Top Tips for Visiting Chiang Mai

1) Use Uber (sorry, no Lyft in Chiang Mai yet). 
We recommend visitors use the new Uber service for trips within the city limits, available only since November. It is so much more reasonable than negotiating with tuk tuk, taxi and songtao drivers. For travelling outside the city limits, hire a car and driver if possible. Our driver Jeff’s number is on the map - see Private Cars in D3.

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Meena Rice-Based Cuisine - photo borrowed from their Facebook page.

2) Our newest half day ‘out-of-town’ trip suggestion: Sankampaeng to visit the Meena Rice-Based Cuisine restaurant, cute little boutiques nearby, the best around the corner - Pa Ker Yaw’s new shop (authentic textiles, silver, baskets) - and back on the main road, the Pon Art Gallery woodcarving treasure trove and the Mai Iam Contemporary Art Museum. On the way home, you might also want to visit the Dara Dhevi Cake Shop in the little arcade outside the six star resort of the same name.

3) In town, you can create a half day tour, stopping at our favorite new eatery: Chez Khao Soy on Patan Road (see C1 on your map), just north of Wat Muang Rang on the other side off the road. Simple, but superlative, this little riverside eatery offers creative, award-winning khao soi dishes by personable chef Samalaa Fri-Wed 10am-5pm. Her friendly pet dogs add to the experience. Call 080-847-9964 to confirm it is open.

Traditional khao soy served cocktail style at Chez Khao Soy.

A pork steak version of khao soy with special dressing and dip at Chez Khao Soy.

Combine a visit to Chez Khao Soy with a wander through the Monfai Cultural Center (easiest visited enroute to Chez Khao Soy due to traffic directions in the area). A 'living museum' of reclaimed homes representing 5 regions of Thailand, with textiles and lifestyle displays spread throughout the large, rambling old communal hall made of teak wood, this was one of our favorite 'discoveries' for this edition.

Entry is free for those who just want to walk through. (Go down the tiny corridor that looks like it leads to a restroom to find an amazing open air terrace which hosts many a special event.) The museum is usually open daily 8am-5pm.

If you have more time on your hands, try one of the center's unique Lanna Cultural Experience programs. Options include taking photos in Lanna dress and/or learning bamboo weaving, Thai music and dance, paper lantern crafts, umbrella painting, banana leaf sculptures, and fruit carving. The daytime program is B 1,500 including two activities and lunch. The evening program is B 1,800 including dress up, Lanna culture talk, khantoke dinner and dance/music show.

After lunch, a wander through Kamthieng Market could be fun, especially for plant lovers.

A sample of artsy gifts, these in Supachet Studio (photo borrowed from Supachet's Facebook page).

4) Artsy gift lovers should stroll Phra Pokklao one day. Among new city center sights is the House of Photography, in the same compound as the Lanna Folklife Museum on Phra Pokklao (see K1 on the map). Just south of it, a couple of doors below Wat Duang Dee is Intaku, a traditional mask shop, where you can book a workshop and make your own masks (B 1,500-2,500 for 3-6 hours session). Have a browse of the artsy gifts in I'm Fine Art and Things Called Art on the other side of the road just before Ratchadamnoen, the Supachet Studio around the corner, By Design on the next block of Phra Pokklao, and finally the charity-linked Dor Dek gifts (crafts handmade by street children) on Phra Pokklao Soi 9. Note: Dor Dek is only open 9am-4pm.

5) Feeling like doing a bit of art yourselves? Try Elephant Parade. This foundation has roped in artists, celebrities, and others to create signature designs for their elephant statues which go on parades and up for auction around the world, raising money for the Asian Elephants Foundation. (Nancy Chandler’s elephant Sanuk celebrates Bangkok, replicas on sale only in Elephant Parade shops.)

Each outlet also features an art workshop area where you can create your own unique elephant, or just pick up one of their take-away Art Boxes to work on or give away (something Nancy used to do every holiday in Chiang Mai). The three branches in Chiang Mai at time of print: - Elephant Parade Land in Lang Ka (north of C1), the foundation HQ with small museum, gift shop, and factory tours. Daily 9am-5pm.
- Elephant Parade House on Charoen Rat (M1)
- Elephant Parade House in N Parcon Nimmanhaemin Soi 11 (B2)
Note: The original branch in Chiang Mai Land (C4) has closed.

