Eat in Riverside and Wat Ket, Chiang Mai

The Riverside Bar & Restaurant ★ 3.9

A rambling Ping-side institution open since 1984, mixing Thai and Western plates with nightly live bands and a dinner boat that cruises the river.

Signature: Thai curries, Grilled fish, Western mains

The Good View ★ 3.8

The Riverside's louder neighbour on Charoenrat, a big riverfront deck with Thai, seafood and Western menus and live music that runs late every night.

Signature: Thai seafood, Grilled meats, Cocktails

The Duke's ★ 3.8

A riverside American favourite at River Ping Palace, stacking barbecue ribs, big burgers and stone-baked pizzas for expats and families by the Ping.

Signature: Ribs, Burgers, Pizza

Oxygen Dining Room ★ 4.3

A glass-walled riverside room at Cross Chiang Mai serving a modern tasting menu of Thai flavours built on French technique and local seasonal produce.

Rasik Local Kitchen ★ 4.4

The wood-toned modern Thai room at 137 Pillars House, a Bib Gourmand kitchen serving seasonal set menus across a handful of intimate seatings each night.

Khao Soi Lamduan Fa Ham ★ 4.3

A 70-year Fa Ham legend on Charoenrat, its creamy khao soi with tender beef drawing queues onto the pavement each morning before it sells out.

Signature: Khao soi neua, Khao soi gai, Naem

Woo Cafe & Art Gallery ★ 4.2

A florist, gallery and lifestyle cafe on Charoenrat, all blooms and cake stands, serving Thai and Western plates in one of the city's most photographed rooms.

Signature drink: Butterfly-pea latte

The Baristro at Ping River ★ 4.2

A crisp white-and-glass riverside pavilion from the design-led Baristro group, pairing serious espresso with one of the prettiest coffee terraces in the city.

Signature drink: Ping River signature latte

Khagee ★ 4.4

A tiny Japanese-run natural-yeast bakery-cafe near the river, its weekend-only loaves, cardamom buns and matcha bakes selling out within hours of opening.

Worth the queue: Natural-yeast sourdough

Forest Bake ★ 4.2

A whimsical forest-themed bake shop in Wat Ket turning out pretty fruit tarts, cakes and pastries in a cosy room that draws a steady cafe-hopping crowd.

Worth the queue: Fruit tarts

Wine Connection ★ 3.8

The Chiang Mai deli-and-bistro of Thailand's big wine-retail chain, a dependable place for well-priced glasses, cheese boards and bottles to take away.

Signature pour: House wines by the glass

Wine focus: Affordable global wine list

Lung Ka Jorn Wat Ket ★ 4.0

A Bib Gourmand takeaway stall in Wat Ket folding crisp Thai crepes and steaming savoury tapioca dumplings, a beloved afternoon snack run near the river.

Try: Khanom bueang and tapioca dumplings

Woo Cafe & Art Gallery ★ 4.2

Woo's flower-filled Charoenrat gallery cafe does a pretty riverside brunch of Thai and Western plates, as much a photo backdrop as a genuinely good kitchen.

Order: Eggs benedict and butterfly-pea latte

The Baristro at Ping River ★ 4.2

The Baristro's white riverside pavilion is a scenic Pa Tan brunch spot, matching espresso with breakfast sets on one of the prettiest terraces in town.

Order: Signature latte and breakfast set

The Riverside Bar & Restaurant ★ 3.9

The Ping-side institution runs its kitchen and live bands until 01:00, a reliable late option for Thai plates and a riverside beer after kitchens shut.

Try: Thai curries and grills

The Good View ★ 3.8

Next door to the Riverside, the Good View keeps grills and cocktails going past midnight with nightly bands, a busy late-night riverfront stop on Charoenrat.

Try: Thai seafood and grills

Thapae East ★ 4.1

A riverside arts venue near Narawat Bridge hosting jazz, funk, blues and world-music nights, one of the most eclectic live-music rooms in the city.

Tip: Check the schedule before you go; some nights are ticketed gigs and the good seats fill early.