Fern Forest Cafe is a great lush retreat in the North West corner of the Old City. The atmosphere is very relaxed and casual with the lush ferns and trees in the courtyard. The coffee is light smooth and good in a piccolo latte but a little weak in a cup. The food is really good and the cakes are fresh with many to choose from.
Location: Singharat Rd.
Coffee Time is in a great location at the Chiang Mai Gate (Start of Saturday Night Markets). The coffee is awesome, strong, rich flavor and freshly roasted in small batches onsite, from local highland growers in Northern Thailand. Coffee Time has been one of the pioneers for great coffee in Chiang Mai, having had a consistently great tasting coffee for such a long time, even before the coffee scene really took off in the Nimman area. There are a few tables in the shop around the counter, but the best spot is upstairs to get a nicer view over the canal. The cakes that are available are fantastic, all are sourced from a local bakery called Butter is Better and they are really tasty and fresh, be sure to try one with a coffee and taste the Butter is Better difference.
Location: Chiang Mai Gate.
Roastniyom Coffee is on Siri Mangkalajarn Road in the Nimman area of Chiang Mai. The coffee is very good and well made. They also have many cakes, slices and fresh biscuits that are exceptionally tasty. The frappe’s and smoothies are fantastic during the hot season as well. The cafe area is a decent size, really comfortable with good air conditioning and also has several outdoor tables. This makes it really good for checking those emails over a coffee in a great cool environment.
Location: Nimman.
Impresso Espresso Bar is a small, quiet coffee bar with some tables outside and bar style inside. It can get a little busy because the coffee is good and there are only limited tables. The coffee is very good, smooth, well balanced and well made, better value than some in the area. they also have a range of grinders and machines in the store as well.
Location: Nimman.
Ristr8to, just behind the Specialty shop on the main road, otherwise known as Ristr8to Labs is a little quieter with the same quality without the single origin range of the main shop but the same staff and the same result, a sensational coffee. The house blend “Black Hand” is a full strength, smooth rich coffee that is so good you might forget that they even have single origin beans to try. The latte art is no different here the Satan Latte is an exceptional looking design and skill, it is almost a shame to ruin the look by drinking it, but with a coffee this good it cannot be wasted.
Location: Nimman.
Ristr8to – Specialty coffee is exactly that, specialty coffee. The best coffee in Thailand, YES it is a big call, but in my opinion this is sensational coffee. Based on the best cups of coffee from all over the world, beans from all over the world both, single origin and blends that rotate depending on the season and availability. Combine that with creativity of the coffee’s on the menu, a fantastic atmosphere, awesome branding and some of the best latte art you will find anywhere. Ristr8to knows what they are doing and doing it very well. If find yourself in Chiang Mai make sure to seek this place out and try for yourself. You wont be disappointed!
Location: Nimman Rd.
My pick of Cafe in the area:
Marzocco Handcrafted Coffee is located in Seacon Bangkae Shopping Center about a 5-10 min Taxi from Bang Wa BTS. The Coffee is sensational, some of the best latte art anywhere (Australian Latte Art Champion). It is only a very small coffee stall on the second floor, but don’t let that fool you the coffee, latte art and friendly service is a must try for anyone with a love of coffee. I miss the coffee already Mike.
Location: Bang Wa.
My pick of Cafe in the area:
Convent Cafe is located opposite the BNH Hospital and the Saint Joseph Convent School on Convent Road, or about a 5-10 min walk from Sala Daeng BTS. It is a great cafe that does good coffee in a relaxed atmosphere. Very popular with hospital staff and visitors.
Location: Bang Rak.
Pacamara is a small boutique cafe that does one of the best coffee’s in Bangkok (in my opinion). It is freshly roasted, very well made. The blend is a strong but smooth and very nice in both a piccolo latte and with the extra milk of a normal latte. It is located in Rain Hill Shopping Center, in between Phrom Phong and Thong Lo BTS stations. This is my favorite coffee in Bangkok.
Location: Khlong Toei.
My pick of Cafe in the area:
Tazzina is a nice small, quiet cafe that does fantastic coffee and is great value, compared to others in the area. The food is also very delicious with plenty of options. It is in a handy location just a short walk from Chong Nonsi BTS. the Piccolo latte is nice and strong, well made with fantastic service. The Eggs Benedict and the French Toast are amazing, a must try.
Location: Khwaeng Silom.
My pick of Cafe in the area:
