East of Ping River
There are some interesting cafes and restaurants appearing on Charoen Muang Rd, between the Nawarat Bridge and the train station.
la.moon cold cafe
la.moon cold cafe is a spacious cafe on Charoen Muang Rd.
They specialise in cold brew coffee, though I always get a latte when trying a new cafe to compare with other lattes. I will come back for a cold brew!
Location: 94 120 Charoen Muang Rd, Tambon Chang Moi.
Facebook: @lamooncoldcafe
The Baristro At Train Station
It’s nice when there is a good cafe near a train station to chill out at before getting a train. In the case of The Baristro At Train Station, it’s worth coming here even if you aren’t getting a train.
The Baristro At Train Station is on the side street next to the station, and you can see the trains from the entrance.
The Baristro At Train Station is in an old warehouse that has been cleaned out and converted into a modern cafe experience.
The baristas at Baristro also know how to make a latte.
[Cafe Latte at The Baristro At Train Station.]
Location: 46/1 Rotfai Alley, Tambon Wat Ket.
Facebook: @thebaristroattrainstation
fringe.th
fringe.th is behind the Rim Ping Condominium (a big apartment tower on the Ping River) on Kaeonawarat Rd.
The cafe has an eclectic collection of furniture, and it appears to have been discovered by the Tiktok/Lemon8 set judging by the amount of photo shoots going on. They make a good latte.
Location: 27, 29 Kaeonawarat Rd, Tambon Chang Moi.
Instagram: @fringe.th
Doppio at Central Festival Chiangmai
Central Festival Chiangmai is the largest mall in Chiang Mai. If you happen to be on a shopping expedition (or visiting the immigration office), then Doppio is the best option. Doppio is a branch of Roast8ry,
Location: 3rd.FL, Central Festival Chiangmai.
Facebook: @doppio8
Hang Dong district
Hang Dong District is technically not in the city of Chiang Mai, but it’s now part of the Chiang Mai Municipality so I’ve added it here.
Apresto Coffee
Apresto Coffee is on the big highway heading south, so you would be forgiven for thinking you wouldn’t find a good coffee here. I only found it because I was at Chiang Mai Premium Outlet. Next to the outlet mall is the Kad Farang Village. I didn’t want to go to a chain cafe at “Foreigner Village”, so I saw on the map there was a cafe across the highway.
Apresto Coffee is a cosy cafe that looks like it should be in the hills of Hang Dong district and not the highway.
I was surprised to find that I was served a latte in a glass wiith right proportion of coffee and milk. I would come here more often if it wasn’t so far out.
Location: 254 Baanwaen Tambon Ban Waen, Amphoe Hang Dong.
Facebook: @Aprestocoffee
Local branch and chain cafes
Chiang Mai already has a competitive cafes scene with so many great independent cafes, but there are some familiar national and international brands here. I’ve listed these for reference.
Local branches and chains
I have been a regular at cafes around Chiang Mai since 2010, so it’s interesting to see which local cafes become popular and set up more branches. Local cafes with branches include:
Akha Ama
Roast8ry
Baristro
Mingmtr
Roastniyom is a local cafe with the most branches, and they might already be a chain.
Wawee Coffee started in Chiang Mai in 2000, and they are now a national chain. The brand was acquired in 2018, and the new owner had planned to open 1,000 new outlets. There is a branch on the Ping River (Wawee Coffee HimpingKadluang).
Pangkhon Coffee are a local chain that had a few branches around Chiang Mai. Their website is gone and they now operate one branch near Saen Pung Gate, close to the southwest corner of the moat.
National chains
Doi Chaang Coffee is named after Baan Doi Chang village in neighbouring Chiang Rai province. They have branches all over Thailand, including on the east side of the moat and at the airport.
[Doi Chaang Caffe on Kotchasarn Rd, east side of the moat.]
Cafe Amazon are a Thai chain that can be found all over the country. They are owned by PTT Oil and Retail, which explains why they are at PTT service stations. They had become the sixth-largest coffee chain worldwide by 2021. Amazon are my emergency coffee (when I’m at a petrol station on a motorway or if I need wifi).
[Café Amazon Three Kings in the Old City.]
Inthanin is another cafe chain that is owned by a petroleum company. Inthanin opened in 2006 at a Bangchak petrol station, and Inthanin opened its 1,000th branch in December 2022. I see Inthanin all over Bangkok, but there are very few in the competitive Chiang Mai cafe scene.
[Inthanin Coffee on Suthep Road.]
Black Canyon opened its first branch in Bangkok at Central Plaza Ram Intra in 1993. They have a few branches in Chiang Mai, though they closed their most prominent branch at Tha Pae Gate.
International chains
It wasn’t until I started compliling this list that I realised how few international cafes chains there are in Chiang Mai. Even the brands that have set up shop in Bangkok have failed or not bothered to come to Chiang Mai.
Starbucks are all over Thailand now, and Chiang Mai is no exception. You don’t need my help to find them, just google “Starbucks near me”. Starbucks are on the most prominent corner at Tha Pae Gate (the unofficial city centre).
[Starbucks (Thapae).]
There is also a Starbucks Reserve on Nimmanhaemin Road.
[Starbucks Reserve.]
Tom N Toms from South Korea used to be in Chiang Mai, but they have closed their branches in Chiang Mai.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf were in Bangkok, but I don’t recall seeing them in Chiang Mai.
Arabica is conspicuous in its absence in Chiang Mai. I understand why cafe chains would be too timid to try and crack to Chiang Mai coffee market, but Arabica would be a good fit. I suspect they will open here soon.
Closed cafes
Many cafes have fallen by the wayside since I first published this post in 2012. Cafes that have since closed are in this list.
9th Street Cafe: Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi 9.
Libernard Cafe: 36 Chaiyaphum Road.
M-A-N-A Co-working Space: 28/12 Nimmanhemin Rd.
Khun Nai Teun Sai: Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi 11.
Ninety-Four Coffee: Nimmanheamin Soi 9.
Tom N Toms at Think Park: Think Park, Nimmanhaemin Road.
Goat Coffee: Nimenhamen Soi 9.
Coffee Wish: Nimmanhaemin Road.
Kaldi Coffee: 145/4 Ratchadamnoen Rd.
TH Cat Coffee: Rajvithi Road
Tree Sis Coffee: Inthawarowat Road.
Black Canyon: Tha Pae Gate.
Coffee Band: 10/1 Chaiyapoom Rd.
Peppermint Cafe: Rachadamnoern Road, Soi 5.
Yellow Bear Coffee: 1 Sirimangkalajarn Road.
Baan Ped Coffee: Nimmanhaemin Road, end of Soi 6.
Coffee Rider: Inthawarowat Road.
Design Studio Coffee: Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi 9.