EAT AND DRINK IN CHIANG MAI

Chiang Mai's restaurants offer a wide range of food, second only to Bangkok. Naturally it's a good place to sample northern Thai food: in particular, hunt down some khao soi, yellow wheat noodles in curry broth with chicken or beef. For those tired of eating rice or noodles there's also a wide range of excellent western food restaurant in Chiang Mai, from cheap hamburger stands to elaborate Italian eateries.

Dress Code: You are in a tropical country so daytime wear of shorts, T-shirt, etc. is quite OK; however you'll earn bonus points if you look clean and tidy. Thai people (even the poorest) take pride in personal cleanliness and appearance (look at school kids and college students) so the "unkempt" style of some visitors is not appreciated. In the evenings long trousers (dress or skirt for ladies) with a neat shirt/blouse, shoes with socks for men and nice shoes for women (no flip-flops) are a must if you wish to enter a nice restaurant and get a good seat. The nicer you dress the better the table and service. If not you might get a table next to the bathroom, in a corner away from the view or in front of a loud music speaker.

Chanchao's Chiang Mai Food Review is a good source of information on the fast-changing culinary scene, though it has not been updated for some time.

Thai Style

• Anusarn Market, Chang Khlan Road (same side of road as "Galare Food Centre" but much further up beyond Loi Kroh crossroad towards Sri Dornchai) is a busy outdoor night market with lots of little Thai restaurants and food vendors. Great atmosphere and cheap. Galare Food Centre, Chang Khlan Road (opposite the Night Bazaar Building), has a large open-air food court, featuring free Thai classical dance performances nightly. All food is paid for with coupons; most mains 20-50 baht. Kuaytiaw Reua Koliang, Moon Muang Road (near Ratchamankha Road; no English sign) serves authentic kuaytiow reua (literally "boat noodles", rice noodles in dark broth with beef). It's good stuff anyway at 25 baht a pop.
  
  
• Re-Feel Cafe, 48/4-5 Rachavithi Road offers great (cheap) Thai food, good atmosphere, friendly staff and free billiards.
  
  
• Khan Khantoke Restaurant
  
  This is a restaurant where tourists eat but the locals bring their foreign friends because it showcases real Chiang Mai art and momuments. It has a man made moat for the Khantukes (which means the floats).
  

  There are women carving traditional melon bowls and khantukes which I was told was what young Thai youngsters learn in school.
  

  Would go at least 15 minutes early to just wander around.
  
  
  The traditional singing and dancing show at the end is also great.
  

• Krua Phech Doi Ngam Restaurant
  
  This is a good example of a restaurant that only locals go to. Their menus are only in Thai so I would just tell them to go ahead and give you a taste of some of their best dishes. Have a concierge at the hotel or a local write these instructions for you as the people at the restaurant definitely did not seem to speak any English.
  
  
  
• The GoodView Bar and Restaurant
  
  This is a nice hang out for travelers and locals. There?s a live band playing Rock music and Top 40. The Thai singers were great and we could tell had a lot of practice at Karaoke. They could almost be contestants on the show, Rockstar INXS. The female bartenders come and ?shake the drinks? for you if you order a cocktail drink. But it?s not a meat-market and families can even go (at least that?s what it seems like to me).
  
  
  
• Palaad Tawanron
  
  Directions: Top of Suthep Road behind Chiang Mai University, entrance via rear gate to Chiang Mai.
  
  Great food and great view. It serves local food but designed for tourists (so it?s clean, the menus are in English, and it?s sanitary)? the best of all worlds.
  
  The views of Chiang Mai are also great.
  

Western Style

• Mike's Hamburger Stand, on the corner of Chaiyapoom Road and Chang Moi Road (along the east side of the moat) and on Nimmanhaemin Road (across from Soi 11) are brightly-lit, "old-school" joints - just stools and a counter in an open shop. Real good hamburgers for 60 baht, excellent onion rings. If you're tired of rice and noodles this is nice place to stop for lunch while walking around town, and an even better place to fill your stomach on the way home from the bars. Bacon, or ham and egg sandwiches on the breakfast menu. Open 09:00-15:00.

