Pak Chiang Mai - a little heaven

So many hotels and guesthouses there are in Chiang Mai. But this one has cought this bloggers heart. Why? It's just around the corner of Chiang Mai's daily live inside the moat, inside the old town. It's not in a street with guesthouse after guesthouse, massage shops, internet cafés, pizzerias and steakhouses. Pak Chiang Mai lies in a quiet soi - but not many footsteps from the smells of Gate Market and from its food stalls and from the beautiful temples.

It has very carefully done design like this sitting area on the first floor with the doors to the rooms:



















Take a close look and you will discover other details of the architecture as glass in assorted colors:


































There is also a corner for massage, seating and playing. Let the owners organise the Traditional Thai Massage or a Foot Massage for you - and you will be treated by very experienced hands, feet, ellbows and what else belongs to a classical Thai Massage, surrounded by the green courtyard, listening to the water of the small waterfall above the fish pond. Relax and dream!









































































Pak Chiang Mai is not only a guesthouse, but also a restaurant to discover. You will learn, that Noon and her family serve organic food. And her kitchen offers more than just what's on the menue-card, because Noon likes to create food, let the guests test it and to learn from their comments. So try the dinner she offers on request. You will eat with your eyes as well.





















































Of course you will not miss a good wine and a dessert. But this blogger was too delighted with the food. He ate the dessert, before he thought about taking a picture... But you can also imagine, how pleasent the breakfast is, you will get next morning. There is a wide choice from Müesli to Wonton Soup, whole bread, juices, different stiles of egg and of course fruits.

Organic food is not the only thing. The owners of Pak Chiang Mai care for the nature. So you won't find the usual plastic things with shower gel in your bath but small pots, that are refilled every day. Oh yes, the bath: You can take a look at its design and also the design of the rooms on tripadvisor.com , where you will also see, that Pak Chiang Mai is already top rated among the B&Bs of Chiang Mai. This blogger can tell you, that the beds are very good and lovers of cushions get enough.

Well, you know now about the location, the design, the food, the rooms. But there is more: The homepage of Pak Chiang Mai says: "Come as guests, Leave as family". When you leave, you will know, that this is not just a slogan. Noon, her brother Nat and everybode else of the family will let you feel.

Not enough. Pak Chiang Mai allows you to go on discovery with not many steps. Go just around the corner of Soi Ratchamankha 6 into Soi Phra Pok Klao 2 and you stand in front of a door, that leads into a little secret garden full of terracotta arts:
















































You move on some footsteps and find yourself inside Gate Market with its fruits, vegetables and meat. Fried skin of pigs and sausages are the specialities of Chiang Mai you should try! Then you move on again and you will discover many temples along Phra Pok Klao Road. And if you are here on a Saturday evening, you should cross the street outside the moat to the also close Wualai Road, where Walking Street takes place. You can also borrow bikes from Pak - a nice way to discover the sois of the old town.

Doi Inthanon: Rainforest and birds

Doi Inthanon, formerly known as Doi Ang Ka, is the highest mountaintop in Thailand (2565 meters above sea level. A mountain chain joins it to the Himalayas. It supports Himalayan flora and fauna and is one of the famous birding heavens. Read, what Mong Cor Mun found here and more about birdwatching by green-jungle.com.

Doi Inthanon National Park has beautiful natural scenery as many waterfalls. Read more by Thaiparkwordpress.com. The best period for viewing the waterfalls is May through November, while the best period for viewing wild flowers is December through February and for ornithologists is November through March.

Nearly on the top ypu find the Ang Ka Luang Nature Trail, which was surveyed and designed by Michael MacMillan Walls, a Canadian volunteer biologist who devoted to his work and died from a heart attack on this mountain. This trail, 360 metres long, passes through wet and cold areas in a lush valley. The forest is covered with lichens and wild orchids. Indigenous plants that needs a high level of nutrition, organic deposits, and rare species of birds are seen along the trail.
























The Ang Ka Luang Trail: Sphagnum Moss







































































More on Doi Inthanon: www.tourismthailand.org See also the Photo Gallery by Brian McMorrow.

