The 5 Best Cafes in Chiang Mai

Home to hundreds of Insta-friendly cafes, the largest city in northern Thailand has a thriving coffee culture. The question is not whether you’ll find a good coffee shop to fuel up, but rather how easy it is to decide. While the Nimman neighborhood is a good place to start, you’ll stumble across Thai-style cafes everywhere. From quirky hipster cafes to traditional coffee shops, where you can sip bean juice brewed with condensed, sweetened milk, here are the five best cafes in Chiang Mai, all included in TAGTHAi’s Chiang Mai Pass.

1) A Day in Chiang Mai Coffee Brew

A must-visit for anyone looking to experience the unique Thai coffee culture, “A Day in Chiang Mai Coffee Brew” is situated two-and-a-half kilometers south of Tha Phae City Gate. The welcoming Thai owner Tirawat Jack Satirawatthana has given the cafe a personal touch. Featuring rustic decor with hardwood tables and floor-to-ceiling windows, the strains of Beatles’ Yellow Submarine in the cafe make guests feel at home.

Jack is always happy to sit down and chat with his guests, sharing how it all began when a Korean friend gave him Korean coffee as a keepsake. He now sells carefully selected round drip coffee that is balanced in flavor. Aside from Chiang Mai beans, Jack also serves a house blend made with Costa Rica and Chiang Mai beans.

Desserts and sets like the wonderful “Juicy cheese and Autumn Day”, a fall favorite made with orange and lemon juice and soda, are influenced by Korean cuisine. Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, “A Day in Chiang Mai Coffee Brew” is one of those Chiang Mai cafes with a chatty atmosphere. You can share adventure stories with fellow travelers as the aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the cafe.

2) Graph Ground

Do you need a pick-me-up? Graph Coffee Co. is a specialty coffee roasting company with several branches across Chiang Mai. Graph Ground sits in the center of the action yet is hidden in a tiny side street close to Nimmanhaemin Road. The brick building creates an industrial vibe, but once you’re inside, you’ll find warm and welcoming Thai coffee culture. 

You can choose from various sets with TAGTHAi’s Chiang Mai Pass, including Monochrome coffee and canelé, a French pastry with rum and vanilla flavoring. Soft inside, it has a thick, caramelized crust and is shaped like a cylinder. Or what about Newlord and cold chocolate?

No matter your preference, you’ll wish you had spent less time on other things in Chiang Mai once you experience the delights of specialty Soul Smith coffee or Monochrome espresso at Graph Ground. They are open daily from 9 am to 6 pm.

3) Bay’s Coffee Co.

Valuing quality, Bay’s Coffee Co. brews coffee manually. The brains behind this cafe say it creates a much richer taste, deeper flavor, and a smooth finish.

What's unique about this cafe isn’t just the quality but also the way these guys use the money earned from selling coffee. A portion of the profit goes to local youths with social issues, and together with community children, Bay’s employees benefit from educational and business grants.

The owners want to make a difference in the community, according to the motto, “When we get, we give. And when we sip together, we stay together.”

Bay’s Coffee Co. is also one of the cafes in Chiang Mai included in TAGTHAi’s Chiang Mai Pass. You can use one of four sets, such as coffee lemonade and coconut lemon cake.

4) Fahtara Coffee

Framed by a small stream and shade-giving trees, Fahtara Coffee sits in an enchanting Si Phum corner in Chiang Mai Old Town. Here, you can sip a pint of coffee in the outdoor garden while listening to the pond’s bubbling waterwheels.

This cafe in Chiang Mai Old Town is a charming setting for an iced coffee while admiring waterwheels filtering a tiny stream. Aside from hot and iced coffee, the frothy Thai pulled tea, also known as Teh Tarik or Cha Chak, Fahtara also serves matcha latte and fruity smoothies. Some drinks have a unique twist, including cardamom and star anise flavors reminiscent of Indian masala chai. The TAGTHAi benefit includes a vegetable omelet and hot drink. 

Complete with an air-conditioned indoor seating area, where you can eat sandwiches, soups, and international dishes, this award-winning cafe hides in the heart of Chiang Mai Old Town. Its lush green setting is for those who like a relaxed atmosphere. 

Additionally, you can enjoy a massage on the spot. Open daily from 8.30 am to 5 pm, Fahtara Coffee is located right inside Fah Lanna Spa. 

5) Paw Made Cafe & Painting

Are you wondering what to do in Chiang Mai? Drink aromatic iced mocha in Paw Made Cafe & Painting’s cat- and rose-themed setting. This cafe offers quality coffee. Mocha has a bitter taste and is smooth on the tongue with its rich cocoa flavor. 

But it’s not just the enchanting interior that makes this cafe stand out near Nawarat Bridge, a kilometer east of the Tha Phae Gate. The name suggests it. Paw Made Cafe & Painting is an art cafe. You can sip a cup of joe, feast on a delicious chocolate cake, and give your imagination free rein as you draw on a canvas using acrylic paint. Don’t worry if you’ve never painted before; experts pay close attention and give advice. 

Bear in mind that you need to make a reservation in the TAGTHAi app before you activate your pass, which includes a painting workshop and a free drink. You can schedule a drawing time from 10 am onwards. The painting workshop takes about two hours.

Whether you’re a coffee lover who is into art or not, Paw Made Cafe & Painting is one of the best cafes in Chiang Mai. 

Do you need some trip ideas? Blog posts on TAGTHAi – an indispensable Thailand travel app – e.g., 5 of the Most Exciting Things to Do in Phuket, are bound to inspire you.