10 Best Cafes in Chiang Mai You Need to Visit in 2025

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Chiang Mai is a paradise for coffee lovers, offering a vibrant cafe culture that rivals any major city in the world. Whether you’re looking to try some of the best Chiang Mai cafes or simply want to explore the city’s unique and beautiful coffee shops, there’s something for everyone. From the bustling streets of Nimman to serene corners of the Old Town, this list of the best cafes in Chiang Mai provides the perfect settings to sip, relax, and soak in the charm of this northern Thai city.

Like many cities in Asia, for example Da Nang, Hanoi and Hoi An in Vietnam, Siem Reap in Cambodia and George Town in Malaysia, Chiang Mai takes coffee seriously. Northern Thailand is famous for coffee production, with the area around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai among the first to cultivate beans in Thailand, and in many cafes on this list you can try local blends.

My recommendations for the best cafes in Chiang Mai

Quick picks:

• Best coffee – Ministry of Roasters (outside Old Town)
• Best for brunch – Free Bird Cafe (Nimman)
• Most beautiful cafe – Fern Forest Cafe (Old Town)
• Best for unpretentious old school vibes – Blue Diamond (Old Town)
• Best for takeaway coffee bags for travelling – Single Origin Store Thae Pae (Old Town)

I recently spent 3 weeks in Chiang Mai, enjoying the best cafes in Chiang Mai as I worked on Em’s Globetrotting Gems. I created a list of the best coffee shops for working in Chiang Mai, as well as these recommendations for the best coffee shops in Chiang Mai to spend a couple of hours chilling out, having a coffee with friends or reading a book. I’ve prioritised coffee shops that not only offer great coffee, but comfortable seating options, as when you’re travelling anywhere that offers more than a plain wooden chair is a gem!

I’ve broken this list down by area in Chiang Mai so that you can easily find a great cafe near you, wherever in the city your adventure takes you.

Map of the Best Cafes in Chiang Mai (2025 Edition)

Use this interactive map to find each café’s exact location.

Best coffee shops in Chiang Mai – Nimman

Nimman is the hip and trendy part of Chiang Mai where young Thai people and digital nomads live. But it’s also a great area to go shopping. There’s tons of handicraft shops, beautiful handmade clothes stores and the Maya and One Nimman shopping centres. It’s a great part of the city to visit if you’re a shopaholic, or need some thoughtful souvenirs. It also comes alive in the evenings, so head over to the Nimmanahaeminda road to one of the cafes below before having dinner at one of the many high-end restaurants the area has to offer.

Ristr8tto Original, one of most famous cafes in Chiang Mai

This famous cafe is right on the main Nimman road, making it a lively and bustling stop. The specialty coffees are incredible, but it does a great basic americano as well, making it a contender for best coffee in Chiang Mai. Alongside more traditional coffees, they offer innovative items like a Ristr8to Shake (espresso, butterscotch syrup and milk over ice and served in an amazing skull cup) and Mocha el Freddo (espresso, cacao syrup and milk in a champagne saucer).

I found it too loud to work in and the seating isn’t very comfortable (mostly uncushioned wooden stools). This cafe is all about the famous coffee, rather than settling in for a long stay.

Free bird cafe, donation centre and thrift shop – best for vegans

This lovely cafe down a quiet road in the Nimman area is also an NGO supporting refugees from Myanmar. Alongside gorgeous coffee, it offers good vegan food and has a kids play area, making it a great spot for families.

As well as coffee, I had their Creamy Miso Ramen Soup for lunch – a delicious mushroom and tofu broth that was super spicy (by my standards, anyway) but entirely delicious.

There’s also a thrift shop with clothes, books and household items, and a small eco shop. As it’s off the main roads, it’s unusually quiet and peaceful for Nimman. With a few comfortable seats on offer, it would be a great place to read or chill for a few hours.

.Best Chiang Mai cafes – Old Town

The Old Town is the heart of Chiang Mai, and where most tourists base themselves. While the more touristy roads are very busy, if you go a little beyond that you can find amazing havens of tranquillity at some of the best cafes in Chiang Mai. Head to one of the coffee shops below for a break from the heat and the crowds!

Blue Diamond, for an old-school garden escape

This Old Town favourite is great for coffee and working, but it’s so much more. There are pages of juices and smoothies in their menu, as well as a comprehensive food selection. It’s a bit of an oasis – in a quieter corner of the Old Town, it has a great garden area. There are lots of seats among the greenery, even some comfortable ones! It would be a great place to sit for an afternoon and read.

Fahtara Coffee, for a serene spa-like experience

This has to be on the list for most beautiful coffee shops in Chiang Mai. Not far from Blue Diamond, in the quieter north of the Old Town, Fahtara is part of a spa and the serene vibes carry over into the cafe. The beautiful garden is hidden away from the road, and has a water wheel and small pond. They serve high end tea infusions as well as coffee, making it a great place for a peaceful stop.