Temples in Chiang Mai

Wat Phan On วัดพันอ้น: Built in 1501 the original Wat, Chedi Khwan, has been built. Wat Phan On was erected later, then both temples were combined. Inside you finde two golden sitting Buddhas.







































































Sareerikkatartsirirak Pagoda, named by His Majesty King Bhumipol on 9th June 2550 B.E.

See the Buddha inside Wat Phan On by photos.3scape.net, it's a copy of Phra Buddha Chinarat in Phitsanluak. And see a video on youtube.com.

Look at the ubusot which sits above the viharn. You see there stucco work, done by the Buddhist monk Phra Bun prasert, read about Thai wood carving here.


Phra Pok Klao Road, from North to South

Wat Phan Tao วัดพันเตา: The name means "The Monastery of a Thousand Kilns". The building was originally constructed as a royal palace building (ho kham) for Chao Mahawong, the ruler of Chiang Mai. The front gable end is decorated with the image of a peacock standing over a sleeping dog. The dog is the symbol of Chao Mahawong's birth year. Read more on orientalarchitecture.com.
























Does the dog know, that he is the symbol of the birth year of the former ruler of Chiang Mai?


























































































Wat Chedi Luang วัดเจดีย์หลวง: Also: Jedi Luang. King Saen Muang Ma, 8th ruler of the Mengrai dynasty, began building it in 1391. He planned to enshrine the ashes of his father Ku Na, but the construction was only finished by King Tilokaray in the mid of the 15th century: 82 m high and 54m large at the base, then the largest building of Lanna. In 1545 the upper part collapsed during an earthquake, in the 1990s the Chedi was reconstructed, about 60 m high. Have a look at the massive tree to the left of the entrance. A legend says that if this tree should fall, a catastrophe will happen. A small building near the tree enshrines the "Spirit of the City" (Sao Intakin). Read more and see pictures at orientalarchitecture.com and read the guide of chiangmai1.com.
























The Viharn was constructed in 1928 and renovated in 1999.









































































Wat Chang Taem: It is the home to The Sacred Bronze Buddha of Chiang Mai Province, the Fon Saen Ha Buddha (one hundred thousand drops of rain). He was brought to Chiang Mai by King Tilokaraja after a war with Lamphun. Every year in may it is transported during a parade on a chariot to the City Pillar at Wat Chedi Luang, where it stands for 7 days and 7 nights. During this time the locals come to pay respect. They guild the image with gold leaf paper, pour water over it to bath it and present flowers to the City Pillar. The Fon Saen Ha Buddha is believed to bring wealth and happiness to the people of Chiang Mai. The Inthakin City Pillar was made by King Meng Rai, when he built Chiang Mai city in 1296. It is in front of Wat Chedi Luang, inside a small temple and made from a giant tree, fixed underground. See a picture of the Fon Saen Ha Buddha and read more about the Inthakin ceremony. See also a video.
































































































































See more pictures by brickroadcafe.


Wat Fon Soi วัด ฟอน สร้อย: Wat Fon Soi is mentioned in The Chronicle of the Lan Na Thai Legend as a temple dedicated to Phra Tera, a high-ranking patriarch between 1562-1601.


Wat Muen Toom วัดหมื่นตุม:








































































On the wall of the compund. See more pictures by brickroadcafe and by wat9chiangmai.com.


Wat Chedlin: Also: Jet Lin. Go out on the back and you will discover an old pond with bamboo huts around, where monks live. See pictures of the pond with the huts.





































One of many huge gongs in a line.
















































Looks ancient: The stone Buddha in the courtyard. More photos by brickroadcafe.

Old Chiang Mai

It's not so easy today to find authentic scenes of life of Chiang Mai's past. But in Wat Kate, on the East bank of Ping river, there are places, where time seems to stand still. Wat Kate วัดเกตุ community has been trading on Ping River for 500 years. Therefore the architecture is multicultural with Western, Chinese and ethnic influences as Haw Chinese and Khmu. So you find Chinese shop houses, Christian churches, colonial style schools and traditional Lanna buildings, the Dara Academy โรงเรียนดาราวิทยาลัย and the victorian buildings of Prince Royal College and also the around 140 years old wooden house of Doctor Chinda Singhanetre. The RarinJinda Resort has conserved it in its traditiona style and is using the upper floor for traditional Thai massage. Read more here.




























