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Food
Please use my Thailand food guide which has all of my favourite places and dishes for the best food in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Accommodation
Deejai Backpackers
I stayed here for about a week. It's a nice place in a handy location (especially if you have a bicycle or scooter) with a separate location on the same road with a nice swimming pool.
Nightlife, bars & cafés
Zoe in Yellow Bar & Night Club
Popular bar and club. It can get really busy but it closes at midnight, except for special occasions like Songkran.
48 Garage
A camper van converted in to a bar on the corner of a road, right next to one of the busiest bars for backpackers (Zoe in Yellow). I enjoyed getting there around 6pm for the first few drinks in an evening. 60B for a Chang.
The Coffee Club - Thapae
I actually had some fairly good wine here. Although having any wine that's not disgusting is a bonus in SE Asia.
However they are very sneaky and add 10% service (which apparently isn't optional) and 7% tax to the listed prices.
I had the Eggs Benedict which was average and overpriced.
The North Gate Jazz Club
Live music bar. It gets very crowded and spills out in to the street but sometimes there's seating upstairs with a view over the live bands.
The Riverside Bar & Restaurant
Lively bar with a massive restaurant area and late-night live music full of Thai locals. I think they have craft beer too.
Glass Bar & Kitchen
Craft beer pub with a large selection but almost entirely bottles and it's expensive.
Akha Ama Coffee
Cute little cafe which mostly had tourists. They had a bottles of "black juice" which is strong cold coffee. I probably shouldn't have had a whole bottle to myself though.
THC Rooftop Bar
Moved from their old location on the other side of the moat. I used to visit them regularly but I haven't seen the new place yet. It was a great place to relax with some beer or cocktails.
My BEER Friend Market
Tiny place with a pretty good craft beer selection. Most aren't cheap but when I was there they had a keg of wheat beer on special for 100B per small glass.
My Beer Friend
Thai craft beer. They have a happy hour between 5pm and 7pm: buy two craft beers and get a small one for free. Although that doesn't include their bottle of "My Beer Friend" pale ale (170B).
It's a really nice space with wifi, A/C and friendly staff.
Overstand Coffee Shop NIMMAN
Popular trendy cafe, especially for breakfasts. But definitely pricey.
Cube No.7
The staff are pretty useless but it's a nice place full of plants and not bad prices.
They have some tasty bakery items including gluten-free. Recently I had the raw chocolate brownie and coconut smoothie. They also have some good beer.
It's a big place with a small A/C area, which I quite like for working. I've not really had the food and most of the bad reviews are based on waiting times and bad staff, but as long as you just use it as a cafe or workspace, I think it's all good!
Amazingly, they offer discounts for people who bring in their own straw, cup or plastic bag.
Wine Lover by Pao
Lovely little wine bar as part of an outdoor space joined with a few other food/drink businesses.
There's no sign from the street but it's in between the two roads in the courtyard along with RAW (the chicken food truck).
Woods Bar Rooftop
Great chilled rooftop bar. Mostly locals with some foreigners. Not bad prices.
My Secret Cafe In Town
Nice little cafe with good drink options, including craft beer, and cakes.
I had their dark chocolate and raspberry cake and it was delicious but pricey (95B).
Wake Up
Popular cafe for working students. It's open 24/7 so that's the main attraction. I found it to have no character, a bit of a strange feel and overpriced below-average smoothies.
Ristr8to - Specialty coffee
Expensive but they really care about coffee and the quality. Most of their specialities are with milk, so a lot of it was lost on me as I like strong black coffee. I had their house blend espresso.
Roastniyom Coffee
Cafe with a tree going through the middle. Not bad for working during the day.