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Chiang Mai's nightlife scene is the most happening in the North, although still a far cry from Bangkok's. There are discos, karaoke bars, and live music everywhere. The busiest nightlife zones are near Tapae Gate, Loi Kroh Road and along Charoenrat Road on the eastern bank of the Ping River.

Bars and pubs

Most of Chiang Mai's bars and pubs are located along Loi Kroh Road and Moon Muang Road. Here you can find small expat hangouts, go-go bars and sports bars. Most have pool tables and hostesses, along with music videos or various TV sports programs.

• Warm Up Cafe
  

  On Nimmanhaemin Road is a popular hangout for younger Chiang Mai with Live Music Live Dj and Life Style www.warmupcafe1999.com

• Monkey Club, Nimminheimin Road Soi 9 +66 53-226997 -8 - another hot spot for the students, with a variety of live music. Open 17:00-01:00.
  
  
• Mo'C Mo'L, Huay Kaew Road - pub and restaurant near Chiang Mai University, there are many zone in the restaurant: coffee shop, dinning outdoor near the small pond, dinning indoor with live music.
  
  

Live music

The area along the east bank of the Mae Ping River on Charoenrat Road is famous for jazz, rock, pop, Thai and country and western live music, along with restaurants serving Thai, western, and Chinese food. Coming from the center of the city, just walk from the night bazaar across the Narawatt Bridge, from where all the restaurants can be seen along the river on the left.

Most bands in Chiang Mai play for about an hour, and then move on to do the same at another restaurant or pub, so don't be surprised to see the same band twice if you switch venues.

• La Brasserie, 37 Charoenrat Road +66 53-241665 - this riverside venue is not famous for its food, but the music is great, and there's a good selection of cocktails and spirits. Sit outside in the lush garden setting where acoustic guitar is played (19:00-midnight) or inside at the bar and catch the famous Took and Friends (23:00-02:00) who play old Hendrix, Dylan, Marley, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and other favorites.
  
  
• Tha Chang Jazz Club, 25 Charoenrat Road (next to Gallery Restaurant) +66 53-248601 - good for a drink any day, but best visited on Saturdays for live jazz.
  
  
• The Chiang Mai Riverside Restaurant
  

  9-11 Charoenrat Road +66 53-243239 - everyone who has been to Chiang Mai eats at least once here. There is a large menu of Thai and western food. If you want a good homemade hamburger, this is a good place to get one. The live music starts around 19:00 with dinner music from the Eagles, Beatles, or soft jazz. Starting at 21:00, the music changes to more rock and pop songs. Full bar service serving wine, beer, and spirits are available. The Chiang Mai Riverside restaurant gets very crowded, so get here early to get a table. The Riverside also offers a nightly dinner cruise departing at 20:00 for 70 baht/person extra.

• The Good View, 13 Charoenrat Road +66 53-241886 - Thai and western varieties of rock, jazz, pop and country music entertain in the evening. Their extensive menu offers more than 150 Thai, Chinese, and western dishes, including curries, noodles, rice, and pizza. Soft drinks and a full bar serving wine, beer, and spirits are available. Again, if you want a good, riverside-view table get there early.
  
  
• The Garden Chiang Mai, 139, Ratchadamnoen Rd, Every Wednesday at 8:30 PM "The Chiang Mai Blues Club" meets to play blues music at "The Garden Chiang Mai" which has a well stocked bar,great food and a beautiful garden. Live music also on Sunday during the Sunday walking street market which is right outside the gates.
  
  

Nightclubs

• Bubbles - B1, Porn Ping Tower, 46 Charoen Prathet Road - would be just another cheesy hotel disco if not for some good DJs and enthusiastic crowds; now it's a cheesy, packed and fun hotel disco on weekend nights. Cover charge 100 baht including one drink; open until 02:00.
  
  
• Discovery - opposite Kad Suan Kaew shopping centre and Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel - is a small club with live band, DJ and huge screens showing music videos, good for drinking nights and letting loose. Bring ID/passport as they can be strict with entry especially on weekend nights.
  
  
• Spicy is a good after hours place with good drinks, dancing and lots of local good looking girls looking to party :)