Wat Kate was also the site of Borneo Company Limited, which had a concession from The Chiang Mai King for 100 years for teak wood. Read the blog of tourcm.blogspot.com

There is a plan of Chiang Mai City, to put Wat Kate into a zone for commerce and construction, where residents are opposiong, as The Nation noted.


Wat Kate Ka Ram: See the Gallery of Ram J.



















Foto by www.differentscene.com, see more


Wat Ged Museum: At the back of Wat Kate. Owned by 87 years old Jack Bain, whos Scottish father married a Thai. A lot of things from the past life as the first bank notes of Thailand, textiles, ceramics, old grammophones, and, and, and. Read more at Chiangmainews.com

Elephants and Elephants - a trip from Chiang Mai to Lampang

If you sit in front of one of the music bars on Nimmanhaemin Road in Chiang Mai at night, you can be nearly sure, that a mahout with his elephant will pass by and try to sell you bananas or sugar cane to feed the elephant. More than 200 elephants are said to wander around in Thailands cities, from Phuket to Bangkok and Chiang Mai. And that means stress for the animals: standing and walking on the concrete damages their feet, street- and bar-noise irritate them and the polluted air is poison for their lungs, and sometimes they are injured by traffic accidents (read the report by Cindy Tilney). But since Thailands government 1989 banned the logging with elephants in the wood - to protect the wood and prevent erosion and floods - the elephants and their trainers have to look for another income to survive. The ban let 2000 animals and their mahouts unemployed. But a way to employ elephants has been developped: Many camps have been created in a natural surrounding for a get-together of elephants and tourists. Many treat their elephants well, but some don't have proper working conditions for the animals. So if you want to be sure to do someting for the protection of the elephants, you can head to the National Elephant Institute in Lampang. There are shows presenting the traditional logging work, of course you can go riding on a saddle, but there is a homestay program too: You will stay at the home of the mahout, accompany him during his day with the elephants and learn how to ride without a saddle. And some elephants even know how to play music in an elephant orchestra - read more.

Find your way: Take a bus at Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station for Lampang (timetable). One way will take one and half an hour. Ask the driver to stop at the elephant center. Another possibility is to travel by train, but the trains to Lampang leave Chiang Mai only in the afternoon (see timetable), so you will have to stay for a night in Lampang to go to the elephant shows in the morning. In Lampang you take the bus for Chiang Mai at the bus station and ask the driver to let you out at the elephant center.

Chiang Mai: Food with love

You don't want just eat a kind of food, you are looking for a way of living with love? Phongsathon Kitchawet is promoting that with Chiang Mai Vegetarian Project โครงการมังสวิรัติเชียงใหม่. He believes that Chiang Mai has the most vegetarian restaurants and presents them all on his website and on a map for Google Earth. In september 2007 he counted 28 vegetarian restaurants. He says: "We’d like to help people to have good health, have compassion for animals, protect the environment, mitigate pollution and global warming that are the result of meat consumption."

Of course there are other tastes. Therefore i'm going to collect reviews of restaurants and food stalls. And i put the locations to Google Map, so you can find your eating choice near the place, where you stay or go to visit. Of course your comments will be helpful to keep this section of this blog fresh.



Thai
360 Bar&Restaurant: Indoor a live band plays modern jazz and blues. Outdoor you dine by a pool with a good view of Doi Suthep and Chiang Mai City. Many cocktails.

Aroon Rai: 45 Kotchasarn Road. Good IgoUgo Review, and also Tamarind and Thyme loved it.

