Best Restaurants in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Sala Mae Rim: Located in the Four Seasons restaurant, this hotspot is a must-see during sunset. It overlooks the property’s working rice paddies  and the Mae Rim valley. The views are absolutely stunning. If you’re staying in the city it’s worth a drive out here. The restaurant serves up sumptuous Northern Thai cuisine. (Great vegetarian options here)

Huen Phen: This hot-spot serves up traditional Northern Thai specialities. Don’t let the tourists scare you off, often if I don’t see enough locals I think that it must be a trap like Planet Hollywood. That’s not the case here. Locals frequent this joint too but savvy tourists have caught on. The food here has a heavy Burmese influence. Be sure to check out the sai krok. Everyone raved about them but I’m not really a sausage person. Let me know how they are in the comments!

Pun Pun: This restaurant is aimed at supporting local farmers and propagating biodiversity. The food here is fresh, organic, vegetarian and absolutely delicious. Even non-vegetarians delight in the cuisine. Did I mention that most dishes cost about $1 USD? The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is amazing. It’s set in the middle of Wat San Douk so monks are continuously wandering though, which really adds to the ambiance.

Aroon Rai: If you don’t trust me that you should try this place, trust famed Foodie, Anthony Bourdain. The views here are gorgeous and even if food presentation is not, what matters is the taste, which is impeccable.

Riverside: Nestled along the Ping River, this restaurant has great live music and gorgeous riverside views. The food here is solid and the place is just a really fun place to hang out! Plus they have tons of wines, which most Thai restaurants don’t specialize in.