# Eat & Drink in Chiang Mai | The Chiang Mai Brief > Chiang Mai URL: https://chiangmaibrief.com/eat-and-drink/ ![A shared table of Northern Thai dishes in Chiang Mai](/images/misc/table-of-northern-thai-dishes-with-sticky-rice-bas.webp) Eat & Drink # Eat & Drink in Chiang Mai Northern Thai food, the khao soi question, street markets and a coffee scene that punches far above the city's size. Browse this section [#categories →](#categories) All guides [/guide/ →](/guide/) Eating is the easiest thing to get right in Chiang Mai and the easiest thing to get lazy about. A visitor can eat well here for a week without ever leaving the trail of places that appear in every guidebook. A resident who does the same for a year has missed most of it. This section covers both halves of the scene. Restaurants and Thai food [/restaurants-and-thai-food/ →](/restaurants-and-thai-food/) handles Northern Thai (Lanna) cuisine, the dishes worth learning, where to eat khao soi, and the street food and market stalls that make up most of the good eating in this city. Cafés and coffee [/cafes-and-coffee/ →](/cafes-and-coffee/) covers the specialty roasters, the northern Thai beans behind them, and the cafés that genuinely welcome a laptop for three hours. We name places. Vague recommendations help nobody, and a guide that will not tell you where to actually go is not a guide. ![A bowl of noodles at a small neighbourhood shop in Chiang Mai](/images/misc/hands-holding-a-bowl-of-noodles-at-a-plastic-table.webp) In this section ## Eat & Drink: the categories Each of these is a hub page collecting our guides, background and recommendations on that topic. ![A barista pouring filter coffee at a specialty café counter in Chiang Mai](/images/misc/barista-pouring-a-filter-coffee-at-a-wooden-counte.webp) Popular ### Cafés & Coffee Specialty coffee and work-friendly cafés across Chiang Mai. [Cafés & Coffee →](/cafes-and-coffee/) ![A bowl of khao soi with crispy noodles, lime and pickled greens in Chiang Mai](/images/misc/bowl-of-khao-soi-curry-noodles-with-crispy-noodles.webp) Popular ### Restaurants & Thai Food Where and what to eat across Chiang Mai's food scene. [Restaurants & Thai Food →](/restaurants-and-thai-food/) Guides ## Start with these Dish guides, market picks, coffee recommendations and the work-friendly café list. All guides [/guide/ →](/guide/) Scenario ### Best Cafés to Work From in Chiang Mai The Chiang Mai cafés that genuinely support getting work done — a city-wide list with Wi-Fi, plugs, seating, hours and long-stay etiquette. 5 min read [Best Cafés to Work From in Chiang Mai →](/guide/best-cafes-to-work-from-chiang-mai/) Explainer ### Best Specialty Coffee & Third-Wave Cafés Chiang Mai's best third-wave coffee spots — notable roasters and signature cafés by area, and what makes the scene worth a detour. 5 min read [Best Specialty Coffee & Third-Wave Cafés →](/guide/best-specialty-coffee-cafes-chiang-mai/) Scenario ### Best Street Food & Markets to Eat At A guide to street-food eating in Chiang Mai by market and area — the key markets, must-try dishes, and tips on hygiene, ordering and timing. 6 min read [Best Street Food & Markets to Eat At →](/guide/best-street-food-markets-chiang-mai/) What to expect ### Michelin Bib Gourmand Stalls in Chiang Mai Chiang Mai's Michelin Bib Gourmand and comparable stalls — the listed vendors, what to order, prices and how to find them. 5 min read [Michelin Bib Gourmand Stalls in Chiang Mai →](/guide/michelin-bib-gourmand-chiang-mai/) Explainer ### Northern Thai (Lanna) Food Explained What makes Northern Thai (Lanna) cuisine different — Khao Soi, Sai Oua, Gaeng Hang Lay, Nam Prik Ong, and where to try each. 6 min read [Northern Thai (Lanna) Food Explained →](/guide/northern-thai-lanna-food-explained/) Scenario ### Where to Eat Khao Soi in Chiang Mai The best Khao Soi spots in Chiang Mai by area, with prices and what makes a great bowl — from famous names to local favourites. 5 min read [Where to Eat Khao Soi in Chiang Mai →](/guide/where-to-eat-khao-soi-chiang-mai/) News & updates ## Recently in this section All news [/blog/ →](/blog/) ![A Chiang Mai street at the start of cool season with clear skies and outdoor café tables](/images/featured/chiang-mai-street-in-early-cool-season-with-clear-.webp) News ### Chiang Mai Cool Season 2026–27: New Openings & What's Worth Knowing As Chiang Mai's cool season begins, here's a round-up of new cafés, restaurants and openings worth knowing, plus what's changed around town this year. 5 Sept 2026 [Chiang Mai Cool Season 2026–27: New Openings & What's Worth Knowing →](/blog/chiang-mai-cool-season-2026-2027-whats-new/) Newsletter ## Get the Brief in your inbox Twice a month: new openings, events, changes worth knowing about, and our latest guides. No filler. You're on the list Check your inbox: the next Brief goes out within a fortnight. ![Evening view across Chiang Mai rooftops toward Doi Suthep](/images/misc/evening-view-over-chiang-mai-rooftops-with-doi-sut.webp) The Chiang Mai Brief ## Keep up with Chiang Mai Twice a month we send the openings, changes and guides worth knowing about. It takes two minutes to read. Subscribe to the Brief [/newsletter/ →](/newsletter/) Explore the Guides [/guide/ →](/guide/)