Baanrai Yamyen: 14 Moo 3 Faham Road. Northeast of the old town. Serves "Mueang Food", the food of Thailands Northern Region. "It's the perfect place to take visiting Thai friends wanting to taste the local food", writes Chanchao Fotopages. "The unpretentious fare includes kaeng jin gai hoom, a mild, northern Thai–style chicken curry with Kaffir lime, as well as a variety of insect dishes, like rod duan, crunchy, deep-fried bamboo worms, which are definitely an acquired taste", writes concierge.com. "Music is one of the main ingredients of this popular eatery, with a style that ranges from Lanna to bluegrass", writes chiangmai-mail.com. The show starts at 6.30 pm, singers are accompanied by guitar, mandolin, double bass and banjo - a romantic place for lovers.

Comedara Colonial House คำดารา: 193 Charoenrat Road. The house used to belong to Chinese tax collectors. A band is playing, but not deafening your ears, as chiangmai-mail.com notices.


Dalaabaa Bar & Restaurant: 113 Bamrungraj Road. "The kitchen's take on contemporary Thai cuisine is innovative—order the crab-filled spring rolls, which are shaped like breadsticks and deep-fried", writes concierge.com The architecture "echoes art deco" according to the review of Thailand Tatler. "The midcentury modern bungalow is furnished with eclectic furniture, polished wood and tons of glass, as if Frank Lloyd Wright had gone East", wrote the New York Times.
















Picture by LiNuk's World, see more

Huen Phen: 112 Rachamankha Road. Authentic Northern Thai food. Try Khanom Jeen Namngeua, a beef stew in a hearty broth, means frommers.com. Fantastic Khao Soi (curry noodle dish), says also Confessions of a restaurant whore.. Have a look at a video and read New York Times. "Chicken wings grilled with sliced, aromatic lemongrass; a tart, fiery salad of grapefruit-like pomelo and wafer-thin slices of green chili", recommends concierge.com

Houn Soontaree Vechanont: Read the review in this blogs chapter Chiang Mai: Cool Nights

Kanon Bar Arjarn: 2 Soi.2 Meundamprakot Rd. Thai desserts and confectionery are renowned for their delicate feature, unique taste and exquisite decoration. This is exactly offered at Kanom Ban Arjarn, which ist well known for its "Pia". The original Pia has green bean paste with salted yolk inside the pastry layer. But there ar also new creates Pia's with other tastes. Or you try Saleetip, made from fresh coconut.



















Kantoke Palace: 288/19 Chiangklan Road. Kantoke dinner and show. This place has adapted to Westerners: Tables and seats have been specially designed, so that you can dine on the floor in the traditional Lanna manner, but with plenty of leg-room.

Maha Naga: 431 Charoenrat Road. Thai dishes presented in European style, in buildings from teak and glass under big trees with a river terrace - one of the most expensive Thai restaurants in the North. Read the review of roughguides.com

Maze Café: 12/2 Boonruangrit Road and 8/11 Nimmanhaemin Road. Thai and International food. Read the review of Chiangmaitouristguide.com

Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center ศูนย์วัฒนธรรม เชียงใหม่: 185/3 Wualai Road. Khantoke dinner, stage performances and hilltribes shows. You seat on cushions on the carpeted floor or at nearby tables. When a traditional Northern Thai family eats, they sit around a low table (called "toke") and eat "khan", finger food in small bowls. They break pieces of sticky rice ("cow neaw") and dip it into the bowls or eat it with meat. There are sweetm sour and spicy tastes.
In a Lanna-style building, the Saw-Hong House, you find the Lanna Folk Museum. This over 110-year-old teak building is a typical example of a northern dwelling called a “Kalae house”. Originally, this building stood near the east side of the Nakhornping Bridge in downtown Chiangmai and was owned by Nang Ping, the granddaughter of Nai Saw and Nang Hong Tae. The house was named the “Saw-Hong House” in honour of Nang Piang’s grandparents. Today you see here antique pottery, lacquerware, household items and waving demonstrations. Museum ist closed on Thursdays. Read the review of Tamarind and Thyme.

