Elephant Parade Art Boxes, fun to work on while on holiday and great gifts as well, all supporting a good cause.

Sanuk, Nancy Chandler's original design celebrating Bangkok, available only at Elephant Parade.

6) We still recommend a stroll down Charoen Rat from the Nakorn Ping Bridge to The Riverside (M1) in the late afternoon to do some shopping. Though some shops have changed, the area still has neat finds. These include new boutiques such as the Vila Cini Village in the Healing Family Foundation compound - ask to see the fabulous antique section, which is museum worthy. Stop for coffee at the Cafe Des Artists in the Ping Silhouette to admire the interior decor of the ‘modern Chinoise’ design hotel. Woo Cafe is the perfect stop for dinner with an amazing sculpture outlet in the back, the ‘rice salad’ experience recommended for fun. There is also an Elephant Parade outlet in the area. See notes above.

Vila Cini's 'secret' Asian antique museum.

Cafe des Artist, Charoen Rat.

Woo Cafe's unique Thai rice salad.

7) For those in the Nimmanhaemin area, here are a few of the new highlights:

Boutique shopping:

• JoJo Kobe Gallery, Nimmanhaemin Soi 1-3 (B2) 084-367-7368 Silkscreen studio and gallery.
• Tidta Tidjai, now on Nimmanhaemin Soi 9 (B2) Retro Asian finds galore! Vinyl records too. In front of guesthouse marked on map near main street.
• @@ Gallery (11 Gallery), Nimmanhaemin Soi 11 (B2) 081-785-1943  Designer ceramics, tablewear, sculptures, using unique techniques and materials. Mon-Sat 11.30am-8.30pm.

Special New Dining and Drinking Venues:

• Tengoku Yaki+, Nimmanhaemin Sois 5-7 (B2) Award winning sushi and sashimi buffets, teppan and steakhouse with wine bar next door.
• Nori Sky Terrace, 5F, Nimmanhaemin Soi 3 (B2)  Outdoor ribata and izakaya on fifth floor. Located south of JoJo Kobe and opposite Tengoku Yaki.

• Flour Flour, Nimmanhaemin Soi 17 (B2) Bread bakery with options incl. charcoal bread with peanut butter, wild yeast bread, pizza-style paninis, and black rice bread.
  
• Yayee Rooftop Bar, Sai Nam Pueng (B2) Interesting cocktail menu in dreamy setting overlooking the city.
  
• Beer Lab, Kantary Terrace, atop Nimmanhaemin Soi 12 (A2-B2) 18 beers on tap and 200 beers from around the world, incl. craft beer. Eve. only.
  
• The Larder, Sukkasame (A2-B2) Gourmet western breakfast and lunch dishes (toast with ricotta, rosemary and honey). Daily 8.30am-3pm.

Hotel Yayee's rooftop bar. Recommended! (Photo from the hotel's Facebook page.)

8) Craft beer lovers might want to try Chiang Mai Beer, now available at The Riverside on Charoen Rat (M1) which has a new Craft Beer Factory section open nightly, and the young Namton’s House Bar a short drive south, just below Somnuk Thanaphan Phirom’s old wood furniture shop on Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road (M2) - drive past the big tree and look for the second lane to the left to spot it on the corner. It is open daily except Wed.

9) If going to the Night Safari or Ratchapruek Park, plan a stop on the way back in the Wat Rampoeng area to check out the Baan Kang Wat Design Craft Studio (A3-4). It is a neat collection of small studios (art, ceramics, crafts), cafes and an amphitheater for special events. Open Tue-Sat 11am-6pm, with organic market Sun mornings.

10) Vegetarians should check on HappyCow.net for the latest listings. Many vegetarian cafes have moved recently. Among the newest that also comes highly recommended is the riverside Happy Green in the Padad area (C4). Tel: 083-774-1743. It offers a vegan and vegetarian buffet for B150 in an open air cafe with wonderful riverside view. It also has a small shop. Open daily 8am-5pm.

