Huen Phen ★ 4.5
A 50-year Old City institution south of Wat Chedi Luang, serving a full Lanna spread by day and a candlelit antique-crammed dinner room by night.
SignatureKhao soi, Nam prik ong, Gaeng hang lay
Restaurants in Old City
The House by Ginger ★ 4.2
A colonial villa full of eclectic antiques and boutique shopping, where modern-plated Thai and northern dishes draw a design-minded Old City crowd.
SignatureMassaman curry, Pomelo salad, Deep-fried sea bass
Aroon Rai ★ 3.9
One of the city's oldest northern kitchens on Kotchasan, an unfussy tin-roof room turning out cheap plates of hang lay and larb since the 1950s.
SignatureGaeng hang lay, Larb khua, Fried frog
Baan Landai Fine Thai Cuisine ★ 4.2
A relaxed Old City house near Wat Chedi Luang, Bib Gourmand listed for refined northern Thai plates and a strong vegetarian section on the menu.
SignatureKhao soi, Northern set, Vegetarian Thai
Ruen Tamarind ★ 4.0
The garden restaurant of the Tamarind Village hotel, a calm Old City courtyard under an old tamarind tree serving polished Thai and northern classics.
SignatureKhao soi, Green curry, Khan tok set
Dash! Restaurant & Bar ★ 3.9
A teak house and leafy courtyard just inside the moat, a reliable Old City spot for northern Thai plates, cocktails and a quiet garden dinner.
SignatureKhao soi, Slow-cooked pork, Cocktails
Casual Dining in Old City
Khao Soi Khun Yai ★ 4.4
A garage khao soi counter behind Wat Kuan Kama that many locals rank the city's best, ladling a deep spicy curry broth until it sells out by early afternoon.
SignatureKhao soi gai, Khao soi neua
SP Chicken ★ 4.2
A rotisserie-chicken shop near Wat Phra Singh whose charcoal-blistered gai yang and papaya salad make it the Old City's go-to for a cheap Isan-style lunch.
SignatureGai yang, Som tam, Sticky rice
Kiat Ocha ★ 4.2
A packed Old City morning canteen famous for Hainanese chicken rice and charcoal pork satay, a classic khao man gai counter near the market.
SignatureKhao man gai, Pork satay
Mr Kai Khao Soi ★ 4.0
A tucked-away Old City khao soi counter down Phra Pok Klao Soi 13, a low-key local favourite ladling coconut curry noodles until the pot runs out.
SignatureKhao soi gai, Khanom jeen
Lert Ros ★ 4.1
A smoky Old City grill down a Ratchadamnoen lane, charring whole salt-crusted tilapia over drum barrels alongside fiery Isan larb and papaya salad.
SignatureGrilled tilapia, Larb, Som tam
Cafés in Old City
Fern Forest Cafe ★ 4.1
A leafy Old City garden cafe threaded with ferns and fountains, a calm spot for cakes, Thai tea and Western breakfasts away from the moat traffic.
DrinkIced Thai tea
Bakeries in Old City
Chouquette Bakery & Cafe ★ 4.1
An airy boulangerie-cafe on the Si Phum corner of the moat, its buttery-scented open kitchen baking chouquettes, croissants and cakes through the morning.
Worth the queueChouquettes
Coffee Roasters in Old City
Akha Ama Coffee ★ 4.6
A social-enterprise roaster founded by an Akha hill-tribe son in 2010, roasting single-origin northern beans grown by his village co-op near Mae Chan.
BeansThailand
BrewsEspresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Wine Bars in Old City
Cru 2nd Floor Wine Bar ★ 4.0
An intimate upstairs wine room near Wat Phra Singh, a quiet Old City perch for boutique old-world bottles and charcuterie above the Samlan Road bustle.
PourBurgundy by the glass
WineBoutique old-world wines
Bars in Old City
Nophaburi Bar ★ 4.1
An Old City cocktail bar leaning into Lanna herbs and Thai spirits, a low-key Samlan Road room for locally rooted drinks near Wat Phra Singh.
DrinkThai-herb cocktails
Roots Rock Reggae ★ 3.8
A friendly, well-worn reggae bar in the moat, all rum, Marley and easy conversation, a long-running backpacker-favourite hang inside the Old City walls.
DrinkRum cocktails
Casalong Bar 11:11 ★ 3.8
An indie-electronic bar by Tha Phae Gate with a relaxed courtyard, a reliable Old City spot for cheap cocktails and a mellow crowd before the clubs open.
DrinkHouse pours
Street Food in Old City
Somphet Market ★ 4.0
A small, local fresh-food market inside the northeast moat where morning stalls sell curry-and-rice parcels, sai ua, sticky rice, fruit and cheap ready meals.