Picture of the show by Cybjorg on flickr.com

Se also a video on youtube.com


River Ping Palace: 385/2 Charoen Prathet Rd. A collection of 100 year old teak houses and pavilions. The food is prepared from Thai recipes found in a cookbook dating back 70 years old. In the evenings there are performances by musicians and dancers. Read the review on Chiangmai-Mail.com.

Ruen Tamarind: 50/1 Ratchadamnoen Road. Authentic Northern Thai dishes prepared from original family recipes, that have been handed down from mother to daughter.

Thapae Soi 3: Pad Thai for 20 Baht. Many locals eat there, read a good review by Big Food Small World.

The House: 199 Moon Muang Road. A first class dining experience according to "The Nation". "Contemporary cuisine with a bit of an Asian twist", describes travelfish.org. "The Chiang Mai-born chef has created a menu that features fresh ingredients in a European style but with a touch of the Orient", adds ThailandTatler. "The most interesting dining option is the adjacent tapas bar", means concierge.com




Thai, Chinese, German
Palaad Tawanron ผาลาดตะวันรอน: 100 Huay Kaew Road. Outside the town near the zoo, at the foothills of Suthep Mountain and near a waterfall. From a wooden terrace you overlook a lake and the city. The standout is the seafood, according to ThailandTatler Very popular among the guests is Kah Moo Tawanron : deep fried pork leg with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut, read the review of Chiangmai-Chiangrai.com and the review of The Makan Sisters.

Thai, Chinese, International
The Gallery: 25-27-29 Charoen Rat Road. The front building with the Art Gallery has been built in Chinese style, the restaurant at the riverside in teak-wood in Northern style, in the original building from 1892, which used to be a silk store. Hillary Clinton has been eating here. "Ask for a waterfront table beneath the vaulting tamarind tree, and order Chiang Mai specialties such as kaeng ung lay, a coconut milk–free pork curry slow-cooked with ginger, garlic, chili, and tamarind and served with sticky rice", advises concierge.com.

Chinese
Jia Tong Heng: 193/2-3 Sri Don Chai Road. "Some of the best fish dishes in town", says Chiangmainews.com, fish in ginger is the speciality. Jia Tong Heng is 50 years old. Also stewed duck with Chinese herbs is recommended by Chiangmainews.com. Read also the review of Chiangmai-mail.com

Chinese (Muslim)
Khao Soi Islam: 24 Charoen Prathet Road, Soi 1. A mix of Yunnan (muslim) and Shan cuisine. "Calling it curry noodles is oversimplification", writes lastappetite.com The oily and slightly coconut-creamy curry is cut through with sides of tart pickled cabbage and lime juice, served over flat egg noodles. It is finished with a handful of deep-fried on top. Also vegetarian dishes. Read background about the Legacy of the Spice Trade in Chiang Mai and read the review of muntae.com.

Khao Soi Lamduan: Faham Road. The best Khao Soi-restaurant according to lastappetite.com, where you also find recipes for Khao Soi. The original owner prepared her noodles for the Thai King, whenever he stayed in Chiang Mai, as you can read on eatingasia.typead.com.


Khao Soi Samer Jai: 391 Mu. 2 , Charoenrat Road. Known by the locals for Khao Soi. Very good review by Mcdang.com. The favourite restaurant of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Thai Premierminister.
















Khao Soi, picture by Jui


concierge.com.

American
The Dukes: 49/4-5 Chiangmai-Lamphun Road. Steaks, Ribs, Seefood, Pizza. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com. There is also a branch at the Night Bazaar.


French
Chez Daniel ร้านอาหารเชส แดเนียล: 255/18 Mahidol Rd. Roast lamb, wild boar, boeuf bourgignon as well as Frech cheeses and desserts. Read the review of Yahoo Travel. Much value for not so miuch Baht, according tho Fodor's.