They did have a lot of mosquitos there when I visited – probably because of the water features. However, what I loved was that they acknowledged that and provided natural mosquito spray on all the tables – top marks for customer service!

.Fern Forest Cafe, the best coffee shop in Chiang Mai for nature vibes

Another contender for the most beautiful coffee shop in Chiang Mai! This glorious little spot near the top of Old Town is shrouded in the ferns that give the forest its name. There’s no way you’d think you were in a city as you sip your coffee.

Fern Forest is incredibly popular – there was often a queue as I passed by – so you might have to wait for a table at busy times. It’s worth the wait once you see the stunning interior! One thing to note is that because Fern Forest is so popular, it’s quite loud with people noise inside – probably a bit too loud for working.

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Single Origin Store Tha Pae, best for travel-friendly coffee bags

I never actually sat down in this gleaming white cafe and coffee shop right by the tourist mecca that is the Tha Phae Gate. But I did drink a ton of their coffee! They offer a range of coffee products to buy, including my favourite drip bags that are great for travellers on the go. This range included imported coffee, but also cheaper coffee bags with local Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand blends, which were always my choice.

I always stock up when I see coffee bags because they’re great for having a coffee before you leave your room when you’re travelling. So while I can’t comment on the ambience of the cafe, I did absolutely love the actual coffee! (And the drip bags were really good value!) I also sent some home as gifts to friends in the UK, who also loved the coffee.

Best cafes in Chiang Mai -Outside Old Town

When I first arrived in Chiang Mai, I stayed in the area outside the Tha Pae Gate. This part of the city feels like an extension of the Old Town, with a lot of local flavour thrown in. Head here for some of the most famous Chiang Mai cafes.

Ministry of Roasters, probably the best coffee in Chiang Mai

This is the pretentious coffee shop to end all pretentious coffee shops, and probably offers the best coffee in Chiang Mai. This beautiful, all white cafe is worth the trek out of the Old City, especially if you enjoy coffee tasting.

On arrival, you’re greeted with a coffee taste wheel to select from the 8+ coffee blends available. They also offer brewing workshops, as well as barista training. The coffee is beautifully presented, including a tasting guide for your chosen brew.

However, while the beautiful white interior has won awards, beware that I found the seating deeply uncomfortable! Possibly somewhere to come for take away coffee, rather than to spend a few hours.

Brewginning, for Instagram vibes

Always busy, this tiny corner coffee shop is opposite one of the most Instagram-ed spots in Chiang Mai, a beautiful shop with a wall full of wicker baskets. Consistently full of posing tourists, it’s still worth popping in for their signature cold brew, which has an amazing orangey twist.

Seating is limited, as people don’t tend to stay long (not least because there is limited shade). This is another one for a quick brew or a coffee for the road.

Blue and Teak, for a cosy and delicious retreat

This gorgeous little cafe offers great food and a really nice place to spend an hour. It was one of the first places I visited in central Chiang Mai, as it was just around the corner from my hotel. It’s very Instagram-friendly while managing to feel cosy and calm – a big change from some of the very hipster places nearby like Ministry of Roasters, which prioritise aesthetics over comfort. Sadly, I was too hungry when I arrived to remember to take pictures!

In addition to coffee, I had their mushrooms on toast, with rocket and balsamic vinegar – probably the first time I’d had balsamic in months of travelling! They also offer typical egg-based breakfast options, pastas with a Thai twist and basics like croissants. Head here if you’re looking for a great Chiang Mai brunch spot.

Where to stay in Chiang Mai

All three areas featured in this guide are great parts of Chiang Mai to base yourself, for different reasons:

• Old Town is the traditional area to stay. You’ll be right in the centre of the action and in walking distance to most attractions. It has a more traditional backpacker vibe and most restuarants you’ll find here will serve traditional Thai food or backpacker classics. Accommodation will be more expensive, and you might experience street noise, especially if you’re near the Sunday Market area.
• Nimman is a trendy, modern part of Chiang Mai that’s full of great modern restaurants, cafes and bars. If you prioritise high end, modern food (lots of Thai, but also lots of other cuisines), this could be the right area for you. Nimman is also where the digital nomads in Chiang Mai congregate as there are more apartments available.
• The area outside the Tha Phae Gate is a more budget option (which is why I chose it!). It offers proximity to the Old Town, but has a bit more of a local vibe while still having access to everything you need as a tourist. It’s also a bit quieter.

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Chiang Mai, use this handy guide to find out what not to miss!

Frequently Asked Questions

With the diverse array of cafes in Chiang Mai, this city truly offers something special for every coffee enthusiast. Whether you’re hunting for the best coffee shops in Chiang Mai to work from, relax in, or just grab a quick cup, you’ll find no shortage of fantastic options. So grab your favorite brew, settle into one of these incredible spots, and let Chiang Mai’s cafe culture leave you inspired and refreshed – just like it did for me!

✅ All images in this article were taken by me during my trip to Chiang Mai. No stock images were used.

✅ All images in this article were taken by me during my travels. No stock images were used.