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Chiang Mai has some of the most beautiful, unique and creative cafes we have ever visited. The quality is high & the prices are low! There really are some AMAZING hidden gems in Chiang Mai – (if you only know where to look!)
We are here to help. In this extensive guide we will share our 10 favourite unique, boutique & charming cafes and coffee shops in Chiang Mai for 2026. We actually lived in Chiang Mai and spend plenty of time exploring the old town and surrounding suburbs – and like all true digital nomads we couldn’t keep ourselves away for the wonderful cafes and coffee shops!
We have selected EACH of these Chiang Mai cafes because they all have something special to offer. Whether it is amazing quality food and drinks, stunning locations, or unique novelty themed cafes. Chiang Mai has it all. Chiang Mai cafes are also very affordable. In general hot drinks range from 50baht – 150baht (£1 – £3) in Chiang Mai cafes.
So pack a good book, grab your purse and get ready to chill in a wonderful coffee shop.
Planning a trip to Chiang Mai? Don’t miss our MEGA Chiang Mai itinerary for all the inspiration and information you need
Looking for somewhere to stay? Keep an eye on Agoda for some AMAZING deals on Chiang Mai hotels AND don’t miss these Amazing OLD city hotels.
Map of the best Chiang Mai cafes
1 Much Room
The Much Room cafe is a novelty mushroom themed cafe located to the south of Chiang Mai. Although the buildings are novelty, there is nothing cheap or tacky about this cafe.
Much Room cafe is beautifully situated amongst a tropical garden and it features a large waterfall on the outside of one of the buildings.
They serve surprisingly luxurious drinks and food and offer a range of indoor and outdoor seating areas. This is a great spot to visit after a tour of the Wiang Kum Kam temple tour.
2 Khom Chocolate House
If you’re looking for Chiang Mai cafes that specialize in everything chocolate then this is the place for you. This small cute cafe is located in the Chiang Mai old town. The Khom Chocolate House serves a range of hot and cold chocolate based drinks.
They also have a selection of tempting treats including handmade truffles and brownies. Don’t miss the thick creamy hot chocolate shots and the signature hot chocolate over a chocolate ice cube.
3 Khun Kae’s Juice Bar
If you’re looking for Chiang Mai cafes with a healthy twist Khun Kae’s Juice Bar is the best choice for you. Khun Kae’s Juice Bar is a cafe that specializes in juices, smoothies and acai bowls. Prices are super reasonable for the quality of their smoothies.
You can get delicious smoothies for around 40 baht here (£0.80 or $1.00). They have a very impressive range of ingredients here and serve some very creative and tasty mixes.
Khun Kae’s Juice Bar is located to the north east side of the Chiang Mai old town. We highly recommend the chocolate smoothie bowels here.
4 Fern Forest Cafe
Fern Forest Cafe is a high quality, classy, decadent cafe located to the north west of the Chiang Mai old town. There is a beautiful outdoor seating area with ferns and foliage creating a jungle ambiance.
They serve a range of hot drinks, cakes and some epic all day breakfasts. This is one of the more expensive Chiang Mai cafes, but is worth a visit if you’re looking for something decadent.
5 Carp Cafe
The carp cafe has a damp high altitude jungle theme. An artificial mist swirls around small crooked mossy trees. Walkways and bridges allow you to explore the cafe. The main area of the cafe consists of a large carp pool. Seating areas are designed to give you the feeling of being submerged in the pool.
The Carp cafe serves a range of cakes, drinks and fresh sushi and sashimi. For a novelty cafe prices are very reasonable. The Carp Cafe is located around 10km to the south west of Chiang Mai. If you’re planning a visit from the old town it is a little too far to walk so we recommend grabbing a taxi. Consider visiting the Carp Cafe on the way to or from the Grand Canyon Waterpark Chiang Mai.
6 Airplane cafe
The Airplane cafe is one of the most unique novelty Chiang Mai cafes. The airplane cafe is the perfect place for anyone craving some R&R in an economy airplane seat! All jokes aside this is a fun place to visit if you’re on the way to Pai or you’re visiting Sticky waterfall. The Airplane Cafe is situated in a decommissioned Airbus A330 in the carpark of a small precinct.
You can walk around the airplane on the ground without going into the plane itself. You can sit inside the airplane for 120 baht and have a free drink (£1.40 or $1.60). If you don’t want a drink on the airplane itself, there are some other coffee shops located in the precinct. The Airplane cafe is around 30 minutes north of Chiang Mai. It is located on the junction of route 1414 and route 107.
7 Jungle De Cafe
Jungle De Cafe is located in the Pong Yang Adventure Park around one hour to the north west of Chiang Mai. This cafe enjoys a fantastic view of a waterfall and has sitting nets for a comfortable and impressive view of the waterfall.
They serve a range of drinks, cakes and some food options too. At the Pong Yang Adventure Park you can also ride the jungle coaster (150 baht) or even have a go on some of the other activities like the zip line or swings. There are actually two cafes at the Pong Yang Adventure Park. Jungle De Cafe is further into the Pong Yang Adventure Park.
8 Starbucks Temple Cafe
What list of Chiang Mai cafes would be complete without a temple? The Starbucks temple Chiang Mai has the characteristic temple roofs and an ornate gate. The building is not particularly big, and the furnishings inside are typical of Starbucks that you will find anywhere in the world. They also serve the normal starbucks menu of Macchiatos, Frappes and cakes.
The Starbuck temple Chiang Mai is located at Farang Village on route 108 around 12km south of Chiang Mai old town. This is a great place to stop for a drink if you’re on the way to the Doi Inthanon National Park (south of Chiang Mai). Prices are typical of Starbucks; around 150 – 200 baht for drinks (roughly £3 – £4 or $4 – $5). Many songthaews (small buses) run up and down route 108 and normally charge 20-30 baht depending on the distance you travel.
9 Wawee Ping Riverside Coffee Shop
If you’re after a smooth coffee right on the banks of the Mae Ping River check out Wawee coffee shop. This lovely little coffee shop has comfortable riverside seating and serves a range of lovely hot and cold drinks, snacks and of course moreish cakes. Watch out there are lots of Wawee Coffee shops around so it can be a little confusing – use our map to make sure you get the right one. This would be a great place to visit after a Mae Ping River Cruise.
10 Brewginning Coffee Shop
Ok, not quite sure how you pronounce the name, but there’s no denying Brewginning Coffee Shop is a pretty cool spot to grab a latte. This small popular coffee shop attracts local hipsters and instagramers alike. Brewginning Coffee Shop is located just outside the old town, a few minutes walk from the buzzing Thapae Gate.
There are several seating areas and this is a nice environment to bring a laptop and get some work done. The coffee is genuinely excellent. Freshly roasted beans and high end coffee machines lead to the perfect brew. If you’re around Thapae gate drop by Brewginning just for the experience.