Le Coq d'Or: 11 Soi 2 Koh Klang Road. Lobster, oyster, duck leg, Foie Gras, tiger prawns... Read Frommers.com. "One of Chiang Mai's oldest and most distinguished fine dining venues", says ThailandTatler


German
German Bistro: Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Centre, 21 Huayaew road. Cheewan (Thai) and his wife Carmen (German) serve German food. If you look for a vegetable soup with meatball (like Grandma), porkfilet with blanched vegetables, Wiener sausages, Knack sausages, knuckle with sauerkraut, potato salad or just a Heineken, a Weihenstephaner or a Krombacher beer, you are right here. And Cheewan decorated the floor of the bistro in a very special way.




























































Italian
Caffé Gourmet: Opposite Wat Phra Khao on Ratchamankha Rd. Home-made Italian dishes, small garden and jazz stage, where bands perform Saturday night. Caffé Gourmet was opened by Stefano Roncoroni (former La Gondola). Read Chiangmainews.com

Girasole ร้านอาหารอิตาเลี่ยน กีราโซล: Kad Klang Vieng Plaza, Wat Pan-On Intersection, Ratchadamnoen Road. Pizza, pasta, risotto, meat and fish - and a large section of vegetarian cuisine. Read the review of Chiangmai-Mail.com Good review on tripadvisor.com "So so"-review by Chiang Mai Epicurean See some pictures of dishes. Girasole is a creation of Stefano Roncoroni, who closed one of Chiang Mai's most beloved Italian restaurant, La Gondola after leasing problems.

Mr Chan and Miss Pauline: 1st branch 16/1 Huay Kaew Rd., 2nd branch Canal Rd. Pizza and Swedish dishes. Read reviews by Things Asian and Chiangmainews.com Review in Thai by มาเชียงใหม่ กินอะไรดี.

Piccola Roma Palace:144 Charoenprathet Road. Run by Angelo Faro for fifteen years now. "The freshness of ingredients is what makes this restaurant stand out from among the dozens of Italian establishments in town", writes ThailandTatler. Home-made pasta as well as meat and seafood and fine italian wines, also ask for the speciality of the day. Reviews on YahooTravel are mixed. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit has been dining here. Read also Kit Marshals Commentary.


Mediterranean
Mi Casa: 60/2 Moo 14 Soi Wat Padaeng. Mediterranean cuisines by Spanish Chef Kike and Tapas Corner. He opened his restaurant “Mi Casa Stanley” in Hong Kong in 2002. It was a holiday in Chiang Mai, that turned him here. ThailandTatler recommends saffron infused lobster paella, which has to be ordered two days in advance, as highlight. Good selection of Rioja wine. Good reviews by tripadvisor.com and spicemag.net. See video by OpenChiangmai.


Mexican
Miguel's Café: Good reviews by tripadvisor.com and cunyqueen.


Sandwich
Amazing Sandwich: 252/3 Pra Pokklao Road. Open daily 10am to 7pm (Sunday close 5pm. With free internet service. Choose from 14 meats including Roastbeef, Pastrami, Salami, Parma ham, smoked chicken and turkey breast, 8 types of cheese, 10 vegetables, 8 dressings & sauces and 6 herbs & spices and pack them into your chosen "vehicle".


Vegetarian
Aum Vegetarian: 65 Mun Mueang Road. One of the oldest vegetarian restaurants with Thai and Chinese dishes and Hilltribe Organic Coffee - and over 3500 books to read while drinking coffee! See the menu and read reviews of Yahoo Travel.


















Picture by cunyqueen.blogspot.com

Blue Diamond: 35/1 Mun Mueang Road, Soi 9. Not 100 procent vegetarian. Superb, according to reviews by happycow.net. Also herbal teas. "Marvellous" is one comment on chefmoz.org. "They have it all. They make their own soy yogurt, baked goods including cinnamon rolls, cookies, and bread, soy ice cream (about 15 flovors), fresh juice, and soy milk.", writes xviolettx. Read also Earthworm Envy.

Dindee ร้านกาแฟ: Food in an earth house at The Art Museum of Chiang Mai University, opened by Japanese Ayumi Loenthaisong in March 2007. Thai and Japanese dishes and a wide tea selection. Read more at muantae.com


























Khufa Mangsawirat: 152/6 Kaew Nawarat Road. Very good review by happycow.net. See pictures by rheanna2. And see description of Chiang Mai Vegetarian Project.

