As a lover of Thai food, I am always in a rush to head out to local restaurants when visiting Chiang Mai. My most recent trip lasted just over two weeks and I was eating out every day for lunch and dinner. This meant I had the chance to sample some of my favourite haunts from my other trips, as well as find some new ones.
This guide to the best restaurants in Chiang Mai brings you the lowdown on a mix of traditional Thai restaurants as well as those with international menus – and is a culmination of my many months spent in the capital of Northern Thailand.
From street food stalls to upscale restaurants, Chiang Mai has it all and caters to every taste and budget.
I’ll share my top 10 picks for the best places to eat in the city, showcasing the rich flavours of Northern Thai cuisine, rooftop restaurants and other unforgettable dining experiences in Chiang Mai.
Coconut Shell
Located in the heart of Chiang Mai Old Town, Coconut Shell is a must-visit for anyone looking for authentic Thai cuisine at prices that are reasonable.
With a very unassuming frontage and on the same street as Kats Kitchen (listed below) what first drew me to this restaurant was the offer of cooking classes and how busy they always seemed to be.
Perhaps it was the low prices that made it so busy? Maybe, but what made me come back for a second and third visit was the food. Exceptional service, high quality food and often served in a coconut shell – the food at Coconut Shell is divine.

You’ll find Thai curries, Pad-Thai, Khao Soi and other stir fried dishes. Don’t forget to order your rice as an extra if ordering a curry though. For most dishes you will be looking at a cost of under $6USD for your entire meal per person.
You’ll find locals and tourists both eating here and if it looks full from the outside, it’s still worth asking for a table as they have extra space indoors. That being said, if like me you want an outdoor seat so you can people watch while eating delicious Thai curries or rice dishes, then you won’t have to wait long as the turnover is pretty fast.
This was one of my favourite Thai restaurants in Chiang Mai and I’ll be back again soon.
Dash Teak House
I found Dash after a Saturday evening trip to the night market near Chiang Mai Gate. As I walked back towards my Chiang Mai hotel and not fancying street food, I was looking out for a restaurant with a touch of serenity. Dash has a charming garden patio outside its teak house and that’s what caught my eye. Although it was still early, it turns out I was lucky to get a table as all but one was reserved.
As I approached the Thai host I was greeted by an East London accent which caught me off guard. Once seated, we got chatting and he proceeded to tell me he had grown up in Thailand but had spent several years working in London restaurants – but had now come back to the family restaurant in Chiang Mai.

Dash serve some of the best Northern Thai food I’ve ever tasted. I fancied a bit of a mix so made some selections, but was recommended the Northern Thai Platter (see image) as it was cheaper than what I ordered and had pretty much the same amount of food. This was a good choice and was a very generous portion that I struggled to finish.

The selection of meats were cooked to perfection and the spicy Northern style sausages were simply perfect for a meat lover.
The menu at Dash definitely has a focus on farm-to-fork dishes that showcase local ingredients, and the atmosphere is chilled, yet with a bit of an elegant feel to it. Prices are very reasonable, service is exceptional and the ambiance is just right. Just make sure to book at busier times.
Kat’s Kitchen
Kat’s Kitchen is a thai restuarant that you simply won’t miss if you walk down Ratchamanka Rd.
Why?
Because it almost always has a queue of people waiting to go in. You don’t need to worry about that though as it moves fast and you’ll be seated in no time. Instead, take solace in the fact that the pure busyness of the restaurant is a testament to how good it is and means you are getting fresh food every time you visit.
I’ve eaten here 4 times and have never been left disappointed. The Khao Soi is very good here with great flavour and the crispiest noodles. They also have a very good selection of curries, stir fry dishes and more. Their mango sticky rice for dessert is absolute heaven on a plate.

There’s plenty of fans but it does get warm in here so grab yourself one of their lovely ice cold beers with an ice wrap, try one of their starters and mains, and enjoy an absolute feast at very reasonable prices.
It’s easy to see why Kat’s Kitchen is so popular.
MIX Restaurant & Bar
Of course there’s more to Chiang Mai’s dining scene than just what lies inside the walls of the old town, and Mix in Nimman offers something totally different to your standard Thai restaurants.
This trendy steak house offers some of the best steaks in the city and has nabbed plenty of awards over the years.
The food is second to none. I opted for a ribeye steak with a range of dips and a side of french fries. One thing that is a nice touch here is that they allow you to choose your exact cut before you order, bringing the steaks in sealed plastic pouches for you to look at prior to ordering. So if you fancy a bit more marbling, or less fat, or whatever your preference, you can choose it yourself based on how the cut looks.
The restaurant was relatively quiet when our table of 10 were seated, but despite this, the service was a little slow at times. That being said, the food is exceptional, and they also have a fine selection of wines (not something you can take for granted in Chiang Mai) and we took full advantage of this.
Copacabana Rooftop Restaurant
This is perhaps the most difficult to find restaurant in the whole of Chiang Mai, but believe me when I say, the effort is worth it.
Not only is this rooftop bar and restaurant right opposite Tha Phae gate and offering incredible views over the old town towards the mountains, but the food and drinks here are as good as it gets. Think Thai food with a fine dining spin and you’re getting close to the food that is served here at Copacabana.
For some reason it’s not well positioned on Google Maps, so trust me when I tell you that you need to head in to the noodle bar called ‘Lanzhou Noodles’ and head straight for the stairs. Keep going up until you reach the top, and then take the door that leads outside.