TryCurry parcels, sticky rice, sweets
Breweries in Old City
Renegade Craft Beer & Ciders ★ 4.1
An Old City taproom stocking over 300 beers alongside its own in-house brews and ciders, a serious moat-side stop for hopheads and cider drinkers alike.
Markets in Old City
Sunday Walking Street ★ 4.3
The Sunday market runs the length of Ratchadamnoen from Tha Phae Gate to Wat Phra Singh, food courts along the way plating khao soi, grilled skewers and roti.
Food Tours in Old City
A Chef's Tour: Chiang Mai Food Tour, Evening ★ 4.5
A small-group evening eating tour by red truck, digging into northern Thai and Burmese-influenced street stalls locals love, guided by a Chiang Mai foodie.
A Chef's Tour: Chiang Mai Food Tour, Lunchtime ★ 4.4
The lunchtime version of A Chef's Tour, working through markets and family kitchens for khao soi, curries and sweets on a small-group tasting walk.
Chiang Mai Street Food Tours ★ 4.2
A licensed-guide walking tour of the historic city's markets, stalls and small local kitchens, sampling national street-food staples alongside northern Thai specialties.
Tripseed ★ 4.1
A responsible-travel operator's evening street-eats run by silent electric tuk-tuk, hitting market stalls and neighborhood kitchens across the city after dark.
Food Festivals in Old City
Loy Krathong and Yi Peng ★ 4.7
Chiang Mai's great November festival floats krathong on the Ping and lanterns into the sky, with walking-street stalls piling up khanom and grilled snacks.
Songkran ★ 4.6
Thailand's April new-year water festival is wildest around the Chiang Mai moat, where vendors set up early with grilled meats, eggs on a stick and drinks.
Inthakin City Pillar Festival ★ 3.9
The city-pillar merit festival at Wat Chedi Luang in mid-May draws flower offerings, Lanna processions and a local food market of northern snacks and sweets.
Cooking Classes in Old City
Thai Akha Kitchen ★ 4.6
An Akha-family cooking school teaching 11 Thai and hill-tribe dishes at open-air wok stations, opening with a market tour and running morning or evening.
Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School ★ 4.4
A long-running school run by Gayray, offering an in-town class or a farm course with a market visit, teaching six Thai dishes across curry, soup and stir-fry.
Budget Eats in Old City
SP Chicken ★ 4.2
Charcoal gai yang, papaya salad and sticky rice near Wat Phra Singh make SP Chicken one of the Old City's best-value Isan-style lunches under 150 baht.
TryGrilled chicken and som tam
Aroon Rai ★ 3.9
One of the oldest northern kitchens in the Old City keeps most plates under 100 baht, a no-frills, decades-deep option for hang lay and larb on a budget.
TryNorthern curries and rice
Kiat Ocha ★ 4.2
A packed Old City morning canteen famous for Hainanese chicken rice and charcoal pork satay, a classic khao man gai counter near the market.
TryKhao man gai and pork satay
Brunch in Old City
Fern Forest Cafe ★ 4.1
Fern Forest's leafy Old City courtyard is a calm brunch escape for French toast, big breakfasts and Thai tea under the ferns, away from the moat traffic.
OrderFrench toast and Thai tea
Nightlife in Old City
Zoe in Yellow ★ 3.7
The anchor of the Old City backpacker party complex, a cluster of cheap-drink bars and a dance floor that draws the moat's late crowd until closing.
TipIt is the loudest corner of the Old City and closes around midnight by law; pre-game here then move to Nimman for later nights.
MaHoRee City of Music ★ 3.9
An Old City live-music bar with nightly Thai bands and a warm local crowd, a reliable spot to catch acoustic and pop-rock sets inside the moat.
TipBands usually start around 21:00; it is a sit-down music bar rather than a dance club, good for a relaxed late drink.
Book food experiences in Chiang Mai
Guided tour · 4 hours
Chiang Mai: Food Tour by Songthaew Truck with 15+ Tastings
Feast on 15+ tastings on a food tour around the street eats and markets of Chiang Mai led by a professional foodie guide on a songthaew truck.
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Guided tour · 2h 30m
Chiang Mai: Evening Local Street Food Market Tour
Explore Chiang Mai's colorful night food markets on this 2.5-hour evening food tour of the city. Bring a good appetite as you sample a minimum of 8 dishes. Hotel pick-...
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3h 30m
Chiang Mai: Authentic Cooking Class with Market & Farm Visit
Cook authentic Thai food in Chiang Mai with Grandma. Visit a market, explore our large organic farm, feed chickens, collect eggs & mushrooms, and make dishes like Pad ...
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