Khun Churn: 120/2 Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi 17. Northern cuisine with influences from China and Burma with affordable prices. Read the review of The Nation. Excellent review at happycow.net. See also Chiang Mai Vegetarian Project and look at video

Mangsawirat Suan Dok: 15 Suthep Road. Read the review of happycow.net.

Pun Pun: Inside Wat Suan Dok under a large old Boddhi tree. Pun Pun, run by a Thai/American couple, cooks organic vegetarian food, grown at Pun Pun Organic farm in Mae Taeng, outside Chiang Mai. "Amazing", according to earthoria.com. Read background on the blog Stomachs ond legs. Pun Pun is a project in the owners words "aimed at supporting local organic farmers, farmer networks, and propagating biodiversity. By producing organic produce on our own farm as well as buying from farmers producing organically, we support farmer’s transition to sustainable food systems. Since we ourselves are a seed center we aim to propagate rare and indigenous varieties of edible plants for the public to reintegrate into their diets, improving our health and stabilizing our environment through biodiversity." To get to Pun Pun, at Wat Suan Dok walk down the road to the left of the main temple towards the back of the temple grounds, it is on your right near the back. See pictures by flickr.com.

Thai Orchid: 419/24 Witchayanon Road.

Thai Vegetarian Food Restaurant: 65 Inthawarorot Road. Good review by happycow.net. See pictures by Rheanna2.

Vegetarian Society of Thailand: 42 Mahidol Road. "Didn't have the variety, that most Thai veggie places in Chiang Mai have", means a review on happycow.net. See pictures on flickr.com

Whole Earth: 88 Sridonchai Road. A vegetarian Thai and Indian restaurant, but some meat and fish dishes are available. Mixed reviews on happycow.net and tripadvisor.com.




















Others
Room-Bar: 61 Nimmanhaemin Road. The Room complex includes also a coffee, a boutique and decor shops. The restaurants special in main courses is a deep fried chicken with mixed herbs, as you can read in Chiangmai-Mail.com. Elegant interior decoration in red and purple.

Rose Restaurant: 87 Ratchamanka Road. See video at Chiangmaipods.com English or American breakfasts, burgers and pizzas, fish and chips. And also Thai food.

Sojo's Café: 169/4-5 Sridonchai Road and 178/178 World Club Land – Nongkwai, Hang Dong. American, Asian, Mediterranean Bistro and La Mesa Latina.

The Drunken Flower: 28/3 Soi 17 Nimmanhaemin Road. The funnny name comes from the time, when it was Chiang Mai's first wine tasting club and also sold importet flowers. Cocktails, house wines, Thai, international and Mexican food. And music from a big CD-Collection or from live performances. All this attracts a mix of young and old Thai and Westerners.

Chiang Mai: Cool Nights

See the locations of the clubs and bars on Google Map/Google Earth
See the locations of restaurants on Google Map / Google Earth

Nimmanhaemin Area นิมมานเหมินท์

Nimmanhaemin Road (also: Nimmanhemin) is the place to be for the local nightlife scene, mostly students from the nerby universities or youn working adults: "Young, beautiful and trendy Thais partying like there's no tomorrow!", writes Jaxon Toh in his blog.

Warm Up Cafe: 40 Nimmanhaemin Road. Popular hangout for young Chiang Mai with two glass enclosed dance floors, DJs and often live music and an outdoor zone for sitting, talking and watching.

Warm Up 9th Anniversary Music Video:




Monkey Club: Nimmanhaemin Road Soi 9. Open 17 pm to 01 am. Another hotspot for the students. Indie music and outdoor eating.




Drunken Flower: 295/1 Soi 1, Nimmanhaemin road. Open daily from 18 pm to 01 am. Restaurant and bar, visited by a mixed Thai and expat crowd. Most weelends live folk music. Read James' review on tripist.com. "Food is poor, drinks are over-priced, seats uncomfortable and the live music is lame. God knows why we all go there", says the review on chiangmaitouristguide.com.



