Trust me, when you enter at the ground floor you will think you’re in the wrong place, but once you get to the top, you’ll know you are in the right place and the view is incredible. You’ll also be shocked at how tranquil it feels up there, away from the hustle and bustle of the road down below.
The terrace has plenty of seating options and there’s even another level that has a table with the best view. I was offered that one on my visit but opted for the lower deck purely as I wanted to soak up the atmosphere.
Copacabana has a chilled yet sophisticated vibe and it’s popular with couples. I visited alone and the service was exceptional, almost too attentive actually.

I opted for a filo prawn starter and a spicy beef curry with flatbread (sorry I forget what it was called). The flavour of the beef dish was incredible and the prawns tasted good too. I washed it down with a delicious chilled white wine and all at a reasonable price.
The food is very good here, but it’s the vibe and view that make it one of the best dining experiences in Chiang Mai.
Adirak Pizza at Neighbourhood
When you’re in Thailand for any length of time, there comes a point where you crave some familiar western food – and at those times I often turn to pizza. The problem is, in Thailand it’s not always easy to get a good quality pizza – and life’s too short for bad pizza right?
Enter Adirak.
Adirak in Chiang Mai is one of the most well known pizza restaurants, and now there’s a second one at the cool Neighbourhood – a loft style complex that houses multiple food and drink stalls. Adirak being one of them.

As I hadn’t visited here before, I wasn’t 100% sure how to order or where to sit. So I just copied everyone else. Basically, you order your food from any of the food outlets, go and find a table and order your drinks at the bar or using your phone and the QR codes on the table. The food outlet (in this case Adirak) will give you fob with a buzzer. When it rings, it’s time to get your food.
And that’s where things get tasty. Adirak has a proper wood fired pizza oven and everything is made fresh to order. I opted for a meaty pizza and I have to say, it was perfect. The dough was thin base and crispy crust, the cheese was good (usually what let’s pizza’s down in Thailand) and the toppings were plentiful. The tomato sauce was tasty and just the right amount.
If you’re looking for a good quality pizza in Chiang Mai, either of the two Adirak pizza restaurants will serve you very well indeed.
Rajdarbar Indian Restaurant
After spending a couple of days eating hotel conference food, myself and a group of fellow attendees were craving something different. Someone suggested Indian food and one of the group told us they knew the best Indian restaurant in Chiang Mai – so we went with the suggestion and found ourselves at Rajdarbar Indian Restaurant.
Another unassuming eatery, this time on the famous Loi Kroh road, and another exquisite example of how Chiang Mai excels when it comes to eating out. As someone who has eaten a frankly ridiculous amount of incredible (and some not so incredible) Indian food, I can safely say I know how to judge whether Indian food is good or not – and the food at Rajdarbar was right up there with the best.
Between the group we ordered at least 8 different curries, lots of rice, naan bread and more sides – and every single one of us ate every bit.
The food is plentiful, relatively cheap and with authentic flavours.
We were lucky to get a table given how busy they were, so if you are a large group it might be best to book.
It’s clear why Rajdarbar has become a favourite among locals and tourists alike. If you’re craving Indian food in Chiang Mai, this place is a must-visit.
Tha Phae Grill
My second rooftop restaurant on this list and this visit was not planned. I was walking around the Tha Phae area and was in need of a break from the crowds and some refreshment. I spotted the restaurant from the window as I walked past (as it’s actually on several floors) and was intrigued by the meat skewers on the menu. They asked which floor I’d like to be on and I asked for the rooftop, which they duly obliged.
I was seated on the outer edge of the roof terrace, which meant I had a great view. There is seating all around the edges which seems to be reserved for solo diners and couples, then larger tables in the middle for groups. To be honest, every sitting will have a good view.

This is a slightly pricier affair than the Copacabana rooftop bar and service was not quite as fast, but they were much busier in fairness to them. I opted for some grilled skewers, corn and a fried rice dish. The portion size of the rice was huge and the skewers were good, if not incredible. The accompanying sauces were good though.
Out of the two rooftop restaurants this one didn’t quite have the same luxury vibe as the Copacabana, but was nice all the same and if you want somewhere a bit livelier then this is the one to choose, but just be aware it’s a tad more expensive.
I’P Burger
I stumbled upon I’P Burger during my recent trip to Chiang Mai, and it quickly became my go-to spot for a tasty burger fix. It might not look much from the outside but this charming eatery tucked away on Ratchamanka Road offers a laid-back atmosphere perfect for a casual meal.
The menu features a range of mouthwatering burgers made with high-quality ingredients. I tried their signature I’P Burger, which was juicy and packed with flavour. I went for a double patty and it was cooked to perfection, and the toppings complemented it brilliantly.
They have a range of different meats to choose from, some of which are quite exotic such as crocodile and ostrich. I opted for the standard beef and this was very good quality.
The food is cheap but good quality, and everything is cooked to order. The fries are just average but for a good, cheap burger this is a top choice in old town Chiang Mai.
Influence of Northern Thai Flavours on Chiang Mai Restaurants
Northern Thai cuisine, known as Lanna food, dominates Chiang Mai’s food scene. It’s distinct from other Thai regional cuisines, with less spice and more herbs.
Khao soi, a creamy coconut curry noodle soup, is the city’s signature dish. I’ve found it on nearly every menu, from street stalls to high-end restaurants.
Sticky rice is also a staple here, often served with grilled meats and spicy dips. Herby sausages called sai oua are another local favourite I’ve enjoyed – and my best one of these was at Dash.
Many restaurants focus on using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. This emphasis on regional produce enhances the authentic Northern Thai flavours in every dish.