Eat in Hang Dong and outskirts, Chiang Mai

Meena Rice Based Cuisine ★ 4.3

A rustic countryside retreat outside the city, Bib Gourmand famous for bright five-coloured rice from natural dyes with home-style northern dishes.

Signature: Five-colour rice, Pork rib longan curry, Nam prik

Krua Phech Doi Ngam ★ 4.1

A Michelin-listed Lanna kitchen a short drive east of town where locals far outnumber tourists, cooking classic northern curries and chili dips.

Signature: Gaeng hang lay, Nam prik, Larb

Kaomao-Kaofang ★ 4.0

A jungle-fantasy garden restaurant in Hang Dong, all mossy rockwork and waterfalls, serving generous central and northern Thai plates among the greenery.

Signature: Thai curries, Grilled fish, Herbal salads

Cuisine de Garden ★ 4.6

A New Nordic-inspired garden restaurant in Hang Dong plating theatrical, foraged multi-course menus, one of Chiang Mai's true destination tasting rooms.

Le Grand Lanna ★ 4.4

The showcase Lanna restaurant of the Dhara Dhevi resort, a teak nobleman's house serving refined northern Thai dishes amid antique carvings and gardens.

Khao ★ 4.4

The Four Seasons resort's Thai room north of the city, plating elegant northern and central curries over paddy-field views for a special-occasion dinner.

Le Coq d'Or ★ 4.1

A decades-old colonial-mansion fine-diner south of the centre, plating imported beef, lamb and local fish in a classic French and Continental style.

Daddy's Antique Cafe & Bakery ★ 3.9

A rambling antique-filled cafe-bakery on the southern fringe near Mae Hia, an all-day spot for homemade cakes, coffee and Western plates among the curios.

Worth the queue: Homemade cakes

Biscotti House ★ 4.0

A rare Italian-style bakery near Wat Pong Noi handcrafting biscotti, focaccia, quiche and croissants daily in its open kitchen, loved by locals and expats.

Worth the queue: Biscotti

Mama Noi Cooking School ★ 4.3

A relaxed family cooking school on a garden plot outside town, walking beginners through curry paste, khao soi and stir-fries with free Old City pickup.

Zabb E Lee Thai Cooking School ★ 4.3

A scenic bamboo-hut farm school run by Anne, opening with a market tour then cooking Thai and Isan classics on individual stations amid the rice fields.

Grandma's Home Cooking School ★ 4.2

A homey farm school teaching Thai staples from scratch, taking students through a market, an organic garden pick and a hands-on session on classic dishes.

Krua Phech Doi Ngam ★ 4.1

Why locals love it: A local Lanna kitchen off the eastern bypass where visitors are so rare that regulars notice, cooking classic northern curries far from the tourist trail.

Tip: You will need a taxi or scooter to reach it; go for the gaeng hang lay and the nam prik platter with sticky rice.

Meena Rice Based Cuisine ★ 4.3

Why locals love it: A countryside rice-cuisine retreat outside the city whose five-coloured rice, dyed from natural plants, is a photogenic secret worth the drive out.

Tip: It is a 30-minute drive toward San Kamphaeng; go for lunch, order the pork rib longan curry and the butterfly-pea blue rice.