11) Other interesting new restaurants of note:

• Barefoot Cafe, Penguin Villa, Canal Road (A1) 083-564-7107 Delicioius homemade pizza, pasta, locally sourced fresh eats, in small chef’s kitchen at the back of an artist co-op. Daily 10am-8pm.
• Monsoon Tea, Charoen Rat (C2) 052-007-758 Sustainable jungle tea with tea-inspired Thai fusion menu. Mon-Sat 10.30am-9pm. Tea tastings with talks about the history of tea, sustainable cultivation, traditional uses, and brewing methods on request.
• The Faces Gallery & Gastro Bar, Bumrung Buri Soi 6 (K2) Large open-air restaurant and bar featuring terracotta sculptures left and right. Thai and intl menu incl. wood fired pizza. Tue-Sun 1-10pm.
• Oh Ka Jhu Organic House, Nim City Extension, Mahidol (B3-4) Thai and international salads, soups, meat, all in western sized portions with super speedy service. All organic, farm-to-table in large house, often with queue to get in, especially at lunch.
  
• David’s Kitchen & Wine Bar, Bumrung Rat (C2, M1) 052-088-228 One of Chiang Mai’s top award-winning venues recently relocated from north of the city. Fine classical French in casually elegant setting. Mon-Sat 5-10pm. Reservations advised.

Home made pasta created while you wait at the Barefoot Café.

Fried fish with Old Time Seasoning at The Faces Gallery & Gastro Bar.

12) New in the Night Bazaar & Warorot Area

• Shopping on the streets it the Night Bazaar area can be exhausting, with more clothing and handbag stalls now replacing the more craft-oriented stalls of yesteryear. We would recommend sticking to the Hmong Market in Warorot (open daytime only) and the relocated Hilltribe House, a treasure trove of clothing, jewelry and home decor, in what was Panan on Tha Phae (E, G, L1), along with Kesorn Arts and Siam Celadon, also on Tha Phae. (Siam Celadon, recently rebranded Raming Tea House, just installed a neat new fashion designer boutique worth checking out if you like stylish tie dye - see To Dye For by Kanjana Handmade.)

Home decor by To Dye for by Kanyana, which has a new showroom in the Raming Tea House.

• For dinner in the area, the tiny lane off Tha Phae formerly housing Street Pizza is now home to Ole Mexican, Dindee Binder (an indie design house’s stationery and paper outlet), a fashionable boutique, and the Thapae East, a creative outdoor arts space and hideaway bar (see Facebook for event listings eg by the Liberal Orchestra). Street Pizza can be found across the street on the second floor of an old building.
• Within the heart of the Night Bazaar is the city’s first Hard Rock just south of Burger King, but we would recommend the Ploen Ruedee International Food Park, new on Chang Klan just north of The Plaza (G). Packed with food stalls and food trucks, customers can choose from Italian, French, Chinese, Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, burgers, seafood, cocktails and more. Open 5.30pm to midnight only.

Students at Chiang Mai Fight Fit (photo from the CMFF Facebook page).

13) All kinds of activities entice visitors to Chiang Mai including cooking classes and massage courses, lots of them to be found in your map directory. The latest trend is boxing classes, available at a host of new gyms throughout the city. See Sports / Martial Arts in your map directory for the one closest to you.

14) Animal Tourism is a big issue in Chiang Mai now. The result is a number of new ‘elephant sanctuaries’ that allow you to wash and feed elephants in a ‘natural’ environment. There are those who criticize these businesses for capitalizing on elephants in captivity, arguing that elephants should not be a tourism attraction. We agree in theory, however, due to deforestation, elephants can no longer be released into the wild in Thailand. Instead, what must be paramount is improved quality of life for elephants. We encourage all those questioning what is right and what is wrong to visit the Ethical Tourism Page of the Naka Elephant Foundation. The experts behind the movement believe tourism is vital to improved quality of life for elephants as it provides funds to feed them properly, raise the standards of elephant care, and motivate those responsible for them.

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