Chiang Mai Cafés: 32 hand-picked places

A family-run café reached by walking up the hillside in a Hmong village. Sip coffee brewed from Arabica beans grown in the mountains or try coffee blossom tea while taking in the mountain village scenery. The menu also includes matcha lattes, Thai food, and freshly baked cascara cookies.

A brunch and dessert café with garden and indoor seating. The black rice sticky rice croissant is crisp on the outside, soft and chewy inside. It’s a lovely place to unwind beside the leafy garden and small waterfall.

A café making bean-to-bar chocolate with cacao from Thai farms. Its single-origin hot chocolate is rich and full-bodied, while Cocoa Orange—orange juice topped with chocolate sauce—is bright and sweet. You can also try chocolate bonbons and cakes.

A specialty café that roasts its own beans and serves espresso and pour-over coffee. Choose from beans sourced in Thailand and other coffee-growing regions; single-origin coffees may come with a card detailing their origin and processing method.

A café serving French-style bakery treats and brunch. Its butter croissant is crisp on the outside with a rich, fragrant buttery flavor. Seating includes an air-conditioned indoor area and a small outdoor space.

A small, free-spirited café where you can enjoy coffee alongside hip-hop. The iced coffee lemonade has a fragrant coffee flavor with a subtle toasted note on the finish. There’s also seating where you take off your shoes and sit on a raised platform.

A two-storey café where garden views pour in through large windows. Pets are welcome, and the menu includes single-origin coffee and a smooth tiramisu latte served with a ladyfinger.

A two-story café in a renovated old building, with a loft-style mix of concrete and wood. Its carrot cake, made with spices, grains, and cream cheese, is not too sweet and pairs beautifully with specialty coffee.

Akha Ama Phrasingh is a roastery café that works directly with Indigenous coffee producers in northern Thailand. Its Thai-coffee brews are a good way to appreciate the light roasting and the differences between washed and natural processing. Seating is available on the first and second floors.

A small café serving juices and smoothie bowls made with fresh fruit and vegetables. The mango, passion fruit, and apple smoothies are sweet and tangy, and berry and chocolate smoothie bowls are also on the menu. The space is open-air, with fans but no air conditioning.

A café overlooking the Ping River, with a black-and-white minimalist interior. Its house-roasted coffee is aromatic, full-bodied and well balanced. Enjoy cake or pastries on the riverside terrace.

A café on the ground floor of a European-style house, with a spacious, shaded garden courtyard. The dirty coffee is rich without being overly sweet, and the brunch menu includes croque monsieur, eggs, and toast.

A café where trail runners gather, with a running gear shop inside. The Dirty Coffee balances bold coffee flavor with smooth milk, and the chicken roll makes a satisfying snack. Relax before or after a workout in the leafy indoor and outdoor seating areas.

A café and restaurant set across two wooden houses linked by a small garden. The creamy tom yum goong and chili-and-salt pork are richly flavored, while the coffee and iced tea are sweet and full-bodied. Desserts and breads are also available.

A roastery café serving Thai organic coffee. Its panna cotta coffee pairs sweet milk pudding with espresso for a dessert-like treat. The plant-filled interior features wood accents, large windows, counter seating with power outlets, and Wi-Fi.

An arts village filled with cafés, workshops and galleries, with outdoor seating beneath the trees. GRAPH Baankangwat’s iced espresso has a rich coffee flavor, and the blueberry cheesecake is dense and satisfying.

A small specialty coffee café with indoor and outdoor seating. The Marocchino is less bitter than espresso, with rich dark chocolate notes. There’s also a Dirty, made with layers of strong coffee and milk.

A two-story café built around a large tree. Stop in for a latte or iced coffee, and try the thick, fluffy pancakes. The outdoor seats beside the tree make a lovely spot to relax over coffee.

A café in a renovated old building, decorated with flowers indoors. Stop by for Thai tea and ice cream, or try the cakes and all-day breakfast. The third-floor lookout offers views toward the Ping River.

A bakery café serving sourdough breads and brunch. Its soft, fragrant loaves pair well with house-made jam, and seating is available indoors and in a leafy courtyard.

A café and coffee roastery tucked among the trees in Mae Rim. The café latte is smooth and nutty, while the piccolo latte is rich yet silky. Enjoy a coffee in the high-ceilinged, sunlit interior and take a look around the roastery.

A vintage cafe with wooden furniture and large windows. The fruit soda is refreshing, while the chocolate chip cookies and strawberry-topped brownie make sweet treats. Window seats and a long communal table make it a good spot to relax over coffee or get some work done.

A specialty café that roasts its own beans, serving espresso and pour-over coffee. The Dirty Latte is fragrant and smooth. The bright interior has high ceilings, bar seating, and tables.

A small specialty coffee shop with a cozy interior, ideal for a quick coffee stop. Its signature Graph No.16 combines espresso and lime soda for a bright, tangy fizz. Try the Somphet coffee too, a mocha-style drink with notes of chocolate and orange.

A café on the fourth floor of a shopping center near Warorot Market, with wide windows overlooking Chiang Mai. The iced latte is smooth, while the matcha honey has a refreshing honey-and-lemon flavor. It’s a quiet, naturally lit spot for taking a break by the window or getting some work done.

A minimalist café baking naturally fermented bread and pastries. The carrot cake is moist with a gentle hint of cinnamon, while the canelé is crisp outside and soft inside. The unsweetened iced latte balances creamy milk with the flavor of coffee.

A specialty coffee café and roastery by the lake. Gravity, made with espresso and cream, is light and smooth. With indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the water and mountains, it’s a peaceful place to take a break.

A café serving brunch and Thai dishes in a garden surrounded by ferns and trees. The pineapple fried rice comes in half a pineapple, and the coconut cream pie pairs well with coffee.

A specialty café focused on coffee, with award-winning latte art that catches the eye. The Anti-19 latte has a gentle sweetness and a nutty, milky flavor. Seating is available in a wood-toned interior and on the front terrace.

A café serving a mix of Thai and international dishes from breakfast through lunch. Its panang curry is warmly spiced with house-made paste, while the mango and coconut smoothie is smooth and refreshing. Seating includes low tables inside a wooden house.

A cafe serving donuts and breakfast. Vegan options include rich, fragrant flavors like peanut butter and cinnamon. Seating is available indoors and on a cozy outdoor terrace.

A two-storey café with air-conditioned indoor seating and open-air spots. The Dirty Coffee is rich and full-bodied, with a hint of sweetness.