Nestled in the northern region of Thailand, Chiang Mai is famous for its vibrant culture, exciting markets and temples, and its surrounding lush hills. This gorgeous surrounding land is home to many coffee plantations, producing Arabica coffee beans (as opposed to the Robusta variety produced in the southern region).
As a result, the city of Chiang Mai is home to many gorgeous cafes selling absolutely delicious and speciality brews. There is good reason why this northern city is known as the coffee capital of Thailand. The choices for coffee in Chiang Mai are simply dizzying!
While Chiang Mai is not widely known for its coffee production, its place in the international sphere is certainly up and coming. It was only in the 1970s that coffee production in northern Thailand began to increase. Furthermore, it is only in the last 20 or so years that specialty coffee stores have begun to pop up in Chiang Mai city.
As a result, Chiang Mai is now bursting with cafes to try! It can be very difficult to choose which ones to visit. So, I have created a list of some of the best cafes in Chiang Mai for you to try on your visit:
Gateway Coffee Roaster
Gateway Coffee Roaster serves delicious specialty coffee and baked treats. The coffee is roasted on-site in a roasting room visible from the cafe’s main seating area. When you walk up a tight concrete staircase to this above-street-level cafe, you are greeted with a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. The store had an industrial vibe, with concrete and black metal finishes. I had the Thapae nitrogen-infused cold brew which was incredibly interesting- something I had never tried before.
- Location: 50300 Chang Moi Rd Soi 2, Tambon Chang Moi, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
- Hours: Mon-Sun 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
- On the Menu: Hibernate (coffee, maple panna cotta, honeycomb and orange), Apollo (nitro cold brew, strawberry, honey lime and rose petal), and much more!
Looper Co.
Looper Co. served one of the best espresso coffees I had in all of Thailand. It had a slightly nutty profile with notes of honeycomb. This cafe/cocktail bar is one of the most instagrammable cafes in the whole city. It is trendy with wooden finishes and vintage furniture.
- Location: 151 Ratchawong Rd, Tambon Chang Moi, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
- Hours: Mon-Sun 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 11:50 pm
- On the Menu: Both hot and cold espresso drinks (espresso macchiato, flat white, cold drip, etc) & specialty drinks such as cold brew with plum and tonic.
My Secret Cafe In Town
If you want to try a Thai Iced Coffee (gafae yen), then My Secret Cafe In Town is the place to go. This classic Thai coffee is made with dark-roast coffee, mixed with milk, condensed milk and lots of ice. It is creamy, refreshing and sweet.
- Location: 175/12 Rachadamnoen Road, Tambon Phra Singh Chiang Mai, Thailand 50200
- Hours: Mon-Sun 8:30 am – 8:00 pm
- On the Menu: Thai iced coffee and various other espresso drinks. You can also get breakfast here (including waffles and fruit salad).
Graph Coffee Co
There are several coffee shops run by Graph Coffee Company. The main Graph Cafe is currently closed, but Graph OneNimman, Graph Contemporary, Graph Ground and more are great options for your coffee-fix. The biggest pro of this coffee chain is that you are likely to have one nearby wherever your staying. Which means great coffee right at your doorstep!
- On the Menu: Single-origin coffees from Doi Chang, Pang Hai, Maejam, Khun Chang Kian and more.
Roast8ry Lab
For those staying in the Nimman area, Roast8ry Lab is a must-visit on your trip to Chiang Mai. Founded by the 2017 Latte Art World Champion Arnon Thitipraset, this coffee shop serves specialty coffee that is made with passion and love. The baristas are award-winning, and it shows in the quality of the coffee.
- Location: 14 soi 3, Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- On the Menu: A variety of coffee drinks from around the world, ranked by strength (including Marocchino from Italy and Magic from Melbourne, Australia).
I hope you enjoy these Chiang Mai cafes!
Those are just a few of the hundreds of cafes in Chiang Mai. If you know of any great cafes I have missed, please comment below!
For more Chiang Mai related content, check out some of my other posts