NimMahn Bar: 59/8 Nimmanhaemin Rd. "Cavernous industrial-looking interior, softened with smart leather poufs and sofas", according to the review of Lonely Planet.

Glass Onion: Room 1 project, 61, Nimmanhaemin Road. Open 6 pm to 1 am. Bar with a grand piano, red carpets, red bar-chairs and art deco chandeliers. "James Bondesque", means Lonely Planet. Popular by gays.

Fine Thanks: 119 Nimmanhemin Rd Soi 5. In a restored wooden Thai house. A live band plays Thai and Western songs. Cute waitresses from the universities around the corner, good food, popular with locals.

Tawan Dang: Nimmanhaemin Road Soi 6. Open from 6 pm till 2 am. Live music.


Huay Kaew Road

Discovery: 12 Huay Kaew Road. Live Band, DJ, Video-Screens.

Fashion Paris: Unterground of Lotus Pangsuankaew Hotel. Dancing room and Hip Hop room. Read review of Lonely Planet.

Mo'C Mo'L ร้านน่านั่ง (The Monkey Club and Moon Lover): 233 Huay Kaew Road. Pub and restaurant with Thai, European and Japanese Food and a pond with fish and frogs. And a chic coffee shop. Live Bands (Jazz, Pop, Acoustic). Place of the hip and trendy.

















Mo'C Mo'L by Apirak, see more of his pictures

Sudsanan: 30 Ratchaphuek Road. Wooden house with Thai restaurant and stage. Rock, Folk and Jazz-Bands. In the middle of the evening the owners play: Souat (guitar), Houag (bongos) and Pleuay (Khane = Isaan bamboo instrument). Read a fine review of Sudsanan by Delacroixyut.

Isaan Ban Hao live at Sudsanan:





Riverside Area

The Riverside Bar & Restaurant: 9-11 Charoenrat Road. Thai and western food, good! Western and Thai Pop starting at 19 pm, Jazz on Sundays. Read review of Lonely Planet.






The Good View: 13 Charoenrat Road. Thai and Western rock, pop, jazz and country in the evening, Thai, Chinese and Western food.





















Tha Chang Jazz Club: 25 Charoenrat Road. Open 8 pm to 1 am. Live Jazz on Saturdays.

La Brasserie: 37 Charoenrat Road. Very popular for live rock and blues. From 23 pm Thai guitarrist Took and friends play Hendrix, Dylan, Marley. Read the review by ichangmaihotel.com and changmainews.com. And read an interview with Took on Chiangmainews.com

Took plays Jessica from the Allman Brothers, Part 1:



Part 2:




Old City Area

Cafe Souvannaphoum: 20/1 Ratchamanka Road. Wine Bar with music. Read the review of Lonely Planet.

Mandalay Bar and The Dark: 5/3 Soi 1 Moon Muang Road. Multistorey-complex, foreigners get charged at the entrance. Thai live music, dancers, concerts, shows. Read the review of Chiangmainews.com

The Garden: 139, Ratchadamnoen Rd. Every Sunday night live music with the Chiang Mai Blues Club. Warren Simpson ist playing here Delta Blues Music.

The North Gate: Every Tuesday everybody. who can play an instrument, can take part in a jam session. Live music every evening. Read the review on chiangmaiplan.com



















Spicy: 82 Chaiyaphum Road. You go, when everything else has shut. It's open till 4 am. Who is there? Read review of chiangmaitouristguide.com


Night Bazaar Area


Crystal Cave: 199 Chang Klan Rd, in the Empress Hotel. Disco.

Horizon Club: 132 Loy Kroh Road, in Hotel Centara Duangtawan. House and Hip Hop, popular by young Thais.

The Bubbles: 46 Charoen Prathet Road (Pron Ping Tower). Disco. Read revoew by Lonely Planet


Other Area


Houn Soontaree: Houn Soontaree Vechanont is a singer of Northern Thai folk songs in Chiang Mai and restaurant owner. She and here daughter Lanna are singing, while you enjoy Northern dishes.

Lanna Commins sings Ka Sa Long